Cortexyme, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic conditions associated with bacterial proteases. The company’s research centers on targeting virulence factors produced by the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, an organism increasingly implicated in neurodegeneration. By inhibiting the activity of gingipains—proteolytic enzymes secreted by P. gingivalis—Cortexyme aims to reduce inflammation and tissue damage in the brain and other organs.
The company’s lead product candidate, atuzaginstat (COR388), is a small-molecule inhibitor designed to cross the blood–brain barrier and neutralize gingipain activity. Atuzaginstat has advanced through Phase 1 safety studies and into multiple Phase 2 trials assessing its ability to slow cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to its Alzheimer’s program, Cortexyme is exploring the potential of gingipain inhibition in other chronic inflammatory conditions where P. gingivalis may play a role.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Cortexyme combines expertise in microbiology, neuroscience and medicinal chemistry. The company collaborates with academic institutions and clinical research organizations in North America and Europe to conduct biomarker analyses and clinical trials. Its multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians aims to validate a new therapeutic approach that addresses one of the hypothesized infectious contributors to neurodegeneration.
As a biotechnology innovator, Cortexyme leverages proprietary chemistry platforms and translational research to identify and advance oral pathogen–targeted therapeutics. With a focus on safety, efficacy and biomarker-driven clinical development, the company seeks to establish gingipain inhibition as a novel mechanism for treating Alzheimer’s disease and potentially other degenerative disorders linked to chronic bacterial infection.
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