Led · Series B · Jan 2022

ImmPACT Bio is a clinical-stage company based in Los Angeles developing logic-gate-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its lead autoimmune candidate, IMPT-514, is a CD19/CD20 bispecific CAR T-cell therapy designed to deeply deplete autoreactive B cells as a one-time treatment with the potential to replace chronic immune suppression. IMPT-514 shares the same CAR construct as IMPT-314, which is under development for certain non‑Hodgkin's lymphomas. The company is evaluating IMPT-514 in an open-label Phase 1b/2 dose-escalation trial in refractory lupus nephritis (LN) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with initial efficacy and safety data expected in the second half of 2024. IMPT-514 has received FDA Fast Track designation for active and refractory LN and SLE, and preclinical work showed efficient manufacture from heavily immunosuppressed patients, potent autologous B-cell elimination, and a moderate cytokine profile. In February 2024 ImmPACT Bio was awarded an $8 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to support the ongoing Phase 1b/2 development of IMPT-514. ImmPACT Bio is a clinical-stage company developing logic-gate-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for cancer patients. Led by president and CEO Sumant Ramachandra, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, the company focuses on CAR T platforms designed to prevent antigen escape and reduce on-target off-tumor toxicities. Its technologies also aim to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The company’s technology is based on work by Yvonne Chen and Antoni Ribas at UCLA and Gideon Gross at the MIGAL‑Galilee Research Institute. ImmPACT intends to use newly raised funds to expand the curative potential of cell therapies and to address biological challenges that have limited efficacy in hard-to-treat tumor types. The company is based in Camarillo, California and is at the clinical stage of development. ImmPACT Bio USA is a Camarillo, California–based company, founded out of the FutuRx incubator in Ness Ziona, Israel, developing novel engineered T-cell therapies for cancer. Its lead programs focus on targeting loss of genes in solid tumors using engineered T cells. The company was founded based on insights from Prof. Gideon Gross (Migal Research Institute), who collaborated with Prof. Zelig Eshhar on early CAR T technologies, and is led by CEO Rick Kendall, Ph.D. ImmPACT is advancing a set of engineered T-cell therapeutics rather than traditional CAR T constructs. The company closed a Series A equity financing in 2020 to support its development efforts. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article.

Led · Equity · Nov 2019

ProteKt Therapeutics, based in Ness Ziona, Israel, develops potent and selective oral inhibitors of the kinase PKR for treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. The company discovers molecules using unique computational methods and validates inhibitors in clinically relevant assays. ProteKt plans to select a lead drug candidate and validate its neurotherapeutic effects in vivo. It also intends to initiate clinical development of a related diagnostic assay for patient selection and treatment personalization. The company raised $3.6M in equity financing to support these development and validation activities. Led by CEO Yotam Nisemblat, ProteKt was founded by Carmel, Haifa University Economic Corporation and the Carmel Innovations Fund based on the research of Prof. Kobi Rosenblum and joined the FutuRx accelerator in 2015.

Participated · Series B · May 2016

Acer Therapeutics is a Cambridge, MA–headquartered pharmaceutical company developing therapies for serious rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases. Its lead candidate ACER-002 (celiprolol hydrochloride) is being advanced for vascular Ehlers‑Danlos Syndrome (vEDS), and ACER-001 is a proprietary taste‑masked immediate‑release formulation of sodium phenylbutyrate for Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) and Urea Cycle Disorders (UCD). Both candidates have received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Proceeds from the recently closed Series B will primarily be used to prepare a new drug application (NDA) for ACER-002 and to support manufacturing and clinical development of ACER-001. Acer plans to file an NDA for ACER-002 based on a randomized controlled clinical study of celiprolol and intends to initiate pivotal clinical studies of ACER-001 for MSUD and UCD. The company said the financing positions it to progress its late-stage therapeutic candidates toward key regulatory milestones. To date, Acer has raised $12.25 million across its Series A and Series B rounds.