NovaGo Therapeutics

What NovaGo Therapeutics does

NovaGo Therapeutics AG is a privately held Swiss biotech founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the University of Zurich, headquartered at Wagistrasse 27 in Schlieren within the Zurich biotech hub. The company develops human therapeutic antibodies that target Nogo-A, a membrane protein that inhibits nerve fiber growth in the central nervous system, with the goal of stimulating regeneration and functional recovery in patients with acute spinal cord injury. Its pipeline currently comprises two anti-Nogo-A antibody candidates: NG101, which has completed Phase 2 clinical evaluation in 129 acute cervical spinal cord injury patients under the academic NISCI consortium (results published in Lancet Neurology and Nature Communications showing structural regeneration signals on MRI), and NG004, a next-generation antibody with improved efficacy and biophysical properties that entered a Phase 1b trial (SPROUT) in January 2025 across sites in Germany and Switzerland. Antibody discovery is enabled through a collaboration with Neurimmune AG and its Reverse Translational Medicine™ platform, a high-throughput analysis of human immune repertoires.

The company operates with a small team of 1-10 employees and is led by CEO Dr. Stefan Moese (formerly VP at Neurimmune), CFO Roger Wetli (ex-Neurimmune), and founder Prof. Martin E. Schwab as CSO and Chairman. NovaGo's business model is pre-commercial: revenue will ultimately derive from pharmaceutical product sales post-regulatory approval or, more likely near-term, from licensing, partnership, or co-development agreements with larger biopharma for commercialization. Its go-to-market leverages academic publishing, consortium-driven clinical development, and institutional fundraising rather than traditional sales channels. Capital to date consists of a CHF 10 million (USD 11 million) Series A closed in March 2019 and co-led by Pureos Bioventures and Neurimmune, supplemented by non-dilutive funding from the EU's Horizon 2020 and several Swiss charitable foundations channeled through the NISCI consortium.

NovaGo's strategic positioning rests on a first-in-class mechanism (Nogo-A blockade for CNS regeneration), a deep IP position derived from decades of academic research, and a scientific advisory pedigree centered on the discoverer of the Nogo-A pathway. The near-term value-creation lever is regulatory and clinical progression rather than commercial sales, with the company signaling active partnership-seeking activity to capture commercialization value once NG101 and/or NG004 produce pivotal-stage efficacy data.

Name

NovaGo Therapeutics

Legal name

NovaGo Therapeutics AG

Website

https://novagotherapeutics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NovaGo Therapeutics is a Swiss clinical-stage biotech developing human anti-Nogo-A antibody therapeutics to stimulate nerve regeneration and functional recovery in patients with acute spinal cord injury.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotech Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Neural & Spinal Cord Regeneration (HLAAAGAI)

Keywords

• Nerve regeneration therapeutics
• Anti-Nogo-A antibodies
• Spinal cord injury treatment
• Human antibody therapeutics
• Biotech drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

Schlieren

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

NovaGo Therapeutics develops human therapeutic antibody candidates targeting the Nogo-A protein to promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Its pipeline comprises two anti-Nogo-A antibody drug candidates, NG101 (completed Phase 2 trials, with results published in Lancet Neurology) and NG004 (currently in Phase 1b SPROUT clinical trial). The antibodies are discovered and engineered using Neurimmune's Reverse Translational Medicine technology.

Product overview

NovaGo Therapeutics is a Swiss biotech company developing human antibody therapeutics for nerve growth and regeneration. The company's pipeline consists of two anti-Nogo-A antibody candidates: NG101 (completed Phase 2 trials, published in Lancet Neurology) and NG004 (next-generation antibody in Phase 1b clinical trials). Both antibodies block the Nogo-A protein, a potent inhibitor of nerve growth, to stimulate regeneration of damaged nerve fibers following spinal cord injury. The company leverages Neurimmune's Reverse Translational Medicine™ technology for antibody discovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NG004 A next-generation fully human anti-Nogo-A antibody with improved efficacy and biophysical properties, developed using Neurimmune's Reverse Translational Medicine technology. Currently in Phase 1b clinical trial (SPROUT study) for treatment of acute spinal cord injury in adult patients.
• NG101

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase IIb trial MRI imaging of 106 patients showed faster lesion volume shrinkage and slower loss of spinal cord tissue above injury site compared to placebo
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Neurimmune AGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015NovaGo collaborates with Neurimmune AG on the research and development of anti-Nogo-A antibodies using Neurimmune's Reverse Translational Medicine (RTM) technology. NG004 is based on Neurimmune's RTM technology. NovaGo is a spin-off company from the University of Zurich leveraging Neurimmune's technology platform.
• NISCI Consortium (Nogo-A Inhibition in Spinal Cord Injury Study Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Academic collaboration consortium of 14 member institutions including University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, Balgrist University Hospital Zurich, and Heidelberg University Hospital. Founded by Prof. Martin Schwab in 2015. NISCI conducted Phase 2 trial of NG101 in 129 patients, financed by EU's Horizon 2020, Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Swiss Paraplegic Foundation, Wings for Life, and other foundations.
• University of Zurich / ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNovaGo is a spin-off company from the University of Zurich. Prof. Martin E. Schwab is em Professor of Neuroscience at both University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. The company leverages academic research capabilities and infrastructure from these institutions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Neurimmune Holding AG: Swiss antibody-discovery company that supplies NovaGo's Reverse Translational Medicine (RTM) technology and is itself a board-connected partner/investor. Not a direct competitor but the originating technology platform for NovaGo's pipeline.

Emerging players

• BioArctic AB: Swedish clinical-stage biotech developing antibody therapeutics for CNS diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's). Comparable as a small, specialized CNS antibody company leveraging academic science into clinical assets.
• Lineage Cell Therapeutics: Clinical-stage cell therapy biotech with programs in CNS/neural regeneration. Comparable as a small-cap, clinical-stage regenerative medicine company focused on the spinal cord / nervous system.
• ReNeuron Group: UK-based clinical-stage biotech developing stem cell therapies for stroke and other neurological conditions. Comparable as a small clinical-stage regenerative medicine peer targeting CNS recovery.
• Scholar Rock: Clinical-stage biotech developing monoclonal antibodies targeting growth-factor pathways (incl. latent myostatin/TGF-β) relevant to neuromuscular and CNS indications. Comparable as an antibody-based biotech pursuing CNS/neurological indications with academic-originated science.
• Cytovation ASA: Nordic clinical-stage biotech developing antibody and peptide therapeutics for inflammatory/CNS diseases. Comparable as a small, founder-led European antibody biotech transitioning from academic spin-off to clinical stage.

Direct peers

• NervGen Pharma: Clinical-stage biotech developing NVG-291, a peptide that promotes neural repair/regeneration in spinal cord injury and other CNS indications. Closest direct competitor to NovaGo's anti-Nogo-A approach in SCI regeneration.

Broad incumbents

• Acorda Therapeutics: Specialty neurology biotech historically focused on spinal cord injury (fampridine) and other CNS disorders. Industry incumbent in SCI therapeutics, though with no regenerative mechanism comparable to NovaGo's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novago-therapeutics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NovaGo Therapeutics