Libra Therapeutics

About Libra Therapeutics

Libra Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company established in 2019, directing its efforts toward the development of novel treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The company launched in September 2020 with $29 million in a Series A financing round co-led by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Epidarex Capital, and Santé Ventures. This funding was intended to advance a pipeline of small molecule drug candidates and build out the company's team.

The company's scientific foundation is based on research from Axxam S.p.A., a discovery research organization that provides Libra with proprietary chemical matter and assays. Libra operates on a virtual model, collaborating with contract research organizations (CROs) to conduct its research and development, which allows for a flexible operational structure without in-house laboratories. The company is led by President and CEO Isaac Veinbergs, Ph.D., who has over 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including roles at Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Elan, and Sanofi Genzyme. His career has been focused on CNS drug discovery, driven by a personal connection to the impact of neurodegenerative diseases.

Libra's core mission is to restore cellular equilibrium in conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. These diseases are often characterized by the buildup of toxic proteins. Libra’s strategy employs a dual-pronged approach: enhancing autophagy—the body's natural cellular cleanup process—to clear these harmful proteins, and simultaneously reducing their production. The company’s pipeline includes three preclinical programs. Its lead program focuses on activating TRPML1, a key regulator of lysosome function and autophagy, with plans to begin Phase 1 clinical trials in 2025. Another area of focus is developing treatments that target the C9orf72 gene mutation, the most common genetic link between ALS and FTD.