NeuroNascent

NeuroNascent, Inc. operates as a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on addressing chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Founded in 2004 by Judith Kelleher-Andersson, Ph.D., the company is driven by her extensive experience in central nervous system therapeutics and a vision to move beyond merely neuroprotective treatments. Her career, which includes roles at Neuralstem, Inc., Centaur Pharmaceuticals, and Cortex Pharmaceuticals, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry, shaped her belief that reversing neurological decline requires regenerating neurons lost to disease. This principle is the cornerstone of NeuroNascent's strategy.

The company's business model centers on the discovery, development, and eventual commercialization of patented, small-molecule therapeutics. These orally available drugs are designed to cross the blood-brain barrier to stimulate the brain's own neural progenitor cells, promoting the growth and survival of new neurons. NeuroNascent's primary revenue stream is anticipated through partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies for late-stage clinical development and marketing, as well as from the eventual sale of its approved drugs. The company secures funding through a mix of venture capital and significant government grants, notably from the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

NeuroNascent's lead product candidate is NNI-362, a novel therapy aimed at conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Down syndrome. Unlike many treatments that target disease symptoms, NNI-362 is designed to be a disease-modifying agent that regenerates hippocampal neurons. It functions as an allosteric modulator that stimulates the p70S6 kinase, a key regulator of cell growth, thereby encouraging neural progenitors to become new, functional neurons. Having successfully completed a Phase 1a clinical trial where it was found to be well-tolerated in healthy older volunteers, NNI-362 is now advancing toward Phase 2 trials to assess its efficacy in patients. The company is also developing another candidate, NNI-351, which has received Orphan Drug Designation for Fragile X syndrome.

Keywords: neuroregeneration, Alzheimer's disease therapy, Parkinson's disease treatment, small molecule therapeutics, clinical-stage pharmaceutical, Judith Kelleher-Andersson, NNI-362, p70S6 kinase, neurogenesis, neuron replacement, blood-brain barrier, central nervous system disorders, Down syndrome therapy, Fragile X syndrome, NNI-351, oral regenerative medicine, drug discovery, hippocampal regeneration, neurorestorative agent, National Institute on Aging grants