Spanish biotech Tetraneuron receives funding for further clinical development of its Alzheimer's gene therapy

The Spanish biotechnology company Tetraneuron has closed a new financing round that will enable the transition of its experimental Alzheimer's therapy into clinical development. With the fresh capital, the company plans to submit a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) in Europe. This is the next key step on the way to the first human trials.

Therapeutic approach intervenes deeply in the molecular mechanisms of disease

Tetraneuron was founded in 2012 as a spin-off of the Cajal Institute and is pursuing a novel approach to Alzheimer's disease. The company's proprietary platform is based on E2F4DN, a modified form of the transcription factor E2F4. This controls a large number of cellular processes that are crucial for the balance and functionality of nerve cells. In contrast to established therapies, which mostly target the reduction of protein deposits, tetraneuron directly targets higher-level genetic regulatory mechanisms and thus addresses the underlying causes of neurodegeneration.

Positive preclinical data and regulatory progress

The company's lead drug candidate, TET-101, showed both a promising efficacy profile and exceptionally good safety in preclinical models. It is particularly noteworthy that the technology has so far been able to avoid typical toxicological challenges of master gene interventions.

Tetraneuron had already successfully completed a pre-IND meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022. If the clinical transition is successful, TET-101 could become the first gene therapy to be developed entirely within the Spanish advanced therapies ecosystem.

GIMIC Ventures joins as an investor

The new financing comes from the Karlsruhe-based venture capital fund GIMIC Ventures, among others. For the investors, Tetraneuron represents an important driver of innovation in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. GIMIC Managing Partner Mi Le emphasized that the company is"one of the most exciting players" as it approaches Alzheimer's from a fundamentally new therapeutic perspective. The investment will help Tetraneuron to take the final steps before entering clinical trials.

Growing medical importance in view of rising patient numbers

More than 55 million people worldwide are already living with Alzheimer's disease. According to forecasts, this number could triple by 2050. As existing therapies only alleviate the symptoms, gene therapy approaches are increasingly becoming the focus of international research. In this dynamic environment, Tetraneuron is positioning itself as a developer of a potentially disease-modifying treatment.