CuraSen Therapeutics Announces Strategic Investment from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation to Advance CST-3056, an Alpha-1A Adrenoceptor Agonist, for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CuraSen Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage company developing small molecule therapies to treat neurodegenerative disease, announced that it has received a strategic investment of up to $5.8 million from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) to advance CST-3056, an alpha-1A adrenoceptor (α_1A-AR) agonist for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

“We are thrilled to receive this investment from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation which will be used to advance CST-3056, our proprietary α_1A-AR agonist program, from preclinical development to completion of Phase 1 studies,” said Anthony Ford, PhD, chief executive officer, CuraSen Therapeutics. “Coupled with our two other Phase 2 clinical-stage programs in neurodegenerative diseases, CST-2032 and CST-103, CuraSen is well-positioned to deliver critically needed neurodegenerative disease treatment options to the millions of patients and caregivers in need.”

“Alpha-1A adrenoceptors are known to help regulate neurotransmission and are prevalent in the areas of the brain important to memory and learning, making them a promising target for Alzheimer’s drug development by offering potential neuroprotective benefits,” said Howard Fillit, MD, co-founder and chief science officer, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. “Novel approaches, such as the one CuraSen is pursuing, are critical as we develop the next class of Alzheimer’s therapeutics that will move us closer to treating Alzheimer's through combination therapy and precision medicine.”

CuraSen will commence non-clinical studies early in 2024 and expects to initiate Phase 1 clinical testing later that year.

About the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)

Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF's leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer's PET scan (Amyvid^®) and blood test (PrecivityAD^®) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded more than $270 million to fund over 730 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 19 countries. To learn more, please visit: http://www.alzdiscovery.org/.

About Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. An estimated 50 million people are living with dementia worldwide. In its early stages, Alzheimer’s disease often appears as short-term memory loss. As patients develop dementia and the disease progresses, cognitive and functional impairments become increasingly noticeable and severe. Other forms of dementia may present with different symptoms, such as personality changes, language difficulties, and loss of inhibition.

About CuraSen Therapeutics

CuraSen is focused on the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other related orphan conditions. CuraSen’s drugs are designed to activate certain receptor populations in the brain to compensate for critical neuronal and glial functions that have otherwise been lost due to degeneration and represent a unique approach in the field. The company is evaluating CST-103 and CST-2032, both selective β₂-ARs agonists, in combination with CST-107, a β-AR blocker, in multiple Phase 2 clinical studies. CST-3056, an α_1A-AR agonist, is in preclinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. For more information, please visit www.curasen.com.