Nospharma
Nospharma is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in Montréal developing novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics, led by asset NOS-01, for rare genetic neurological disorders including Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1, GRIN Disorder, and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Nospharma does
Nospharma is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics for rare genetic neurological disorders. The company's lead asset, NOS-01, is a small-molecule therapeutic that works by restoring downstream signaling of glutamatergic synapses and is being evaluated across multiple genetically defined indications including Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1-Related Disorder, GRIN Disorder, and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. Nospharma employs a multi-therapeutic approach — combining multiple small-molecules and peptides that each target a distinct biological underpinning of a given disorder — alongside therapeutic repurposing to compress clinical development timelines and costs. Clinical endpoints are being informed by patient input, and the company targets conditions with no approved drug treatments today.
Founded in 2021 in Montréal, Canada by neuroscientist-entrepreneur Anmol Nagpal (CEO) and Dr. Derek Bowie, Canada Research Chair in Receptor Pharmacology and Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University, Nospharma operates as a spin-off of the Bowie Lab at McGill. The company's R&D is closely integrated with McGill's neuroscience innovation infrastructure (NeuroSphere, Healthy Brains Healthy Lives), and it has secured grant funding and research partnerships from rare-disease patient advocacy foundations including Overcome SYNGAP1, SynGAP Research Fund, Wandoan Campdraft for a Cure, cureGRIN Foundation, and FRAXA Research Foundation. It also participates in the District 3 Innovation Launch & Grow accelerator and is supported by the Quebec innovation network.
Nospharma is pre-revenue with no commercial products, no disclosed pricing, and no commercial distribution. Funding to date consists exclusively of non-dilutive grants from patient foundations (cumulative ~$175K disclosed). The go-to-market model for the pipeline is co-development and licensing to established biopharma partners rather than independent commercialization. Headcount is 1–10 employees, with executive leadership comprising Nagpal, Bowie, and Head of Corporate Development David Baker (formerly VP/Global GM Vyvanse and CEO at Shire, Alcobra, and Vallon Pharmaceuticals), plus IP, regulatory, and communications advisors.
Nospharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nospharma
- Legal name
- Nospharma
- Website
- https://nospharma.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Nospharma is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in Montréal developing novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics, led by asset NOS-01, for rare genetic neurological disorders including Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1, GRIN Disorder, and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nospharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rare Disease Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Genetic & Genomic Rare Disease Therapeutics (HLAIAIAA)
Keywords
Where Nospharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Nospharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Marketing channels2 records
Nospharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nospharma is a preclinical-stage therapeutics company developing novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics for rare genetic neurological disorders including Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1-Related Disorder, GRIN Disorder, and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. The lead asset NOS-01 is a small-molecule therapeutic designed to restore downstream signaling of glutamatergic synapses, and the company applies a multi-therapeutic approach combining multiple compounds to target distinct biological underpinnings of each disorder.
Product overview
Nospharma is a preclinical stage therapeutics company developing innovative treatments for rare genetic neurological disorders. The company's product portfolio centers on NOS-01, its lead small-molecule therapeutic asset, along with a pipeline of novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics. The company employs a multi-therapeutic approach, targeting multiple biological mechanisms within each disorder to enhance treatment effectiveness. NOS-01 is being developed for Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1-related disorders, and GRIN disorders, representing genetically defined markets with major unmet medical needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NOS-01 NOS-01 is Nospharma's lead small-molecule therapeutic asset in preclinical development for the treatment of rare genetic neurological disorders including Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1-Related Disorder, and GRIN Disorder. It works by restoring downstream signaling of glutamatergic synapses in the brain and is being validated in mouse and cellular models through partnerships with FRAXA Research Foundation, cureGRIN Foundation, and SynGAP Research Fund-affiliated organizations.
- Multi-therapeutic pipeline of novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics Broader pipeline of novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics targeting rare genetic neurological disorders (Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1-Related Disorder, GRIN Disorder, and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome) using a multi-therapeutic approach in which multiple compounds each target a unique biological underpinning of a given disorder to create medicines with enhanced effectiveness.
Companies that use Nospharma
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nospharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Nospharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FRAXA Research FoundationcoreStrategic collaboration to conduct pre-clinical testing of NOS-01, Nospharma's lead asset, in Fragile X Syndrome mouse models. The partnership utilizes FRAXA's standardized preclinical testing platform to validate NOS-01's efficacy and accelerate development toward clinical trials.
- cureGRIN Foundationcore$25k partnership to test NOS-01 as a potential treatment for GRIN disorders in preclinical animal and cell models. The collaboration aims to advance medical research for rare neurological conditions and deliver new therapies to patients with GRIN disorders. Work led by CSO Dr. Derek Bowie.
