Company Description
NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. (Nasdaq: NLSP) is a Swiss-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for central nervous system (CNS) and neurodegenerative disorders. According to company disclosures, NLS concentrates on rare and complex CNS conditions and related indications, advancing small-molecule drug candidates through research and development programs.
Based on recent corporate actions and regulatory filings, NLS Pharmaceutics has undergone a significant transformation through a merger with Kadimastem Ltd., an Israeli clinical-stage cell therapy company. Kadimastem develops allogeneic, "off-the-shelf" cell products for neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes, including programs such as AstroRx® for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and IsletRx for insulin-dependent diabetes. The merger combines NLS's CNS-focused small-molecule expertise with Kadimastem's stem cell–derived cell therapy platforms, creating an integrated biopharmaceutical business model that spans both pharmacological and cell-based approaches to neurological and metabolic diseases.
Following shareholder approvals and regulatory clearances, NLS completed the merger with Kadimastem on October 30, 2025. In connection with this transaction, the company implemented a 1-for-10 reverse share split and changed its name to NewcelX Ltd. The combined company is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol "NCEL," while NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. and the symbol NLSP now primarily represent the historical entity and its legacy listing prior to the merger.
The combined organization, operating as NewcelX Ltd., is described in company communications as an integrated biopharmaceutical platform focused on cell-based and small-molecule therapies for neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. Its pipeline includes cell therapy candidates such as AstroRx®, which has progressed to a Phase 2a clinical trial in the United States for ALS, and IsletRx, a stem cell–derived islet cell therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes developed in collaboration with iTolerance Inc. and supported by the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation. In parallel, NLS-originated CNS programs include the DOXA platform, a class of dihydroquinazoline and dihydrobenzothiazine derivatives that integrate dual orexin receptor agonism (OX1R/OX2R) with cathepsin H (CTSH) inhibition, targeting arousal stability, cognition, sleep-wake regulation, and neuroprotection.
Company announcements highlight that the AEX-6xx series, developed with Aexon Labs, extends the DOXA platform with small molecules that address arousal stability, cognition, and neuroprotection. These compounds, such as AEX-635, are reported to modulate Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 1 (MRP1), with the goal of enhancing neuroprotective effects and improving CNS drug bioavailability in oxidative stress–driven conditions. Preclinical data disclosed by the company indicate activity in narcolepsy models, wakefulness, and neuroprotection under alpha-synuclein–induced stress, supporting development in indications including narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, ADHD with arousal dysregulation, and certain neurodegenerative diseases.
On the cell therapy side, Kadimastem's IsletRx program has obtained intellectual property protection in multiple jurisdictions, including a patent granted by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department for cell-selection and enrichment technology used in the development of IsletRx. This patent complements previously granted patents in Europe, the United States, and India, and is intended to protect processes that enable selection and enrichment of highly functional islet cells from differentiated cell populations. Company statements position this technology as part of a strategy to develop a scalable, stem cell–derived source of insulin-producing cells capable of secreting insulin and glucagon in response to glucose levels.
Corporate communications also describe collaborations that support the combined company's pipeline. These include technology transfer and clinical manufacturing agreements with Pluri Inc. for AstroRx® and IsletRx, a collaborative framework with iTolerance Inc. for immune-tolerant cell therapies in diabetes, and a Memorandum of Understanding between Kadimastem and TargetGene Biotechnologies Ltd. to integrate precision gene-editing platforms into gene-edited cell therapy products. These collaborations are presented as mechanisms to optimize therapeutic performance, stability, and safety of cell-based treatments.
From a historical perspective, investors researching NLSP should recognize that the symbol is associated with NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. as a Swiss-based CNS-focused biopharmaceutical issuer that has since combined its business with Kadimastem and transitioned to trading as NewcelX Ltd. under the symbol NCEL. Regulatory filings on Form 6-K describe the completion of the merger, the reverse share split, the name change to NewcelX Ltd., and the combination of NLS's operations with Kadimastem's cell therapy business into a single integrated biopharmaceutical company.
Business focus and development strategy
According to company descriptions, the legacy NLS organization emphasized research and development as the cornerstone of its strategy, with a focus on affordable, safe, and effective therapeutics designed to address unmet needs in CNS and neurodegenerative disorders. The company highlighted an approach centered on patient needs, intellectual property protection, and the development of targeted, cost-effective treatments. Through the merger, this R&D-driven philosophy is extended into cell therapy and regenerative medicine, particularly in ALS and diabetes, alongside CNS small-molecule programs.
NLSP as a historical ticker
Because NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. has changed its name to NewcelX Ltd. and its Nasdaq trading symbol from NLSP to NCEL in connection with the completed merger and reverse share split, NLSP functions as a historical reference for the pre-merger company. For current trading information, pipeline updates, and corporate governance details, investors are directed in company communications to the NewcelX name and NCEL symbol, while NLSP-related disclosures and SEC filings provide context on the evolution of the combined business.