brainQr Therapeutics is receiving more than €3 million from GO-Bio next, a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). In the TauSafe project, the Göttingen-based company will use the funds to further develop its drug candidate BQ-141, a new approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease.
The project runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028 and is led by Prof. Dr. Markus Zweckstetter, the founder of brainQr Therapeutics.
Tau: a key protein in Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 40 million people worldwide. There is still no therapy that halts the underlying course of the disease. Approved drugs mainly target amyloid deposits in the brain, and their clinical benefit is limited.
The tau protein plays a central role. In healthy nerve cells, it stabilises important structures. If it loses its natural shape, it misfolds and clumps together into harmful aggregates. This process is closely linked to the loss of nerve cells and cognitive decline.
Stabilising before damage occurs
BQ-141 is designed to stabilise the tau protein in its natural structure and thus prevent it from misfolding and clumping. The drug candidate therefore intervenes early in the disease process rather than treating its consequences. If this succeeds, it could slow or even prevent the progression of the disease.
In the longer term, the approach could also be used for other tauopathies and neurodegenerative diseases.
Read the project page (GO-Bio, German) (opens in a new window)