− Research project on the aging of human brain cells will use 4M Therapeutics’ small molecule compounds
− NIA grant of $3.9 million will help fund project, which will strengthen scientific understanding of 4M’s novel pipeline
4M Therapeutics Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company developing treatments for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the company will provide its novel compounds for use in a research project by Jerome Mertens, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego and Adjunct at the Salk Institute. Dr. Mertens was awarded $3.9 million in grant funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and will be the principal investigator for the project, titled “Age-equivalent neurons from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients to investigate early determinants of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD).”
The project will study neurons derived from reprogrammed skin cells, a method that creates neurons that have the key effects of aging. Dr. Pablo Lapuerta, CEO and Co-Founder of 4M Therapeutics, will act as an advisor on the project and assist with the selection of compounds for further testing.
“Dr. Mertens’ research on human brain cells has potential applications across a largely underserved elderly patient population, and we are honored that his lab would choose to use 4M’s compounds as part of this study,” said Dr. Pablo Lapuerta, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of 4M Therapeutics. “This collaboration will deepen our understanding of the therapeutic potential of our pipeline. Inhibition of GSK3β promises to enhance neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, with the potential to address age-related cognitive decline. This regenerative pathway could play a key role in protecting against dementia.”
“We are grateful to the NIA for funding this research, as elderly patients with MCI have no approved treatment options,” said Dr. Mertens. “We hope to uncover new findings surrounding MCI that could impact an area of high unmet need and millions of patients.”
About 4M Therapeutics Inc.
4M Therapeutics Inc. (4MTx) is advancing treatments for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. The Company focuses on targets for a wide array of disorders and indications. 4MTx applies unique insights from its living human brain cell platform, which was developed through a collaboration between Harvard, MIT, and the University of Washington to identify and design more effective and safer therapeutics. The Company’s pipeline includes potential breakthrough treatments for bipolar mania, agitation in Alzheimer’s disease, neurodegeneration, and other CNS disorders. For more information, visit www.4mtx.net.
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Contacts
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Kimberly Lee, DO
Chief Business Officer
ir@4mtx.net
