Participated · Equity · Apr 2021

Nucleix is a liquid biopsy company based in San Diego and Rehovot, Israel, developing methylation-based tests for earlier cancer detection. Its core platform, EpiCheck®, detects DNA methylation changes and is compatible with both NGS and PCR workflows. The company uses NGS for deep biomarker discovery and plans to advance sensitive, cost-effective PCR tests that can run in centralized and local labs. Its lead product, Lung EpiCheck, is a blood assay being developed to detect lung cancer early in current and former smokers. Nucleix also markets Bladder EpiCheck in Europe for bladder cancer recurrence. Clinical data on the first generation of Lung EpiCheck was published in October 2020, and the company is developing an improved assay and planning a prospective validation study. The recently secured financing will fund further advancement and validation of Lung EpiCheck toward planned availability in 2022. Nucleix develops, manufactures and markets innovative, non-invasive molecular cancer diagnostic tests. The company is advancing Lung EpiCheck™, a blood screening test for early detection of lung cancer based on proprietary molecular biomarker technology. Lung EpiCheck combines new biochemical assays and algorithms to identify and analyze subtle changes in DNA methylation patterns to distinguish cancer from healthy cells. Led by CEO Opher Shapira, PhD, Nucleix intends to use recent funding to accelerate development of Lung EpiCheck. The company is based in Rehovot, Israel. Investors in the company include OrbiMed and other investors. Nucleix Ltd. develops, manufactures and markets non-invasive molecular cancer diagnostic tests that identify subtle changes in DNA methylation patterns. Its technology combines a novel biochemical platform with algorithmic analysis to detect cancer-associated methylation signals. The first product, Bladder EpiCheck®, is a urine test for monitoring bladder cancer and was expected to reach the market in Q3 2016. The company's pipeline includes blood-based diagnostic tests for lung and colorectal cancer. Nucleix raised $3M in funding to continue advancing its tests and to hire new staff. Backers on this round include OrbiMed Israel Partners, Aurum Ventures MKI and Zohar Zisapel.

Participated · Series B · Apr 2020

Scopio Labs has launched an AI-based Complete Blood Morphology (CBM) analyzer designed to fully automate blood morphology diagnostics. The CBM uses Scopio’s Full-Field technology, combining advanced imaging and AI to analyze ten times more cells than current methods. The product targets the global laboratory staffing crisis by standardizing and automating peripheral blood smear (PBS) reviews and potentially eliminating routine human reviews. Scopio holds CE-marked and FDA-cleared digital imaging applications and plans to showcase the CBM at the ADLM 2025 Annual Conference. Viola Growth invested an additional $10 million to support the CBM’s market launch, raising Scopio’s Series D to $52 million. Company leadership says the technology could reshape hematology workflows, economics, and enable development of morphology-based biomarkers for earlier detection and monitoring of disease. Scopio Labs develops Full-Field Digital Cell Morphology imaging and analysis platforms that use computational photography to capture high-resolution images of thousands of cells. Its platform pairs full-field imaging with clinical AI-based decision support to improve workflow efficiency, enable remote consultation, and expedite diagnostic decision-making in blood cell analysis. The technology is intended to supplant manual microscopy by providing a full-field view of all regions of clinical interest at high resolution. Scopio says it will use new capital to accelerate market penetration, scale sales and marketing, and strengthen customer support globally. The company also plans continued development of its digital morphology platform and creation of next-generation products for hematology laboratories and hospitals. Financially, Scopio recently closed a $42 million Series D, bringing its total fundraising to $130 million. Scopio Labs develops a digital microscopy platform that captures and digitizes full-slide microscopy data using advanced computational photography to reconstruct high-resolution images. Its automated scanning systems deliver high-quality images and include computer-vision based decision support for hematology, pathology, research and veterinary use. The company has launched ScopioVet, an end-to-end digital cytology solution for veterinary professionals. Scopio recently received CE mark certification for its X100 Full Field Peripheral Blood Smear (PBS) system, an all-in-one automated in-vitro hematology diagnostic platform that enables remote consultation. A multi-center study in preparation for an FDA submission is being completed. Led by co-founder and CEO Itai Hayut, the company plans to expand commercial operations across the United States and Europe, ramp up manufacturing and sales, and build a stronger clinical trial pipeline to broaden its offerings. Scopio Labs develops next-generation digital microscopes based on computational imaging breakthroughs and a suite of dedicated image analysis tools. Its technology targets clinical and research applications including cancer, hematology, cytology, academic research and drug discovery. The company was founded in 2015 by Itai Hayut and Erez Na’aman. Scopio plans to use the new funding to expand its Tel Aviv–based team and is hiring computer vision experts, physicists and software developers. The article frames the company as enabling dramatic clinical and research improvements and powering further innovation in diagnostics and discovery.

