PLL Therapeutics welcomes Dr. Philippe Corcia, leading genetics and rare disease specialist, to scientific board

Preeminent researcher in Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Dr. Corcia heightens expertise behind PLL Therapeutics’ polypeptide delivery platform and development of world’s first blood biomarker to detect early onset of ALS  

Appointment follows recent launch of multi-stage, phase I/II trial of drug candidate PLL001

Villenave-d’Ornon (near Bordeaux) France, June 24, 2025 – PLL Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing a groundbreaking polypeptide delivery platform to treat the root cause of autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases with a focus on restoring gut integrity, today announces the appointment of Dr. Philippe Corcia, a leading authority on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), to its scientific board.   

Dr. Corcia has served as head of the ALS Reference Centre since 2005 and professor of Neurology since 2010. He has over 30 years of clinical and research experience in ALS, a fatal motor neuron disorder affecting upper and lower motor neurons, with death resulting mainly from respiratory failure three to five years after symptom onset. In France, he presides over the ALS motor neuron study group and the coordination center of the French FILSLAN network. 

“We are extremely proud and privileged to welcome Philippe, a preeminent scholar and researcher in ALS, to our scientific board,” said Jean-Pascal Zambaux, co-founder and CEO of PLL Therapeutics. “His vast knowledge in ALS and extensive international medical and clinical network are second to none. We will benefit greatly from his clinical research experience, as we take our lead candidate PLL001 through phase I/II trials for ALS, and in parallel, conduct large-scale blood sampling to evaluate the efficiency of our blood biomarker test to detect early-stage ALS, prior to functional decline.”

ALS affects approximately 2-3 people per 100,000 individuals, worldwide, for which there is no cure. Due to its rarity and the rapidly progressive nature of ALS, studying all of the factors that determine the presence or absence of the disease is challenging.

“I am delighted to join the PLL therapeutics team and contribute to advancing what I see as a promising therapeutic approach to treating ALS,” said Dr. Corcia. “I am intrigued by the elegance of the polypeptide delivery platform to transport selected Small Chain Fatty Acids, known to be effective against ALS’ neuro-inflammatory and neurodegenerative pathways, and release them at the point of use. I am excited by the potential of PLL’s platform to deliver a blood biomarker test for ALS, which would be a world-first in early-stage diagnostics of this multifactorial disease that can affect anyone.”

PLL Therapeutics approaches this complex disease with a poly-targeted therapy consisting of several APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) that, when combined, are able to restore the microbiome and stop the gut from leaking toxins into the bloodstream. It draws upon the gut-brain axis premise that the origin of ALS and other autoimmune or neurodegenerative diseases lies in the intestine. Therefore, there is a need to protect the gut and restore gut integrity to prevent progression of the disease.

Dr. Corcia has also participated in dozens of clinical studies as principal investigator, and national coordinator for some of them, such as the MinE and PRECISION projects. His research activity focuses mainly on genetics and omics. He has co-authored over 300 publications on ALS. Dr. Corcia is also a member of the board of ENCALS (European Network to Cure ALS) and the TRICALS (Treatment Initiative to Treat ALS) consortium. He earned his M.D. from the University of Tours in 1995.

About PLL Therapeutics

PLL Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing a groundbreaking polypeptide delivery platform, is spearheading a unique early-stage diagnostics and therapeutic approach for treating the root cause of autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. PLL Therapeutics focuses on restoring gut integrity. Its initial indication is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a fatal motor neuron disease. The company’s lead candidate is PLL001, a ‘poly-targeted’ drug therapy aimed at destroying the initialization of the disease. PLL Therapeutics’ approach will play a key role in the early detection of autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases (ALS) and proliferative disorders (colon cancer) through specific biomarkers.  

Founded in 2019, PLL Therapeutics is led by a highly experienced management team. A phase I/II clinical trial is underway. The company is located near Bordeaux, France.www.pll-therapeutics.com