Cortexa Weekly—April 15
Cortexa Progress
Exciting News: Medical Chemist Onboard!
We're thrilled to announce we've officially selected our medicinal chemist! He's intimately familiar with CNS drug design, shares our enthusiasm for innovation, and is already bringing valuable insights to our team. We'll introduce him formally in the coming weeks—stay tuned!
Business Development Momentum
This week, we've also conducted several crucial business development meetings aimed at establishing a strong foundation for Cortexa Therapeutics. These discussions have been productive and are helping align our scientific progress with strategic growth. We’re also proud to share that Cortexa has officially joined AZBio as a Core Member—another step forward in building meaningful connections within the biotech ecosystem.
Research I’m Watching
Paper: "Cortical hyperexcitability in mouse models and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is linked to noradrenaline deficiency"
Journal: Science Translational Medicine, March 2024
Link: Read it here
This study presents evidence that cortical hyperexcitability is associated with noradrenaline deficiency in ALS, and that such excitability is observable in both familial and sporadic forms of the disease. While the data highlight a correlation between noradrenaline signaling and hyperexcitability, it does not conclusively establish that hyperexcitability precedes symptom onset in all ALS cases, nor does it refute prior estimates of its prevalence.
My Take: While this paper adds an important metabolic dimension to our understanding of cortical hyperexcitability, it does not directly contradict the longstanding belief that only a subset of ALS patients experience early excitability. However, it does support the broader concept that excitability is mechanistically relevant and may occur before or alongside symptom emergence. This aligns with Cortexa’s evolving strategy—targeting early-stage neuronal stress and calcium dysregulation as potentially modifiable contributors to disease onset and progression.
We remain committed to exploring therapeutic pathways that address excitability early, while also supporting neurons that are already under duress. The mechanisms remain complex, but the opportunity for impactful intervention remains strong.
Scientific Reflections:
We’ve spent time this week reflecting on emerging evidence connecting cortical hyperexcitability to metabolic and neuromodulatory changes in ALS. As new insights come into focus, we’re continually reassessing how these mechanisms might intersect with our core therapeutic strategy. Science is dynamic—and so are we.
Quick Hits
Medicinal Chemistry Kickoff: Analog refinement begins next week, with a focus on optimizing core properties.
Deep Dive on Hyperexcitability: Internal lit review underway to explore neuromodulatory pathways.
Strategic Conversations: Business dev meetings focused on preclinical CRO alignment and grant positioning.
White Paper Progress: Final layout and formatting in progress.
Community & Collaboration:
We're also proud to share that we officially launched our social media presence this month—with the help of my oldest and longest friend, Barrett. Thanks to her creativity and commitment, our very first Instagram post generated over 25,000 interactions. The early engagement has been deeply encouraging, and we're just getting started.
We've also seen amazing early financial support, raising $2,625 over the past three weeks. Every bit helps as we continue pushing forward, and we'll need your support now more than ever. Help us spread awareness, connect with us online, and share our mission with anyone passionate about transformative ALS research.
