Trefoil Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel engineered protein therapeutics for degenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company focuses on engineered growth factors and neurotrophic factors with improved pharmacological properties compared to native proteins[1].
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Funding | Series B ($55M, 2024) |
| Focus | Engineered neurotrophic factors, CNS disorders |
| Stage | Clinical (Phase 1) |
| Drug | Mechanism | Indication | Stage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TF-201 | Synaptic growth factor | Alzheimer's disease | Phase 1 | Recruiting |
| TF-202 | Neuroprotective factor | Parkinson's disease | Preclinical | IND-enabling |
TF-201 is an engineered neurotrophic factor designed to promote synaptic formation and function:
TF-201 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials evaluating safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers and patients with mild cognitive impairment.
TF-202 is a neuroprotective factor in preclinical development for Parkinson's disease:
Neurotrophic factors are proteins that support neuron survival, differentiation, and function. In neurodegenerative diseases, neurotrophic signaling is impaired, contributing to progressive neuronal loss[2].
Key neurotrophic factors implicated in AD/PD:
A comprehensive 2024 review highlighted the potential of neurotrophic factor-based therapies and the challenges of delivering these proteins to the CNS[3].
Trefoil's platform focuses on engineering neurotrophic factors with:
Simic et al. Neurotrophic Factor-Based Therapeutic Approaches. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2019. ↩︎
Various. Neurotrophic Factors in Neurodegeneration. Cell. 2024. ↩︎