Participated · Series B · Aug 2023

Kyverna Therapeutics is a clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on engineering a new class of therapies for autoimmune diseases. Its lead programs, KYV-101 and KYV-201, are anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapies that target CD19 on B cells. The company is advancing clinical studies in the U.S. and Europe and intends to use recent financing to accelerate those trials. Kyverna specifically highlights applications in autoimmune conditions including lupus nephritis. The company has attracted investment from biopharma and life-science investors backing its clinical-stage programs. Kyverna Therapeutics engineers a new class of cell therapies for serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases using advanced T-cell engineering and synthetic biology. Its platform includes next-generation CAR T therapies in autologous and allogeneic settings and synReg T cells, a synthetic version of regulatory T cells. The company holds exclusive worldwide licenses from the NIH to use a novel anti-CD19 construct across autologous and allogeneic CAR T therapies. Kyverna intends to advance KYV-101, an autologous anti-CD19 CAR T candidate, into clinical development for B cell-driven autoimmune diseases in the first half of 2022. It is also developing KYV-201 in collaboration with Intellia, combining its CD19 CAR construct with Intellia’s ex vivo CRISPR/Cas9-based allogeneic platform. Kyverna has a strategic collaboration and license agreement with Gilead to develop engineered T-cell therapies based on its synReg platform and Kite’s synNotch technology and is led by CEO Dominic Borie in Emeryville, California. Kyverna Therapeutics is a Berkeley, Calif.-based cell therapy company engineering a new class of therapies for serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It raised $25 million in a Series A equity financing from Vida Ventures and Westlake Village BioPartners. The company’s platform combines advanced T cell engineering and synthetic biology technologies, including a synthetic Treg platform and synNotch™ technology from Kite (a Gilead company), to target autoreactive immune cells at the root cause of disease. Kyverna intends to use the proceeds to advance its therapeutic strategy and to conduct research activities and initial clinical studies through proof-of-concept for programs covered by its collaboration. Kyverna entered a strategic collaboration and license agreement with Gilead under which Gilead paid an upfront $17.5 million and Kyverna may earn up to $570 million in development and commercialization milestones; Gilead has an option to assume further clinical development and commercialization upon exercise. Leadership and board changes accompanied the financing: Fred Cohen of Vida Ventures will serve as chairman; Dominic Borie, M.D., Ph.D., was appointed CEO and will serve on the board; Jeffrey Greve, Ph.D., remains CSO; and investor representatives from Westlake Village BioPartners and Vida Ventures were named to the board. Kyverna will also continue to advance proprietary programs beyond the Gilead collaboration.

