Participated · Equity · May 2023

OncoResponse is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company led by CEO Clifford Stocks and based in Seattle, WA. The company develops cancer immunotherapies using clues from the immune systems of Elite Cancer Responders and deploys a proprietary B-cell discovery platform in a broad strategic alliance with MD Anderson Cancer Center. Its lead clinical candidate, OR2805, is a fully human antibody discovered from an Elite Responder and has entered cohort expansion trials in multiple cancer indications. Additional pipeline candidates that modulate suppressive macrophage activity are under development, including OR502, an anti-LILRB2 antibody that rescues innate and adaptive immune responses from LILRB2-mediated suppression. OncoResponse intends to use recent proceeds to support advancement of OR502 toward IND enabling work and clinical studies, with OR502 expected to enter clinical studies in 2023. The company announced both a $14M financing and a separate $13M grant award from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). OncoResponse is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company that uses a proprietary human B-cell discovery platform to identify fully human monoclonal antibodies from the immune systems of elite cancer responders. Its lead candidate, OR2805, is a fully human antibody discovered from an elite responder to checkpoint inhibitor therapy and has entered clinical studies. The company is advancing additional pipeline candidates that modulate suppressive macrophage activity toward the clinic. OncoResponse has a broad strategic alliance with MD Anderson Cancer Center to support target discovery and development. The company is privately held and backed by a syndicate of institutional and strategic investors. Proceeds from recent financing will be used for general working capital and to support ongoing clinical testing of OR2805. OncoResponse uses a proprietary B‑cell screening platform to discover fully human monoclonal antibodies from cancer patients who had exceptional responses to immunotherapy. Its pipeline focuses on antibodies that modulate immunosuppressive myeloid targets in the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune activation and tumor killing in vitro and in vivo. The company is in a broad strategic alliance with MD Anderson Cancer Center to advance discovery and development. Proceeds from the recent financing will advance the lead antibody, OR2805, into clinical development across multiple tumor types and fund preclinical assets to IND. OR2805 was derived from a patient who experienced an exceptional response to anti‑PD‑1 therapy and is designed to relieve macrophage‑mediated immunosuppression to promote T‑cell tumor killing. OncoResponse announced a $40.6 million Series C to fund these near‑term clinical plans. The company is based in Seattle. OncoResponse is an immunotherapy company developing a portfolio of novel antibodies to high-value targets for the treatment of cancer. Its discovery platform mines the immune systems of patients who have responded exceptionally well to cancer immunotherapies to identify therapeutically relevant antibodies. All five of the company’s drug candidates were derived from that patient-derived discovery engine, and several antibodies are directed at modulating immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment. The company plans to use the new capital to advance those five programs into preclinical and clinical development. OncoResponse is privately held and backed by investors including MD Anderson Cancer Center, RiverVest Venture Partners, Qatar Investment Authority, Redmile Group, ARCH Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, Helsinn Investment Fund, Shire, HT Family Office, Alexandria Venture Investments and William Marsh Rice University. The company was founded in October 2015. OncoResponse uses a clinically validated platform to rapidly screen antibodies produced by the human immune system and identify those with exceptional reactivity to cancer. The company focuses on mining samples from patients who have had elite responses to cancer immunotherapies to discover candidate antibodies and targets across multiple oncology indications. OncoResponse has a strategic alliance with MD Anderson Cancer Center that provides continuous access to patient samples and oncology/translational expertise, including clinical and regulatory input. The company intends to continue developing its research programs to expand the promise of immuno-oncology by identifying therapeutically relevant antibodies. OncoResponse recently closed its Series A financing, which will be used to support these ongoing discovery and development efforts. The company also strengthened its scientific leadership by appointing new members to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Participated · Series C · May 2020

CalciMedica is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovery and development of small-molecule CRAC channel inhibitors to treat severe acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Its lead product, Auxora, has data from a Phase 2a acute pancreatitis trial and a Phase 2 COVID-19 pneumonia trial suggesting prevention of organ tissue damage and rapid restoration of organ function. Auxora is currently being evaluated in a blinded, placebo-controlled trial in severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia (up to 400 patients planned; over 200 randomized to date) and a Phase 2b trial in acute pancreatitis is set to start enrolling in the coming weeks. The company plans to use proceeds from the Series D financing to advance clinical development across Auxora and its broader CRAC inhibitor portfolio. CalciMedica is privately held and headquartered in San Diego, California, and the announced financing will be completed in multiple private closings. The financing also included board augmentation with Zafi Avnur, Ph.D., of Quark Venture joining the board, indicating investor operational involvement. CalciMedica is a La Jolla, California-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovery and development of drugs that target calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels for treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The company is advancing Auxora (formerly CM4620-IE), a potent and selective small-molecule CRAC channel inhibitor that prevents CRAC channel overactivation. CRAC channels control the entry of calcium into immune and other cell types, and CalciMedica says modulating this pathway can reduce detrimental calcium signaling in inflammatory conditions. The company intends to use the new funding to advance ongoing clinical trials evaluating Auxora in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy and to accelerate commercial manufacturing for the drug. CalciMedica is led by CEO Rachel Leheny, Ph.D. In May 2020 the company raised $15M in a Series C financing led by Valence Life Sciences with participation from Bering Capital, Mesa Verde Venture Partners and existing investor Sanderling Ventures. CalciMedica is developing selective CRAC channel inhibitors intended to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Over the past year the company reported significant progress identifying and characterizing CRAC channel inhibitors with attractive pharmaceutical properties. Management states these candidates have the potential to become safe and effective drugs for inflammatory and autoimmune indications. Financially, CalciMedica closed the second tranche of a $12M Series C financing and has raised a total of $19M in equity funding to date. Prior financings include a seed round from SR One in December 2006 and a Series B in August 2007. The Series C round included participation from BiogenIdec New Ventures, Sanderling Ventures and SR One. CalciMedica is a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The reporting states the company raised $1.53 million in its first funding round. The funding was provided by S.R. One, according to a regulatory filing cited by PE Hub. The articles do not disclose specific product candidates, pipeline details, or operating metrics such as revenue or user numbers. No future plans or use of proceeds were detailed in the coverage. The public reporting is limited to the amount raised, the investor, and the regulatory filing citation.