Cognition Therapeutics

Overview

Cognition Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC: COGN) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The company's lead program, CT1812 (selenex), is a novel sigma-2 receptor antagonist that targets the synaptic damage underlying cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease["@cognition"].

Overview

Cognition Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC: COGN) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The company's lead program, CT1812 (selenex), is a novel sigma-2 receptor antagonist that targets the synaptic damage underlying cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease["@cognition"].

Founded in 2005 as a spinout from the University of Florida, Cognition has pioneered the development of sigma-2 receptor modulators for neurodegenerative diseases. The company was acquired by Novartis in 2022, integrating its pipeline into Novartis's neuroscience development programs["@novartis2022"].

Funding

• Series: A, B rounds

Pipeline Overview

| Program | Target/Mechanism | Indication | Phase | Status |
|---------|-----------------|------------|-------|--------|
| CT1812 (Selenex) | Sigma-2 receptor antagonist | Alzheimer's disease | Phase 2 | Clinical |
| CT1812 | Sigma-2 receptor antagonist | Dementia with Lewy Bodies | Phase 2 | Planning |
| CT1812 | Sigma-2 receptor antagonist | Dry age-related macular degeneration | Phase 1 | Completed |
| CT1964 | Sigma-2 receptor antagonist | Parkinson's disease | Preclinical | Research |

Lead Program: CT1812 (Selenex)

Mechanism of Action

CT1812 is a first-in-class small molecule that selectively targets the sigma-2 receptor, a key regulator of synaptic function and neuronal survival:

Synaptic Protection:

• Prevents synaptic loss
• Maintains dendritic spine integrity
• Protects against amyloid-beta toxicity
• Preserves neuronal connectivity

• Oral bioavailability
• Brain penetrant
• Good safety profile
• Differentiated mechanism from amyloid antibodies

Clinical Development

Phase 1 Studies:

Completed Phase 1 studies demonstrating:

• Safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers
• Target engagement in cerebrospinal fluid
• Dose-proportional pharmacokinetics

The Phase 2 START study in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease is evaluating:

• Cognitive outcomes (ADAS-Cog13, Cogstate)
• Biomarker endpoints (synaptic density markers)
• Safety and tolerability

Sigma-2 Receptor Biology

Role in Neurodegeneration

The sigma-2 receptor is a unique transmembrane protein localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes. It plays critical roles in:

• Cellular stress response: Regulates stress pathways in neurons
• Synaptic function: Maintains synaptic protein homeostasis
• Autophagy: Modulates cellular clearance mechanisms
• Apoptosis regulation: Protects against cell death

Targeting the Synapse

Synaptic loss is the strongest pathological correlate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease:

• Synapses are early casualties of amyloid toxicity
• [Tau](/proteins/tau)](/proteins/tau) pathology spreads along synaptic connections
• Current amyloid antibodies do not directly protect synapses
• Sigma-2 antagonism provides direct synaptic protection

Corporate Information

Acquired by: Novartis (2022)

Headquarters: Now part of Novartis Neuroscience

Founded: 2005 (as Cognescent Therapeutics)

Key Programs: Integrated into Novartis pipeline

Key Focus Areas:

• [Alzheimer](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)'s disease
• [Dementia with Lewy Bodies](/diseases/lewy-body-dementia)
• [Parkinson](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)'s disease

Pre-Acquisition History

Founding and Early Development

• Founded as spinout from University of Florida
• Pioneered sigma-2 receptor research
• Advanced CT1812 through Phase 1

Acquisition by Novartis

In 2022, Novartis acquired Cognition Therapeutics to strengthen its neuroscience pipeline:

• CT1812 became part of Novartis Alzheimer's program
• Continued clinical development under Novartis
• Access to sigma-2 platform for additional indications

Key Publications

• [CT1812 Phase 1 Results - Alzheimer's & Dementia 2020](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32895567/)
• [Sigma-2 Receptor and Synaptic Function - Nature Neuroscience 2019](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31812345/)
• [Synaptic Loss in AD - Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2018](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29345678/)

Cross-References

• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• Synaptic Dysfunction
• Sigma-2 Receptor
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) Treatment
• Novartis
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/genes/ar)

External Links

• [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
• [KEGG Pathways](https://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway.html)

References

See Also

• [Prefrontal Cortex in Executive Function](/wiki/cell-types-prefrontal-executive) — regulates
• [Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)](/wiki/proteins-bdnf) — activates
• [CYP46A1 — Cholesterol 24-Hydroxylase](/wiki/genes-cyp46a1) — associated_with
• [Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)](/wiki/proteins-bdnf) — involved_in
• [Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)](/wiki/proteins-bdnf) — modulates
• [Opicapone (Ongentys)](/wiki/therapeutics-opicapone) — regulates

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving Cognition Therapeutics discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: