Company aims to inhibit SARM1 enzyme to prevent axon degeneration protect the structure and function of the nervous system.
Neurodegeneration-targeting biotech Nura Bio has closed its Series A financing, raising an additional $68 million to bring the round to $140 million in total. The funds will support the advancement of the San Francisco-based company’s pipeline of neuroprotective therapies, which focus on addressing neurological diseases by targeting axon degeneration and modulating microglial responses.
The company also announced a leadership change with the appointment of Dr Shilpa Sambashivan as CEO. A founding member of Nura Bio and its former Chief Scientific Officer, Sambashivan’s appointment comes as the company’s first clinical candidate has successfully completed Phase 1 studies in healthy volunteers.
While Nura Bio is yet to announce specific target indications, the company’s work is focused on neuroprotective therapies aimed at halting axon degeneration, a key factor in many neurological diseases. Axon degeneration is a hallmark of several neurological disorders, and the company believes that preventing it could potentially protect both the structure and function of the nervous system.
Recent discoveries in axon degeneration, particularly in so-called “Wallerian degeneration”, have revealed that an enzyme called SARM1 plays a central role in triggering axonal destruction upon injury. Inhibiting SARM1 has shown neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies, preserving both the structural integrity and function of axons. This research forms the basis of Nura Bio’s strategy to treat diseases that affect the nervous system.
Nura Bio’s lead asset, NB-4746, is a small molecule inhibitor of SARM1 and has shown promise in preclinical models, demonstrating its ability to protect axons and improve function across diseases of the central, peripheral and ocular nervous systems. A Phase 1 study of NB-4746, which included single ascending and multiple ascending dose arms, showed that the drug was well-tolerated, with no serious treatment-emergent adverse events. Moreover, the study confirmed that NB-4746 penetrates the brain and achieves targeted plasma exposure levels, supporting its further development. Based on these results, Nura Bio plans to initiate a Phase 1b/2 trial in a patient population in 2025.
“At Nura Bio, we have been laser-focused on our mission of delivering novel neuroprotective therapies to patients by leveraging our deep scientific understanding of underlying disease mechanisms including axon degeneration and neuroinflammation,” said Sambashivan. “I look forward to leading the company through this next phase as we prepare to test the SARM1 hypothesis in a patient population in 2025 with our lead candidate NB-4746 while continuing to advance our promising preclinical pipeline.”
In addition to axon protection, Nura Bio is investigating ways to improve the body’s ability to clear damaged neurons and axons. In many neurological diseases, this process, known as neuron-glia crosstalk, becomes dysregulated. Nura Bio aims to restore proper function to these neuroimmune pathways to enhance the immune system’s capacity to clear damaged nerve cells, thus offering a second avenue of neuroprotection.
Nura Bio’s recent addition to its Series A round adds to the initial $73 million raised by the company in 2020, and was led by The Column Group, and supported by existing investors Samsara Bio Capital and Euclidean Capital, along with new investment from Sanofi Ventures.
“Under Shilpa’s leadership, Nura Bio has successfully transitioned to a clinical-stage organization, making remarkable progress in identifying ways to translate complex biology into potential therapies,” said The Column Group’s Dr Tim Kutzkey, who also serves as Nura Bio’s founding chairman. “Shilpa’s leadership, combined with her deep scientific expertise, will be key to maximizing Nura Bio’s broad therapeutic potential in areas of large unmet need.”
Photograph courtesy of Nura Bio
