About us
A focused team translating decades of Nogo-A research into therapies for the central nervous system.
Founded in 2015 in Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland, NovaGo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company and a spin-off from the University of Zurich.
Our human antibody therapeutics target nerve growth and regeneration for the treatment of spinal cord injury and subacute ischemic stroke — with a management team that has a proven track record in research and drug development.
2015
Founded in Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland
USD 30M
Series B, led by Neurimmune & Pureos Bioventures (2026)
NG004
Lead anti-Nogo-A antibody in Phase 1b
UZH
Spin-off from the University of Zurich
Our story
From a fundamental discovery to the clinic
NovaGo’s science is built on the discovery that the protein Nogo-A actively inhibits nerve-fiber growth and regeneration in the brain and spinal cord. Temporarily blocking it re-opens a window for repair after injury.
Over the past decade the company has translated this biology into a clinical-stage antibody programme — collaborating with Neurimmune on the development of human therapeutic antibodies that block Nogo-A function.
2026
Series B financing closes in August
A USD 30 million (CHF 24 million) Series B financing round closes, led by Neurimmune and Pureos Bioventures with participation of additional investors, including generous non-dilutive funding from Wings for Life and the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation.
2025
First patient dosed with NG004
The SPROUT Phase 1b study begins dosing — NovaGo’s transition to a clinical-stage company with its first asset.
2023
Dr. Stefan Moese named CEO
Leadership transition as the company shifts focus from pre-clinical research toward clinical development and partnerships.
2019
Series A financing closes
A CHF 10 million (USD 11 million) Series A financing round closes, led by Pureos Bioventures and Neurimmune.
2015
Founded in Zurich-Schlieren
NovaGo is established as a spin-off from the University of Zurich. Prof. Martin Schwab initiates the multinational NISCI consortium of 14 spinal cord injury clinical centers.
The management team
PhD
Chief Executive Officer
PhD, hon. MD
Founder, Chief Scientific Officer & Chairman of the board
MBA
Chief Financial Officer
PhD
Member of the Board
MD, Prof.
Member of the Board
PhD
Member of the Board
Board of Directors
PhD
Chief Executive Officer
PhD, hon. MD
Founder, Chief Scientific Officer & Chairman of the board
MBA
Chief Financial Officer
PhD
Member of the Board
MD, Prof.
Member of the Board
PhD
Member of the Board
Stefan Moese, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Stefan leads NovaGo as it transitions from a pre-clinical to a clinical-stage company. Previously Vice President Research and Technology at Neurimmune, he managed the entire pre-clinical portfolio through to the start of clinical development and oversaw the antibody-technology and bioinformatics groups. He holds a PhD in infection biology from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology and Humboldt University Berlin.
Martin E. Schwab, PhD, hon. MD
Founder, Chief Scientific Officer & Chairman of the board
Martin founded NovaGo and, as a professor at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, discovered Nogo-A, a potent inhibitor of nerve fiber growth and regeneration in brain and spinal cord, – the scientific foundation of the company. As CSO and Chairman of the Board, he drives the advancement of the preclinical package and the expansion of mechanistic studies, and initiated the multinational NISCI consortium that ran the Phase 2 anti-Nogo-A trial in spinal cord injury.
Roger Wetli, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Roger leads the finance and accounting organization. Before joining NovaGo he was Senior Director Tax and Finance at Neurimmune, and earlier held positions at big-four consulting firms focused on international tax planning. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Zurich and is a certified Swiss tax expert.
Dominik Escher, PhD
Member of the Board
Dominik Escher is the former Founder & CEO of ESBATech, a Swiss biotech focusing on next generation antibody fragment drugs.
Roger M. Nitsch, MD, Prof.
Member of the Board
Prof. Roger M. Nitsch is a neuroscientist with a background in medicine, recognized as a key opinion leader in neurodegenerative disease research, and as a pioneer of disease-modifying therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases.
Jan Grimm, PhD
Member of the Board
Jan Grimm is a neuroscientist with 20 years of experience in US and European biotech focusing on the development of antibody-based therapeutics.