• Tryton Medical

  Participated · Equity · Sep 2014

  Tryton Medical is the leading developer of stents designed to treat coronary bifurcation lesions. Its core product, the Tryton Side Branch Stent System, uses proprietary Tri‑ZONE® technology and a cobalt‑chromium design deployed in the side branch via a standard single‑wire balloon‑expandable delivery system while a conventional drug‑eluting stent is placed in the main vessel. The Tryton Side Branch Stent has been used to treat more than 10,000 patients worldwide, is commercially available in multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East & Africa, is investigational in the U.S., and is not available in Japan. Tryton is pursuing U.S. market clearance through the Pivotal IDE Trial and the Tryton IDE Extended Access Registry, with results from both intended for submission to the FDA. The company plans to develop the left main market opportunity based on a CE approved left main stent indication for its Tryton Side Branch Stent. Tryton completed an initial closing of a $20 million private equity financing to support registry enrollment, the FDA submission, and left main market development. Tryton Medical develops stent systems to treat coronary bifurcation lesions using its proprietary Tri-zone technology. Its cobalt chromium stent is deployed in the side branch with a standard single-wire balloon-expandable delivery system, after which a conventional drug-eluting stent is placed in the main vessel. The stent system has received CE Mark and is commercially available across Europe, Russia and the Middle East, while in the United States it is approved for investigational use only. The company, founded in 2003 and led by president and CEO Shawn P. McCarthy, intends to support a U.S. FDA submission this year and to expand its platform with a new stent system targeting left main disease. Tryton also plans to accelerate access into critical global markets, specifically in Asia. It recently held an initial closing of an aggregate $24M financing to support those plans. Tryton Medical, located in Durham, NC, develops novel stent systems for the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions. Its Tryton Side Branch Stent System has CE Mark approval in Europe and has been implanted in more than 2,500 patients. The company was founded in 2003 by Aaron V. Kaplan, M.D., and Dan Cole. Tryton is privately held and venture-backed by Arnerich Massena & Associates, Spray Ventures, PTV Sciences, and RiverVest Ventures. Square 1 Bank has extended a $5 million term loan credit facility to the company. With the new facility, Tryton is enrolling in a pivotal U.S. clinical trial to advance its device toward broader market access. Tryton Medical develops the Tryton Side Branch Stent System, a dedicated strategy for treating atherosclerotic lesions in the side branch at coronary bifurcations. The system has shown excellent six-month clinical and angiographic results in a first-in-man study and similarly strong six-month clinical outcomes from nearly 200 patients across four registries, with a target lesion revascularization rate under 4%. The device has received CE Mark approval and is commercially available in 21 countries across Europe and the Middle East. It is not approved for use in the United States. The company plans to use new financing to conduct a U.S. pivotal trial and to drive broader international product adoption. Tryton is based in Durham, North Carolina.

• Vapotherm

  Participated · Equity · Apr 2014

  Vapotherm develops and manufactures advanced, noninvasive respiratory care technologies, including its High Flow Therapy system. The company says its High Flow Therapy has treated over 700,000 patients. Vapotherm is based in Exeter, New Hampshire and is privately held. Management states the company focuses on improving clinical and economic outcomes for patients and customers. Vapotherm plans to expand its U.S. field organization, develop new products, and expand in select international markets. The recent financing is intended to fund those expansion and product development efforts. Vapotherm develops and manufactures advanced, noninvasive respiratory care technologies, including its High Flow Therapy system. The company is focused on improving clinical outcomes for patients with chronic and acute breathing disorders. Vapotherm is privately held and based in Exeter, New Hampshire. Management says the new capital will be used to continue building out a direct sales organization in the U.S. and to develop next-generation solutions. Over 700,000 patients have been treated with Vapotherm High Flow Therapy, indicating adoption at scale. The company closed a $20 million equity financing to support these growth plans. Vapotherm manufactures advanced, noninvasive respiratory care devices and high-flow therapy systems. The company is led by President & CEO Joe Army and focuses on respiratory support for patients with chronic or acute breathing disorders. Vapotherm has treated over 600,000 patients with its high flow therapy. It closed a $24M financing to support growth and improve healthcare for patients worldwide. In conjunction with the financing, a partner from the lead investor joined Vapotherm’s Board of Directors. The company intends to deploy the funds to expand and enhance its products and patient impact. Vapotherm manufactures advanced respiratory care devices and develops noninvasive technologies for supporting patients with chronic or acute breathing disorders. The company is led by founder Bill Niland and President & CEO Joe Army. It is based in Exeter, New Hampshire, and has an experienced board including James “Jim” Liken, a board member since April 2010 who will serve as Chairman. Vapotherm closed a $29M financing to support its operations. The company intends to use the proceeds from the financing to fund its growth plans. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article.

• ZS Pharma

  Participated · Series D · Mar 2014

  ZS Pharma is a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company based in Coppell, Texas, developing novel treatments for kidney, cardiovascular and liver disorders. Its lead product candidate, ZS-9, is a novel investigational treatment for hyperkalemia being evaluated in late-stage clinical trials to remove excess potassium and maintain normal potassium levels. The company recently completed a 753-patient Phase 3 study showing ZS-9 rapidly reduced serum potassium to normal within 48 hours and maintained potassium with once-daily dosing, with an adverse event profile similar to placebo. ZS Pharma plans to initiate two additional studies in 2014 and intends to file an NDA with the FDA and an MAA with the EMA in early 2015. The company is also pursuing additional drug candidates that utilize its selective ion-trap technology for kidney and liver diseases. Proceeds from the recent financing will be used to advance ZS-9 through NDA and MAA submissions. ZS Pharma develops ZS-9, a crystal form of zirconium silicate designed to remove life-threatening toxins from patients with kidney and liver disease. Initial human clinical testing targeted patients with elevated blood potassium (hyperkalemia). The company intends to advance ZS-9 through pivotal trials and prepare for commercialization. It also plans to research and develop additional compounds targeting kidney and liver conditions with limited treatment options. ZS Pharma is led by president and CEO Dr. Al Guillem and is based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company closed a $46M financing to fund development and pivotal trials.

• Vendscreen

  Led · Equity · Jan 2014

  VendScreen builds a 3G-powered, remotely programmable touchscreen SaaS platform for vending machines that enables debit and credit card transactions, over-the-air updates, and detailed product nutritional and calorie information. The devices are easily retrofitted onto most vending machines and integrate with VendSys, MEI, and Streamware. VendScreen positions its platform as a vehicle for advertising and loyalty programs in the near future and says the investment will enable rapid scaling to meet demand. The company collects data and metrics on consumer purchasing behavior and is of interest to large consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. VendScreen devices collectively process more than $1 million in vending-machine sales per month, and the company describes itself as a market leader in vending platform technology. VendScreen makes a touch-screen Android platform device for vending machines that accepts payments, displays ads, and manages inventory. The company shipped its first units last month after a three-month launch delay and has installations in Oregon, Washington, Virginia, South Carolina and New York. VendScreen moved into a Cascade Station office and currently employs 18 people, a workforce the company expects will likely double within six months as it expands nationwide. It is launching throughout the U.S., according to founder and CEO Paresh Patel. Financially, VendScreen announced it secured an $8.4 million funding round and said its Series B comes with a $7 million reserve. The company also noted it had earlier closed the round at $6.3 million "to get the development done," and a Portland-rooted fund contributed to an amount the company announced in January.

No current team members are available.