Participated · Series C · May 2021

Oculis is a helvetico-Icelandic biopharmaceutical company focused on creating innovative treatments for eye and neurological disorders. The firm is legally based in Zug with its operational headquarters in Lausanne. Its pipeline of ophthalmic therapies has attracted strong investor interest, reflected in two capital increases exceeding $100 million within a year. Management states that the newly secured funds will accelerate the clinical development of its drug candidates. The company positions itself as a leader in addressing unmet medical needs in ophthalmology through novel therapeutic approaches. Financially, Oculis has now raised at least $220 million across its last two rounds, underscoring sustained investor confidence. No revenue or user metrics were disclosed in the available article excerpt.

Participated · Series B · Mar 2020

Xilio Therapeutics engineers tumor-selective immunotherapies that are masked until activated in the tumor microenvironment to maximize efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity. Its lead candidates are XTX202 (tumor-selective IL-2) and XTX101 (tumor-selective anti-CTLA4 mAb). The company also has a cytokine program including tumor-selective IL-12, XTX301. XTX202 and XTX101 have shown significant anti-tumor effects with minimal peripheral effects in preclinical models. Xilio plans to advance its lead candidates into clinical trials and expects to file INDs for XTX202 and XTX101 with the FDA in 2021. Xilio was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Xilio Therapeutics (formerly Akrevia) is developing a proprietary platform to create ultra-potent, tumor‑selective immuno-oncology therapies that are activated selectively within the tumor microenvironment. Its lead programs are XTX201 (tumor-selective IL-2) and XTX101 (tumor-selective aCTLA4 monoclonal antibody), which have shown tumor-selective activity in preclinical models. The company intends to use the recent financing to complete IND-enabling studies and advance those candidates into Phase 1 clinical trials, and to progress additional tumor-selective cytokine programs. Xilio positions its approach as a way to widen the therapeutic index of validated IO therapies by reducing peripheral toxicities that have limited patient dosing. The company rebranded from Akrevia to Xilio to reflect its evolution from research-focused to development-stage, and is led by CEO Rene Russo. Xilio was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Akrevia Therapeutics is a Cambridge, Mass.-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing tumor-targeted immuno-oncology therapeutics. Its proprietary Aklusion® platform enables biologics to be specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment with precisely tailored properties. The company is applying the platform to build a broad pipeline of engineered antibodies, cytokines and chemokines as potential new options for patients living with cancer. Akrevia says the platform expands the universe of immune-activating proteins that can be safely delivered. Leadership includes Tim Clackson, Ph.D. (President and Head of R&D), Nessan Bermingham, Ph.D. (Executive Chairman), Ronan O’Hagan, Ph.D. (SVP of Discovery) and Margaret Karow, Ph.D. (SVP of Preclinical Development). The company closed a $30M Series A to accelerate development of its pipeline and Aklusion platform. Akriveia Therapeutics leverages a proprietary platform to create immunotherapeutic products that are specifically activated in the microenvironment of tumors. The company has entered into exclusive license agreements for key enabling technologies with City of Hope and Thomas Jefferson University. Led by CEO Simon Tomlinson, Akriveia aims to build a pipeline of single-agent and combination immunotherapeutics. The company plans to use new funding to expand its team and accelerate therapeutic discovery efforts. Akriveia was founded on the work of Professor John Williams at City of Hope and Professor Ulrich Rodeck at Thomas Jefferson University. The company is based in Thousand Oaks, California.

Participated · Series B · Mar 2019

Imara is a Cambridge, MA-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on sickle cell disease (SCD) and other hemoglobinopathies and led by CEO Rahul D. Ballal, Ph.D. The company is developing IMR-687, a highly selective, potent small-molecule inhibitor of PDE9 designed to reduce red blood cell sickling and vascular blockage underlying SCD pathology. IMR-687 completed a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and is currently being evaluated in a multi-national Phase 2a study in adult patients with SCD. Imara intends to use recent proceeds to advance IMR-687 for the treatment of SCD and thalassemia and to expand its pipeline. The company recently raised new capital to support these development plans. Imara was launched by orphan drug accelerator Cydan Development to advance IMR-687, an orally administered, potent and selective PDE9 inhibitor discovered by H. Lundbeck A/S. The company holds an exclusive worldwide license from Lundbeck, which retains minority ownership and is entitled to milestone payments and sales royalties. Imara is responsible for all future development and commercialization costs for IMR-687. Preclinical data cited by the company show reductions in red blood cell sickling and blood‑vessel occlusion and a robust preclinical safety profile. Imara plans to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. FDA to develop IMR-687 for sickle cell disease in 2016. The launch follows an 18‑month scientific collaboration and de‑risking effort between Cydan and Lundbeck. Imara is the second orphan drug company launched by Cydan (the accelerator was founded in 2013 and is based in Tech Square in Cambridge, Mass.).

Participated · Series B · Nov 2018

NextCure is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing first-in-class immunomedicines for cancer and other diseases. It uses a proprietary FIND-IO™ discovery platform to identify novel cell-surface molecular interactions that drive immune responses in the tumor microenvironment and to build a pipeline of immunomedicines. The company’s initial focus is bringing treatments to patients who do not respond to current cancer therapies, with two lead drug candidates including NC318. NC318 targets a novel immunomodulatory target on a restricted set of myeloid cells and certain tumor types; preclinical studies show NC318 blocks suppressive myeloid effects and has potential across multiple cancer types. NextCure plans to advance clinical development of its lead candidates, continue preclinical development of additional immunomedicine candidates, and execute on collaborations such as its discovery and development partnership with Eli Lilly. The company is based in Beltsville, Maryland. NextCure is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of new immuno-oncology products. The company leverages proprietary platforms and know-how to identify novel and biologically relevant targets and develop immuno-oncology–based drugs. NextCure was founded in 2015 by Michael Richman and Lieping Chen; Richman serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. The company completed a $67M Series A financing. Investors in the round include Canaan Partners, Lilly Asia Ventures, OrbiMed Advisors, Pfizer, Sofinnova Ventures and Alexandria Venture Investments. In conjunction with the funding, David Kabakoff, Ph.D., executive partner of Sofinnova Ventures, will join as Chairman, and three former Amplimmune executives joined the NextCure management team in senior research, development/manufacturing, and translational research roles.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2018

KBP Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotech founded in Jinan, China with a medicinal chemistry platform and preclinical development team focused on advancing novel small-molecule NCEs. Its lead program, KBP-5074, is a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist for cardiovascular disease that is entering Phase 2b. The company also has KBP-7072, a 3rd‑generation aminomethylcycline that completed Phase 1 and holds FDA QIDP and Fast Track designations, and KBP-7026, a CRTH2 antagonist with an approved IND ready for Phase 1. KBP plans to open global corporate headquarters in the Greater Philadelphia Area and expand its US clinical, commercial and corporate capabilities. The company announced the appointment of Brian P. McVeigh as Chief Executive Officer to lead its global development and business‑development efforts. KBP says the Series A proceeds will be used to advance clinical development, expand operations and support other programs in the pipeline.