Participated · Convertible Note · Sep 2024

PatientPartner operates a patient mentorship platform designed to improve patient engagement and adherence across a range of disease states and treatment types. The company partners with pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device companies, clinical research organizations (CROs) and other healthcare organizations to deliver scalable, technology-driven, personalized patient experiences. Led by CEO George Kramb, PatientPartner connects patients with mentors to support treatment journeys and improve outcomes. Today the platform has over 40,000 users and more than 500 mentors. The company raised seed funding to further expand the platform. The business focuses on scaling its mentorship network and technology integrations with healthcare stakeholders.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2022

SEngine's core product, the Paris Test, cultures patient cancer cells and measures responses to up to 44 drugs from a library of more than 240 candidates using data analytics and computational tools. Oncologists can request drug combination studies or additional drugs tailored to tumor type and genetic features, offering a functional approach that goes beyond genomic DNA tests. About 75% of Paris Tests yield a drug labeled as having an exceptional or good response in cultured cells, and roughly 800 patients have received the test so far. Tissue could be generated for testing in about 70% of patients, though some samples have low cell counts or poor viability. SEngine also applies its platform to identify new drug candidates, taking them through early testing and regulatory steps with the goal of licensing candidates when ready for phase 1 trials; the company aims to ready its first candidate next year. The startup has grown from 20 to 30 employees this year, has collaborations with Fred Hutch and Dana‑Farber, and recently launched a clinical trial through the Institute Gustave‑Roussy in Paris for colorectal cancer patients. It will use new funding to scale the test commercially, advance drug discovery efforts, and relocate to a larger facility in Bothell with increased automation and robotics. SEngine Precision Medicine, founded in 2015 as a spin-off of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, develops a proprietary, CLIA-certified diagnostic platform called PARIS®. The company’s high-throughput screening technology simultaneously tests dozens of targeted anti-cancer agents against a patient’s unique cancer cells outside the body via patient-derived 3D tumor organoids. PARIS® delivers results in weeks that decode the most effective and least toxic treatment options and is currently utilized by oncologists throughout the United States to predict and validate personalized treatment options. The AI-optimized platform leverages aggregated, anonymized test results to help develop new cancer-fighting drugs. Led by Founder and CEO Dr. Carla Grandori, SEngine positions its technology at the intersection of diagnostics and drug development. The company reported total funding to date of more than $9m following its recent Series A.

Led · Series A · Nov 2019

Presidium Health provides a home-based model of care focused on medically complex and underserved patients, centered on a 24/7 medical triage team backed by proprietary medical algorithms. Its virtual healthcare platform, Secure Text Activated Triage (STAT), offers a medical alert device with two-way communication, real-time transmission of vitals and personal health records to a HIPAA-compliant text platform. Services enabled by the triage team and STAT include delivery of medications, labs, and X-rays to patients' homes and geo-proximity–optimized in-home medical services. The company was co-founded by CEO Dr. Pouya Afshar, a pioneer in transitional care medicine. Presidium intends to expand its physician-based services and accelerate marketing programs following its Series A financing. The company is headquartered in San Diego.

Participated · Series C · Nov 2019

Avidity Biosciences develops Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs), a proprietary RNA therapeutics platform that combines monoclonal antibody specificity with oligonucleotide precision. The company is advancing clinical programs for three rare muscle diseases—myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD)—and is broadening its pipeline into cardiology and immunology through internal discovery and partnerships. AOC 1001 is being evaluated in the MARINA-OLE™ study, and Avidity plans to present long-term efficacy and safety data at an investor and analyst webcast on March 4, 2024. Avidity announced an oversubscribed private placement that sold common stock and pre-funded warrants, which management expects will extend pro forma cash, cash equivalents and investments into late 2026. The company intends to use net proceeds to fund research and development of its clinical-stage candidates, other research programs, working capital and general corporate purposes. Placement agents for the offering included Leerink Partners, BofA Securities, Cantor and Chardan. Avidity Biosciences pioneers an AOC platform that combines monoclonal antibodies for targeted delivery with oligonucleotide therapeutics for potent and selective activity. The platform is designed to enable tissue-selective targeting of skeletal muscle, immune cells, and heart to create a pipeline of targeted oligonucleotide therapeutics. The company’s lead research program addresses myotonic dystrophy type I, a disease with no approved treatment options. In April 2019 Avidity entered a strategic partnership with Eli Lilly to apply AOC technology to immunology and other indications. Avidity completed a $100 million Series C financing that the company says will enable advancement of its growing proprietary portfolio of multiple programs, including its myotonic dystrophy candidate. The company is based in La Jolla, Calif., and is privately held. Avidity Biosciences is a La Jolla–based developer of biopharmaceuticals that uses monoclonal antibodies and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Its core approach pairs monoclonal antibodies with oligonucleotide‑based therapeutics. On April 22, 2019 the company announced a collaboration and financing deal with Lilly. Under the agreement Avidity received a $20M upfront payment and a $15M investment, totaling $35M. The funding from Lilly provides a near‑term capital infusion; the article did not disclose further public details of the collaboration or additional terms. Avidity Biosciences is developing Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOC™) that combine monoclonal antibody tissue selectivity with oligonucleotide precision to improve delivery and target genetic drivers of disease. The company is advancing a pipeline focused on rare muscle disorders and other serious diseases, including programs aimed at Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It received an equity investment from CureDuchenne to support pre-clinical development of potential DMD therapies. Avidity has previously raised $30M in venture financing from a top-tier group of healthcare investors. The company is based in La Jolla, CA. Its leadership team includes Troy Wilson (President & CEO), Kent Hawryluk (CBO), Arthur A. Levin (EVP, R&D), Andrew J. Geall (VP, Formulations & Chemistry), John Wallen (VP, IP), and Vanessa L. Jacoby (VP, Finance). Avidity Biosciences is a privately held biotech pioneering a new class of precision medicines called Antibody-siRNA Conjugates (ASC). ASCs combine the strengths of monoclonal antibodies and siRNA-based therapeutics. The company works with partners to discover best-in-class drug candidates against important undrugged therapeutic targets. Avidity raised $16 million in a Series B financing that included $10 million in new capital and $6 million in convertible debt, bolstering its development efforts. Takeda Pharmaceuticals’ ventures group led the round, with participation from a mix of new and existing investors. Avidity is based in Palo Alto, CA.