The startup, which is developing treatments for Alzheimer's disease, received the money in a Pfizer-led round that also included Takeda's corporate venturing unit.

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has led a $15m series A round for US-based Alzheimer’s disease treatment developer Cortexyme.

Japan-based pharmaceutical firm Takeda Pharmaceutical Company also took part in the round, investing through its Takeda Ventures unit, as did existing investors including venture capital firm Dolby Family Ventures.

Cortexyme is working on treatments for Alzheimer’s and other degenerative disorders that will target a specific pathogen tied to neurodegeneration. It has several drug candidates in preclinical studies.

Margi McLoughlin, Pfizer’s executive director of…