# Targeting tau for the development of novel Alzheimer's disease therapeutics

> **NIH NIH R44** · AQUINNAH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. · 2020 · $1,475,961

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive
function and a corresponding accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the two hallmark
pathologies. Drugs currently available to AD patients manage the disease symptoms by improving neuronal
activity, but efficacy diminishes as the disease advances. In tauopathies such as AD, the accumulation of tau
correlates closely with neuronal loss and decline of cognitive function. The novel targeted approach to AD drug
development proposed by Aquinnah Pharmaceuticals stems from discoveries made by Dr. Ben Wolozin
(Boston University and co-founder of Aquinnah) and his laboratory, in which tau pathology (in both AD brain
samples and animal models) was observed in stress granules (SG). Aquinnah is advancing these compelling
findings to further the development of novel molecules that inhibit the formation of tau-SGs as a novel
treatment for AD that were identified in SBIR Phase I. The overall objective of this SBIR Phase II application is
to perform a medicinal chemistry hit-to-lead and lead optimization program to advance our novel compounds
for the treatment of AD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10010108
- **Project number:** 2R44AG060843-02
- **Recipient organization:** AQUINNAH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Glenn Larsen
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,475,961
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10010108

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10010108, Targeting tau for the development of novel Alzheimer's disease therapeutics (2R44AG060843-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10010108. Licensed CC0.

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