Cerecin
Cerecin is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing ketogenic therapeutics — led by tricaprilin (CER-0001) — for Alzheimer's disease, migraine, and infantile spasms, using its proprietary Lipid in NanoEmulsion (LINE) platform and ultrapure lipid synthesis technology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cerecin does
Cerecin is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing ketogenic therapeutics for neurological disorders where metabolic dysfunction plays a central role. The company's core technology centers on inducing exogenous ketosis through structured lipid therapeutics, anchored by a proprietary Lipid in NanoEmulsion (LINE) platform and an ultrapure tricaprilin synthesis process that exceeds recent EU and US impurity guidance for processed oils. Its lead asset, CER-0001 (tricaprilin), is in global Phase 3 development (ALTER-AD) for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease targeting APOE4 non-carriers, with additional programs in migraine prevention and infantile spasms where the company holds US FDA Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease Designations. The pipeline has expanded to include CER-022, a ketone PET radioligand licensed from the University of Alberta for diagnostic imaging, and CER-081, an intravenous beta-hydroxybutyrate formulation acquired from Boston Scientific in January 2024 for acute neurological conditions.
The company operates an enterprise field-sales commercialization model for its pharmaceutical candidates following regulatory approval, with global development spanning the U.S., Singapore, Korea, Canada, and Australia. Approximately $200 million has been invested in tricaprilin development to date, with an additional $100 million required to reach commercialization targeted for 2029. Cerecin previously commercialized Axona, a medical food for Alzheimer's dietary management, in the U.S. and through regional partners in Asia Pacific. The company maintains wholly-owned subsidiaries in Singapore (regional headquarters), Australia (R&D), and the U.S. (Cerecin Inc., Delaware-incorporated).
Ownership is concentrated: Nestlé holds approximately 60%, Wilmar Group approximately 10%, and Korean institutional investors collectively approximately 29%. The company is pursuing a KOSDAQ listing with pre-IPO funding of up to KRW 40 billion arranged through BNK and Hanwha Investment & Securities. There is no public revenue; all pharmaceutical assets are investigational.
Cerecin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cerecin
- Legal name
- Cerecin Inc.
- Website
- https://cerecin.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cerecin is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing ketogenic therapeutics — led by tricaprilin (CER-0001) — for Alzheimer's disease, migraine, and infantile spasms, using its proprietary Lipid in NanoEmulsion (LINE) platform and ultrapure lipid synthesis technology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cerecin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Neurological Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF), Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAD)
Keywords
Where Cerecin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Cerecin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Drug Development and Commercialization: Cerecin is developing pharmaceutical drugs (tricaprilin/CER-0001 for Alzheimer's disease, migraine, and infantile spasms) with plans to commercialize globally following regulatory approval. The company expects to need USD 100 million additional investment to reach commercialization in 2029.
- Medical Food (Axona): Cerecin previously commercialized Axona, a medical food for dietary management of Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. and through partners in Asia Pacific. Commercial strategy for medical food is conducted entirely through partners in Asia markets.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Cerecin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cerecin develops investigational pharmaceutical drugs based on the physiological ketone system to address neurological diseases with metabolic dysfunction. Lead candidate CER-0001 (tricaprilin) is a structured-lipid ketogenic drug in Phase 3 development for Alzheimer's disease, Phase 2 for migraine prevention, and Phase 1/2a for infantile spasms. The pipeline is supplemented by CER-022 (a ketone PET radioligand for diagnostic imaging) and CER-081 (an IV ketone precursor for acute neurological conditions). The company also previously commercialized Axona, a medical food for the dietary management of Alzheimer's disease, sold in the U.S. and Asia Pacific through regional partners.
Product overview
Cerecin is a biotechnology company developing metabolic drugs for neurological disorders, with a diversified and integrated pipeline of products spanning therapeutic and diagnostic spectrums. The company's portfolio centers on ketogenic drug development leveraging the physiological ketone system. Lead product CER-0001 (tricaprilin) is an investigational ketogenic drug in clinical development for Alzheimer's disease, migraine prevention, and infantile spasms. The pipeline includes CER-022 (a ketone PET radioligand for diagnostic imaging) and CER-081 (an IV ketone precursor for acute neurological conditions), both in preclinical development. The company also commercialized Axona, a medical food for Alzheimer's dietary management. Cerecin's proprietary Lipid in NanoEmulsion (LINE) technology platform enables formulation of lipid-based therapeutics with enhanced bioavailability. The company operates globally with headquarters in the USA and Singapore, and R&D presence in Australia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CER-0001 (tricaprilin) Lead investigational structured-lipid ketogenic drug that provides an exogenous source of ketone bodies to the brain, serving as an alternative energy substrate for metabolically compromised neuronal cells. In clinical development for Alzheimer's disease (Phase 3 ALTER-AD), migraine prevention (Phase 2), and infantile spasms (Phase 1/2a).
- CER-022 Radiolabeled ketone body PET radioligand being investigated for quantifying regional ketone metabolism, analogous to 18F FDG PET used for glucose metabolism. Targeted applications span neurology, cardiology, and oncology diagnostics.
