Acumen Pharmaceuticals Nominates Two EBD Alzheimer’s Candidates with 14–40× Brain Penetration
ABOS•Acumen Pharmaceuticals has nominated two Enhanced Brain Delivery candidates, ACU301 and ACU401, leveraging JCR’s transferrin-receptor-targeting J-Brain Cargo® technology to improve antibody brain penetration 14–40× in non-human primates. IND-enabling studies are underway to support a planned IND submission in mid-2027 for Alzheimer’s treatment.
1. Nomination of Two EBD Candidates
Acumen Pharmaceuticals has nominated two development candidates, ACU301 (a bispecific antibody derived from sabirnetug) and ACU401 (a next-generation AβO-selective antibody known as ACU234), under its Enhanced Brain Delivery program following exercise of its option with JCR Pharmaceuticals.
2. Preclinical Efficacy and Safety Data
In non-human primate studies, both candidates achieved 14–40× higher brain antibody levels than native antibodies at 24 hours, showed favorable plasma pharmacokinetic and stability profiles after low-volume subcutaneous dosing, and exhibited no adverse events or anemia risk across hematology endpoints.
3. J-Brain Cargo Collaboration
The candidates utilize JCR’s J-Brain Cargo® transferrin-receptor-targeting platform to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, combining Acumen’s AβO-selective antibody expertise with validated BBB transport technology to enhance central nervous system delivery.
4. IND-enabling Activities and Timeline
Ongoing IND-enabling activities, including toxicity and formulation studies, are being conducted to support an Investigational New Drug submission targeted for mid-2027, advancing these candidates toward clinical evaluation in Alzheimer’s disease.
