Nemea Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage company developing oral small molecule inhibitors targeting mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT) for the treatment of mitochondria-dependent solid tumors.
Nemea Therapeutics is advancing first-in-class oral small molecule therapies that inhibit mitochondrial sustenance to treat aggressive solid tumors.
The lead program targets mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT)—a long-elusive cancer hallmark. Many advanced cancers increase reliance on mitochondrial function after standard chemotherapy, making POLRMT inhibition a promising approach for safer, more effective therapy across a broad range of malignancies.
Preclinical studies show robust anti-tumor activity with no notable toxicities as monotherapy or in combination with conventional chemotherapies across multiple models, including metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC).
The technology originates from over a decade of research in mitochondrial cancer biology and medicinal chemistry at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) and the Lead Discovery Center (Dortmund, Germany), founded by Max Planck Innovation.
Located in the Texas Medical Center, Nemea has built a world-class team with deep oncology drug development expertise. The company plans clinical entry in 2027, leveraging Baylor’s Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center to explore POLRMT inhibition in mTNBC and other high-unmet-need indications.
As 2025 MATWIN award winner, Nemea has already attracted strong partnering interest from multiple pharmaceutical companies.
Leadership & Board
- Andy Bader, PhD – CEO & Director
20+ years in biotech leadership (former CEO/CSO); raised >$250M across VC, IPO, and grants. - Markus Peters, PhD – Director
Partner at KHAN; 30+ years in drug development and commercialization; former CEO/COO/CCO roles. - Michael Dilling, PhD, CLP – Director
Executive Director, BCM Ventures.
R&D and Clinical Operations
- Gloria Echeverria, PhD – CSO
10+ years expertise in mitochondrial cancer biology; Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. - Stefan Proniuk, PhD – CDO (consulting)
29+ years global drug development; enabled >80 small molecule INDs. - Tim Bergbrede, PhD – Collaborator
Scientific lead of POLRMTi program at LDC; 20+ years in discovery. - Ahmed Elkahany, MD – Clinical Lead
Assistant Professor of Breast Medical Oncology at Baylor. - S. Gail Eckhardt, MD, FASCO – Clinical Advisor
Board member (Exelixis), SAB member (Amgen); Professor at Baylor.
This experienced team significantly de-risks the path to clinic with proven expertise in oncology drug development and biotech operations.
Nemea’s first-in-class POLRMT inhibitor offers superior safety and efficacy compared to prior toxic mitochondrial-targeting approaches by selectively impairing cancer cells while sparing normal cells.
Clinical & Commercial Strategy
- Timeline to Value Inflection
18-month path to IND, followed by clinical Proof-of-Concept as monotherapy or combination therapy. - Lead Indication
Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (mTNBC)—high-unmet need, highly responsive in preclinical models, eligible for accelerated regulatory approval. - Market Opportunity
U.S. 2L+ mTNBC market >$600M annually (> $2B prevalent pool); potential expansion to 1L mTNBC, other solid tumors, and metabolic diseases. - Partnering Momentum
Winner of 1st prize at 2025 MATWIN (European oncology accelerator with major pharma decision-makers); already generated significant interest from multiple pharmaceutical companies.
Nemea anticipates strong pharma engagement for later-stage development, market entry, or acquisition as clinical milestones are achieved.
Nemea’s primary path to revenue is through strategic acquisition by large pharma, which would commercialize the POLRMTi platform.
Value-Creating Strategy
- Advance Lead Program
Achieve clinical Proof-of-Concept in mitochondria-dependent solid tumors with focused, biomarker-informed strategy. - Pipeline Expansion
Develop next-generation POLRMT inhibitors and new indications (e.g., metabolic disease) while building additional IP. - M&A Readiness
Build compliant operations and leverage strong clinical networks at Baylor and LDC.
With a highly experienced oncology team and strategic focus on high-unmet-need indications like mTNBC, Nemea is positioned for efficient execution and maximum value creation.
Investment Opportunity
Nemea is seeking $25–30M in SEED/Series A funding to advance its de-risked POLRMT inhibitor into the clinic.
Use of Proceeds
- Preclinical to IND
Complete GLP pharm/tox, CMC, and biomarker work for IND clearance. - Phase 1a/b Trial
Conduct first-in-human study in chemo-refractory solid tumors, with focus on mTNBC.
Flexible structure: Potential $5M SEED to reach IND milestone, followed by larger round—or single larger round depending on investor terms.
Strong early investor interest highlights Nemea as a compelling opportunity with significant de-risking already achieved through >$10M prior investment and robust preclinical data.
Nemea’s POLRMT inhibitor is the product of >$10M and over a decade of drug discovery at LDC and Baylor College of Medicine.
Key Achievements
- Comprehensive Screening & Optimization
Screened ~422,000 compounds, optimized ~1,100 through SAR/SPR and ADME/DMPK. - De-Risked Profile
Optimal bioavailability and pharmacology confirmed in large animals (dog, monkey); rigorous stability, permeability, and safety testing. - Strong IP Position
Multiple patents filed, including recent composition-of-matter on lead candidate with 20-year protection. - Clear Path Forward
Low-risk 18-month timeline to IND with most critical parameters already addressed; biomarker strategy in development.
Positioned for clinical Proof-of-Concept in high-unmet-need mTNBC, with potential expansion across mitochondria-dependent cancers.
Nemea has not yet accepted direct company financing. Technology incubated with >$10M in prior institutional funding:
| Source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lead Discovery Center (LDC) | $9M |
| Baylor College of Medicine (grant funding) | $1.6M |
Pre-SEED funds from BCM and LDC expected upon formal incorporation (November 2025).
