Noema Pharma, a biotech company based in Basel, has secured 27 million Swiss francs in an extension of its series B funding round. According to a press release, this expansion was led by EQT Life Sciences, one of the largest healthcare venture capitalists in Europe, which has headquarters in Amsterdam. The investment builds on EQT’s prior successful partnership with Dr. Ilise Lombardo, an entrepreneur specializing in neurology who has been the CEO of Noema Pharma since June 2023.

Noema Pharma concluded the original series B with 103 million Swiss francs in March 2023. At that time, the biotechnology investors Forbion, Jeito Capital, Sofinnova Partners, Gilde Healthcare, Polaris Partners, Invus, and UPMC Enterprises were involved. Including the extension, the total funding received in this round now amounts to 130 million Swiss francs.

Four active phase 2 studies

According to the information provided, the proceeds will be used to facilitate vital results from late-stage clinical studies for active substances to treat several underserved neurological diseases with a high unmet medical need. Noema’s portfolio comprises four active phase 2 studies. These focus on the treatment of severe pain due to trigeminal neuralgia and seizures in tuberous sclerosis, on Tourette syndrome and stuttering, as well as on vasmomotiric and other symptoms of the menopause. The most important results from all of these studies are expected to be available in 2025.

Partner at EQT Felice Verduyn-van Weegen will join the Board of Directors at Noema. Having worked with Ilise Lombardo on a previous successful investment, she recognizes the “exceptional leadership” of the current CEO of the pharmaceutical company and states that this further reinforces EQT’s confidence in “Noema’s potential to deliver meaningful impact to patients in need.”