Algiax Pharmaceuticals

What Algiax Pharmaceuticals does

Algiax Pharmaceuticals GmbH is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Erkrath (near Düsseldorf), Germany. It focuses on discovering and developing small-molecule GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) for diseases of the nervous system, with a primary emphasis on chronic neuropathic pain. The company's lead asset, AP-325, is designed to act peripherally on GABAA receptors in the dorsal root ganglion, restoring spinal inhibition without crossing the blood-brain barrier, thereby avoiding central side effects such as sedation and offering a non-opioid mechanism with low addiction potential. AP-325 received EMA Orphan Drug Designation in August 2013 for traumatic spinal cord injury and has advanced through Phase 1 and a positive Phase 2a proof-of-concept study in peripheral post-surgical neuropathic pain, with topline data announced in February 2025.

The company's core technology platform centers on GABAA receptor modulation via two proprietary chemical series: AP-325 and a set of Thioacrylamide (ThAc) derivatives that bind the same receptor site and are being developed preclinically for diabetes and metabolic indications such as NAFLD/NASH. The ThAc program has been advanced through a JDRF-funded collaboration with UCLA and through Algiax's founding partnership in the KomIT Center of Competence (German Diabetes Center-led, ~3.5M EUR NRW/EU funding). As a pre-commercial biotech, Algiax does not yet sell products; its revenue model is expected to be built on out-licensing, milestone payments, and royalties from a future commercialization partner, supplemented by non-dilutive grant and research-collaboration funding. The company is venture-backed (4.3M EUR Series A in 2012, 5.5M EUR round in 2019 led by OCCIDENT), is led by CEO Dr. Ingo Lehrke, CSO and co-founder Dr. Guido Koopmans, and CBO Dr. Daniel Gau (appointed December 2025), and operates with a 1–10 person team.

Name

Algiax Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

Algiax Pharmaceuticals GmbH

Website

https://algiax.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Algiax Pharmaceuticals is a privately held, clinical-stage German biotech developing proprietary GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators, led by AP-325 for chronic neuropathic pain, with a preclinical Thioacrylamide program in diabetes and NAFLD/NASH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuropathic Pain Therapeutics

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Pain Management & Anesthesiology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pain Medicine (Interventional/Neuropathic Pain) (HLAKAIAM), Medication Therapy Management (MTM) & Clinical Pharmacy Services Tools (HLACAKAH)

Keywords

• Neuropathic pain therapeutics
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals
• GABAA receptor modulators
• Small molecule drug development
• Orphan drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

Erkrath

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Licensing/Royalty Revenue: As a clinical-stage biotech company, Algiax's primary revenue model will be through licensing agreements with larger pharmaceutical companies for the commercialization of AP-325 and ThAc derivatives. The company will seek partnerships for development, manufacturing, and global commercialization rights in exchange for upfront payments, milestone payments, and ongoing royalties.
2. Research Collaborations and Partnerships: Revenue generated through strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and patient advocacy groups for co-development programs, research grants (e.g., JDRF, EFRE/NRW funding), and clinical trial collaborations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Algiax Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary small-molecule positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the GABAA receptor. Its lead candidate, AP-325, is designed to treat chronic neuropathic pain through peripheral targeting of the dorsal root ganglion without penetrating the brain. The company also advances Thioacrylamide (ThAc) derivatives for diabetes and related metabolic conditions including NAFLD/NASH.