Participated · Series C · May 2022

Kriya Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene therapies across multiple therapeutic areas. Its pipeline includes programs in ophthalmology, metabolic disease and neurology built on a fully integrated proprietary manufacturing and engineering platform. The company intends to use new funding to support clinical trials of its gene therapies and to continue leveraging its research and manufacturing engine for new product development. Kriya operates from Research Triangle Park, NC. The company closed a major Series D financing to advance its clinical programs and platform utilization. Kriya Therapeutics develops gene therapies focused on prevalent diseases in ophthalmology, neurology, and metabolic disease. The company has built integrated engineering, computational, and manufacturing platforms to accelerate research, development and production of gene therapies. Proceeds from the recent financing will support clinical translation of its pipeline and further scaling of those platforms. Kriya emphasizes targeting validated biological targets and well-defined clinical endpoints to rapidly achieve proof-of-concept. Since its founding in October 2019, the company has raised over $600 million in committed capital and says its investments in infrastructure and talent have improved development efficiency. Kriya intends to translate multiple programs into the clinic in the coming years. Kriya Therapeutics is a fully integrated gene therapy company that combines proprietary computational tools, in-house GMP manufacturing, and a rational design toolkit to develop gene therapies. The company has scaled SIRVE™, a machine learning–enabled technology and cloud computing architecture, to integrate large datasets from high-throughput screening and sequencing. Kriya has expanded its pipeline via internal R&D, acquisitions, and partnerships, with therapeutic divisions in ophthalmology, oncology, rare disease, and chronic disease. It operationalized scalable GMP manufacturing infrastructure in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to support in-house production from early through late-phase development. The company’s stated mission is to improve speed to market and reduce cost for gene therapies by advancing engineering, production, and translation capabilities. Proceeds from the recent financing will support advancing the pipeline and continued scaling of its engineering, manufacturing, and computational platforms. Kriya Therapeutics is a fully integrated platform company focused on designing, developing and manufacturing gene therapies. The company combines computational vector design (SIRVE™) and a proprietary high-efficiency manufacturing platform (STRIPE™) to reduce immunogenicity, improve expression and achieve lower production costs at scale. STRIPE is being developed at a 51,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and Kriya expects its full cGMP manufacturing infrastructure to be online this year. Kriya is advancing an internal pipeline with programs in metabolic disease, ophthalmology and oncology. Proceeds from the recent financing will be used to further develop Kriya’s core technology platforms, expand its therapeutic pipeline and advance current programs. The company maintains locations in Silicon Valley/Redwood City, Calif., and Research Triangle Park, N.C., and is led by co-founder and CEO Shankar Ramaswamy, M.D. Kriya Therapeutics is a Palo Alto, Calif. and Durham, N.C.-based gene therapy company focused on expanding gene therapy beyond rare monogenic disorders to diseases that affect millions. Its pipeline centers on multiple AAV-based investigational therapies targeting metabolic diseases, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and severe obesity. Lead programs are KT-A112 (intramuscular delivery of genes producing insulin and glucokinase), KT-A522 (salivary gland delivery of a GLP-1 receptor agonist), and KT-A832 (intrapancreatic delivery of modified IGF-1). The company intends to use proceeds from its financing to develop these gene therapies. Kriya completed a seed round in Q4 2019 led by Transhuman Capital, which also participated in the Series A. The company is led by co-founder, chairman and CEO Shankar Ramaswamy, M.D., supported by a team of scientific, development, manufacturing, and regulatory executives.

Led · Series A · Jan 2022

Avenge Bio is a Natick, MA-based oncology biotechnology company developing cell-based immunotherapeutic products using its LOCOcyte™ platform. The platform delivers proprietary engineered cells to the local tumor environment to generate high concentrations of immune effector molecules near tumors, initiating a local and durable systemic immune response while avoiding toxicities associated with systemic immunotherapies. Its lead candidate, AVB-001, produces native IL-2 immunotherapy and is being developed initially for metastatic peritoneal cancers, with a primary focus on recurrent and refractory ovarian cancer. The company also has additional pipeline candidates targeting pancreatic, lung and breast cancers. Avenge Bio closed a $45M Series A financing in October 2022. Proceeds will advance AVB-001 through an IND filing and into the clinic and support continued rapid development of the pipeline.

Participated · Series B · Nov 2021

Antios is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies to treat and cure viral diseases, with a lead program targeting chronic HBV. Its lead candidate, ATI-2173, is a once-daily oral investigational phosphoramidate prodrug of clevudine monophosphate and the only Active Site Polymerase Inhibitor Nucleotide (ASPIN) in clinical development. ATI-2173 is in Phase 2b development and is being evaluated in the SAVE-1 trial, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 30 patients testing 25 mg and 50 mg doses daily for 90 days in combination with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Preclinical data and Phase 1b results indicate potent on-treatment and durable off-treatment HBV DNA suppression and that the drug has been generally well-tolerated. The company plans to advance ATI-2173 through Phase 2b and further clinical development toward a potential curative once-daily HBV regimen. The recent $75 million financing strengthens Antios's financial position to support these clinical programs. Antios Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies to treat and cure viral diseases. Its lead candidate, ATI-2173, is a novel, orally administered, liver-targeted Active Site Polymerase Inhibitor Nucleotide (ASPIN) designed to deliver the 5'-monophosphate of clevudine to the liver. ATI-2173 is described as a non-competitive, non-chain terminating HBV polymerase inhibitor that distorts the active site, producing potent antiviral activity and extended off-treatment suppression of HBV DNA. The company plans to advance ATI-2173 through a Phase 2 clinical program to evaluate its potential as the backbone of a once-daily curative regimen for chronic hepatitis B. Antios reported potent on-treatment and durable off-treatment effects in a Phase 1b study, with those results slated for presentation at an upcoming medical conference. To support development, Antios completed a $96 million Series B financing. Antios Therapeutics is an Atlanta, GA–based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel antiviral therapies for unmet medical needs. Its lead oral candidate, ATI-2173, is being advanced as part of a curative regimen for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and potentially hepatitis D virus (HDV). The company targets chronic HBV, which affects over 250 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Antios is led by co-founders Abel De La Rosa (CEO) and Douglas Mayers (CMO). The company intends to use proceeds from its recent financing to continue development of ATI-2173. The article does not disclose revenue or user metrics.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2021

