On Thursday, DigmBio announced its selection for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Investment-Linked Technology Development (Research and Development (R&D)) project, paving the way for full-scale preclinical research and development of its promising dementia drug candidate, DM3159.
This initiative, overseen by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute and the Small and Medium Business Technology Information Promotion Agency, focuses on the Preclinical Research and Development of DM3159 (TASR Agonist) for Dementia Treatment.
The research is slated to run for 36 months, from July 2026 to June 2029. A total investment of 4 billion KRW (approximately 2.8 million USD) has been allocated, comprising 3 billion KRW (approximately 2.1 million USD) in government funding and 1 billion KRW (approximately 704,000 USD) from the company, including about 100 million KRW (approximately 70,500 USD) in cash and 900 million KRW (approximately 634,000 USD) in kind. The primary objective is to gather the necessary preclinical data for submitting an Investigational New Drug (IND) application.
In collaboration with the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine, DigmBio will conduct GLP toxicology tests and other essential preclinical studies required for the IND submission. This strategic partnership aims to expedite the acquisition of crucial data for clinical entry and subsequent development phases.
DM3159, a low-molecular-weight drug candidate, emerged from DigmBio’s proprietary Taste Receptor (TASR) platform. Its development focuses on neuroprotection and functional recovery. The company reports that animal studies of Alzheimer’s disease have shown promising results, including improvements in cognitive function and reductions in neuroinflammation and pathological markers.
Kim Jung-min, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DigmBio, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating that the government’s selection of the R&D project validates the potential of DM3159. It’s committed to conducting thorough preclinical research to secure the necessary data for clinical trials and to advance new treatment options for dementia.
DigmBio is broadening its drug development pipeline, concentrating on the dementia treatment candidate DM3159, which utilizes the TASR platform, and the PARP1 selective inhibitor anticancer drug DM5167. The latter is being developed with a focus on optimal brain permeability and safety profiles.