Nuvig Therapeutics Secures $161M to Advance Autoimmune Disease Treatment

Standard treatment for many autoimmune diseases involves drugs that suppress the immune system. While this approach can be effective for some, it also raises the risk of infections and other complications due to chronic immunosuppression. Nuvig Therapeutics is working on developing a new type of drug that might offer an alternative treatment for autoimmune diseases, and the startup has recently secured $161 million to progress the clinical development of its leading program.

Nuvig aims to treat autoimmune diseases by leveraging the body’s natural mechanisms to reduce inflammation. The company, based in Menlo Park, California, engineers proteins to interact with type II Fc receptors, which help regulate immune responses. By binding to these receptors, Nuvig’s drugs promote the growth of regulatory T cells (Tregs), immune cells that suppress immune responses and reduce inflammatory pathways. This approach could provide a novel way to treat autoimmune conditions.

Nuvig’s leading program, NVG-2089, has shown promising results in Phase 1 trials, demonstrating safety, tolerability, and target engagement. The company plans to test NVG-2089 in Phase 2 trials as a treatment for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath covering nerve fibers. This condition leads to nerve damage, motor problems, and muscle function deterioration.

Currently, the standard treatment for CIDP includes intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), which involves infusing antibodies from healthy donors to block inflammatory processes that damage myelin. Another treatment option is immunosuppressants, though not all patients respond to these therapies. Recently, the FDA approved Argenx’s drug Vyvgart Hytrulo for CIDP. This injectable drug, initially approved for generalized myasthenia gravis, works by blocking the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), leading to the degradation of disease-driving autoantibodies.

Argenx reported over $1.4 billion in product sales in the first three quarters of 2024, a significant increase from the same period in 2023. This figure includes sales of Vyvgart, the original intravenous FcRn inhibitor. Argenx is exploring the potential of its drug across various autoimmune diseases, similar to Nuvig’s aspirations for its own drug, NVG-2089.

Nuvig selected CIDP for its clinical trials due to the existing unmet need for a better-tolerated, non-immunosuppressive therapy. Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Pamela Conley emphasized the uniqueness of their approach compared to other FcRn inhibitors. While many autoimmune diseases, including CIDP, involve the presence of autoantibodies, much of the damage in CIDP is caused by immune cells infiltrating the myelin. Nuvig’s drug aims to modulate the immune system rather than suppress it, potentially reducing the infiltration of harmful immune cells. This could result in fewer side effects and lower risks of infection compared to treatments that suppress the immune system.

Conley pointed out that while FcRn blockers reduce circulating antibodies by up to 80%, this immunosuppressive effect increases infection risks. Nuvig’s drug, however, aims to modulate immune responses by downregulating harmful immune cells and expanding Tregs, a mechanism similar to IVIg but potentially with greater efficacy.

Nuvig’s journey began in 2022 with a $47 million Series A round and has now progressed with a Series B round led by Sanofi Ventures and other notable investors. This funding will help advance their innovative treatment for CIDP and potentially other autoimmune diseases.