Cortexyme, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRXT) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that was rebranded to Quince Therapeutics in 2024 following a strategic acquisition. The company focuses on developing disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions through a novel approach targeting bacterial pathogens, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis[1].
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Ticker | NASDAQ: CRXT |
| Founded | 2012 (as Cortexyme) |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, USA |
| CEO | Casey Lynch |
| Former Name | Cortexyme, Inc. |
| Current Name | Quince Therapeutics (2024) |
| Market Cap | ~$30-50M (2024) |
Cortexyme was founded in 2012 by Casey Lynch and Dr. Stephen Dominy, who had been researching the connection between chronic periodontal disease and Alzheimer's disease. The company's approach was groundbreaking in proposing that bacterial pathogens could be a causative factor in neurodegenerative disease.
In 2024, the company rebranded to Quince Therapeutics after acquiring a pipeline of experimental therapeutics.
Cortexyme/Quince's therapeutic approach centers on gingipain inhibitors — small molecule drugs that target and inhibit the toxic gingipain enzymes produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis:
These enzymes are critical for P. gingivalis survival and pathogenicity, and have been shown to:
The bacterial hypothesis of Alzheimer's represents a paradigm shift:
COR388 (later renamed in Quince pipeline) is the lead program targeting P. gingivalis gingipains.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | COR388 (Atuzabtagene autoleucel - no, that's different) |
| Target | Rgp and Kgp gingipains |
| Mechanism | Small molecule gingipain inhibitor |
| Indication | Alzheimer's disease |
| Phase | Phase 2/3 (GAIN Trial) |
| Route | Oral |
The GAIN (GingipAIN) trial is a pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial:
Earlier Phase 1b studies showed[3]:
Preclinical program targeting P. gingivalis in Parkinson's disease:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Target | Gingipains |
| Indication | Parkinson's disease |
| Status | Preclinical |
Rationale: P. gingivalis may contribute to alpha-synuclein aggregation and neuroinflammation in PD.
Dr. Stephen Dominy's research established the scientific foundation for this approach[2:1]:
Brain Invasion: P. gingivalis can enter the brain via:
Gingipain Toxicity: Once in the brain, gingipains:
Evidence in Human Brain:
| Round | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Series A | 2016 | 5M |
| Series B | 2018 | 5M |
| Series C | 2021 | 0M |
| IPO | 2021 | 5M |
| Approach | Examples | Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-amyloid | Leqembi, Donanemab | Remove Aβ plaques |
| Anti-tau | Anti-tau antibodies | Block tau pathology |
| Anti-inflammatory | XPro1595 | Reduce neuroinflammation |
| Anti-bacterial | COR388 | Remove bacterial trigger |
The bacterial hypothesis has faced skepticism: