Led · Series B · Feb 2024

Proniras Corporation was spun out by Accelerator Life Science Partners to advance tezampanel, an Eli Lilly-originated compound that blocks central-nervous-system receptors to prevent excessive neurological activity. Unlike the benzodiazepines that dominate current care, tezampanel offers a mechanistically distinct approach and may provide a safer, longer-lasting option for seizure control. In partnership with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the company is also exploring the drug’s use as an antidote to lethal nerve agents. Proniras begins operations with three full-time employees housed at Accelerator’s Seattle headquarters, where the fund retains executive oversight while co-founder Chris Toombs serves as chief scientific officer. The startup’s financial runway is anchored by an $89.5 million milestone-based BARDA contract earmarked for pre-clinical and clinical development. Supplementing the federal award, Proniras raised an undisclosed amount of launch capital from Alexandria Venture Investments, ARCH Venture Partners, Eli Lilly and Company, and Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

Led · Series A · Sep 2023

Automera is an early-stage biotech focused on developing autophagy-targeting chimera small molecules (AUTACs) as a next-generation targeted protein degradation modality. It augments discovery with quantum chemistry and generative AI-enabled drug discovery tools. The AUTAC platform is designed to degrade disease-related proteins as well as protein aggregates, organelles, and pathogens, and is presented as a more flexible approach than existing PROTACs. Automera’s initial product-development efforts will focus on oncology. The company was established by co-founders Associate Professor Michael Lazarou, Loong Wang, and Taiyang Zhang at Talo Labs Pte Ltd in collaboration with Accelerator Life Science Partners and is based in Singapore. Automera has assembled a scientific advisory group including Michael Lazarou, Nicholas Ktistakis, Gene Yeo, and Kendall Mohler. The company has secured $16M in Series A funding to advance its AUTAC programs.

Led · Series A · Jul 2023

KayoThera is developing first-in-class, oral small-molecule inhibitors that target the retinoid pathway. The platform originated from biology discovered at Princeton University by Mark Esposito and Yibin Kang. The company is advancing lead programs in diabetes and oncology, including therapies for late-stage and metastatic cancers. KayoThera states the additional resources will support IND-enabling safety studies and position programs for strategic partnering. To date the company has secured $14 million in total financial support, comprised of equity and non-dilutive grant funding. Recent grants include NIH SBIR awards (NIDDK and NCI) and funding from the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund. KayoThera is an early-stage therapeutics company developing a new class of cancer immunotherapies grounded in research from Princeton University. The company was co-founded in 2019 by Mark Esposito and Yibin Kang and has identified a family of key enzymes targetable with novel small molecule inhibitors. KayoThera is advancing a lead oncology program aimed at treating late-stage and metastatic cancers, including breast, lung, pancreatic, colorectal, brain, and kidney cancers. The firm plans to move its lead program toward the clinic to translate its discoveries into therapies for patients with advanced disease. Leadership includes Dr. Esposito as Vice President of Research and Development and Dr. Kang as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board. Financially, KayoThera received initial backing from Foundation Venture Capital Group and has recently closed a Series A to fund development.