Noema Pharma

Noema Pharma AG is a Swiss-based, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for debilitating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). The company was founded in 2019 by the venture capital firm Sofinnova Partners, along with Dr. George Garibaldi and Luigi Costa. The formation was driven by the opportunity to in-license four clinical-stage assets from Roche, which were identified by Dr. Garibaldi, Roche's former head of neuroscience product development, as promising candidates for rare neurological indications. Costa served as the initial CEO, and in June 2023, was succeeded by Dr. Ilise Lombardo, a seasoned biopharma executive with over two decades of experience in the CNS field.

The company's business model is centered on advancing its pipeline of therapeutic candidates through clinical trials to address unmet medical needs in both orphan and larger patient populations. Noema's revenue generation will depend on the successful development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of its product candidates. The company has secured significant funding to support these activities, raising CHF 54 million in a Series A round in 2020, followed by a Series B round that closed at a total of CHF 130 million (approx. $147 million USD) after an extension in late 2024. This capital is being used to advance four active Phase 2 trials, with key data readouts anticipated in 2025.

Noema's pipeline targets conditions characterized by imbalanced neuronal networks and includes several product candidates. Basimglurant (NOE-101) is a negative allosteric modulator of mGluR5 receptors being evaluated for severe pain in trigeminal neuralgia and for controlling seizures in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Gemlapodect (NOE-105), a PDE10A inhibitor, is in Phase 2b trials for Tourette syndrome and is also being developed for childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering). Another candidate, NOE-115, is a broad-spectrum monoamine modulator in a Phase 2 trial for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. By licensing assets with existing clinical and preclinical safety data from Roche, Noema aims to efficiently develop these therapies for new indications.

Keywords: central nervous system, clinical-stage, biotech, orphan diseases, neurological disorders, neuroscience, trigeminal neuralgia, Tourette syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, drug development