Aperture Therapeutics Advances CD33-Targeting Candidate for Microglial Restoration in FTD and ALS

Aperture Therapeutics, a preclinical biotechnology company, has announced a new development candidate targeting CD33, a receptor implicated in dysfunctional microglial activity in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The therapy is designed to restore microglial homeostasis by modulating CD33 signaling, which research shows can reduce harmful inflammatory responses and improve debris clearance in the central nervous system. The company reports that preclinical work supports CD33 as a viable path toward slowing or modifying disease progression, and the candidate will advance into IND-enabling studies.

Interest in microglia-focused therapeutics has grown as genetic studies link innate immune dysregulation to neurodegeneration. Aperture’s CD33-specific approach adds a differentiated mechanism to the pipeline. The optimization of CD33 modulators was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS/NIH).

Posted by MedCloudInsider Editors on 11/24/2025