NovaGo raises $30M to advance regenerative spinal cord therapy

Why it matters: Spinal cord injury remains one of the major areas of unmet medical need in neurology. While acute care and rehabilitation can improve outcomes, there are currently no approved regenerative therapies capable of restoring lost neurological function. Damage to the spinal cord can therefore leave patients with permanent motor and sensory impairments.

How it works: NovaGo is pursuing a different therapeutic strategy by targeting Nogo-A, a protein that acts as a brake on nerve fiber regeneration and neuroplasticity in the central nervous system. Blocking Nogo-A is intended to create an environment in which damaged nerve fibers can regrow and neuronal circuits can reorganize, potentially translating into functional recovery.

• The company’s approach builds on research led by Martin Schwab, a professor at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, who identified Nogo-A as a key inhibitor of nerve regeneration. NovaGo’s lead program, NG004, is a fully human therapeutic antibody designed to neutralize Nogo-A after spinal cord injury.

What they’re saying: “We are excited to see this program progress into this critical stage of clinical testing, bringing us a meaningful step closer to a much-needed treatment for patients living with the consequences of spinal cord injury,” said Prof. Martin Schwab, who is also acting as the Chief Scientific Officer of NovaGo Therapeutics.

Zoom in: The company’s confidence in the approach is supported by Phase 1 results with NG004. The program is being advanced with the backing of investors and organizations with a focus on neurological disease and spinal cord injury.

• “Together with NovaGo Therapeutics, we are pioneering a novel approach for the treatment of spinal cord injury using a fully human therapeutic antibody designed to promote nerve outgrowth after injury,” said Roger M. Nitsch, President and CEO of fellow Swiss biotech Neurimmune and a member of NovaGo’s board. “We are encouraged by the promising Phase 1 results with NG004 and look forward to advancing the clinical development program together with NovaGo Therapeutics and our co-investors.”
• Pureos Managing Partner Dominik Escher said the results from the Phase 1 study were “very encouraging” and highlighted the potential to provide a new regenerative treatment option for people with spinal cord injury.

What’s next: The new funding will support a fully randomized, double-blind proof-of-concept study enrolling 120 patients with acute spinal cord injury. The trial will be conducted across clinical sites in Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

• The study represents a key transition for NovaGo: rather than primarily demonstrating the safety and tolerability of its antibody, the company will now seek clinical evidence that targeting Nogo-A can translate into meaningful neurological recovery in patients.

Between the lines: The financing will also allow NovaGo to continue developing its broader anti-Nogo-A pipeline. Beyond acute spinal cord injury, the company is exploring applications in other central nervous system disorders, including stroke and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

• “We are deeply grateful for the backing of our investors,” said CEO Stefan Moese. “Their commitment allows us to move forward with the proof-of-concept study and work toward bringing a much-needed treatment to patients affected by the devastating consequences of spinal cord injury.” For NovaGo, the upcoming trial will therefore be an important test of whether decades of research into the biology of Nogo-A can finally translate into a regenerative therapy for patients.