ALS Tracker

← Early pipeline

Early pipeline

NRG5051

Bottom line

Very early: a first safety test in healthy volunteers that began in January 2026. It looked promising in mice, but most drugs at this stage never become approved treatments.

Very early. This drug is in its first safety trial in people and has not been tested for whether it helps in ALS. Most drugs at this stage never reach approval. More about early drugs

NRG5051 is an experimental drug taken by mouth that is meant to protect mitochondria, the parts of nerve cells that make energy. Its first human trial, in healthy volunteers in the Netherlands, began dosing in January 2026. The company is developing it for both ALS and Parkinson's disease and plans to test it in people with ALS next.

Information checked 5 Nov 2026

Evidence: Results pending

Studies: 1 running

Trials are running, but there are no efficacy results yet.

How we decide the overall verdict: How to read this site.

At a glance

CompanyNRG TherapeuticsExplanation and sources

NRG Therapeutics is a private biotech in Stevenage, England. In September 2025 it raised £50 million ($67 million), led by the Dementia Discovery Fund, with the Novartis Venture Fund and others, to fund human trials in Parkinson's and an early test of whether the drug works in ALS. It has also had grants from Target ALS and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Sources

  1. NRG Therapeutics announces oversubscribed £50m ($67m) Series B financing to deliver clinical data in Parkinson's and proof-of-concept in ALS/MNDNRG Therapeutics · 8 Sept 2025 · Company press release
  2. NRG Therapeutics pipelineNRG Therapeutics · Company website
How it worksDrug taken by mouth, meant to protect cells' energy factoriesMitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) inhibitor, via NLRX1Explanation and sources

Mitochondria make energy inside nerve cells. When they are under stress, a channel called the mPTP can open and damage the cell. NRG5051 is designed to reach the brain and keep this channel closed. In August 2026 the company said the drug works through a protein called NLRX1.

Sources

  1. NRG Therapeutics presents data on lead clinical asset NRG5051 confirming novel disease-modifying approach to ALSNRG Therapeutics · 24 Aug 2026 · Company press release
  2. NRG Therapeutics announces first participants dosed in its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 8 Jan 2026 · Company press release
StagePhase 1Phase 1 in healthy volunteers, about 118 people planned · Dosing: healthy volunteersExplanation and sources

The NRG5051-101 trial at CHDR in Leiden, the Netherlands, gives healthy adults single or repeated rising doses of NRG5051 or placebo to check safety. The EU registry also lists people with ALS or Parkinson's, but the company has not reported dosing anyone with ALS. In August 2026 it said ALS dosing was due later in 2026; in October it said ALS dosing, including a Phase 2 trial, is planned for 2027. A separate brain-scan study in healthy volunteers began in London in October 2026.

Sources

  1. Research into the safety of a new agent (NRG5051) in healthy adults and patients with Parkinson's disease or ALS (EU CT 2025-523872-22-00)EU Clinical Trials Information System · Trial registry
  2. NRG Therapeutics announces first participants dosed in its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 8 Jan 2026 · Company press release
  3. NRG Therapeutics presents data on lead clinical asset NRG5051 confirming novel disease-modifying approach to ALSNRG Therapeutics · 24 Aug 2026 · Company press release
  4. NRG Therapeutics announces a PET biodistribution trial of lead clinical asset NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 21 Oct 2026 · Company press release
Best reported effectNo ALS data yetSafety and drug levels in healthy volunteersExplanation and sources

No results in people have been published. The company reports that in mice with a TDP-43 form of ALS, the drug lowered the nerve-damage marker NfL. These are mouse results; most drugs that work in mice do not work in people.

This is the most favourable result reported. See all key studies for the full picture.

Sources

  1. NRG Therapeutics presents data on lead clinical asset NRG5051 confirming novel disease-modifying approach to ALSNRG Therapeutics · 24 Aug 2026 · Company press release
  2. First human trial begins testing ALS, Parkinson's drug NRG5051ALS News Today · 14 Jan 2026 · News
Who it's forAimed at sporadic ALS and Parkinson's; trial is in healthy adultsSporadic · By mouthExplanation and sources

The company describes NRG5051 as a possible disease-modifying treatment for sporadic ALS and for Parkinson's disease. So far it has only reported giving it to healthy volunteers.

