Participated · Series D · Oct 2024

Orasis Pharmaceuticals developed Qlosi (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 0.4%, a corrective eye drop indicated for the treatment of presbyopia in adults. Qlosi uses the lowest effective concentration of pilocarpine approved and a multi-faceted vehicle, does not contain an antimicrobial preservative, and improves near visual acuity via pupil modulation (a "pinhole effect"). The company emphasizes a balance of efficacy, safety, and comfort for patients seeking an alternative to reading glasses. Orasis plans to use the new financing to support the commercial launch of Qlosi. The company is led by industry executives and eye care professionals and is funded by a diverse group of life-science and healthcare investors. Orasis has offices in the United States and Israel. Orasis Pharmaceuticals, based in Herzliya, Israel, is developing a proprietary ophthalmic formulation intended to treat presbyopia symptoms. Its lead candidate is an eye drop designed to achieve an optimal balance between efficacy, safety and comfort. The company plans to use the Series C proceeds to advance that lead eye drop through completion of Phase 3 clinical trials and to fund pre-commercialization activities ahead of a potential product launch. Orasis is led by CEO Elad Kedar. The company positions its novel formulation to potentially make it an emerging leader in the presbyopia space. It closed a $30M Series C financing to support these programs. Orasis Pharmaceuticals, led by CEO Elad Kedar and based in Herzliya, Israel, is a clinical-stage company developing an innovative eye drop to treat presbyopia as an alternative to reading glasses. Its lead product candidate, CSF-1, is being advanced through clinical development. The company intends to use the new funding to complete its Phase 2b trial of CSF-1, prepare for a Phase 3 trial, and continue pre-commercial activities ahead of a potential launch. Orasis closed a financing that supports these near-term clinical and commercial milestones. The company added board members from its new investors as part of the financing.

Led · Series C · Sep 2023

Virtual Incision is developing MIRA, a compact, drape- and dock-free miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery system designed to deliver internal triangulation and full wrist articulation inside the body. The device is lightweight and portable so it can be used in any operating room without a dedicated mainframe room. MIRA is an investigational device; the company completed an IDE clinical study for bowel resection and has a De Novo request under substantive FDA review. Virtual Incision holds over two hundred patents and patent applications and is focused on expanding access to RAS in routine and high-volume procedures, including outpatient and ambulatory settings. The company plans a limited launch of MIRA across select U.S. centers if marketing authorization is granted and will run a gynecologic clinical study planned for 2024. It is also developing a smaller minibot iteration with a first-in-human clinical study expected next year and will support a NASA–University of Nebraska–Lincoln collaboration to demonstrate telesurgery on the ISS. Virtual Incision is developing the MIRA (“miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant”) Surgical Platform, a small self-contained device inserted through a single midline umbilical incision to support multi-quadrant abdominal laparoscopic procedures. The technology is designed to work with existing minimally invasive tools and techniques, avoid the need for a dedicated operating room or specialized infrastructure, and to be significantly less expensive than existing robotic systems. The company recently reported the world’s first surgery using MIRA—a robotically assisted right hemicolectomy—performed under an FDA Investigational Device Exemption as part of a clinical study at a limited number of U.S. hospitals. Virtual Incision is developing a family of mini-robots for additional procedures including hernia repair, gallbladder removal, hysterectomy, and sleeve gastrectomy. The company holds foundational intellectual property with more than 200 patents and applications. Virtual Incision is headquartered in Lincoln, Neb., and recently raised financing to advance its regulatory, clinical, commercialization, and R&D programs. Virtual Incision develops the MIRA (“miniaturized in vivo robotic assistant”), a two-pound robotic platform for minimally invasive abdominal surgery. The company emphasizes MIRA’s portability and affordability compared with many existing, much larger surgical robots. VIC positions the device to expand access to minimally invasive procedures and improve patient outcomes. CEO John Murphy said the company believes the portable and affordable abdominal robot can bring these benefits to many more patients. The company plans an IDE clinical study with the FDA as the critical next step and will use recent funding to ready the device for commercialization. The latest financing brings the company’s total funding to $51 million. Virtual Incision is developing a small, self-contained robotically assisted surgical device (RASD) designed to be inserted through an umbilical incision to perform multi-quadrant abdominal procedures. The platform leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to track and guide instrument usage and includes the company’s robotic flex tip laparoscope controlled by the surgeon. The company emphasizes compatibility with existing surgical tools and techniques and a design that does not require a dedicated operating room or specialized infrastructure. Virtual Incision says its technology has foundational intellectual property including over 140 patents and applications and was used outside the U.S. in 2016 in a safety and feasibility colon resection trial. The company is a University of Nebraska spinout based in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Pleasanton, California, and its devices are investigational and not commercially available. Virtual Incision recently raised an $18 million Series B to support development toward FDA 510(k) submission and near-term milestones including FDA clearance, U.S. team building, a surgeon training center at UNMC, and a China joint venture. Virtual Incision develops a first-of-its-kind miniaturized robotically assisted surgical device designed to be inserted in its entirety through a single abdominal incision to enable minimally invasive general surgery. The platform is designed to utilize existing tools and surgeon techniques, avoid dedicated operating-room infrastructure, and be significantly smaller and less expensive than current mainframe robotic systems. The company says the system could enable minimally invasive approaches to procedures that are typically performed open today, with potential to improve clinical outcomes and health-care costs. Its investigational device is supported by more than 90 pending and granted patents and 70 comparative medicine studies, and the technology is a spinout of the University of Nebraska. Virtual Incision plans to use the recently closed $11.2 million equity financing to fund a feasibility study of the robot for colon resection procedures. The device is not commercially available; the company is based in Lincoln, Neb. and Pleasanton, Calif.