Lexeo Therapeutics is a genetic medicine company focused on transforming treatment for cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer's. The company is advancing genetic-medicine clinical programs and intends to use new capital to fund those programs. Lexeo closed a $95M private placement, selling shares at $15.13 per share, and entered into a registration rights agreement. Proceeds are earmarked for clinical programs and general corporate purposes and are expected to extend the company's runway into 2027. The financing brings Lexeo's total capital raised to $180M. Lexeo was founded in 2018, is based in New York, and has between 11 and 50 employees. LEXEO Therapeutics is a New York City–based, clinical-stage gene therapy company advancing AAV-based gene therapy candidates for genetically defined cardiovascular diseases and a genetically defined subgroup of Alzheimer’s disease. The company’s pipeline targets both larger-rare and more prevalent patient populations and claims potential to address up to one million patients in the United States across diverse cardiomyopathies. LEXEO’s foundational science stems from partnerships and exclusive licenses with Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of California, San Diego. The company is led by experienced genetic-medicine and rare-disease drug-development executives and is advancing a deep and diverse portfolio of candidates. LEXEO is positioning its programs for further development and collaboration to move candidates through clinical development and toward commercialization. LEXEO Therapeutics is a fully integrated clinical-stage company advancing adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapies for genetic cardiovascular conditions and central nervous system diseases. Its pipeline includes lead programs LX2006 (IV gene therapy for cardiomyopathy associated with Friedreich’s ataxia), LX1004 (CNS-administered therapy for CLN2 Batten disease), and LX1001 (CNS-administered therapy for APOE4-associated Alzheimer’s disease). The company also recently acquired cardiac gene therapy programs and is developing additional preclinical programs focused on the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease (LX1020 and LX1021). LEXEO reports having more than 15 AAV-mediated gene therapy programs in research and development. Proceeds from its recent financing will support continued preclinical pipeline expansion and advancement of its lead programs through clinical development toward meaningful data catalysts. The company was founded on a gene therapy research legacy at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Department of Genetic Medicine. LEXEO Therapeutics is a New York City–based, fully integrated clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated treatments. The company's core pipeline includes three clinical-stage programs: LX2006 (IV AAV frataxin therapy for cardiomyopathy in Friedreich’s ataxia; Phase 1 start planned for 2021), LX1004 (CNS AAV CLN2 therapy; Phase 1/2 completed) and LX1001 (CNS AAV APOE2 therapy for APOE4 homozygotes; Phase 1 ongoing). Clinical data published for LX1004 in Science Translational Medicine showed a single administration slowed CLN2 disease progression and was well tolerated over an 18-month study period. LEXEO’s preclinical portfolio spans monogenic, hereditary and acquired diseases and includes up to 15 additional potential AAV programs primarily developed at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Department of Genetic Medicine. The company intends to advance clinical programs through to commercialization while maintaining an ongoing research collaboration with Weill Cornell. LEXEO launched with an $85 million Series A to advance its lead investigational programs and is headquartered at the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York City.