- District 3 InnovationminorCompetitively selected to join District 3 Innovation Launch & Grow program with 2 years of individualized support, workshops, VC and angel investor access, and subject-matter expert guidance. CEO Anmol Nagpal awarded a Fellowship to work with D3 team supporting life-science startups.
- Overcome SYNGAP1, Wandoan Campdraft for a Cure, SynGAP Research Fund Australia, SynGAP Research FundcoreJoint $150,000 grant awarded to the McGill University lab of CSO Dr. Derek Bowie for preclinical studies to validate NOS-01 therapeutic potential to treat SYNGAP1-related disorders by restoring downstream signalling of glutamatergic synapses in SynGAP1 mouse and cellular models.
- McGill University (Bowie Lab)coreDeep partnership with McGill University's Bowie Lab led by CSO Dr. Derek Bowie, who is Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill and Co-Director of the Cell Information Systems. Research focuses on ion channel biology and neurophysiology for rare neurological disorders.
- NeuroSphere McGillminorMcGill's neuroscience-focused innovation hub supporting biotech spin-off companies including Nospharma.
- Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL)minorMcGill University initiative supporting neuroscience research and innovation ecosystem.
- Mouvement des accélérateurs d'innovation du QuébecminorQuebec innovation accelerator network supporting biotech startups in the province.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Nospharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Anavex Life Sciences: Anavex is a clinical-stage biopharma developing small-molecule therapeutics for rare neurological and neurodegenerative diseases including Rett syndrome, Fragile X-associated disorders, and Parkinson's disease dementia. Highly comparable to Nospharma in target indication space, small-molecule modality, and rare CNS focus.
- Zynerba Pharmaceuticals: Zynerba developed Zygel, a transdermal CBD therapy specifically for Fragile X Syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Direct indication overlap with Nospharma's NOS-01 lead program in Fragile X and adjacent rare neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Healx: Healx is an AI-driven drug discovery company focused exclusively on rare diseases, with active programs including Fragile X Syndrome using a combination-and-repurposing approach similar to Nospharma's methodology. Direct strategic and methodological peer.
- Marinus Pharmaceuticals: Marinus developed ZTALMY (ganaxolone) for CDKL5 deficiency disorder, a rare genetic epilepsy, and is exploring adjacent rare pediatric neurodevelopmental epilepsies. Comparable in targeting rare genetically-defined CNS disorders with no prior approved therapies.
Broad incumbents
- Praxis Precision Medicines: Praxis is a clinical-stage CNS biotech leveraging genetics and translational science to develop precision therapies across epilepsies and rare neurodevelopmental disorders. Comparable therapeutic area, but operates at broader scale with multiple clinical-stage assets.
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical: BioMarin is an established global rare-disease biopharma with active CNS programs and historical leadership in orphan drug commercialization. Comparable in rare-disease go-to-market expertise, though substantially larger and broader in portfolio than Nospharma.
- Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical: Ultragenyx is a commercial-stage rare-disease biotech with multiple approved therapies and CNS/neuromuscular rare-disease pipeline. Comparable in rare-disease commercialization strategy, but with broader therapeutic footprint and clinical-stage assets.
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Ionis is a leader in antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutics, with approved and clinical-stage CNS programs including for rare neurological genetic disorders. Comparable in rare CNS genetics-based drug development, but uses ASO modality versus Nospharma's small-molecule/peptides.
Emerging players
- Voyager Therapeutics: Voyager is a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on CNS disorders including Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's. Comparable CNS rare-disease focus but uses gene-therapy modality, complementing Nospharma's small-molecule approach.
- Neumora Therapeutics: Neumora is a clinical-stage precision neurology company developing brain-targeted therapeutics for neuropsychiatric and rare CNS disorders. Operates in adjacent neuroscience precision-medicine space with broader CNS pipeline targeting.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nospharma social profiles
Digital presenceNospharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nospharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Nospharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nospharma 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 Nospharma
What does Nospharma do?
Nospharma is a preclinical-stage therapeutics company developing novel small-molecule and peptide therapeutics for rare genetic neurological disorders including Fragile X Syndrome, SYNGAP1-Related Disorder, GRIN Disorder, and Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. The lead asset NOS-01 is a small-molecule therapeutic designed to restore downstream signaling of glutamatergic synapses, and the company applies a multi-therapeutic approach combining multiple compounds to target distinct biological underpinnings of each disorder.
Is Nospharma a public or private company?
Nospharma is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Nospharma founded?
Nospharma was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Nospharma based?
Nospharma is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
Who are Nospharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Anavex Life Sciences, Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Healx and Marinus Pharmaceuticals. Broad incumbents are Praxis Precision Medicines, BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical and Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are Voyager Therapeutics and Neumora Therapeutics.
Does Nospharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nospharma.
What industry is Nospharma in?
Nospharma's product category is Rare Disease Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAIAA, Genetic & Genomic Rare Disease Therapeutics. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8000.