Nintx (Next Innovative Therapeutics), a Brazilian biotech company focused on developing treatments for multifactorial diseases using Brazil’s rich biodiversity, has raised an additional US$ 10 million following a US$ 3 million seed investment in 2022. This new funding will support the company’s ambitious plans for the next few years, including accelerating the research and development (R&D) of eight new drug programs, expanding its laboratory, hiring more researchers, and integrating new technologies. These efforts will be carried out in collaboration with companies like Adeste and Centroflora, and research institutions such as CIEnP and CNPEM, which houses Sirius, one of the world’s largest particle accelerators.
Nintx uses a novel approach to develop treatments for multifactorial diseases—those influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, especially interactions mediated by the human gut microbiome. The company focuses on multi-target therapies, leveraging proprietary technologies such as xGIbiomics®, a simulation of the gastrointestinal system, and GAIApath®, a knowledge-graph data analytics platform that connects plants, natural products, biological targets, the microbiome, and diseases. These innovative technologies enable Nintx to identify therapeutic pathways that address the complex nature of diseases like metabolic, immunological, cancer, and brain disorders.
Nintx’s business model is designed to take drug candidates through preclinical studies before licensing them to large pharmaceutical companies for clinical development and commercialization. The company expects to license its first drug candidate within the next three years. The Series A round investors include Pitanga, Ecoa Capital, and MOV Investimentos, along with strategic partners Tiaraju and Adeste, who have also invested to foster synergies with Nintx. Notably, Guilherme Leal, co-founder of Natura and Dengo, and Peter Andersen from Centroflora, continue to support the company as shareholders. In addition to private investments, Nintx has also received a US$ 2.5 million grant from FINEP, Brazil’s public company for science, technology, and innovation.
Gabriel Perez from Pitanga highlights Nintx’s potential for success, drawing parallels to biopharma startups in the U.S. and Europe that have achieved valuations in the hundreds of millions of dollars. He believes that Nintx can follow a similar trajectory. Paulo Bellotti from MOV Investimentos praises the company’s commitment to social and environmental impact, noting its emphasis on biodiversity preservation, agroforestry practices, and partnerships with small farmers and local communities that possess traditional knowledge about plants.
Alongside this funding milestone, Nintx is undergoing a leadership transition. Stephani Saverio, who co-founded the company with Miller Freitas and Cristiano Guimarães, will become CEO in January 2025. Saverio brings over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having previously served as Global Vice President of Business Development at Knight Therapeutics. Freitas will take on the role of Chief Development Officer (CDO), while Guimarães remains as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). The leadership changes are part of Nintx’s strategic plan to scale its operations and continue its path as a leader in Brazil’s emerging biotech sector.
Nintx stands out in Brazil for focusing on truly innovative therapies, in contrast to many local companies that work with established technologies. This focus on groundbreaking medicine development is positioning Nintx as a pioneer in Brazil’s pharmaceutical industry. The company is dedicated to leveraging biodiversity to create new-generation treatments for multifactorial diseases, opening new possibilities for patient care globally.
