NRG Therapeutics, an innovative neuroscience company targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, has announced the closing of its oversubscribed £50m Series B financing.
The round was led by SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), with participation from British Business Bank, M Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund, Criteria Bio Ventures, Omega Funds, Brandon Capital and Parkinson’s UK.
The financing will enable NRG to achieve clinical proof of concept in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND) and generate meaningful clinical data in Parkinson’s patients. Its lead development candidate, NRG5051, is profoundly neuroprotective and reduces neuroinflammation in pre-clinical models. NRG5051 has completed IND-enabling studies and is on track to enter first-in-human clinical studies in early 2026.
NRG has identified a novel regulator of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), a driver of mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases. The company has developed a new class of orally available small molecule mPTP inhibitors, designed to penetrate the brain effectively. Inhibition of mPTP opening has been shown to protect mitochondria from toxic proteins associated with Parkinson’s (a-synuclein) and ALS/MND (TDP-43) and to preserve neurones in pre-clinical models.
Parkinson’s is one of the fastest growing neurodegenerative conditions, with global prevalence expected to double by 2050. There are currently no treatments that slow or halt disease progression. ALS/MND is a rare, rapidly progressing disorder with high unmet medical need, and existing medicines provide limited benefit.
In association with the Series B raise, Laurence Barker (SV Health Investors), 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.
Based at the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, NRG Therapeutics is building a pipeline of disease-modifying mitochondrial therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. The company has received equity investment from leading life sciences funds and awards from Innovate UK, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Target ALS and The ALS Association to support its research programmes.
