The Venture Codex

Participated · Series C · Jan 2021

Encodia is a San Diego, CA-based biotechnology company developing next-generation solutions for proteomics research. Its core product is the patented ProteoCode™ platform, which enables highly scalable protein analysis via an accessible benchtop instrument. The company says tools built on ProteoCode will drive new biological understanding with impact in data-driven drug discovery and development, new high-complexity diagnostics, and beyond. Encodia intends to use the funds to accelerate productization of ProteoCode for broad use in life science research and subsequent clinical applications. The founding team includes Drs. Mark Chee (President), Kevin Gunderson (CTO), and Michael Weiner (Board member). Financially, the company closed a $75M Series C financing to support those commercialization efforts.

Participated · Series B · Jan 2021

Verve Therapeutics is pioneering in vivo gene editing medicines targeted at cardiovascular disease, with a focus on permanent LDL cholesterol lowering. Its lead program, VERVE-101, is comprised of an mRNA for adenine base editing and a guide RNA targeting PCSK9, delivered in a lipid nanoparticle. The company reported proof-of-concept non-human primate data showing one-time intravenous administration produces liver DNA editing and substantial LDL cholesterol reduction. Verve is conducting IND-enabling studies for VERVE-101 and plans to initiate clinical development in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in 2022. The company says it is advancing earlier programs in its pipeline and aims to extend its scientific and technical leadership. Verve is based in Cambridge, Mass. Verve Therapeutics develops one-time, liver-targeted gene-editing therapies intended to permanently lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides to reduce coronary heart disease risk. The company reported strong preclinical progress and has been building out its scientific team. Verve will use the new financing to advance its lead program through IND-enabling studies and to fund follow-on pipeline programs. Verve was launched in May 2019 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company emphasizes a therapy model that edits the adult human genome to provide lifelong reduction of key lipid risk factors. Verve is backed by a syndicate of life‑science investors supporting its continued preclinical and development activities. Verve Therapeutics is developing therapies that safely edit the adult human genome to permanently reduce a person’s risk of coronary artery disease. The company combines human genetic analysis and gene editing to create one‑time, somatic‑cell therapies intended to confer lifelong protection in adults. Verve is advancing preclinical programs through proof‑of‑concept studies and will take a stepwise clinical approach, initially targeting patients with life‑threatening coronary artery disease and later widening to larger at‑risk populations. It has assembled key intellectual property and partnerships, including license agreements for CRISPR patents from the Broad Institute and Harvard, an exclusive collaboration with Beam Therapeutics on base editing and delivery, and a collaboration with Verily on nanoparticle formulations. The company was founded by leaders in cardiovascular genetics and gene editing, including Sekar Kathiresan, Kiran Musunuru, and J. Keith Joung, and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a research lab at Pennovation Works in Philadelphia. Verve launched with $58.5 million in Series A funding led by GV to fund preclinical development toward proof‑of‑concept.

Participated · Series C · Jan 2020

Omniome is developing an innovative DNA sequencing platform designed to deliver high sequencing accuracy. The company says the technology has potential to advance cancer diagnostics, enable high-fidelity single-cell applications and support clinical sequencing. Leadership includes President and CEO Dave Mullarkey and Executive Chairman Ken Song, M.D. Omniome will use the new capital to hire across manufacturing, engineering, development, customer support and commercial teams and to continue optimizing its proprietary technology. It also plans to accelerate instrument development and the delivery of commercially impactful sequencing platforms. The company had previously raised $60M in mid-2018. Omniome is developing a scar-free DNA sequencing platform based on its Sequencing By Binding™ (SBB™) technology. The SBB approach leverages the natural matching ability of the polymerase to provide enhanced precision of nucleotide and DNA matching. The platform is designed to deliver accurate, fast results, decrease runtimes and increase the number of samples per run. Omniome aims to advance cancer diagnostics, enable single-cell applications and support clinical sequencing. The company completed a $60M Series B financing and plans to use proceeds to hire new team members across multiple disciplines—particularly engineering—and to build additional research and production capacity. Leadership includes Dave Mullarkey (President and CEO) and Ken Song, M.D. (Executive Chairman).

