• ViaCyte

  Participated · Equity · May 2017

  ViaCyte develops novel cell replacement therapies derived from pluripotent stem cells alongside medical device systems for cell encapsulation and implantation. Its first product candidates are being advanced as potential long-term treatments for patients with type 1 diabetes to achieve glucose control targets and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and diabetes-related complications. The company intends to use new funding to advance its portfolio of stem cell-derived therapies designed to provide a functional cure for type 1 diabetes. ViaCyte has established collaborative partnerships with CRISPR Therapeutics and W.L. Gore & Associates to accelerate and expand its efforts. The company is led by President and CEO Michael Yang and CFO/COO Brittany Bradrick and is headquartered in San Diego, California. ViaCyte is a regenerative medicine company developing cell replacement therapies intended as long-term treatments for insulin-requiring diabetes to improve glucose control and reduce hypoglycemia and complications. Its product candidates are based on directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into PEC-01 pancreatic islet progenitor cells delivered in durable, retrievable cell-delivery devices. PEC-Direct (non-immunoprotective) and PEC-Encap/VC-01 (immunoprotective) are both undergoing clinical evaluation for different patient populations. In collaboration with CRISPR Therapeutics, ViaCyte is developing immune-evasive stem cell lines for the PEC-QT program to broaden availability to patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and other potential indications. The company holds an intellectual property portfolio of hundreds of issued patents and pending applications worldwide and has partnerships including CRISPR Therapeutics and W.L. Gore & Associates. Financially, ViaCyte closed approximately $27M in a Series D financing and intends to use the proceeds to further advance its multi-product candidate approach; the company is led by CEO Paul Laikind. ViaCyte is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company based in San Diego developing stem cell-derived islet replacement therapies aimed at treating diabetes. Led by President and CEO Paul Laikind, the company is advancing two clinical-stage candidates: PEC-Direct and PEC-Encap. PEC-Direct is being evaluated in the second stage of a Phase 1/2 trial for high-risk type 1 diabetes patients, with initial proof-of-efficacy data expected as early as mid-2019. PEC-Encap is being developed for all patients with type 1 diabetes. ViaCyte intends to use proceeds from its financing to further advance these stem cell-derived therapies toward potential functional cures and improved glucose control. Together with strategic collaborations and transactions with W.L. Gore and CRISPR Therapeutics, the company has secured commitments for over $100m of new financing in the second half of the year. ViaCyte develops stem cell-based islet cell replacement therapies to treat type 1 diabetes. The company has two product candidates in clinical development: PEC-Direct and PEC-Encap. PEC-Direct is a combination product that delivers PEC-01 pancreatic progenitor cells in an implantable device designed to allow direct vascularization of the cells; used with concomitant maintenance immune suppression therapy it aims to deliver a functional cure for high-risk type 1 diabetes patients. PEC-Encap is a stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy being developed for all patients who require insulin. The company announced regulatory allowance to begin clinical investigation of PEC-Direct in both Canada and the U.S. ViaCyte intends to use the financing to support initiation of clinical development for PEC-Direct and to support other operations, including continued development of PEC-Encap. The company is led by Paul Laikind, Ph.D. ViaCyte is a regenerative medicine company based in San Diego developing a stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy for the treatment of diabetes. Its lead product candidate, VC-01, comprises PEC-01 pancreatic progenitor cells derived from a proprietary human embryonic stem cell line encapsulated in the company’s Encaptra device. When implanted under the skin, the PEC-01 cells are designed to mature into insulin-producing beta and other endocrine cells that regulate blood glucose. The company recently submitted an Investigational New Drug application and a Medical Device Master File to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking permission to begin clinical evaluation of VC-01. ViaCyte intends to use the proceeds from its Series C-1 financing to pursue clinical development of VC-01. The company has operations in San Diego, California and additional operations in Athens, Georgia. The Series C-1 round had multiple closings, bringing investor support to date to $16.5M.

• Sonoma Orthopedics

  Participated · Series D · Feb 2011

  Sonoma Orthopedic Products, founded in 2005 in Santa Rosa, has developed two implant devices for repairing fractures of the wrist and collarbone. The devices are implanted inside the bone by an orthopedic surgeon using minimally-invasive techniques. The company says the approach results in less pain and better healing. Sonoma disclosed a new $1.5 million venture funding round in a filing with federal securities regulators. To date the startup has raised more than $25 million, including a $12 million funding round in 2009. Named investors include EDF Ventures, Asset Management Co., Split Rock Partners and MedVenture Associates. Sonoma develops and manufactures orthopedic implants for wrist, ankle, and collarbone fractures. Its patented WaviBody® and ActivLoc® technologies are used in least-invasive surgical procedures to provide fixation for fractures at the core of the bone. The implants are inserted in a canal in the center of the bone, require much smaller incisions with minimal tissue damage, and have no prominence outside the bone. The company intends to use the funds to receive FDA clearance on its new ankle implant, launch it, and scale commercially. Sonoma received $12M in funding from First Analysis, which also placed Tracy Marshbanks on the company’s board. Founded in 2005 and based in Santa Rosa, California, and outside Chicago, the company focuses on minimally invasive fracture fixation solutions. Sonoma Orthopedic Products develops and commercializes least invasive, fracture‑specific implant systems using proprietary technology for orthopedic trauma. The company is led by President and CEO Glen Coleman and was founded by COO Charles Nelson. It intends to use recent funding to launch new products, expand its U.S. sales network, and support key clinical trials. Sonoma also plans to use proceeds to acquire certain key assets of NovaLign Orthopaedics, Inc. In conjunction with the financing, Dr. Walter Lin of Ascension Health Ventures joined Sonoma’s board of directors. The company is based in Santa Rosa, California. Sonoma Orthopedic, based in Santa Rosa, Calif., develops the WaviBody, a flexible device inserted into a fractured bone that then becomes rigid to set breaks anatomically. The company aims to commercialize its first two products, positioning the WaviBody as an alternative to casts, braces and bone plates. Sonoma is currently testing the WaviBody on 50 patients with wrist fractures to evaluate whether they heal faster using the device. Wrist and clavicle fractures have proved problematic because existing treatments can be unwieldy or fail to heal injuries quickly or correctly; Sonoma targets those shortcomings. Financially, the company has raised $25 million to date, including the most recent $12 million round. Sonoma says it has enough runway to last through 2011. Sonoma Orthopedics is a stealthy spinal-device maker based in Santa Rosa, Calif. The company is developing devices that repair or reinforce bones from the inside. It is operating under a stealth profile while advancing those spinal repair technologies. Financially, Sonoma raised at least $10 million in a second funding round. MedVenture Associates led that round, joined by existing investors EDF Ventures, Asset Management, Halo Fund and Angel's Forum. The company previously raised $3 million in a first round last April.

No current team members are available.