Participated · Series B · Mar 2021

Amphista Therapeutics develops next-generation targeted protein degradation (TPD) approaches using its proprietary Eclipsys™ platform and bifunctional molecules. Its approach leverages a wider range of the body’s innate protein-degrading mechanisms rather than the narrow set of ubiquitin E3 ligase-based mechanisms used by many first-generation TPD companies. This differentiation aims to overcome limitations of current TPD methods and enable targeting of indications that are largely inaccessible to traditional TPD, including central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The company plans to accelerate pre-clinical development with a particular focus on neurodegeneration and dementia, alongside work in severe diseases such as cancer. Amphista was founded by Advent Life Sciences as a spin-out of Professor Alessio Ciulli’s labs at the University of Dundee and is based in Cambridge, UK. The company has raised over $60M to date and is funded by investors including Forbion, Gilde Healthcare, Novartis Venture Fund, Advent Life Sciences, BioMotiv and Eli Lilly & Company. Amphista Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation targeted protein degradation (TPD) therapeutics. Its pipeline centers on potent, selective bifunctional molecules called 'Amphistas' designed to selectively degrade disease-causing proteins. The company is focused on challenging diseases including cancer and aims to harness the body’s natural processes to efficiently remove pathogenic proteins. Amphista intends to advance its Amphistas to the clinic and extend its proprietary TPD platform. Led by CEO Nicola Thompson, the company was founded by Advent Life Sciences as a spin-out of Professor Alessio Ciulli’s labs at the University of Dundee and is based in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Amphista Therapeutics is a Glasgow, Scotland-based biopharmaceutical company led by CEO Nicola Thompson and founded on the work of Professor Alessio Ciulli at the University of Dundee. The company develops targeted protein degradation (TPD) small molecules that instruct cells to degrade disease-causing proteins rather than inhibit them. Its platform is independent of traditional E3 ubiquitin ligases, potentially expanding the available target scope and addressing recently identified PROTAC resistance mechanisms. Amphista is focused on creating cancer therapeutics and advancing an oncology pipeline. The company closed a $7.5M Series A and intends to use the funds to progress its oncology programs toward the clinic. In conjunction with the financing, Satish Jindal, CEO of BioMotiv, joined Amphista’s board as Chairman.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2021

Aro Biotherapeutics is a Philadelphia-based clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering tissue-targeted genetic medicines with a proprietary Centyrin protein platform. The company develops Centyrin-siRNA conjugates to enable efficient, tissue-specific delivery of siRNA and is building a wholly owned pipeline of therapeutic candidates. Its lead program, ABX1100, targets Pompe disease via a CD71-binding Centyrin conjugated to an siRNA against Gys1 and demonstrated durable reductions in Gys1 mRNA in muscle tissues with a favorable GLP toxicology safety profile. ABX1100 has received Orphan Drug Designation and Rare Pediatric Disease status from the FDA, and Aro has initiated a first-in-human study with initial data expected in 2024. The Series B financing will be used to advance ABX1100 and to support discovery of additional Centyrin-siRNA conjugate programs focused on autoimmune disorders. The new funding of $41.5M positions the company to continue clinical development and pipeline expansion. Aro Biotherapeutics is developing Centyrin-conjugated RNA therapies, a proprietary platform that uses engineered Centyrin proteins to target RNA medicines to specific tissues and receptors. Centyrins are described as small, exceptionally stable, engineered human proteins designed to target receptors on specific cells and deliver complex drug payloads to disease sites. The company is advancing a wholly-owned pipeline and is working with industry partners to leverage Centyrins for tissue-specific targeting across a diverse set of diseases. Aro plans to use the Series A proceeds to advance its lead therapeutic candidates into clinical development, with an initial focus on rare genetic and immune disorders. Leadership highlights the potential for improved efficacy and safety by enabling more efficient and precise delivery of RNA drugs to extra-hepatic tissues. Aro was founded in 2018 by Susan Dillon and Karyn O'Neil and is based in Philadelphia. Aro Biotherapeutics is developing Centyrins, small, ultra‑stable, highly soluble engineered proteins designed to simplify antibodies and enable new mechanisms of action for oncology and immunology. The company holds an exclusive worldwide license to Centyrin therapeutics discovered by co‑founder Karyn O’Neil at Janssen and is building a wholly owned pipeline. Aro’s lead program is a bi‑specific Centyrin in late‑stage lead optimization for advanced non‑small cell lung cancer; a second program aims to create a Centyrin‑siRNA conjugate to deliver nucleic acid drugs to tumors and immune cells. Centyrins have been optimized for potent anti‑tumor activity and efficient manufacture in E. coli, and Aro intends to leverage them to address targets considered ‘undruggable’ while improving efficacy and safety profiles. The company has recruited an experienced scientific and executive leadership team co‑founded by Sue Dillon and Karyn O’Neil and headquartered in the Pennovation Center in Philadelphia. Aro established operations with a $13 million start‑up investment from Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC) and BioMotiv to fund development and commercialization of its Centyrin programs.