Acumen Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ABOS) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing precision medicines targeting pathological protein assemblies in neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s lead program, ACU193, is a monoclonal antibody designed to selectively bind toxic soluble amyloid-β oligomers, which are believed to play a central role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Acumen’s research efforts aim to stall or reverse cognitive decline by neutralizing these neurotoxic species while sparing non-pathogenic forms of amyloid-β.
In addition to its flagship Alzheimer’s candidate, Acumen leverages a proprietary platform for the identification and characterization of misfolded protein targets across a spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions. This platform combines high-throughput screening, biophysical assays, and structural biology to generate therapeutic antibodies and small molecules with optimal binding specificity. Preclinical collaborations and licensing agreements with academic institutions and industry partners support pipeline diversification, with early-stage programs addressing tauopathies and other protein-driven disorders.
Founded in 2016 as a spin-out from leading research laboratories in the United States, Acumen Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Redwood City, California, and maintains research operations in the Boston area. The company has assembled a leadership team with extensive experience in drug discovery, translational neuroscience, and clinical development. Michael A. Selden, Ph.D., serves as Chief Executive Officer, bringing over two decades of executive leadership in life sciences, and is supported by a management team drawn from both large pharmaceutical companies and nimble biotechs.
Acumen’s strategic vision is to redefine therapeutic approaches for diseases driven by protein misfolding, advancing its clinical and preclinical candidates through rigorous development pathways. By integrating cutting-edge science with a focused clinical strategy, the company aims to address urgent unmet needs in neurodegenerative disease and improve patient outcomes worldwide.
