New drug CMS121 to help people with Alzheimer’s disease
Official title: Long-term, non-clinical toxicology for advancing CMS121 to Phase 2 trials for AD
Funded at Virogenics, INC. · NIH-11392461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A promising new drug candidate called CMS121 is being studied to support a long-term treatment plan for adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virogenics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Del Mar, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,345,792 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AG084549-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease who could participate in future clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer’s disease or without interest in research participation would not benefit from this particular grant.
What this research studies
This NIH grant funds long-term non-clinical toxicology tests to support a possible Phase 2 trial of CMS121 for Alzheimer’s disease. The work involves evaluating safety and tolerability of daily CMS121 administration over an extended period in models that mimic human disease, with the goal of ensuring it can be tested in people. By partnering with researchers at VIROGENICS, INC., the study aims to build a solid safety profile and align the data with regulatory expectations for a future clinical trial. The overarching aim is to offer a disease-modifying option that could address cognitive and daily functioning challenges in AD patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pave the way for a Phase 2 trial of CMS121 that might slow disease progression and improve quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous AD drug studies have shown safety data in non-clinical testing and some have progressed to human trials, but results are mixed and this approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Virogenics, INC.
Del Mar, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raschke, William C — Virogenics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Raschke, William C
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.