NuraBio secures $140m to advance neuroprotective drug development

Nura Bio has successfully raised an additional $68 million in its series A financing, bringing the total to $140 million. The funding round was led by The Column Group, with participation from Samsara Bio Capital, Euclidean Capital, and Sanofi Ventures.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Nura Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of neuroprotective small molecule therapies aimed at treating neurological conditions. The financing follows the release of encouraging data from a phase 1 clinical trial that evaluated the safety of Nura Bio's lead candidate, NB-4746, in healthy volunteers. The newly secured funds will enable Nura Bio to launch a phase 1b/2 study of NB-4746 in 2025.

NB-4746 is a small molecule designed to penetrate the brain and target the SARM1 protein, which plays a role in axon degeneration—a key feature of many neurological disorders. Preclinical studies have shown that NB-4746 has the potential to prevent axon degeneration, offering neuroprotection in various models of nerve injury and diseases affecting the central, peripheral, and ocular nervous systems.

In conjunction with the closing of the series A funding, Nura Bio has appointed Dr. Shilpa Sambashivan as their new CEO and a director of the company. Dr. Sambashivan is one of the co-founders of Nura Bio and has served as the Chief Scientific Officer since the company's inception, guiding it through the successful completion of the phase 1 trial of NB-4746.

Commenting on the company's progress, Dr. Sambashivan emphasized Nura Bio’s commitment to developing novel neuroprotective therapies by leveraging a deep scientific understanding of disease mechanisms such as axon degeneration and neuroinflammation. She expressed pride in her team's accomplishments and enthusiasm for leading the company into its next phase, which includes testing the SARM1 hypothesis in a patient population in 2025 with NB-4746 and further advancing the company’s preclinical pipeline.

The Column Group, the lead investor, is a venture capital firm that focuses on supporting early-stage drug discovery companies with innovative scientific platforms. The Column Group initially conceived Nura Bio in 2018 with the aim of revolutionizing the treatment of neurological diseases through novel neuroprotective drugs.

Tim Kutzkey, Managing Partner at The Column Group and Nura Bio’s founding chairman, acknowledged the company’s successful transition to a clinical-stage organization. He praised Nura Bio's progress in translating complex biological insights into potential therapies and expressed excitement about continuing to support the company’s growth and clinical development initiatives.

Nura Bio's recent achievements and strategic direction underscore the potential impact of its neuroprotective therapies on the treatment of neurological diseases. The company's dedication to advancing its R&D pipeline and its strong backing from prominent investors highlight the promising future of its lead candidate, NB-4746, and other potential therapies in the pipeline.