EQT Life Sciences Boosts Noema Pharma's Series B Funding to CHF 130 Million

EQT Life Sciences Elevates Noema Pharma's Funding

EQT Life Sciences recently announced a significant extension of its Series B funding round for Noema Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company based in Basel, Switzerland. With this recent investment, the total amount raised in this round has now reached an impressive CHF 130 million. This investment comes from the EQT Life Sciences LSP 7 fund and marks a notable collaboration between EQT and Noema Pharma, building upon their previous successful partnership spearheaded by no other than Ilise Lombardo, MD, the CEO of Noema Pharma.

Noema Pharma is focused on developing innovative treatments for various conditions related to the central nervous system (CNS), which currently lacks effective therapies. This area represents a critical medical need worldwide, affecting hundreds of millions of individuals who often struggle with limited treatment options that may prove ineffective or cause significant side effects. The company is currently directing its efforts towards several hard-to-treat CNS disorders through its diverse pipeline of first-in-disease therapeutics.

The funding will primarily be aimed at advancing key late-stage clinical trial readouts, particularly for Noema's leading candidates. The portfolio is robust, featuring four ongoing Phase 2 trials, with the results of all these studies anticipated in 2025. Investors, including notable biotechnology partners like Forbion, Jeito Capital, and Polaris Partners, have previously contributed to Noema's capital influx, underscoring the confidence the biotech community has in the company’s mission.

One of the chief candidates receiving support from this funding is basimglurant (NOE-101), a mGluR5 inhibitor that is currently undergoing trials for severe pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and seizures linked to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Another prominent candidate is gemlapodect (NOE-105), a PDE10a inhibitor being tested for Tourette syndrome and stuttering disorders in children. Additionally, the company is exploring the effects of NOE-115, a broad-spectrum monoamine modulator designed to treat symptoms linked to menopause.

Ilise Lombardo expressed her enthusiasm regarding EQT Life Sciences’ involvement, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome EQT Life Sciences as a lead investor and to have Felice join our Board. Their support and expertise will be invaluable as we progress our clinical programs and strive to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.”

Felice Verduyn-van Weegen, a Partner at EQT, also weighed in on the partnership, noting that Noema Pharma’s unique approach towards addressing unmet medical needs in CNS disorders aligns perfectly with EQT’s investment strategy. Verduyn's participation on the Board of Directors further emphasizes EQT's commitment to supporting transformative therapies and late-stage clinical pipelines that can bring real value to patients in need.

In conclusion, EQT Life Sciences is poised to play a pivotal role in pushing forward Noema Pharma’s revolutionary approach to CNS disorders. As the investment paves the way for groundbreaking therapies, patients can hope for tangible improvements in their care, as Noema continues its mission to tackle some of the most challenging unmet medical needs in the field.

As the world watches closely, the developments stemming from this partnership in the upcoming years will certainly have the potential to change the landscape of treatment options available for individuals battling debilitating CNS disorders.