Product overview

Algiax Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a focused pipeline of GABAA receptor modulators. The company's lead product is AP-325, a small-molecule positive allosteric modulator in Phase 2a clinical development for chronic neuropathic pain. Complementing AP-325, Algiax is advancing Thioacrylamide (ThAc) derivatives from discovery through preclinical characterization for potential use in diabetes and chronic pain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AP-325 Small-molecule positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the GABAA receptor in clinical development for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Designed to restore spinal inhibition and reduce pain without penetrating the brain, offering non-opioid pain relief with lower addiction potential and without sedative central side effects.
• Thioacrylamide (ThAc) Derivatives Novel GABAA receptor modulator compounds discovered by Algiax in preclinical research. ThAcs bind to the same receptor site as AP-325 and are being developed for diabetes and chronic pain indications, with potential applications in NAFLD/NASH.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25% of AP-325 treated patients achieved ≥50% pain reduction vs 11% placebo
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 2 Bridge NVminorOthers · 1 December 2025Dr. Daniel Gau continues to serve as Vice President at 2 Bridge NV in addition to his role as CBO at Algiax Pharmaceuticals.
• Eisbach Bio GmbHminorOthers · 1 December 2025Dr. Daniel Gau continues to serve as Vice President at Eisbach Bio GmbH in addition to his role as CBO at Algiax Pharmaceuticals.
• Unicyte AG (affiliate of Fresenius Medical Care)minorOthers · 1 December 2025Dr. Daniel Gau previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business Development at Unicyte AG, where he successfully executed Series A/B funding rounds.
• German Diabetes Center (DDZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Algiax is founding partner of the new Center of Competence for Innovative Diabetes Therapy (KomIT) coordinated by DDZ. The center focuses on development of new diabetes therapies with total funding of about 3.5 million EUR from NRW and EU over three years.
• KomIT Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019KomIT consortium includes eight partners from industry and academia: LDC, Taros Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG, vivo Science GmbH, A & M Labor für Analytik und Metabolismusforschung Service GmbH, PROFIL Institut für Stoffwechselforschung GmbH, and TU Dortmund with the Drug Discovery Hub Dortmund (DDHD). Total funding of 3.5 million EUR from NRW and EU.
• UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2016JDRF-funded collaboration with UCLA starting end of June 2016 to perform preclinical Proof-of-Concept in Diabetes Type 1 using proprietary new chemical entities from Algiax.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Cara Therapeutics: Clinical/commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing difelikefalin (KORSUVA) for pruritus and pain. Comparable to Algiax as a small-cap biotech focused on differentiated pain/itch therapeutics with similar partnership dynamics.
• Trevena Inc. Clinical/small commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on pain therapeutics including OLINVYK (oliceridine). Comparable to Algiax as a pain-focused, smaller-cap player developing differentiated opioid and non-opioid pain therapies.
• Tonix Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline spanning CNS and pain indications. Comparable to Algiax as a small-cap public biotech pursuing CNS/pain drug development with limited commercial revenue.
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Large biotech that recently received FDA approval for Journavx (suzetrigine), a first-in-class non-opioid pain therapeutic. Relevant as a major validation of the non-opioid pain commercial opportunity that Algiax's AP-325 also targets.

Broad incumbents

• AbbVie: Global pharmaceutical incumbent with a significant pain franchise (e.g., Botox for chronic migraine). Relevant as a potential strategic acquirer/licensor for Algiax's AP-325 given established neuropathic pain commercial infrastructure.
• Grünenthal GmbH: Germany-based, privately held mid-sized pharmaceutical company with deep focus on pain therapeutics (e.g., Palexia/tapentadol). Relevant as a potential strategic partner for Algiax's AP-325 and as the former employer of SAB member Dr. Klaus-Dieter Langner.
• Pfizer: Global pharmaceutical incumbent that commercialized Lyrica (pregabalin) for neuropathic pain. Relevant as the dominant incumbent in neuropathic pain and a likely potential acquirer/licensor for Algiax's AP-325 upon Phase 3 success.

Direct peers

• Lexicon Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for neuropathic pain (e.g., LX9211/AAP-723 with Servier). Comparable to Algiax in targeting novel mechanisms for neuropathic pain, though operating at a larger scale and more advanced stage.
• Novaremed: Swiss clinical-stage biotechnology company developing NRD.E1, a non-opioid small molecule for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and other neuropathic pain conditions. Closely comparable to Algiax in mechanism, stage (Phase 2), target indication, and capital scale.
• Neumentum: US-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing non-opioid pain therapeutics for acute and chronic pain settings. Comparable to Algiax as a small clinical-stage player focused on non-opioid pain alternatives with similar partnership-driven business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/algiax-pharmaceuticals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Algiax Pharmaceuticals