Polku Therapeutics Secures Funding to Advance Disease-Modifying Therapies for Tauopathies
Helsinki, Finland – January 31, 2025 – Polku Therapeutics today announced funding awards to support the development of disease-modifying treatments targeting tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia.
The company received a grant through the Tau Pipeline Enabling Program (T-PEP), a joint initiative of the Alzheimer's Association and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, as well as an investment from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) Therapeutics Funding Program.
Polku's approach centers on increasing the activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), an enzyme that not only reduces toxic tau aggregation but also plays a significant role in regulating neuroinflammation, autophagy, and tau stability.
"We are honored by the recognition and support from the Alzheimer's Association and the Rainwater Charitable Foundation," said Dr. Simon Bennett, CEO of Polku Therapeutics. "This funding enables us to accelerate our research and move closer to bringing a novel, disease-modifying therapy to the clinic."
The new funding builds upon previous support from Torrey Pines Investment and Innovestor's Life Science Fund.
About Polku Therapeutics
Polku Therapeutics is a Helsinki-based biotechnology company developing novel medicines for neurodegenerative diseases by targeting the pathways underlying protein aggregation and neuroinflammation.
About the Rainwater Charitable Foundation
The Rainwater Charitable Foundation was established in the 1990s and expanded its focus on neuroscience research following the diagnosis of its founder, Richard E. Rainwater, with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). The foundation has invested over $140 million in medical research, helping advance eight therapies into human clinical trials.
About the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's disease. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $290 million to support over 750 programs across 20 countries.
Media Contact: Sebastian Soidinsalo, sebastian@polku-therapeutics.com