Cerevance

Cerevance is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, with a particular emphasis on neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The company leverages an extensive collection of over 14,000 human brain tissue samples to create a comprehensive catalog of promising targets for next-generation CNS treatments. Utilizing its proprietary NETSseq platform and advanced machine learning techniques, Cerevance identifies previously undiscovered gene expression profiles in specific cell types, enabling the development of novel, symptomatic, and disease-modifying therapies for CNS disorders. The NETSseq platform provides a unique and actionable picture of disease, offering precision in CNS disease treatment by identifying potential drug targets and pathways most impacted in these conditions. With one of the world’s largest proprietary brain tissue databases, Cerevance has deeply sequenced RNA in approximately 60 human brain cell types, generating over 45 trillion base pairs sequenced and more than 100 terabytes of data. Cerevance’s pipeline includes CVN424, a first-in-class non-dopamine therapy for Parkinson’s disease that selectively modulates GPR6, showing promise in improving both motor and non-motor symptoms. CVN766, a potent and highly selective antagonist of the Orexin 1 receptor, has potential benefits for various psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, anxiety, binge eating, substance use disorder, and Prader-Willi Syndrome. CVN293 targets KCNK13, a potassium channel specifically expressed in microglia, aiming to reduce neuroinflammation and slow neurodegeneration in ALS and Alzheimer’s disease. CVN424 has demonstrated significant reduction in ‘off time’ versus placebo without dopaminergic side effects in Parkinson’s disease, while CVN766 has shown efficacy in multiple preclinical models. CVN293 is currently in a Phase 1 study to demonstrate safety and tolerability, with topline data expected in Q2 2024. Recognized as one of the most promising early-stage biotechnology companies by Fierce Biotech in 2023, Cerevance was featured on the Fierce 15 list. The company recently announced an initial closing of its Series B-1 Extension financing round, adding $47 million to the $51 million previously raised, bringing the total Series B-1 raise to $98 million. Cerevance has also formed a multi-year research alliance with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited to identify novel target proteins expressed in the CNS and develop new therapies for certain gastrointestinal disorders. Additionally, Cerevance has established a strategic research collaboration with Merck to identify novel targets for Alzheimer’s disease utilizing its NETSseq technology platform.