Woolsey Pharmaceuticals

About Woolsey Pharmaceuticals

Woolsey Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company founded in 2019 by David Geliebter. The New York-based company focuses on repurposing existing drugs to treat rare neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The company's lead investigational product is BRAVYL, an oral formulation of fasudil. Fasudil, a Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, has been approved and used in Japan since 1995 for treating cerebral vasospasm. Woolsey is developing BRAVYL to slow the progression of ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease with an average survival time of two to five years. The company has received Orphan Drug Designation for BRAVYL for ALS in both the U.S. and Europe.

Clinical trial results have shown that BRAVYL is well-tolerated and can significantly reduce Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL), a key biomarker for neuronal damage in ALS patients. The Phase 2a REAL study demonstrated that treatment could reduce the spread of toxic TDP-43, a protein pathology associated with ALS. Furthermore, Woolsey is developing BRAVYL-DF, a dysphagia-friendly formulation to assist patients who have difficulty swallowing, a common symptom of neurodegenerative diseases.

The company was co-founded by David Geliebter, who serves as Executive Chairman, and Sven Jacobson, who is the CEO. The leadership team includes experienced pharmaceutical executives with backgrounds in molecular biology, regulatory affairs, and clinical operations. Woolsey has secured significant funding through multiple rounds, including a Series A round of $8.6M in April 2020 and a Series B round of $19.7M in October 2021, to advance its clinical programs.