- The researcher’s track record highlights the value of transforming two decades of public science into a disruptive therapy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Dr. Wolfgang Link, a researcher in the “Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Cancer” group at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (IIBM), CSIC-UAM, has been recognized as one of the awardees in the 3rd CSIC Transfer and Entrepreneurship Awards. He received the prize in the Entrepreneurship category (General Category) for his outstanding track record leading the spin-off Refoxy Pharma.
The award-winning nomination, titled “From CSIC Research to the Global Market: Refoxy Pharma, a Success Story in Science-Based Entrepreneurship,” highlights more than 20 years of basic research led by Dr. Link on FOXO proteins.
A radical innovation against cellular aging
Refoxy Pharmaceuticals GmbH, founded in 2020, was created with the goal of translating the discovery of FOXO3-activating compounds into clinical applications. This master gene is closely linked to extreme human longevity and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis.
In collaboration with CSIC, the company is currently developing the preclinical compound FXY1555. Unlike existing drugs, which only slow the symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Refoxy’s biotechnological approach has shown preclinical potential to halt and even reverse the fibrotic process associated with this disease.
Spanish science with international traction
The success of the project goes beyond its scientific impact and stands as a clear example of efficient and sustainable technology transfer. Refoxy has secured €11.7 million in international private funding, with backing from venture capital funds and Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in respiratory therapies and the company’s main investor.
The spin-off’s immediate goal is to nominate its clinical candidate and initiate first-in-human trials (Phase I) in 2027, thereby consolidating the social and economic return on investment in public science.