Led · Series D · Feb 2016

PolyPid is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Petah Tikva, Israel, focused on developing and commercializing locally administered therapies using its PLEX (Polymer-Lipid Encapsulation Matrix) technology. Its lead product candidate, D-PLEX100, is designed to provide constant, prolonged local release of a broad-spectrum antibiotic for up to four weeks to prevent surgical site infections. D-PLEX100 has demonstrated the ability to prevent infections including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and has received FDA Fast Track status plus two QIDP designations for prevention of sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery and post-abdominal surgery incisional infection. The company’s technology and products are based on inventions by founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Noam Emanuel, and the company is led by CEO Amir Weisberg. PolyPid intends to use the proceeds of a $50M Series E-1 financing to advance D-PLEX100 into two Phase 3 pivotal registration trials. The company’s initial clinical focus is the management and prevention of surgical site infections. PolyPid, based in Petah Tikva, Israel and led by CEO Amir Weisberg, is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing and commercializing products using its proprietary PLEX (Polymer-Lipid Encapsulation matriX) platform. Its lead product, D-PLEX™, is a secure antibiotic drug reservoir designed to provide local antibacterial prevention and eradication when administered during surgery. The company is also developing BonyPid-1000™, a doxycycline-loaded synthetic bone substitute currently in a confirmatory European clinical trial for severe open tibia fractures. PolyPid intends to use recently raised funds to complete the BonyPid-1000 trial (planned to be finalized by 2017) and to finance initiation of a phase III clinical study for D-PLEX™ to prevent post-cardiac surgery sternal infections. The company closed a $22m private equity financing to support these clinical programs. PolyPid is a development-stage firm that has built a platform enabling controlled and prolonged release of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Its PolyPid technology fuses polymers and lipid-based systems to create drug carriers with predetermined release rates and durations of up to several months, and the platform is protected by a series of patents. The technology is adaptable to a wide variety of drugs, including small molecules, peptides, proteins and nucleic-acid-based therapies. PolyPid's lead product, BonyPid, is a coating for synthetic bone-recovery particles that releases antibiotics locally over a prolonged period to treat and prevent infections in open long-bone fractures while supporting bone recovery. Preliminary first-in-man clinical results for BonyPid reportedly demonstrate rapid recovery in severe, crushed and contaminated open fractures. The company says proceeds from its financing will be used for additional R&D and further clinical trials; PolyPid was founded in 2008 in Israel and is privately owned by its founders, private investors and Xenia Venture Capital.

Led · Series C · May 2011

LifeBond develops and manufactures bio-surgical medical devices intended to improve recovery following surgery and support the body’s natural healing. Its flagship product is LifeSeal™, a surgical sealant designed for staple-line reinforcement in GI surgery. LifeSeal was studied in an international pilot clinical study in Europe and is pending CE mark. The company’s second pipeline product, LifeMesh™, is a self-fixating hernia mesh currently in pre-clinical development. Other pipeline offerings include tissue adhesives and absorbable hemostats. LifeBond’s products are investigational and have not been approved for sale in the US or other markets; the company is led by CEO Gideon Sturlesi and is based in Caesarea Industrial Park, Israel. LifeBond is developing a line of biosurgical products to prevent surgical leakage and bleeding, with a lead product called LifeSealGI. LifeSealGI is a sealant indicated for reinforcement of gastro-intestinal anastomoses; the company plans to complete pre-clinical and clinical phases using the new financing. LifeBond expects LifeSealGI to reach the market by the end of 2012 pending regulatory approval. The company is also continuing development of a severe bleeding control product, LifePatch, and a hernia mesh fixation. LifeBond recently closed a $20m Series C to fund these programs.

Participated · Equity · Aug 2010

Nephera is a Misgav, Israel-based medical device company established in the Misgav Venture Accelerator in 2008. Its lead device is designed to improve and maintain kidney function in patients suffering from congestive heart failure by using electrical stimulation of the urinary system. The company recently completed pre-clinical trials of the device. The new capital from this round will allow Nephera to launch clinical trials, which are expected to begin in the coming months. Nephera completed a $2.85M second round of funding to support that work, with participation from strategic venture investors.