Funding of £50 million secured by NRG Therapeutics for combatting neurodegenerative diseases.

In a significant development for the neuroscience industry, NRG Therapeutics, a UK-based company located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, has raised an oversubscribed £50m Series B funding round. This funding will support the company's advancement of NRG5051, a promising drug candidate, in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and ALS/MND.

NRG5051 has shown strong neuroprotective effects and reduced inflammation in pre-clinical models of these diseases. The lead drug candidate is poised to be the first disease-modifying therapeutic for sporadic ALS/MND and dementia indications like Parkinson's.

The success of NRG5051 can be attributed to its unique mechanism of action. NRG Therapeutics has developed a new class of oral, brain-penetrant small molecule inhibitors that target the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). This pore is a key driver of cell damage in neurodegenerative diseases, and mitochondria, particularly those in nerve cells in Parkinson's and ALS/MND, are especially vulnerable due to their high energy needs.

By preventing the mPTP from opening, NRG's inhibitors protect mitochondria and preserve neurons in pre-clinical models. This approach could potentially halt or significantly slow disease progression across multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

The funding will also support studies through clinical proof of concept, including trials in ALS/MND and a Phase 1b study in Parkinson's patients. NRG5051 has already completed early safety studies and is expected to begin first-in-human trials in early 2026.

The funding round was led by SV Health Investors' Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF). Other investors in the round include the British Business Bank, M Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund, Criteria Bio Ventures, Omega Funds, Brandon Capital, and Parkinson's UK through its Parkinson's Virtual Biotech arm.

Laurence Barker, partner leading DDF at SV Health Investors, expressed confidence in NRG's approach, stating, "We believe NRG's approach could halt or significantly slow disease progression across multiple neurodegenerative diseases." In association with the Series B raise, Barker, Emma Johnson (British Business Bank), Charlotte Kremers (M Ventures), and Florian Muellershausen (Novartis Venture Fund) will join NRG's board of directors.

Professor David Dexter, director of research at Parkinson's UK, has been appointed as a special advisor on Parkinson's. NRG Therapeutics co-founder and CEO, Neil Miller, expressed his delight at welcoming the new investors and thanked the current investors for their unwavering support.

In a separate news item, Manchester's Vypr is expanding with the launch of an AI platform. However, this development does not appear to be directly related to NRG Therapeutics.

Meanwhile, the Grimsby Town owner and Poppy Gustafsson mentioned in the headline are not directly connected to NRG Therapeutics at this time.

Funding of £50 million secured by NRG Therapeutics for combatting neurodegenerative diseases.