Noa Therapeutics

Noa Therapeutics Inc. is a preclinical Canadian biotechnology firm established in 2022, focusing on the development of treatments for complex inflammatory diseases. The company was co-founded by CEO Carla Spina, PhD, and CSO Serena Mandla, P.Eng, MASc, and is distinguished by its 100% women-led management. Noa Therapeutics operates from JLABS Toronto, a Johnson & Johnson Innovation incubator, giving it access to a global network of expertise and resources.

The company's core business revolves around creating novel, non-steroidal small molecules that employ a multimodal—or "trimodal"—approach to treatment. This strategy aims to simultaneously address three root causes of inflammatory barrier diseases: immune dysregulation, barrier dysfunction, and microbiome imbalance. By targeting multiple disease drivers with a single therapeutic, Noa intends to overcome the limitations of current treatments, which often focus on downstream symptoms and lead to a cycle of treatment failures for patients. The company utilizes a computer-assisted drug discovery engine to design and accelerate the development of these tailored therapies.

Noa's initial focus is on atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema, which affects one in ten people in North America. Its lead drug candidate, NOA-104, is being developed to restore skin barrier function, promote immune homeostasis without systemic suppression, and reduce inflammation and itch. Preclinical data presented in March 2025 showed that NOA-104 reduced key inflammatory markers, significantly decreased itching, and restored the expression of filaggrin, a crucial protein for skin barrier function, in murine models. The business model is centered on advancing its drug candidates through preclinical and clinical trials, with the ultimate goal of commercialization and addressing unmet needs in a market valued at over $100 billion.

In March 2024, Noa Therapeutics announced it had secured an oversubscribed pre-seed financing round of $2.2 million CAD. The funding, led by UCeed, is dedicated to advancing NOA-104 toward Phase 1 trials for atopic dermatitis and funding the hit-to-lead optimization phase for drugs targeting other inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. This financial milestone, supported by a diverse group of investors, underscores the company's progress in developing therapeutics for underserved patient populations.

Keywords: Noa Therapeutics, preclinical biotech, atopic dermatitis treatment, inflammatory barrier disease, multimodal therapeutics, Carla Spina, Serena Mandla, non-steroidal small molecules, NOA-104, immune modulation, skin barrier restoration, microbiome modulation, JLABS Toronto, trimodal therapeutics, eczema treatment, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, drug discovery engine, dermatological therapeutics, immune homeostasis