Rare neurodegenerative disease
Omexia Therapeutics is developing OMX-002, an oral small-molecule prodrug of an autacoide that recalibrates microglial signalling — the shared inflammatory driver behind a group of rare disorders of the central nervous system.
Why rare disease
There are roughly 300 rare neurodegenerative disorders, and very few have any approved treatment. Most therapies in development chase one disease-specific misfolded protein at a time. Omexia Therapeutics takes the opposite route: we target the neuroinflammatory, microglia-driven mechanism these diseases share — a single approach with the potential to reach several orphan indications, each with the development advantages of orphan drug status.
Scientific rationale
Once regarded as a late bystander, chronic microglial activation is now recognised as a core driver of neurodegenerative disease — and a leading focus for therapeutic intervention. That shift in the literature is the foundation for our approach.
Human genetics and disease pathology point to the immune system — and microglia in particular — as a central influence on neurodegenerative disease progression, and the primary focus of neuroimmune therapeutic targeting.
Reviewed in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 25:390–405 (2026) · 10.1038/s41573-025-01370-7
Approach
Microglia are the brain's resident immune cells. In their resting state they are ramified — finely branched sentinels that continuously survey the brain. In neurodegenerative disease they retract into an amoeboid, chronically activated form that sustains inflammation and damages neurons. OMX-002 delivers a regulatory autacoide into the central nervous system, recalibrating the intracellular signalling that governs this switch and helping microglia return toward their homeostatic, surveying state — without broad immunosuppression.
Safe and sustainable by design. OMX-002 is a small-molecule prodrug made through biotechnological processes, and its path toward the clinic is accelerated by AI-guided development.
Investigational · Preclinical stage · Mechanism illustrative
Pipeline
Preclinical proof-of-mechanism generated across three independent genetic models · Stages: Research → Optimization → Preclinical → IND-enabling → Clinical
Collaborations
Scientific contribution to the ALS-TDP43 programme through in-vivo disease modelling and pharmacology, with proof-of-mechanism data generated in 2026.
↗ marionegri.it Pharmacokinetics · CNS deliveryPharmacokinetic characterisation and central nervous system exposure studies for the OMX-002 prodrug.
↗ iret-foundation.org Innovation ecosystemLIGHT — Lifescience Innovation Good Healthcare Technology — is the life-science infrastructure established by the University of Brescia with Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A. and Antares Vision Group. We are based in its ecosystem, at the University's CSMT technology centre, alongside university and CNR laboratories.
↗ light-center.itTeam
Co-Founder · CEO
Biotech entrepreneur with 25+ years across pharma and biotech and a strong focus on neuroscience partnering and translational strategy. She began at Fidia Farmaceutici and joined GlaxoWellcome/GSK in Licensing & Business Development, working with the UK Neuroscience Centre of Excellence and leading partnerships across neuroscience and vaccines.
She later served as CEO of IRB, driving a major turnaround through its acquisition by Croda International. She is Vice President of Assobiotec and a Contract Professor at the University of Padova, Department of Molecular Medicine. At Omexia Therapeutics she leads execution and capital strategy toward IND/CTA readiness.
Co-Founder · Chief Scientific Officer
Neurologist and neuropharmacologist with an academic background and 25+ years of pharma R&D across GSK, Hoffmann-La Roche, Takeda and Alfasigma, where he served as Global Head of R&D. His expertise spans target-to-clinic execution, translational models, biomarkers, and IP and regulatory strategy.
Author of 200+ scientific publications and an ACNP Fellow, he is the founder of Gelf Health and works at the intersection of AI and neurodegeneration prevention. At Omexia Therapeutics he drives scientific strategy and translational decisions toward early clinical proof-of-concept.
Advisory & scientific network — Riccardo Palmisano (Industry Advisor; former CEO of MolMed, President of Assobiotec 2016–2022) · Prof. Laura Calzà (Fondazione IRET).
Where we are
Brescia · Registered & operational office ↗ light-center.it
We are based in the LIGHT ecosystem: the life-science infrastructure established by the University of Brescia with Dompé Farmaceutici S.p.A. and Antares Vision Group. Our registered and operational office is at CSMT — the University's technology hub, on its engineering campus in Brescia, alongside university and CNR laboratories.
Via Branze 45, Brescia (BS), Italy
Venice · Operational office
Our Veneto operations at VEGA in Porto Marghera, Venice's science and technology park.
VEGA, 30175 Marghera (VE), Italy
Omexia Therapeutics
Incorporated in July 2026 as an Italian innovative startup, we are advancing OMX-002 toward first-in-human studies. We welcome conversations with investors, pharmaceutical partners and patient organisations.
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