Restoring Cellular
Balance to Stop
Neurodegeneration

Libra Therapeutics is advancing new therapeutics to improve lysosomal function with the potential to halt neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's disease, and more.

Our Approach

Many neurodegenerative disorders are caused by the aggregation of toxic proteins and dysfunctional machinery, leading to neuronal damage and cell death. Many of the genetic factors, linked to degenerative diseases, involve lysosome function and autophagy. These natural cellular processes break down and recycle the cell’s proteins and other machinery to maintain proper cell function.

Our novel, small molecule-targeted mechanisms work to increase the body's natural ability to break down and clear away toxic proteins and dysfunctional organelles, as well as to reduce the production of new neurotoxic proteins. Tipping the Balance to Innovation With the ability to restore disrupted cellular balance in lysosome function and autophagy, we have the potential to slow the disease progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

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Our Life’s Work Is to Find Better Treatments

We’ve experienced first-hand the debilitating effects of neurodegeneration, and we’re dedicated to doing our part by leading new perspectives and meaningful breakthroughs in drug development for these devastating diseases.

OUR TEAM

Leadership

Shawn Scranton, PharmD

Chief Executive Officer & President, Libra Therapeutics
Isaac Veinbergs, PhD

Chief Business Officer, Libra Therapeutics
Isaac Veinbergs, Ph.D., is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Libra Therapeutics, bringing over 25 years of experience in research and development, corporate development, and executive management in the BioPharma industry. Isaac began his career as a scientist with Acadia Pharmaceuticals. He has served in leadership roles at FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, and Elan where he oversaw drug discovery programs, operations, and multiple teams. His research and leadership has contributed to multiple INDs and NDAs, and his work includes approaches in neurodegeneration, pain, and psychiatry. Isaac then transitioned to the corporate side of the business and served as Head of Research Operations and Business Development at Brains On-Line and then as Global Head of Business Development and External Innovation of Neurosciences at Sanofi Genzyme. Isaac then returned to Acadia as Head of Corporate Development. Isaac holds a Ph.D. in molecular pathology from UC San Diego School of Medicine.
Martin Gill, PhD

Senior Vice President, Head of Research, Libra Therapeutics

Board of Directors

Shawn Scranton, PharmD

Chief Executive Officer & President, Libra Therapeutics
Casey Cunningham, MD

Partner and Chief Scientific Officer of Santé Ventures
Fei Shen, PhD

Managing Director
Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund USA
Gene Kinney, PhD

Chairman of the Board, Libra Therapeutics
President and Chief Executive Officer, Prothena
Sourav Kole, PhD

Managing Director
Dolby Family Ventures
Board observer
Stefan Lohmer, PhD

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AXXAM
Henning Steinhagen, PhD, MBA

Venture Partner, Epidarex Capital
Daguang Wang, PhD

Managing Director
Yonjin Venture LLC

Scientific Advisory Board

Don Cleveland, PhD

Professor, Molecular and Cell Medicine
Head, Laboratory of Cell Biology, UCSD
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
Friedrich Metzger, PhD

Chief Executive Officer, Versemeb
John Ravits, MD

Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
Department of Neuroscience, UCSD
John Renger, PhD

Chief Science Officer, Cerevel Therapeutics
Clotilde Lagier Tourenne, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Neurology, MGH, Harvard
Associate Member of the Broad Institute