Mike Kelly

Former CEO, NervGen Pharma

Search every verified Mike Kelly interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Mike Kelly, CEO of NervGen Pharma, discussed the company's work in developing therapeutic peptides for central nervous system repair in an August 2024 podcast appearance. He described NervGen's lead peptide candidate, NVG-291, which is in a Phase 1b/2a trial for spinal cord injury, and noted the company also has discovery and preclinical programs for stroke, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and ALS. Kelly characterized the human nervous system as effective at isolating damage from injury or disease but limited in its repair capabilities, and he positioned NervGen's work as addressing that gap. Kelly also reflected on his career experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including prior CEO roles and early work at TAP Pharmaceuticals. He emphasized the importance of hiring the right team across clinical and commercial functions, stating that the pharmaceutical industry has shifted away from traditional sales models and that execution depends on the people a company brings together. He additionally discussed the novelty of NVG-291, describing it as different from a typical receptor-blocking mechanism, and noted challenges associated with peptide manufacturing and purification.