Participated · Series B · Apr 2018

Eidos Therapeutics is a San Francisco, CA–based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel oral therapy to treat transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR). Its lead product candidate, AG10, is an orally administered small molecule designed to potently and selectively stabilize tetrameric TTR, thereby halting the molecular events that give rise to ATTR. The company is led by CEO Neil Kumar. Eidos plans to use the new financing to advance AG10 into Phase 2 clinical trials and to continue preparations for Phase 3. The Series B increases the company’s total capital raised to approximately $91.0m. BridgeBio Pharma, Eidos’ parent company, continues to be involved in the program.

Led · Series B · Jul 2017

PellePharm is a rare-disease company focused on developing treatments for severe and underserved skin conditions, including Gorlin Syndrome and high-frequency basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Its lead program is patidegib topical gel 2%, which is entering a global Phase 3 trial for prevention and treatment of Gorlin Syndrome. PellePharm announced a strategic development and commercialization collaboration with LEO Pharma to advance these programs and broaden patient access. As part of the agreement, LEO initially committed $70 million comprised of equity financing and financial R&D support to fund the Phase 3 study. Under the deal PellePharm and its stockholders could receive up to an additional $690 million in merger consideration and regulatory and commercial milestone payments. PellePharm stockholders are also eligible for a double-digit royalty after achieving certain commercial milestones, and LEO holds an option to acquire all shares in PellePharm. PellePharm is developing topical patidegib, a first-in-class gel formulation of a proprietary hedgehog pathway inhibitor to mitigate basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumor burden, including in Gorlin Syndrome. In a UK double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial, topical patidegib produced 12 complete responses across treatment arms versus zero in the vehicle arm and showed meaningful reductions in the hedgehog biomarker GLI1. The formulation produced zero detectable plasma levels after topical application and elicited none of the systemic class-specific side effects seen with oral hedgehog inhibitors. The gel is stable at room temperature for at least two years and is intended for chronic, at-home management to reduce surgeries and scarring. PellePharm completed enrollment in a second Phase 2 trial in sporadic BCCs with topline data expected in Q4 2017 and intends to begin discussions with the FDA to initiate a Phase 3 trial in the first half of 2018. The company has raised an aggregate $23.5 million to date, including a third closing of a $20 million Series B led by BridgeBio.

Participated · Series B · Apr 2015

MyoKardia is developing precision therapies for genetic heart disease, concentrating on hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies (HCM and DCM). Its lead candidate, MYK-461, is in Phase 1 clinical trials and targets a common molecular mechanism driving HCM by correcting overcontraction and restoring cardiac contractility to normal levels. The company plans to use genetic screening to identify patients whose disease is caused by the specific mechanism targeted by MYK-461. Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance and expand MyoKardia’s portfolio of potential therapies for HCM and DCM. MyoKardia launched in 2012 by Third Rock Ventures and has helped organize the Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry (SHaRe) to support its precision‑medicine efforts. The company emphasizes combining cardiovascular genetics with heart muscle biochemistry to classify heritable cardiovascular diseases and match therapies to patients. MyoKardia is developing a pipeline of novel small-molecule therapeutics that target genetic cardiomyopathies, initially focusing on hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Its proprietary drug discovery platform combines cardiovascular genomics and muscle biology to enable mutation-specific sarcomeric allosteric modulators that rebalance contractility. The company aims to stop and potentially reverse disease progression and to extend this genetically targeted approach to a broader spectrum of cardiovascular disease, including heart failure. MyoKardia leverages expertise in sarcomere genetics, in‑vivo and in‑vitro disease models, next‑generation biochemical and biophysical assays, and medicinal chemistry to advance multiple programs. The company was launched in 2012 with funding from Third Rock Ventures and is founded by James Spudich, Leslie Leinwand, Christine Seidman, and Jonathan Seidman, with Charles Homcy serving as interim CEO. It announced a $38 million Series A financing to support progression of its preclinical programs toward clinical development.