Drug aiming to protect brain cells enters clinical trials

NRG Therapeutics has secured an impressive £50 million to advance their drug, NRG5051, into clinical trials for people with Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) , also known as motor neuron disease (MND).

NRG5051 is a tablet designed to help repair damage to the mitochondria. Mitochondria are the "batteries" of brain cells, which are known to fail in Parkinson’s.

By patching a hole in the wall of the mitochondria, the drug helps keep brain cells healthy and functioning. So it has the potential to slow or stop Parkinson’s. The upcoming clinical trials, set to begin in 2026, will focus on assessing the drug’s safety and making sure it enters the brain.

We’ve been crucial to NRG’s success

The journey to this point began in 2019. Stevenage-based biotech company NRG Therapeutics was looking for investment to develop their idea for protecting brain cells. Despite promising early data, it was difficult to find investors willing to take a chance. That’s when our Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech stepped in, recognising the potential benefit for people with Parkinson’s.

Founded by Parkinson’s UK in 2017, the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech is now an international programme in partnership with the Parkinson’s Foundation.

With an initial investment of £1 million, we provided the funding NRG Therapeutics needed to design tiny but powerful molecules capable of getting into the brain and preventing mitochondrial damage. Without us NRG’s idea might not have progressed.

In 2022, NRG Therapeutics attracted £16 million from new investors, alongside further support from the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech. By October 2024, NRG5051 was chosen as the lead molecule for development.

Now, with a further £50 million investment, NRG5051 is ready to take the next step into clinical trials in people with Parkinson’s and ALS/MND.

We remain an active founding investor , with an observer seat on their board and will continue to support the company's progress. This achievement highlights the transformative role that our investment has, by supporting ideas at an early stage to then make them less risky for other investors to help take them forward. 

Dr Lynsey Bilsland, Managing Director of the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, said:

“We are thrilled that one of the earliest projects we supported through our drug discovery and development arm, our Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, is now progressing to clinical trials. It’s particularly exciting that initial data will be gathered both in people living with Parkinson’s and ALS/MND, for whom there is a significant need for new and improved treatments.

“From our initial investment in 2019 to nurture this idea, to its anticipated entry into clinical trials in 2026, this milestone highlights the vital role of our seed funding. Our innovative approach ensures promising ideas for new treatments are de-risked and accelerated along the research pipeline, bringing them closer to people with Parkinson's, sooner."

Neil Miller, NRG Therapeutics’ co-founder and CEO, said:

“The early support we received from the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech was crucial to the success of NRG Therapeutics. It recognised the potential therapeutic value of the novel mitochondrial biology we were pursuing in Parkinson’s and importantly, it believed in the NRG founding team. The Virtual Biotech seed funded the company when others perceived the risk as being too high, and its endorsement has helped us secure multiple grant awards and investment from mainstream healthcare investors.”

Investors in NRG Therapeutics now include Brandon Capital, British Business Bank, Criteria Bio Ventures, SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund, M Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund and Omega funds together with our Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech.