MindImmune Therapeutics

MindImmune Therapeutics, Inc. is a drug discovery company based in Kingston, Rhode Island, at the University of Rhode Island, developing first-in-class therapeutics that target the immune system to treat central nervous system diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. The company's scientific premise is that inflammatory processes drive neurodegenerative disease, and that the way specific immune cells react to amyloid plaques is central to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's. Rather than acting inside the brain, MindImmune's approach aims to target these immune cells before they migrate into the brain.

Its lead program, MITI-101, is a monoclonal antibody designed to block a key receptor and thereby prevent harmful immune cells from infiltrating the brain, addressing neuroinflammation, neurite damage and vascular pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease. The company states MITI-101 will begin human trial validation in early 2027, with Series A proceeds intended to carry the program through an IND filing and into the clinic. MindImmune operates a laboratory adjacent to the RI-INBRE Centralized Research Core Facility at URI, using shared instrumentation including imaging systems, plate readers, spectrometers and cell culture equipment in place of purchasing its own.

Founding story

MindImmune was founded in 2016 by Stevin Zorn, Ph.D., Frank Menniti, Ph.D., and Robert Nelson, Ph.D., all former colleagues at Pfizer's Worldwide Research & Development. The company was established on the discovery that inflammatory processes may drive neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. The founders evaluated multiple lab locations before selecting the University of Rhode Island, and each principal was appointed a Ryan Research Professor of Neuroscience in August 2016.

Traction

MindImmune reports that MITI-101 is advancing toward an IND filing with human trial validation planned for early 2027. The company is the major industrial user of RI-INBRE's Centralized Research Core Facility at URI, which houses over $3.5 million of scientific instrumentation.

Latest developments

In December 2025 MindImmune reported capping off a $30 million Series A round, with proceeds intended to support the company through an IND and into the clinic. In April 2025 it appointed Thomas Prod'homme, Ph.D., an immunologist with 15 years of experience in preclinical development, translational biology and drug discovery, as Vice President, Preclinical Development. Leadership includes CEO Isaac Stoner, CSO Leonid Gorelik, Ph.D., CFO Ed Sullivan, VP Biology Robert Nelson, Ph.D., and founder Stevin Zorn, Ph.D.; the board is chaired by Brad Margus and includes Reetika Bhardwaj (Dolby Family Ventures), Christopher O'Donnell (Pfizer Ventures) and independent director John Dunlop.