A viral story and a bacterial Alzheimer’s IPO

Remember back in January, when scientists claimed to find a link between a gum disease-causing bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease? That led to a few regrettable headlines and a bunch of stern reminders about how early-stage science works.

Now, it’s leading to an IPO.

Cortexyme, the San Francisco-based company that published the bacteria study, is looking to raise about $86 million to test the idea in humans. For years, scientists have dug up evidence that beta-amyloid, the fruitless target of so many would-be Alzheimer’s therapies, is actually a bodily response to microbial invasion. Cortexyme believes targeting Porphyromonas gingivalis — the bacteria behind gum disease — could interrupt the inflammatory cascade behind Alzheimer’s and prevent the disease’s progression.

It’ll be a while before the company has anything resembling a definitive answer. Cortexyme’s lead drug, COR388, has mostly been tested in healthy volunteers to date. A larger study, enrolling patients actually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, will start this year and won’t be complete until 2021, the company said.