NRG Therapeutics raises $67M to target Parkinson’s and ALS through mitochondria

UK biotech NRG Therapeutics secured £50M ($67M) to bring its lead drug candidate for Parkinson’s and ALS, NRG-5051, into clinical trials by early 2026.

Why it matters: If successful, NRG’s approach could offer a novel way to slow or stop neurodegeneration by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, an emerging focus in neuroscience.

Backstory: NRG was founded in 2018 by Neil Miller, Richard Rutter, and Grant Hawthorne. Despite the initial struggle to attract investors, the firm survived on grants from groups like Parkinson’s UK and the Michael J. Fox Foundation until it raised £16M in Series A in 2022. This £50M Series B was led by SV Health’s Dementia Discovery Fund, with backing from Merck KGaA and Novartis' venture arms.

Zoom in: NRG-5051 has a mechanism that blocks mPTP, a mitochondrial protein complex linked to cell death and shows potential to reduce brain inflammation and protect neurons.

Big picture: Mitochondria-targeting treatments are gaining traction in neurodegenerative disease R&D, with players like AbbVie (through its acquisition of Mitokinin in 2023) and Pretzel Therapeutics pursuing similar strategies. NRG could become a key player in this emerging field if its drug succeeds in the clinic.