Noa

Noa Therapeutics represents something remarkable — “a paradigm shift” in the treatment of inflammatory barrier diseases, according to Dr. Carla Spina, PhD. Previous attempts to address the disease targeted only one factor, an approach that cycled patients and physicians through trial-and-error treatment failures. 

Because these diseases are inherently heterogenous, Spina, BSc’03, and Serena Mandla knew they needed to move in another direction. Now, the company they founded, Noa Therapeutics, is poised to become the first and only therapeutic to target multiple underlying disease drivers and more wholly address the disease state. “The key takeaway is the potential for disease modification,” says Spina. “Allowing us to address persistent unmet needs.”

Based in Toronto at the MaRS Discovery District, Noa Therapeutics is leveraging a systems biology approach to advance into proof-of-concept studies. “We are also seeking to engage in early co-development or partnership with strategic partners,” says Spina, who appreciated UCeed’s recent contributions to the company's journey. “They saw the potential of our therapeutic strategy and took a chance on our early-stage biotech venture.”

While working towards advancing Noa Therapeutics and its reach, Spina and Mandla also see the potential of this space, featuring the life science ecosystem, the biotech community and startup acceleration. They are taking an active role in increasing diversity and promoting inclusion. “Myself and my co-founder being generally underrepresented populations,” says Spina, “we actively support community outreach and development of the next generation of leaders and scientific innovators, with a focus on growing the skills and leadership potential of underrepresented persons in the field.”

Visit Noa Therapeutics’ website for more information.

Noa Therapeutics has received investment from UCeed, a venture philanthropy fund accelerating UCalgary and community-based startup companies to advance problem-solving research, create jobs and fuel the economy. A key program in the UCalgary innovation ecosystem, UCeed bridges the gap between innovation, demonstration and commercialization, and is managed by UCalgary’s knowledge-transfer and business incubator, Innovate Calgary.

UCeed Health Fund is supported by the generosity of the River Fund at the Calgary Foundation and its mission to build a healthy and vibrant community where everyone belongs.

UCeed Child Health is funded by the generosity of our community through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and its mission to inspire our community to invest in excellence in child health, research and family-centred care.