US Department of Defense Grants $2.97 Million to Treventis

According to a press statement released on October 18, 2022, the Treventis Corporation, a biotechnology company, was granted $2.97 million to research and develop an anti-tau misfolding drug. The press release states that abnormal connections of tau proteins contribute to frontotemporal degeneration, which is one of the leading causes of dementia.

Alzheimer’s Disease International anticipates that by 2050 nearly 139 million people will have dementia. The increasing rate of dementia — partially due to aging — is concerning, as dementia can lead to cognitive and motor impairments.

In particular, frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia characterized by the degeneration of nerve cells in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain. Often this degeneration occurs when tau molecules attach to one another rather than microtubules. These attachments are called tau tangles or neurofibrillary tangles.

Although there is no cure for dementia, some treatments, such as medication or deep brain stimulation, may improve symptoms, but there is no foolproof way to prevent or treat this category of neurodegenerative diseases. Developing a drug that prevents tau tangles could be revolutionary for dementia treatment.

"We are pleased and gratified by the DoD's funding and the feedback from their scientific review. Treventis believes that a small molecule targeting tau has significant potential as a therapeutic for protein misfolding diseases such as FTD," said Christopher Barden, PhD, CEO of Treventis, in the press release.

Donald Weaver, MD, PhD, PI on the study and Chief Medical Officer of Treventis, added, "This funding will allow Treventis to bring important new hypotheses about targeting protein misfolding disease into a new stage of validation, which brings an anti-tau small molecule that much closer to making a difference in the lives of dementia patients and their caregivers."

As the researchers develop this drug, healthcare professionals and those impacted by dementia will continue to monitor the progression. A drug like this could be a great tool to prevent further damage and worsening symptoms and minimize the financial burden of dementia. Other preventative measures, such as regular screenings for at-risk patients, will significantly avert disease progression.