Oct. 11 Quick Takes: Large syndicate backs Neumora in $112M round

A year after launching with more than $500 million from a syndicate led by Arch Venture Partners to interrogate precision medicine targets in neuroscience, Neumora Therapeutics Inc. has added $112 million in series B cash to advance two clinical assets and an earlier-stage pipeline. Neumora is conducting a Phase IIa trial of KOR antagonist NMRA-140 to treat major depressive disorder; its V1a receptor antagonist NMRA-511 is in the clinic for neuropsychiatric disorders; and its M4 muscarinic receptor modulator NMRA-266 is due to begin clinical testing next year to treat schizophrenia. Series B investors included Abu Dhabi Growth Fund, Altitude Life Science Ventures, Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN), Arch Venture Partners, Exor Ventures, F-Prime Capital, Invus, Mubadala Capital, Newpath Partners, Polaris Partners and others.

Under a new partnership, Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) will draw on the computational power of Nimbus Therapeutics LLC to develop small molecules that selectively activate specific isoforms of AMPK to treat metabolic disorders. The deal includes research funding and milestones with a total value of $496 million, plus royalties. Nimbus raised $125 million in a private round led by Bain Capital Life Sciences and SV Health Investors...