Led · Series A · Jan 2026

Mendra is building a portfolio of rare-disease therapeutics and aims to modernize every stage of drug development—from asset selection to global commercialization—through proprietary AI tools that streamline patient identification, data curation, and clinical trial enrollment. The company intends to use artificial intelligence to shorten development timelines and broaden access to treatments for underserved patient populations worldwide. Backed by a leadership team with deep experience at BioMarin, Palantir, Modis Therapeutics, and Escient Pharmaceuticals, Mendra plans to acquire and develop its initial rare-disease assets with fresh Series A capital. Co-founder and CEO Joshua Grass previously helped build BioMarin’s rare-disease portfolio, while Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Ajer led multiple global launches at BioMarin. The technology strategy is overseen by Co-founder and CTO Lalarukh Haris Shaikh, who led life-sciences efforts at Palantir. Founded in 2025 and headquartered in San Francisco, Mendra has secured $82 million in equity financing to fund its early pipeline and AI platform development. No commercial-stage products or operating metrics such as revenue or user numbers have been disclosed to date.

Participated · Series B · Jan 2026

Precede Biosciences is a precision diagnostics and data company that has built a proprietary, automated assay capable of extracting high-resolution, genome-wide transcriptional information from a single blood draw. The platform integrates this assay with advanced machine-learning analytics, enabling researchers and clinicians to profile target expression and pathway activity—critical biomarkers for drug-, radio- and immune-conjugates and other targeted therapies. By providing a multiplex, minimally invasive alternative to tissue biopsies, the company aims to accelerate drug development and ensure patients receive therapies precisely matched to their disease biology. Current commercial traction is described as “rapidly growing,” driven by partnerships with developers of next-generation precision medicines. The fresh financing brings Precede Bio’s total new capital to $83.5 million, giving the company resources to scale its platform and meet rising demand. An expanded investor base with deep diagnostics-commercialization expertise is expected to support health-system adoption and long-term growth.

Participated · Series B · Jan 2026

Kinaset Therapeutics is focused on creating inhaled, anti-inflammatory medicines for serious respiratory conditions. Its lead candidate, frevecitinib, is a dry-powder, single-capsule pan-JAK inhibitor (JAK1/2/3, TYK2) designed to deliver therapeutic lung concentrations while minimizing systemic exposure. The drug targets both Th2- and Th1-driven disease, giving it potential efficacy across the broad severe asthma population, including patients with non-eosinophilic phenotypes who currently lack effective options. Early clinical data have demonstrated promising safety and pharmacology, and proceeds from the latest financing will fund a Phase 2 dose-ranging study in severe asthma patients. By overcoming historical drug-delivery challenges for inhaled JAK inhibitors, Kinaset aims to provide the first novel, inhaled anti-inflammatory mechanism for asthma in decades. The company operates from Boston and is supported by a syndicate of leading life-science investors.

Led · Series A · Dec 2025

Prolynx is building a portfolio of extended-duration incretin and non-incretin medicines engineered for once-monthly or once-quarterly dosing to improve adherence and tolerability in obesity treatment. Its proprietary half-life extension platform, which has already shown clinical proof-of-concept in oncology, enables the creation of peptide drugs with markedly prolonged activity. The company is channeling its R&D toward IND-enabling studies and early clinical proof-of-concept for multiple obesity candidates. Newly appointed CEO Chris Boulton, a veteran of Amgen, Sanofi, and AstraZeneca, brings deep commercialization experience in metabolic disorders. Founders Daniel Santi and Gary Ashley continue to guide scientific strategy, with Santi serving as Chief Technical and Scientific Officer. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, Prolynx is backed by leading life-science investors and recently strengthened its balance sheet with a $70 million Series A to fund pipeline advancement.

Participated · Equity · Sep 2025

Ensoma is a Boston-based biotechnology company focused on engineering hematopoietic stem cells directly inside the body to create durable genetic medicines for genetic diseases, immune disorders, and cancer. Its platform uses high-capacity virus-like particles (VLPs) that selectively target HSCs and can deliver up to 35 kb of genetic cargo, enabling single-base edits through large multi-gene insertions. The company combines these VLPs with proprietary base-editing and gene-integration systems, aiming for one-time intravenous administration. Proceeds from its latest financing will fund a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of lead candidate EN-374 for X-linked chronic granulomatous disease and support platform expansion into immuno-oncology and sickle cell programs. Ensoma’s strategy centers on creating off-the-shelf, non-myeloablative treatments that avoid the complexity and cost of ex vivo cell processing. The firm’s board now includes a Gilead appointee following the strategic investment. No financial metrics or commercial revenues have been disclosed to date.