Precision BioSearch was pleased to partner with NRG Therapeutics, an innovative neuroscience company targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, to secure Gilles Ouvry as VP Chemistry and Vad Lazari as VP Biology.

NRG is applying breakthrough science in the field of mitochondrial biology to develop disease-modifying therapeutics to slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and ALS (also known as motor neurone disease or MND).

Following a £16 million Series A financing, led by Omega Funds and syndicated by Brandon Capital, Precision BioSearch was retained to identify and secure experienced functional leaders of Chemistry and Biology to advance a pre-clinical pipeline of small molecule assets which inhibit the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) through a novel mode of action.

Gilles joins from Evotec, UK and brings 20 years of international medicinal chemistry experience including at Galderma, AstraZeneca and SCYNEXIS. Vad joins from Charles River and brings two decades of drug discovery experience including at Pfizer and BioFocus DPI.

Commenting on the partnership with Precision BioSearch, NRG Therapeutics’ co-founder and CEO Neil Miller Ph.D. said, “Jemma and Malcolm successfully placed two new members of the leadership team (VPs of Chemistry and Biology) at NRG Therapeutics. Throughout the process, from initial briefing to shortlisting, and from final interviews to offer & contracting, they demonstrated not only deep knowledge of the marketplace but importantly invested time in fully understanding what we were looking for from both a technical and cultural perspective. Our experience with Precision BioSearch was very positive and I happily recommend them as a search partner to others within the Biotech community.”

Remarking on both their appointments, Neil Miller said, “I am delighted to welcome Vad to our team. This is our second senior appointment in 2023, following the arrival of Gilles Ouvry as our VP of Chemistry earlier in the year, and underlines NRG’s maturation following its series A financing of £16m in late 2022. Working closely with our scientific team led by Professor Seth Masters at WEHI in Australia and our external CRO partners, Vad and Gilles are focused on progressing two promising chemical series of potential first-in-class brain-penetrant, small molecule mPTP inhibitors in parallel as potential treatments for Parkinson’s and ALS (also known as motor neurone disease or MND).”

About NRG Therapeutics: Based at the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), UK, NRG Therapeutics is a private company with equity investment from Parkinson’s UK, Omega Funds and Brandon Capital. The company has also received grant funding from The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Innovate UK (Biomedical Catalyst Early-Stage Award). NRG Therapeutics’ pre-clinical pipeline of small molecule assets is based on inhibiting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Inhibition of the mPTP has been shown to protect neurons, reduce neuroinflammation and extend survival in pre-clinical disease models.

For more information, visit: nrgtherapeutics.com