Nura Bio has completed a $140 million Series A financing round, including an additional $68 million, to support the development of its neuroprotective small molecule therapies for neurological diseases. The investment was led by The Column Group, with participation from Samsara Bio Capital, Euclidean Capital, and Sanofi Ventures.
The funding will primarily support the advancement of Nura Bio's lead candidate, NB-4746, into a Phase 1b/2 clinical study in 2025. This follows the release of positive data from a Phase 1 clinical trial that evaluated the safety of NB-4746 in healthy volunteers.
NB-4746: Targeting Axon Degeneration
NB-4746 is a brain-penetrant small molecule designed to inhibit the SARM1 protein, a key mediator of axon degeneration. Axon degeneration is an early pathological event in numerous neurological diseases, including peripheral neuropathies, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and glaucoma. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that NB-4746 can effectively prevent axon degeneration, providing neuroprotection in models of nerve injury and diseases affecting the central, peripheral, and ocular nervous systems.
The rationale for targeting SARM1 is based on its critical role in the Wallerian degeneration pathway, a conserved mechanism of axon self-destruction triggered by injury or stress. By inhibiting SARM1, NB-4746 aims to preserve neuronal integrity and prevent the irreversible loss of function associated with axon loss.
Leadership Transition
Alongside the financing, Nura Bio announced the appointment of Dr. Shilpa Sambashivan as CEO and a member of the company's board of directors. Dr. Sambashivan, a founding member of Nura Bio, previously served as the company's Chief Scientific Officer, overseeing the development of NB-4746 from its inception through the successful completion of Phase 1 clinical trials.
"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 Dr. Sambashivan. "The strong support demonstrated by our investors through this financing reflects the tremendous potential of our R&D pipeline."
Investor Perspective
The Column Group, Nura Bio's lead investor, specializes in supporting early-stage drug discovery companies with innovative scientific platforms. They conceived Nura Bio in 2018 with the goal of revolutionizing the treatment of neurological diseases with novel neuroprotective drugs.
"Nura Bio has successfully transitioned to a clinical-stage organization, making remarkable progress in identifying ways to translate complex biology into potential therapies," said Tim Kutzkey, Managing Partner at The Column Group and Nura Bio’s founding chairman. "We are excited to continue to support the company through this next phase of growth and clinical development."