Participated · Series B · Nov 2019

eGenesis is a biotechnology company developing human-compatible engineered organs to address the global organ shortage. Its lead product candidate, the donor kidney EGEN-2784, carries three classes of genome edits: knockout of glycan-antigen synthesis genes, insertion of seven human transgenes to modulate rejection pathways, and inactivation of endogenous porcine retroviruses. The company’s EGEN genome engineering and production platform aims to comprehensively address cross-species molecular incompatibilities and viral risk. Proceeds from the $191 million Series D will be used to advance EGEN-2784 to a first-in-human kidney transplant study, advance pipeline programs (including acute liver failure and heart transplant), and scale production. In March 2024 eGenesis announced the world’s first successful porcine kidney transplant in a living patient under an FDA Expanded Access authorization, performed at Massachusetts General Hospital. The company says it is the only firm developing organs that carry all three classes of edits to address organ safety and efficacy. eGenesis develops human-compatible organs, tissues, and cells using gene-editing and genome-engineering to address barriers to xenotransplantation. The company harnesses gene editing technologies to make organs safe and effective for patients in need. Its development pipeline includes lead programs for kidney and islet cell transplants and earlier-stage programs targeting other solid organs. eGenesis intends to use its Series C proceeds to bring lead kidney and islet programs into human proof-of-concept studies, continue development of its proprietary gene-editing platform, and scale GMP production. The company is led by Paul Sekhri, President and Chief Executive Officer. Financially, eGenesis completed a $125m Series C financing in February 2021. eGenesis develops human-compatible organs using gene editing technologies such as CRISPR to overcome virology and immunology hurdles that have impeded xenotransplantation. The company is advancing an initial kidney product toward the clinic while pursuing programs in islet cell, liver, heart, and lung. It intends to use new funding to accelerate its kidney xenotransplant program into the clinic and to support advancement of other xenotransplant programs. eGenesis positions xenotransplantation as a potential solution for a broader organ recipient population and to expand applicability into areas such as cell therapy. The company is led by president and CEO Paul Sekhri and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. eGenesis completed a $100M Series B financing to support these efforts. eGenesis uses a CRISPR-based genome editing platform to engineer pig cells and organs intended for safe and effective human transplantation. The company’s core approach includes genomic engineering of pig cells, organ maturation, and eventual organ transplantation. eGenesis positions xenotransplantation as a solution to the severe shortage of transplantable human organs and aims to make it a routine lifesaving medical procedure. Its scientific team includes co-founder and CSO Luhan Yang and Harvard geneticist George Church, plus multiple scientists from Harvard with expertise in genome editing, synthetic biology, and transgenic animals. The company is in early stages of development and is advancing its platform toward delivering transplantable cells, tissues and organs. eGenesis announced a recent financing to support these development efforts.

Participated · Series C · Nov 2019

AiCure develops AI-driven software and analytics to enhance patient engagement, digital biomarkers, and sponsor insights in clinical trials. The company’s platform is positioned to improve monitoring and outcomes for life‑science sponsors running trials. In 2023 AiCure was granted seven new U.S. patents, bringing its total U.S. patent count to 86, with additional patents issued globally. On January 25, 2024, AiCure completed a $12M loan refinancing and raised an additional $4M+ from existing investors. The company said the proceeds will be used to invest in research and development, expand operations, and enhance its products and services. AiCure also added two senior hires: Sondra Pepe as SVP of Product Management and Josh Wilson as SVP of Operations. AiCure is an AI-driven healthcare platform that uses artificial intelligence to see, hear and understand how people respond to treatment in clinical trials and patient care. Its technologies are clinically proven to measure and modify patient behavior, helping keep patients engaged and optimized for treatment and to evaluate treatment effectiveness. The company holds more than 100 registered patents and works with global clients in more than 25 countries. AiCure was founded in 2010 and is led by CEO Adam Hanina. The company is based in New York City. It raised $24.5M in a Series C and intends to use the funds to accelerate its business activities. AiCure offers a mobile software-as-a-service platform that uses machine learning, computer vision, and big data to visually confirm patients’ medication ingestion. The technology has been validated against drug levels in blood samples and across patient populations including elderly stroke patients and participants in schizophrenia and HIV prevention trials. AiCure partners with pharmaceutical companies and government institutions to monitor medication adherence and optimize treatment models. The company is led by CEO Adam Hanina and operates from New York City. Financially, AiCure completed a Series A financing to support its operations and partnerships. The platform targets clinical-trial and treatment-adherence use cases through its AI-driven verification and monitoring capabilities.