The Venture Codex

Participated · Series B · Feb 2026

Kainova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on modulating G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to improve patient outcomes in immuno-oncology and inflammation. The company’s lead program is a clinical-stage, Treg-depleting anti-CCR8 antibody that management says offers differentiated competitive features. A second program, currently at the pre-IND stage, is a first-in-class biased antagonist of PAR2 aimed at inflammatory pathways. By advancing these assets, Kainova seeks to build a diversified pipeline of GPCR-targeting therapies that can address multiple high-value indications. The firm operates across North America, France, and Australia, leveraging global clinical infrastructure. Proceeds from its recent Series B financing will be used to move its GPCR programs further into clinical development. No revenue, patient enrollment, or other operating metrics were disclosed, reflecting its pre-commercial status.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2026

Find Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing novel therapies for demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic Optic Neuropathy. Its lead candidate, tasronetide (formerly FTX-101), is a first-in-class peptide that targets the NRP1/Plexin-A1 receptor complex to promote natural remyelination and neuroprotection. Preclinical studies have shown robust myelin repair, and a completed Phase I trial in healthy subjects demonstrated that tasronetide is safe and well tolerated. The company is preparing for a Phase 1b PET imaging study in MS patients and broader Phase 2-readiness activities. Find Therapeutics licenses its core technology from scientific founder Dr. Dominique Bagnard at the University of Strasbourg and is supported by investors CTI Life Sciences, Investissement Québec, and adMare BioInnovations. The recent CAD$10 million Series A extension strengthens its balance sheet to finance upcoming clinical milestones and corporate growth. Dr. Thierry Abribat, a seasoned biotech entrepreneur, has been appointed Executive Chairman to guide strategic development.

Participated · Series A · Oct 2024

Epitopea develops accessible, off-the-shelf RNA-based immunotherapies that target a new class of broadly shared tumor-specific antigens termed Cryptigen™ TSAs. The company discovers Cryptigen™ TSAs using its proprietary CryptoMap™ platform, which leverages immunopeptidomics, genomics and a bioinformatics pipeline to identify aberrantly expressed tumour-specific antigens hidden in cancer’s ‘junk’ DNA. Its Cryptigen™ antigens were first discovered through research led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the Université de Montréal. Epitopea intends to use the new funding to support strategic development and the clinical entry of its lead Cryptigen immunotherapeutics. Led by CEO Dr. Alan C. Rigby, the company operates sister entities in Cambridge, UK and Montreal, Canada. To date, Epitopea has raised more than USD $45M in financing. Epitopea, based in Cambridge, UK and Montreal, Canada, develops accessible off-the-shelf RNA-based immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers. The company focuses on a new class of untapped antigens—CryptigenTM TSAs—identified by its proprietary CryptoMapTM platform, which leverages immunopeptidomics, genomics, and a bioinformatics pipeline. CryptoMap discovers aberrantly-expressed tumor-specific antigens (aeTSAs) hidden within cancer’s 'junk' DNA; these hidden CryptigenTM TSAs were first discovered through research led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the Université de Montréal. Epitopea is developing both therapeutic vaccines and T cell receptor-based therapies targeting antigens differentially presented by stromal cells. Led by CEO Dr. Alan C. Rigby, the company recently received a £500K non-dilutive grant from Innovate UK’s Cancer Therapeutics programme to support this research. The funding is intended to advance vaccines and TCR-based approaches against antigens that are broadly shared across multiple patients with the same tumor type. Epitopea is a Cambridge, UK and Montreal, Canada‑based biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies that target a newly described class of tumour‑specific antigens called Cryptigen™ TSAs. The company discovers these conserved, aberrantly expressed antigens using a proprietary approach combining immunopetidomics, mass spectrometry, genomics, and bioinformatics. Epitopea plans to translate these discoveries into novel cancer immunotherapeutics, including therapeutic vaccines, cell therapies, and TCR‑based biologics. The hidden Cryptigen™ TSAs were identified in research led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at Université de Montréal. Led by CEO Dr. Jon Moore (also an Operating Partner at Advent Life Sciences), the company intends to use new funding to build its executive team and advance further research and translational programs. Financially, Epitopea completed a seed financing to support these R&D and team‑building activities.

Participated · Series A · Apr 2023

Abdera leverages its Radio Optimized Vector Engineering (ROVEr™) platform to design heavy‑chain‑only, antibody‑based radiopharmaceuticals engineered for optimal pharmacokinetics and radioisotope delivery. The company aims to improve therapeutic index by pairing engineered antibodies with alpha or beta emitting isotopes to selectively destroy tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. Abdera’s lead program targets DLL3 for small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors and is advancing through preclinical development with an IND expected in 2024. The company says it has generated promising proof‑of‑concept data across tumor models and is building a pipeline against additional undisclosed cancer targets. Abdera is led by an experienced team spanning biologics, radiochemistry and oncology drug development. The company is based in Menlo Park, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Participated · Series C · Oct 2022

Inversago Pharma is a clinical-stage biotech in Montreal focused on developing first-in-class, peripherally-acting CB1 inverse agonists. Its lead program, INV-202, is being advanced for Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) and is slated to enter a Phase 2 clinical trial in Q4 2022. The company announced FDA IND clearance for INV-202 and expects Phase 1b topline results in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Proceeds from the Series C will also accelerate multiple preclinical programs across its pipeline. Inversago aims to establish leadership in the field of CB1 blockade and to develop therapies for cardiometabolic, fibrotic, and other metabolic conditions. The company is privately owned and targets indications including DKD, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, NASH, complications of obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and progressive-fibrosis interstitial lung diseases. Inversago Pharma is a preclinical-stage biotech focused on first-in-class, peripherally-acting CB1 inverse agonists. Its lead candidate is INV-101 and the company plans to use recent proceeds to advance INV-101 to clinical proof-of-concept while progressing research on other selected compounds. Inversago targets metabolic and fibrotic conditions including Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), type 1 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. The company’s approach is designed to inhibit peripheral CB1 signaling—thought to be activated in many of these diseases—while avoiding the CNS liabilities associated with central CB1 blockade. Clinical and scientific data cited by the company support CB1 inhibition as an effective therapeutic strategy in several diseases, and Inversago emphasizes a safer therapeutic window through peripheral-only action. Following the financing the company expanded its board to help transition from preclinical work toward first-in-human trials. Inversago Pharma is a Montreal-based, preclinical-stage company developing new generations of peripherally-restricted CB1 inverse agonists/antagonists for Prader-Willi Syndrome, type 1 diabetes, obesity and other metabolic disorders including NASH. Its core product is a CB1 receptor blocker designed to avoid the central nervous system adverse events that terminated earlier, centrally-acting CB1 programs. The company’s technology is based on work by CB1 expert George Kunos at the NIH/NIAAA and has shown in preclinical models that peripheral CB1 blockade can treat obesity, NASH, liver fibrosis and diabetes without the behavioral CNS effects of earlier compounds. Inversago intends to advance its peripherally-restricted CB1 program into clinical trials. The company launched operations to exploit the therapeutic potential of reinstated CB1 blockade across multiple metabolic indications. The announced Series A financing will support the company’s development plan and progression toward clinical development.