- CER-081 Intravenous formulation of beta-hydroxybutyrate solution that delivers ketones directly via IV injection. Being investigated for use in acute neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, or heart failure in hospital settings.
- Axona Medical food product (drinkable dry powder mixed with milk or other liquids) intended for the dietary management of metabolic processes associated with Alzheimer's disease, providing an alternative energy source for the brain through ketogenic action.
Quantifiable outcome
- Phase 2 trials showed significant cognitive improvement in APOE4 non-carriers with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cerecin
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cerecin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cerecin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered regional and major.
- NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain HealthregionalCerecin joined NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Health as an Industry Partner in August 2025.
- Cha Bundang HospitalregionalCerecin signed an MOU with Cha Bundang Hospital in April 2025. Hospital is based in South Korea.
- OncogenregionalCerecin signed an MOU with Oncogen in December 2024.
- Boston ScientificmajorAcquired CER-081 ketone precursor (IV beta-hydroxybutyrate solution) from Boston Scientific in January 2024 to expand pipeline for acute neurological conditions.
- A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB)majorStrategic partnership with A*STAR's IMCB in Singapore to advance R&D in neurological disorders. Announcement made December 2023.
- University of AlbertamajorCER-022 ketone PET radioligand technology licensed from University of Alberta for quantifying regional ketone metabolism. Being developed collaboratively for diagnostic applications in neurology, cardiology, and oncology.
- DuChemBioregionalStrategic partnership and exclusive licensing agreement with DuChemBio for Cerecin's technology in Korea. DuChemBio planned to launch Axona medical food in Korea in 2019.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cerecin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Anavex Life Sciences: Clinical-stage CNS biotech developing therapies for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Directly comparable as a small-cap, late-stage clinical neuroscience company targeting AD with a novel mechanism and no current commercial revenue.
- Sage Therapeutics: CNS-focused biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for neurological disorders. Comparable as a CNS specialty pharma pursuing novel mechanisms across depression, epilepsy, and neurology indications.
- Cassava Sciences: Late-stage CNS biotech developing simufilam for Alzheimer's disease. Comparable in stage (Phase 3), indication focus (AD), and small-cap clinical profile with a single-asset-heavy pipeline and binary readout-driven valuation.
- Axsome Therapeutics: CNS-focused biotech developing therapeutics for neurological conditions. Comparable as a clinical-to-commercial CNS specialty pharma with novel-mechanism neurology assets.
- Biohaven Pharmaceuticals: Neurology-focused biotech with migraine pipeline (CGRP franchise). Comparable as a CNS company with a migraine indication overlap and similar specialty-pharma commercial model targeting underserved neurological patients.
- Intra-Cellular Therapies: CNS-focused biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Comparable as a CNS specialty pharma with novel-mechanism neurology assets targeting unmet needs.
- Acadia Pharmaceuticals: Specialty CNS biopharmaceutical company with commercial neurology products. Comparable in focus on CNS indications, novel-mechanism neurology drugs, and rare/neurology specialty positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Pfizer: Global pharmaceutical company with a significant CNS/neurology portfolio. Cerecin's VP R&D Julie Liu previously led Pfizer HBU drug design and complex formulation; comparable as a broad incumbent in neurology drug development.
- Lundbeck: Global pharmaceutical company specialized in CNS disorders. Cerecin's CMO Lars Nelleman spent 16 years at Lundbeck Asia Pacific; comparable as a broad incumbent CNS pharma validating the same neurology indication space.
Others
- Nestlé Health Science: Nestlé's health-science division and Cerecin's 60% controlling shareholder. Comparable as the parent/strategic owner investing in brain health and nutrition-science-based therapeutics, with overlap in medical food and dietary management approaches to AD.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cerecin social profiles
Digital presenceCerecin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cerecin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Cerecin subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Cerecin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cerecin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cerecin
What does Cerecin do?
Cerecin develops investigational pharmaceutical drugs based on the physiological ketone system to address neurological diseases with metabolic dysfunction. Lead candidate CER-0001 (tricaprilin) is a structured-lipid ketogenic drug in Phase 3 development for Alzheimer's disease, Phase 2 for migraine prevention, and Phase 1/2a for infantile spasms. The pipeline is supplemented by CER-022 (a ketone PET radioligand for diagnostic imaging) and CER-081 (an IV ketone precursor for acute neurological conditions). The company also previously commercialized Axona, a medical food for the dietary management of Alzheimer's disease, sold in the U.S. and Asia Pacific through regional partners.
Is Cerecin a public or private company?
Cerecin is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cerecin founded?
Cerecin was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cerecin based?
Cerecin is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cerecin make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Drug Development and Commercialization is the primary driver. The others are medical Food (Axona).
Who are Cerecin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Anavex Life Sciences, Sage Therapeutics, Cassava Sciences, Axsome Therapeutics, Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Intra-Cellular Therapies and Acadia Pharmaceuticals. Broad incumbents are Pfizer and Lundbeck. Nestlé Health Science is listed as an others.
Does Cerecin have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cerecin.
What industry is Cerecin in?
Cerecin's product category is Neurological Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAF, Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.