Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

What they do

Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. Lauder and Ronald S. Lauder, the ADDF is the only public charity solely dedicated to finding effective drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. Operating as a non-profit venture capital fund, they invest in high-risk, high-reward science across academia and the biopharmaceutical industry that might otherwise go unfunded. They are highly distinctive for their early and steadfast focus on the "biology of aging"-looking beyond the traditional amyloid hypothesis to target neuroinflammation, vascular problems, and metabolic dysfunction. The ADDF is highly respected in the ecosystem for its scientific rigor and its ability to de-risk early-stage assets, historically catalyzing over $3 billion in follow-on funding for its portfolio companies.

What they look for

The ADDF's mission is to rapidly accelerate the development of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. They focus on translational research that bridges the "valley of death" between basic science and clinical applications. They seek novel therapeutic targets beyond amyloid, specifically focusing on the biology of aging (e.g., neuroinflammation, vascular dysfunction, synapse loss, misfolded proteins, and metabolic function). They also heavily prioritize innovative diagnostics, including blood-based biomarkers, digital cognitive assessments, and ocular scans.

Stage

Pre-seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+

Sectors

Healthcare, Deeptech, AI

Based

New York, US