Startups
AxoNeural Therapeutics
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
AxoNeural Therapeutics, Inc. is a Cleveland, Ohio preclinical biotechnology company founded in2020 as a Cleveland Clinic spinout. It develops nanoparticle-delivered therapeutics for neurological injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Its lead Neupron program encapsulates antioxidant enzymes in polymeric nanoparticles to counter oxidative injury, reduce secondary degeneration and support recovery after acute spinal cord injury. Published animal-model findings and formulation-development work underpin the program; the reviewed sources do not establish clinical efficacy, marketing approval or a completed human efficacy trial. Its public directory names founder and Consulting CSO Vinod Labhasetwar, medical adviser Michael Steinmetz and three board directors: Elizabeth Sump, Vidhya Gopalakrishnan and Rinko Ghosh. The external employer titles shown beneath board members identify Cleveland Clinic Innovations, BioJiva and IHP Therapeutics roles rather than AxoNeural executive appointments. Cleveland Clinic Ventures backing is explicitly published, but no exact equity round, ticket, lead or cash-close date is disclosed. NIH awarded the company USD399,987 for PhaseI STTR project1R41NS122587-01 in May2021; Ohio Third Frontier approved a USD198,000 technology-validation and commercialization grant in July2024. These are non-equity grant awards rather than venture financing or confirmed grant disbursements. NIH and Department of Defense support for originating research is acknowledged, but institutional laboratory grants are not assumed to be additional company financing. It is distinct from Axo Neurotech and AxoProtego Therapeutics.
Founded 2020
Team
 Elizabeth SumpBoard Director |
 Michael P. SteinmetzMedical Advisor |
 Rinko GhoshBoard Director |
 Vidhya GopalakrishnanBoard Director |
 Vinod D. LabhasetwarFounder and Consulting Chief Scientific Officer |