British Business Bank announces £8m investment into NRG Therapeutics
The British Business Bank has announced an £8m investment into NRG Therapeutics Ltd. (NRG), an innovative neuroscience company targeting a novel mechanism to address mitochondrial dysfunction, as part of a £50m Series B funding round.
The financing was led by SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), with participation from M Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund, and Criteria Bio Ventures alongside existing investors Omega Funds and Brandon Capital.
NRG Therapeutics is developing novel treatments for severe neurodegenerative conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neurone disease (MND), and Parkinson’s, and is currently preparing to move into clinical trials following strong pre-clinical data.
NRG has developed a new class of small molecule mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) inhibitors. The pathological proteins in Parkinson’s and ALS/MND are toxic to mitochondria and contribute to the mitochondrial dysfunction which is a common underlying pathology in neurodegenerative diseases. Inhibition of mPTP opening has been shown to protect mitochondria from this gain-of-function protein toxicity and to preserve neurones in pre-clinical models.
The financing will enable NRG Therapeutics to achieve clinical proof of concept in ALS/MND, while also generating meaningful clinical data in Parkinson’s patients.
NRG’s lead development candidate, NRG5051, is profoundly neuroprotective and significantly reduces neuroinflammation in pre-clinical models of PD and ALS/MND. NRG5051 has completed IND-enabling studies and is on track to enter first-in-human clinical studies in early 2026.
NRG Therapeutics’ co-founder and CEO Dr Neil Miller said, “I am delighted to welcome our new investors and thank our current investors for their unwavering support. Developing new drugs to treat neurological diseases is very challenging but is receiving increased interest given the high unmet medical need and growing prevalence in aging populations. These new funds provide the runway to advance our lead programme through PoC in ALS/MND, and to develop our portfolio of small molecule candidate drugs for other indications including Parkinson’s, offering new hope to the growing number of people and their families impacted by ALS/MND and Parkinson’s.”
Leandros Kalisperas, chief investment officer at British Business Bank, said, “We seek to back the best of UK life sciences, helping to turn breakthrough research into world-leading, fully commercial companies. Like many of our life sciences investments, our investment in NRG Therapeutics is especially rewarding because it has the potential to help find a solution to one of the world’s largest healthcare challenges. We look forward to supporting NRG Therapeutics as they continue to take their valuable research forward through trials.”
Emma Johnson, senior investment manager, British Business Bank, said, “We are pleased to join NRG on this next phase of development as they progress their novel therapy with disease-modifying potential into the clinic, making them the 16th life sciences direct investment for BBB and complementing our existing portfolio of breakthrough innovations across the spectrum of UK life sciences.”
In association with the Series B raise, Emma Johnson (British Business Bank), Laurence Barker (SV Health Investors), Charlotte Kremers (M Ventures) and Florian Muellershausen (Novartis Venture Fund) will join NRG’s board of directors.