NatInLab

NatInLab is an Amsterdam-based pharmaceutical startup founded in 2021, dedicated to developing next-generation protease inhibitor therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. Combining computational drug-design, chemistry, molecular and systems biology, and AI, the company seeks to restore balance in disrupted proteolytic pathways that drive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and inflammatory disorders.

Its R&D strategy centers on understanding natural cellular regulation of proteases, deciphering control mechanisms, and designing highly selective and safe small-molecule inhibitors. Early proof-of-concept studies have yielded compounds active in submicromolar ranges with minimal toxicity in cell-based assays. The lead program targets a key protease implicated in Alzheimer’s pathology and is entering preclinical development, supported by initial safety and efficacy data.

NatInLab was founded by a multidisciplinary team led by CSO Dr Ewelina Weglarz‑Tomczak, with key roles held by experts in AI-driven design and medicinal chemistry. The company operates from Science Park Amsterdam and is currently advancing a pre-seed funding round to accelerate research and expand its specialist team.

The startup has gained recognition through early investment from the LifeSciences@Work accelerator and UvA Ventures, and participates in innovation programs tied to the University of Amsterdam. Its mission is to bring safer, disease-modifying treatments to market by decoding and targeting proteolytic dysregulation.

Keywords: NatInLab, protease inhibitors, neurodegenerative therapeutics, Alzheimer’s, AI drug design, computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, preclinical development, Amsterdam biotech, proteolytic regulation, pre-seed funding, LifeSciences@Work, UvA Ventures, multidisciplinary team