Press Release

News

Welcome to Our New Team Members!

Posted on

Nanna’s recent hiring activities completed! CAMBRIDGE (UK), November 10, 2022 – Nanna Therapeutics has attracted a raft of new talent.  Meet the newest members of the team: New Head of Biology and Head of Chemistry “I am delighted to welcome Keith Moore as head of biology and Steve Penrose as head of chemistry to Nanna […]

About Us

Nanna Therapeutics is a small-molecule focused therapeutics biotech subsidiary of Astellas, a Japanese global pharmaceutical company. Nanna and Mitobridge together comprise of the Mitobridge Division, a US- and UK-based research engine of Astellas reporting in to the Astellas Chief Scientific Officer, together we work as part of the Astellas Primary Focus Mitochondria area of research.
Mitobridge is a Boston-based biotech acquired by Astellas in 2018, and Nanna Therapeutics, is a Cambridge, UK-based biotech, acquired in 2020.

Our Vision

Leveraging enabling platforms to develop transformational therapeutics via phenotypic screening and optimization approaches. We focus on early-stage, small-molecule drug discovery research in the area of mitochondrial & rare diseases. Our goal is to discover disease-modifying, transformative new medicines for diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

Therapeutic Areas

We are addressing fundamental cellular processes to create medicines to treat various mitochondrial dysfunction-related diseases. With a strong focus on mitochondria, the energy source in every cell, we can target the fundamental causes of many diseases. Through this approach we are also addressing life-limiting mitochondrial diseases for which there are currently few or no effective therapies.

Our Approach

Healthy mitochondria are critical to normal cellular activities. Mitochondrial dysfunction drives the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases, and as we age our cells produce less energy. We are focused on creating new options to combat our target diseases by regulating mitochondria, the cell’s power source. We combine expertise in core biology areas of mitochondria and immune-modulation together with a unique patient cell-enabled phenotypic screening paradigm that enables closer association to the targeted diseases.
Distinct aspects of mitochondrial function, for example, bioenergetics, dynamics, and cellular signalling are well described and impairments in these activities contribute to disease pathogenesis. We utilize an integrated platform of assays and models to systematically evaluate disease-related changes in mitochondrial function in order to deliver new medicines.

Partners

 We work closely with a wide range of external partners, including universities and academic institutions, centres of excellence for mitochondria research, CROs, as well as working closely with our colleagues in Mitobridge in Cambridge, MA, as well as Astellas colleagues in Japan and elsewhere.

Nanna is actively seeking technology and asset partnerships together with Astellas BD S&E (UK/EMEA) located in Cambridge, UK. Please contact us.

                                                          

 

  

Our Team

We have an experienced, dynamic team of scientists and leaders focussed on delivering innovative new medicines to patients.

David Barrett, PhD
Division Head & President, Nanna Therapeutics & Mitobridge
LinkedIn Profile
Chris Doe, PhD
Site Head
LinkedIn Profile
Jennifer St Quintin
Head, Operations & Administration
LinkedIn Profile

Scientific Advisors

Prof Sir Doug Turnbull FRS
Director Wellcome Trust Centre
for Mitochondrial Research
Prof Mervyn Bibb FRS
Emeritus Fellow
John Innes Centre
Prof Nicholas Turner FRS
Professor of Chemical Biology
Manchester University
Prof Pietro Lio
Professor of Computational Biology
University of Cambridge
Prof Dave Spring
Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
University of Cambridge

News

Welcome to Our New Team Members!

Posted Posted in News

Nanna’s recent hiring activities completed! CAMBRIDGE (UK), November 10, 2022 – Nanna Therapeutics has attracted a raft of new talent.  Meet the newest members of the team: New Head of Biology and Head of Chemistry “I am delighted to welcome Keith Moore as head of biology and Steve Penrose as head of chemistry to Nanna […]

We’re Hiring!

Posted Posted in News

We are expanding our talented team.  Take a look at our open positions in our Careers section: Head of Medicinal Chemistry Head of Pharmacology Applicants must submit a CV and covering letter by email to jobs@nannatherapeutics.com Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applicants and interviewing on a […]

Careers

Contact Us

 

 

Contact Details Nanna Therapeutics Ltd, The Merrifield Centre, Rosemary Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3LQ Tel: +44(0)1223 247000 Email: nannatherapeutics-sm@astellas.com Company no. 8328823