Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: NAUT) announced on July 30, 2025, that it has entered into an agreement with the Allen Institute to investigate the connection between tau protein and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. The partnership aims to leverage Nautilus' single-molecule proteomics technology to potentially unlock breakthrough therapeutics and biomarkers for neurodegenerative disease.
Targeting Tau Proteoforms in Alzheimer's Disease
The collaboration focuses on tau proteoforms—the many functional variants of tau protein—which remain poorly understood despite their critical role in Alzheimer's disease progression. Recent studies suggest that the order, timing, and extent of tau phosphorylation play crucial roles in the disease. Under the agreement, Nautilus and the Allen Institute will work together to identify novel tau proteoforms from human brain tissue, quantify their prevalence, and characterize patterns of phosphorylation that may help predict the course of the disease.
"We are pleased to partner with the Allen Institute to answer highly impactful questions about the role of tau proteoforms in Alzheimer's disease and to further demonstrate the critical role that single-molecule protein analysis may play in advancing the development of new diagnostics and treatments," said Parag Mallick, Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Scientist of Nautilus.
Iterative Mapping Technology Validation
The partnership validates Nautilus' Iterative Mapping approach, which Mallick describes as "an entirely new class of measurement—a fundamentally different way to understand biology." The technology is generating excitement from the wider scientific community as it enables unprecedented analysis of protein molecules at the single-molecule level.
Nautilus recently published a preprint titled "Development of a method for large-scale single-molecule analysis of tau proteoforms," which details the real-world capabilities of its proteomics platform. The study demonstrates the platform's ability to achieve unprecedented resolution, providing actionable biological insights from brain samples of both cognitively normal and impaired patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Platform Performance and Capabilities
The company's studies present initial validation of the accuracy, sensitivity, dynamic range, and reproducibility of Iterative Mapping for interrogating millions to billions of single-protein molecules in a scalable, adaptable manner. This capability represents a significant advancement in proteomics research, potentially enabling researchers to understand protein function and dysfunction at a level of detail previously unattainable.
The collaboration between Nautilus and the Allen Institute combines next-generation proteomics technology with neuroscience leadership, positioning the partnership to make significant contributions to understanding neurodegenerative diseases and developing new therapeutic approaches.