Sources

  1. NRG Therapeutics announces first participants dosed in its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 8 Jan 2026 · Company press release
  2. NRG Therapeutics presents data on lead clinical asset NRG5051 confirming novel disease-modifying approach to ALSNRG Therapeutics · 24 Aug 2026 · Company press release
What's nextSafety results from the healthy-volunteer trialExpected 2026Explanation and sources

When dosing began in January 2026, NRG Therapeutics said it expected trial results by the end of 2026. In October 2026 it said the trial was finishing and that dosing in people with ALS, including a Phase 2 trial, is planned for 2027.

Sources

  1. NRG Therapeutics announces first participants dosed in its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 8 Jan 2026 · Company press release
  2. NRG Therapeutics announces a PET biodistribution trial of lead clinical asset NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 21 Oct 2026 · Company press release
Can I join?Healthy volunteers only; people with ALS can't join yetExplanation and sources

The trial is at a single research unit in Leiden that takes healthy volunteers. The company has not opened enrolment to people with ALS. We found no expanded access programme.

Sources

  1. Research into the safety of a new agent (NRG5051) in healthy adults and patients with Parkinson's disease or ALS (EU CT 2025-523872-22-00)EU Clinical Trials Information System · Trial registry
  2. NRG Therapeutics announces a PET biodistribution trial of lead clinical asset NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 21 Oct 2026 · Company press release

Signal: Active

Signal measures how often, and how reliably, NRG Therapeutics tells the public about this drug. It says nothing about whether the drug works. A quiet company isn't necessarily a bad sign, but regular, on-time updates help patients plan.

Last company update21 Oct 2026 (15 days ago)40 / 40
Company updates in the last 12 months318 / 35
Promises keptNot enough history yet (neutral score)12.5 / 25
Signal score71 / 100 · Active

Announced milestones

70 or more is Active, 45 or more is Steady, 20 or more is Quiet, below 20 is Silent. Full method.

Timeline

5 events, newest first. Company updates are marked; independent news and regulator decisions are shown too.

2026

  1. Press releaseFrom the companyNRG Therapeutics

    Brain-scan study of NRG5051 starts in London

    A PET scan study in healthy volunteers will show how much of the drug reaches the brain. The company said the first trial is finishing and that dosing in people with ALS, including a Phase 2 trial, is planned for 2027.

  2. ConferenceFrom the companyNRG Therapeutics

    Mouse data and new mechanism presented at ALS Nexus

    NRG presented mouse results, including lower NfL, and said the drug works through the protein NLRX1. It said dosing in people with ALS was scheduled for later in 2026.

  3. NewsALS News Today

    ALS News Today reports the start of the NRG5051 trial

    Independent coverage of the first human trial, which is testing NRG5051 in healthy adults before people with ALS or Parkinson's.

  4. Press releaseFrom the companyNRG Therapeutics

    First healthy volunteers dosed with NRG5051

    The company announced the first doses in its first human trial, at CHDR in Leiden, and said it expected results by the end of 2026.

2025

  1. Investor updateFrom the companyNRG Therapeutics

    NRG Therapeutics raises £50 million to take NRG5051 into people

    The Series B funding, led by the Dementia Discovery Fund, is meant to pay for human trials in Parkinson's and an early test of whether the drug works in ALS.

All sources for this page

  1. Research into the safety of a new agent (NRG5051) in healthy adults and patients with Parkinson's disease or ALS (EU CT 2025-523872-22-00)EU Clinical Trials Information System · Trial registry
  2. NRG Therapeutics announces oversubscribed £50m ($67m) Series B financing to deliver clinical data in Parkinson's and proof-of-concept in ALS/MNDNRG Therapeutics · 8 Sept 2025 · Company press release
  3. NRG Therapeutics announces first participants dosed in its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 8 Jan 2026 · Company press release
  4. First human trial begins testing ALS, Parkinson's drug NRG5051ALS News Today · 14 Jan 2026 · News
  5. NRG Therapeutics presents data on lead clinical asset NRG5051 confirming novel disease-modifying approach to ALSNRG Therapeutics · 24 Aug 2026 · Company press release
  6. NRG Therapeutics announces a PET biodistribution trial of lead clinical asset NRG5051NRG Therapeutics · 21 Oct 2026 · Company press release
  7. NRG Therapeutics pipelineNRG Therapeutics · Company website