Neumora Reveals Mid-Stage Data For Fully Funded, Phase III-Ready Depression Drug

Private Biotech Has Raised $650m To Date

Neumora’s once-daily oral kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist navacaprant succeeded in a Phase II trial and will move into the first of three Phase III studies soon, with a US filing targeted for 2025.

Fear, loneliness, depression, abuse, addiction
Neumora's navacaprant aims to treat anhedonia, an inability to experience pleasure or joy, in depression patients • Source: Shutterstock

Privately held Neumora Therapeutics, Inc. has one well-funded rival in the late-stage development of a kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), but as the company moves its drug candidate navacaprant (NMRA-140) into Phase III this year, it also has its own deep well of cash to execute its pivotal trials and a slightly different approach to the MDD market than Johnson & Johnson has taken with its Phase III KOR antagonist aticaprant.

Neumora was founded in 2019 to develop precision medicines for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, and came out of stealth mode...

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