Navega Therapeutics
Navega Therapeutics is a preclinical San Diego biotech developing AAV gene therapies that use zinc-finger and CRISPR-based epigenome regulation to treat intractable chronic pain, with lead candidate NT-Z001 targeting the SCN9A/NaV1.7 sodium channel pathway.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Navega Therapeutics does
Navega Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation AAV gene therapies that use zinc-finger and CRISPR-based epigenome regulation to precisely control gene expression without permanently editing DNA. The company's lead candidate, NT-Z001, is an AAV gene therapy targeting the SCN9A gene encoding the NaV1.7 sodium channel, a well-validated pathway in pain transmission, with the goal of treating intractable chronic pain as a non-opioid, long-lasting alternative to existing therapies. The platform is described as broadly applicable to neurological and ophthalmic diseases, positioning NT-Z001 as the first of a potentially broader pipeline.
The company operates from JLABS San Diego (3210 Merryfield Row, San Diego, CA), a Johnson & Johnson biotech incubator, with a 1–10 person team led by founder and CEO Ana Moreno and co-founder, President and CSO Fernando Aleman, supported by CBO Carol Greve-Philips. Navega is privately held, founded in 2018, and has been funded entirely through non-dilutive federal grants rather than venture capital — receiving approximately $11.85 million cumulatively from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), including a $4 million Translational Science grant awarded in February 2025.
The business model is pre-commercial: Navega has no products on market, no pricing structure, and no paying customers. Revenue mechanics are entirely grant-based at present, with future value expected to derive from out-licensing, partnership, or commercialization of gene-therapy assets following regulatory approval. Distribution would occur via clinical-trial sites and specialty healthcare channels post-approval. Go-to-market is therefore not yet defined, and the company's near-term milestones are scientific and regulatory (preclinical → IND-enabling → clinical) rather than commercial.
Navega Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Navega Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Navega Therapeutics
- Website
- https://navegatx.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Navega Therapeutics is a preclinical San Diego biotech developing AAV gene therapies that use zinc-finger and CRISPR-based epigenome regulation to treat intractable chronic pain, with lead candidate NT-Z001 targeting the SCN9A/NaV1.7 sodium channel pathway.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Navega Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gene Therapy
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology/CNS Gene Therapies (HLAAACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers (HLAAACAA), Genome Editing Gene Therapies (CRISPR/TALEN/ZFN; in vivo/ex vivo) (HLAAACAD)
Keywords
Where Navega Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Navega Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Pre-commercial / Pipeline Stage: Company is in preclinical development stage with no commercial products. Future revenue expected from gene therapy product commercialization, licensing deals, and potential partnership structures typical of biotech development pipelines.
Marketing channels1 record
Navega Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Navega Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation AAV gene therapies for neurological and ophthalmic diseases by harnessing zinc-finger and CRISPR-based epigenome regulation to control gene expression. Its lead candidate NT-Z001 targets the SCN9A gene encoding the NaV1.7 sodium channel to treat intractable chronic pain as a potential non-opioid alternative.
Product overview
Navega Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing gene therapies for chronic pain and precision pain management. The company's core technology platform harnesses zinc-finger and CRISPR-based epigenome regulation to enable next-generation AAV gene therapies. The lead product is NT-Z001, a gene therapy targeting the SCN9A gene/NaV1.7 sodium channel for treatment of intractable chronic pain. The company operates from Jlabs San Diego and is funded by a $4 million CIRM Translational Science grant for preclinical development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NT-Z001 NT-Z001 is a preclinical AAV-based gene therapy candidate that targets the SCN9A gene encoding the NaV1.7 sodium channel involved in pain transmission. It is being developed for the treatment of intractable chronic pain as a non-opioid, single-administration therapeutic, intended for patients whose pain is unresponsive to conventional analgesics.
Companies that use Navega Therapeutics
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Navega Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Navega Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Navega Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Shape Therapeutics: Shape Therapeutics is an RNA and gene therapy company developing epigenome-based editing platforms delivered via AAV, with programs in CNS and ophthalmology. Highly comparable to Navega in modality (AAV-delivered epigenome regulation), therapeutic focus, and platform architecture.
- Chroma Medicine: Chroma Medicine is developing a single-dose epigenetic editing platform to treat serious diseases, including CNS and ophthalmic indications. Directly comparable to Navega in epigenetic editing modality, target class, and gene therapy delivery approach.
- Sangamo Therapeutics: Sangamo is the pioneer of zinc-finger-based genome engineering and has developed zinc-finger protein transcription factors for CNS and rare disease indications. Closely comparable to Navega on the zinc-finger protein platform technology and CNS therapeutic focus.
- Voyager Therapeutics: Voyager Therapeutics is a clinical-stage AAV gene therapy company developing CNS-targeted therapies for neurological diseases, including programs in pain and neurodegeneration. Comparable to Navega in AAV platform, CNS indication focus, and gene therapy modality.
- Taysha Gene Therapies: Taysha is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on AAV-delivered therapies for CNS and rare neurological diseases. Comparable to Navega in AAV gene therapy modality, CNS indication focus, and pipeline development stage.
- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals: Lexicon developed small-molecule NaV1.7 inhibitors (LX9211) for chronic pain, validating the SCN9A/NaV1.7 target therapeutically. Comparable to Navega as a peer pursuing the same pain target via a different modality, providing useful reference for translational risk.
Emerging players
- AviadoBio: AviadoBio is an early-stage AAV gene therapy company developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases including frontotemporal dementia and ALS. Comparable to Navega as a small, AAV-based, CNS-focused emerging gene therapy developer.
- Kriya Therapeutics: Kriya Therapeutics is a gene therapy company developing AAV-based therapies across multiple therapeutic areas including CNS and chronic pain. Comparable to Navega in AAV gene therapy platform and overlap in pain and CNS indications.
Broad incumbents
- uniQure: uniQure is a commercial-stage AAV gene therapy company with approved therapies and a broad pipeline including CNS programs. Comparable to Navega as a broader AAV gene therapy developer with greater scale, manufacturing capabilities, and clinical maturity.
- Regenxbio: Regenxbio is a leading AAV gene therapy platform company with multiple approved and clinical-stage CNS, ophthalmology, and rare disease programs. Comparable to Navega as a broader AAV platform incumbent with deeper capital, manufacturing, and clinical capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Navega Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceNavega Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Navega Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Navega Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Navega Therapeutics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Navega Therapeutics
What does Navega Therapeutics do?
Navega Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation AAV gene therapies for neurological and ophthalmic diseases by harnessing zinc-finger and CRISPR-based epigenome regulation to control gene expression. Its lead candidate NT-Z001 targets the SCN9A gene encoding the NaV1.7 sodium channel to treat intractable chronic pain as a potential non-opioid alternative.
Is Navega Therapeutics a public or private company?
Navega Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Navega Therapeutics founded?
Navega Therapeutics was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Navega Therapeutics based?
Navega Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Navega Therapeutics make money?
One revenue line is on record: pre-commercial / Pipeline Stage.
Who are Navega Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shape Therapeutics, Chroma Medicine, Sangamo Therapeutics, Voyager Therapeutics, Taysha Gene Therapies and Lexicon Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are AviadoBio and Kriya Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are uniQure and Regenxbio.
Does Navega Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Navega Therapeutics.
What industry is Navega Therapeutics in?
Navega Therapeutics's product category is Gene Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAACAH, Neurology/CNS Gene Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAAACAA, AAV Vector Gene Therapy Developers. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.