Houston, Texas , September 28, 2026
Goldenrod Therapeutics and investigators at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio have launched a research collaboration to investigate the company’s investigational compound 11h in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. The program, known as the Alzheimer’s Disease anti-Amyloid & PDE4 inhibitor Therapy (ADAPT) Study, is being enabled through philanthropic support from Dr. Marie and Mr. Vijay Goradia. The collaboration brings together academic expertise in Alzheimer’s disease biology with biotechnology drug-development capabilities to explore whether targeting neuroinflammation with a brain-penetrant PDE4 inhibitor could provide a basis for further therapeutic research.
ADAPT Study Targets Alzheimer’s Neuroinflammation
The ADAPT Study is being led by Sarah Hopp, PhD, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor at the Glenn Biggs Institute, whose research focuses on microglia and neuroimmunology in Alzheimer’s disease. Sam Houle, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow, is also contributing to the experimental program. Goldenrod Therapeutics is supplying 11h and providing scientific and drug-development expertise. The ongoing work will evaluate the compound in mouse models relevant to Alzheimer’s disease, with the objective of determining whether its pharmacological activity translates into effects on disease-related biology and function. The study is particularly relevant to research into chronic neuroinflammation and dysfunctional microglial activity, biological processes increasingly investigated as components of Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
11h Is Designed as a Brain-Penetrant PDE4 Inhibitor
11h is an investigational, orally bioavailable, brain-penetrant phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor being developed by Goldenrod Therapeutics for neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. PDE4 regulates intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling, a pathway involved in inflammatory responses, neuronal activity and synaptic biology. Earlier research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology reported that 11h demonstrated PDE4 inhibition, brain exposure and anti-inflammatory activity across a range of laboratory models. The study also evaluated pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and tolerability in animal models, supporting further investigation of the compound as a CNS-directed therapeutic candidate. However, these findings remain preclinical and cannot establish safety or efficacy in humans. The Alzheimer’s program expands Goldenrod’s broader strategy of investigating 11h in neurological conditions where neuroinflammation may contribute to disease progression. The company has also been advancing the compound toward clinical development in other neurological indications. In June 2026, Goldenrod announced funding intended to support manufacturing, formulation optimization, IND-enabling studies and a planned Phase 1 study in Friedreich’s ataxia, illustrating the program’s progression toward human testing.
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Collaboration Explores Combination With Anti-Amyloid Approaches
A notable feature of the ADAPT Study is its interest in examining PDE4 inhibition alongside established anti-amyloid approaches. According to the research team, the study is designed to investigate whether addressing neuroinflammatory mechanisms could complement therapies directed at amyloid pathology. The work is intended to generate rigorous experimental evidence that can help determine whether further translational development of 11h for Alzheimer’s disease is justified.
The philanthropic contribution from Marie and Vijay Goradia demonstrates how private support can help enable early-stage biomedical research before a therapeutic program reaches clinical development. For Goldenrod, the ADAPT Study adds Alzheimer’s disease to the broader neurological research strategy surrounding 11h, while providing an opportunity to test the compound in disease-relevant experimental models. At this stage, the program remains preclinical, and additional studies will be required before any conclusions can be drawn about potential clinical benefits for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: Goldenrod Therapeutics press release