Participated · Equity · Sep 2022

Neurolens offers patented Contoured Prism prescription lenses designed to bring the eyes into alignment and relieve headaches, neck/shoulder pain and eyestrain. The company recently launched the N3, a device that measures eye misalignment down to a fraction of a prism diopter to help eyecare providers fit contoured prism lenses more accurately. Neurolens' technology is distributed through Independent Eye Care Providers and is positioned to improve patient comfort beyond visual acuity alone. Management says the company continues to experience double‑digit growth each year and is focused on expanding adoption among optometry practices. The company plans to use new capital to accelerate deployment of N3 devices and broaden access to contoured prism technology across the U.S. and Canada. Neurolens commercializes prescription lenses built on its patented Contoured Prism technology to improve comfort and bring the eyes into alignment. The design aims to relieve headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and eyestrain that many adults experience when using digital devices, reading, or doing detail work. Neurolens emphasizes treatment beyond visual acuity to address symptomatic comfort for the majority of affected adults. Its technology is distributed exclusively through Independent Eye Care Providers. Led by CEO Pierre Bertrand and based in Dallas, TX, the company is focused on product innovation and market growth. Neurolens raised $67M and intends to deploy the proceeds for continued product innovation and growth initiatives.

Participated · Series B · Oct 2021

Zerigo Health provides an FDA-cleared, connected light therapy solution that enables Americans living with psoriasis, vitiligo, and eczema to self-administer narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy at home or on the go. The core product is a handheld device paired with a smartphone app; prescription dosing is controlled via secure cloud-based technology and patients are remotely monitored and given personal coaching and support. The system aligns with American Academy of Dermatology guideline-recommended NB-UVB phototherapy and is designed to keep physicians and patients connected with personalized data and insights. The company said it will use the newly raised funds to expand its business reach. Zerigo raised $43M in a Series B round led by 7wireVentures. John E. Schellhorn is President and CEO, and the company is based in San Diego, California. Clarify Medical develops the Clarify Home Light Therapy System, a connected phototherapy device that uses a patient’s smartphone app to manage targeted narrowband UVB treatments. The FDA‑cleared System controls dose, frequency, and duration while monitoring dosing, adherence, patient progress, and satisfaction via cloud connectivity. Treatments are prescribed by physicians but administered at home with clinical precision, enabling remote physician oversight. The company has established Medicare coverage and says the System is now available nationally in the U.S. Clarify intends to use recent financing to commercialize the product, improve market access, and build awareness within the medical dermatology community. The announcement highlights a U.S. patient population of about 30 million people with psoriasis, vitiligo, and eczema and roughly 5,400 medical dermatologists.

Led · Series B · Aug 2021

Sydnexis is a San Diego–based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a proprietary low-dose atropine formulation, SYD-101, for the treatment of progressive myopia in children. Its lead candidate is being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 3 STAAR study, the largest pediatric myopia study globally, testing 0.01% and 0.03% concentrations versus placebo. SYD-101 is designed for maximum efficacy, comfort on installation, and three-year stability at room temperature—attributes emphasized for pediatric use. The company aims to provide a best-in-class therapy where there are currently no approved drugs for progressive myopia. The financing announced will fund SYD-101 through completion of the fully enrolled pivotal Phase 3 STAAR study.