Sanofi-Backed Nura Bio Raises $73.8M for ALS Drug Trial

Nura Bio closed a $73.8 million Series B round, the South San Francisco biopharmaceutical company said Monday, with Sanofi Ventures among the participants.

The financing was led by The Column Group, with additional backing from Euclidean Capital and Samsara BioCapital. Proceeds will fund the early-stage development of NB-4746, an oral SARM1 inhibitor currently entering a Phase 1b/2a study in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company recently started dosing in that trial.

NB-4746 is designed to penetrate the brain and block SARM1, a protein involved in axonal degeneration. The mechanism has attracted interest across neurodegenerative disease, where few disease-modifying therapies exist. Nura Bio is also advancing a second SARM1-targeted program, though the company has not disclosed details on the compound's indication or development stage.

Sanofi's participation in the round gives the French drugmaker a direct stake in a novel neurology pathway at a time when large pharma companies are selectively adding preclinical and clinical-stage central nervous system (CNS) assets. Sanofi's own pipeline in neurology includes multiple sclerosis drug Aubagio, which lost patent protection, and amcenestrant, a potential therapy for progressive MS currently in Phase 2.

The $73.8 million round is larger than many early-stage CNS financings in the current biotech market, where venture funding has been concentrated on later-stage assets and oncology. The Column Group's lead role suggests existing conviction in the SARM1 thesis; the firm co-led Nura Bio's $48 million Series A in 2021.