Cerecin

About Cerecin

Cerecin is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm focused on developing therapeutics for neurological and brain health disorders. Founded in 2001 as Accera, Inc., and later rebranding to Cerecin, the company pioneers research in neuro-metabolism. Its scientific founder, Dr. Samuel Henderson, holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and has over 15 years of experience in neurodegenerative disease research. The company is led by President and CEO, Dr. Charles Stacey, a former trauma and reconstructive surgeon with a background in neuroscience and over 20 years of experience in healthcare as a provider, executive, and investor. In 2018, Cerecin relocated its headquarters from Colorado, USA, to Singapore to be closer to its manufacturing partners, clinical trial sites, and key target markets in Asia.

The company's business model is centered on the drug development and eventual commercialization of its pipeline assets, with a separate strategy for its medical food product conducted through partners, primarily in Asia. Cerecin's primary focus is on developing its lead drug candidate, tricaprilin (also known as CER-0001), for a range of neurological conditions. This investigational oral drug is a medium-chain triglyceride designed to induce ketosis, providing an alternative energy source for brain cells that have impaired glucose metabolism, a characteristic feature of many neurological diseases. The brain's reduced ability to use glucose is a known factor in Alzheimer's disease, and by providing ketones as a fuel, tricaprilin aims to address this metabolic deficit. This approach is distinct from many other Alzheimer's treatments that have focused on the amyloid hypothesis. Cerecin's research has indicated that tricaprilin may be particularly effective in patients who are non-carriers of the APOE4 gene, a genetic profile more common in Asian populations.

Cerecin is advancing tricaprilin through multiple clinical trials for various indications. The company is planning a global Phase 3 study for its use in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It has also received Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the U.S. FDA for tricaprilin in the treatment of infantile spasms and is conducting studies for migraine prevention. Beyond its lead drug, Cerecin markets a medical food product called Axona® for the dietary management of Alzheimer's disease and is developing other assets, including CER-022, a radiolabeled ketone body for diagnostic imaging. The company has secured significant funding from a syndicate of investors, including long-term partners Nestlé and Wilmar International, to support its extensive research and development activities.