Brenig Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing AI-powered small-molecule therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced significant leadership changes and pipeline expansion on July 10, 2025. The company appointed David L. Lucchino as President and Chief Executive Officer and Tien Dam, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer, while simultaneously acquiring a promising NLRP3 inhibitor to complement its Parkinson's disease-focused pipeline.
Leadership Appointments Drive Clinical Strategy
Lucchino brings over two decades of life science leadership experience to Brenig, most recently serving as President and CEO of Frequency Therapeutics, Inc., a regenerative medicine company he co-founded with MIT Institute Professor Robert S. Langer. The company developed treatments for hearing restoration and multiple sclerosis. Prior to Frequency, he co-founded and served as CEO of Semprus BioSciences and was co-founder and managing director of LaunchCyte, a life science venture creation firm.
"I am honored to join Brenig as we work to unlock new therapies for patients living with neurodegenerative diseases," said Lucchino. "This team has built an exceptional foundation, combining clinical neuroscience expertise with cutting-edge AI capabilities. Our lead candidate holds significant potential as a disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's and our newly acquired asset adds a compelling program to our pipeline."
Dr. Dam joins Brenig from Neumora Therapeutics, where she served as Vice President of Clinical Development, leading strategy and execution across neuropsychiatry and neurodegeneration programs. Her previous experience includes leading movement disorders development at Biogen, overseeing multiple Parkinson's disease programs, and holding clinical leadership roles at Merck. She also served as a physician-researcher at Columbia University and UC San Diego.
Pipeline Expansion with NLRP3 Inhibitor Acquisition
Brenig acquired BT-409, a pre-clinical NLRP3 inhibitor, from Mwyngil Therapeutics, a San Diego-based biotech company founded through a drug discovery accelerator led by Torrey Pines and OrbiMed. The compound was designed to achieve effective brain-specific NLRP3 inhibition without inducing on- or off-target side effects and has demonstrated a promising safety and pharmacokinetic profile in neuroinflammation models.
The NLRP3 inhibitor is intended for study in Parkinson's disease and may have broad neuro-inflammatory applications for diseases including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke. Brenig plans to initiate pre-IND studies for BT-409 and advance the program into Phase 1 safety studies.
"Our new NLRP3 inhibitor provides a complementary program that may present opportunities to address a range of diseases," said Dr. Dam. "I look forward to working with the team to realize the full potential of these assets and to bring urgently needed disease modifying treatments to patients."
Lead Candidate BT-267 Advances in Parkinson's Disease
Brenig's lead candidate, BT-267, is a selective, brain-penetrant small-molecule inhibitor of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), a key protein implicated in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. The compound was designed to maximize CNS exposure while minimizing peripheral activity, offering a differentiated profile aimed at reducing off-target and systemic side effects.
BT-267 has demonstrated best-in-class potential in preclinical and clinical studies, showing high brain penetration, minimal peripheral exposure, and a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Mutations in LRRK2 represent one of the most common genetic causes of Parkinson's disease, and dysregulated LRRK2 activity is associated with lysosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction.
"BT-267's preclinical and early clinical profile offers promise in addressing key challenges in Parkinson's drug development, particularly around brain penetration and selectivity," noted Dr. Dam.
By precisely targeting the LRRK2 pathway, BT-267 may offer a disease-modifying approach to slowing or potentially halting the progression of Parkinson's and related neurodegenerative conditions.
Strategic Vision and Investment Support
Iain Dukes, M.A., D.Phil., Chairman of the Board and a Venture Partner at OrbiMed, expressed confidence in the new leadership appointments. "David brings a strong track record of advancing novel technologies through research and clinical milestones, building exceptional teams, and generating value for investors. Tien has deep clinical development expertise in neurodegenerative diseases and direct experience with our lead target."
Brenig Therapeutics, founded in 2021 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, is backed by leading life science investors including OrbiMed, NEA, Biogeneration Ventures, and Torrey Pines Investment. The company combines advanced science with AI and machine learning discovery models to develop transformative solutions addressing the root causes of debilitating neurologic conditions.
