ChemDiv CNS Platform Drives Neurodegenerative Programs into Clinic for Brenig and Polku Therapeutics
Key Insights
ChemDiv's proprietary CNS drug discovery platform has enabled brain-penetrant small-molecule programs targeting LRRK2 (search), NLRP3 (search), and PREP (search)–PP2A (search) pathways for neurodegenerative diseases.
Brenig Therapeutics (search) has advanced LRRK2 (search) and NLRP3 (search)-targeting programs into clinical development, validating the platform's ability to produce candidates for chronic neurological indications.
Polku Therapeutics (search)' lead compound POLK-38 (search) demonstrated significant efficacy on brain tau pathology and spatial learning in the PS19 tauopathy mouse model, a translational Alzheimer's model.
ChemDiv, Inc. (search), a global provider of integrated drug discovery solutions, announced significant milestones achieved through its proprietary central nervous system (CNS) focused drug discovery platform. The platform has successfully enabled the design and optimization of brain-penetrant small-molecule programs, directly supporting recent preclinical and clinical advancements of its partners, Polku Therapeutics (search) and Brenig Therapeutics (search).
The announcement, made from San Diego on June 22, 2026, highlights how the ChemDiv-built platform has been strategically applied to programs targeting pathways implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, with one partner advancing into clinical development and another reporting compelling preclinical efficacy data.
Brenig Therapeutics (search) Programs Enter Clinical Development
ChemDiv's integrated CNS discovery platform was applied to programs developed for Brenig Therapeutics (search), specifically targeting the LRRK2 (search) and NLRP3 (search) pathways implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Recent clinical updates from Brenig Therapeutics confirm the advancement of these programs into clinical development.
This progress underscores the platform's robust capability to support discovery programs requiring complex central nervous system exposure, strict target selectivity, and optimal drug-like properties suitable for chronic neurological indications.
Polku Therapeutics (search) Reports Positive Preclinical Efficacy for POLK-38 (search)
In further validation of the platform's utility, Polku Therapeutics (search), a biotechnology company developing disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative disorders, reported positive efficacy results for its lead compound, POLK-38 (search).
Evaluated in the rigorous PS19 tauopathy mouse model — a widely used translational model for Alzheimer's disease (search) and related disorders — oral administration of POLK-38 (search) yielded a significant treatment effect on brain tau pathology and spatial learning.
POLK-38 (search) is part of a broader portfolio of novel small molecules advanced by Polku to modulate prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP (search)) and restore protein homeostasis mechanisms. The recent data robustly supports the approach of targeting the PREP–PP2A (search) pathway to counter neurodegeneration.
Additional neuropathological assessments are ongoing, and Polku Therapeutics (search) is scheduled to present new research from its PREP (search)-targeting platform at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) on July 12, 2026.
Platform Strategy and Future Outlook
Roman Timakhov, Research Director at ChemDiv, commented on the platform's design philosophy: "By building CNS exposure and selectivity into the design cycle from the start, ChemDiv's platform helps partners move more efficiently from discovery toward clinically relevant candidates."
By successfully facilitating the translation of novel biological targets into viable therapeutic candidates for both Brenig Therapeutics (search) and Polku Therapeutics (search), ChemDiv continues to demonstrate its foundational role in accelerating the discovery of disease-modifying treatments for complex neurological conditions.