Led · Series C · Sep 2018

Founded in 2009, Galera Therapeutics develops small-molecule dismutase mimetics that replicate the body’s superoxide dismutase enzymes. In pre-clinical models these compounds simultaneously attack tumors and protect healthy tissue from damage caused by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and cytokine immunotherapies. The company’s lead program targets prevention of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of cancer therapy, and is positioned to move directly into Phase 2a human proof-of-concept studies thanks to extensive prior clinical experience in non-cancer indications. Beyond oral mucositis, Galera intends to leverage its proprietary platform to address additional side effects of cancer treatment. The team is led by inventor Dennis Riley, Ph.D., and includes experienced executives and drug developers. Financially, the company has secured a Series “1” financing of undisclosed size to fund its lead program and platform expansion; no revenue or user metrics were provided in the article.

Participated · Series B · Oct 2017

Forty Seven is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing therapies targeting cancer immune-evasion pathways based on technology licensed from Stanford University. Its lead program, 5F9, is a monoclonal antibody against CD47 designed to block the "don’t eat me" signal and is being evaluated in MDS, AML, NHL, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer. Phase 1b data presented at ASCO and EHA showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 100% and a complete response (CR) rate of 55% among patients treated with 5F9 plus azacitidine in MDS. The company plans to initiate a single-arm, potentially registration‑enabling trial in higher‑risk MDS in Q1 2020 and believes a successful trial could support a BLA filing in Q4 2021. 5F9 has received FDA Fast Track designation for relapsed or refractory DLBCL and FL and Orphan Drug designation for AML from the FDA and EMA. Forty Seven has secured targeted support from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to accelerate 5F9’s clinical development in MDS. Forty Seven is a Menlo Park, California–based clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing therapies targeting cancer immune evasion pathways licensed from Stanford University. Its lead program, Hu5F9-G4, is a monoclonal antibody against the CD47 receptor, a "don't eat me" signal that cancer cells use to avoid phagocytosis. Hu5F9-G4 is being evaluated in two Phase 1 clinical studies in patients with solid tumors and in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The company is led by CEO Mark McCamish. Forty Seven raised $75M in a Series B financing to expand ongoing clinical trials and to initiate new trials combining its antibody with other immuno-oncology agents. The proceeds are intended to support advancement of its CD47 antibody programs into additional studies and combinations. Forty Seven is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on engaging phagocytic pathways to enhance anti-tumor efficacy and selectivity. The company licensed multiple immuno-oncology programs from Stanford, including rights to over 100 issued or pending U.S. and foreign patents covering Hu5F9-G4 and other immune checkpoint inhibitors and cancer-specific antibodies. Hu5F9-G4 is a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD47, a "don’t eat me" signal overexpressed on many tumors; in preclinical models it facilitated phagocytosis, elimination of cancer cells, and enhanced antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) in combination therapy. Forty Seven is advancing Hu5F9-G4 in two ongoing clinical studies and plans additional clinical trials in 2016 to assess combination therapies, while also moving select preclinical programs toward IND. The company is led by CEO Jonathan MacQuitty and was co-founded by Irv Weissman, Ravi Majeti, Mark Chao and Jens Volkmer; senior scientific and medical leadership are also in place. It completed the first half of a committed $75M Series A to fund these clinical and preclinical programs.

Led · Series A · Jun 2017

Tisbury Pharmaceuticals is a Boston-based pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies to treat glaucoma. Its lead clinical candidate, R-801, markedly decreases intraocular pressure by increasing intraocular fluid egress through the trabecular meshwork. The company intends to use the $32M Series A proceeds to initiate a clinical program for R-801. Tisbury spun out from Radikal Therapeutics and was founded by Andrew L. Salzman, MD, who serves as chairman. Gary Sternberg, MD, MBA, the newly appointed CEO and former Chief Business Officer of Eleven Biotherapeutics, will lead the clinical development out of the Boston office. The Series A was led by OrbiMed Israel, Clarus and HealthCap, with participation from Pontifax, and the financing coincided with multiple board appointments.

Participated · Equity · Feb 2017

Path is an international nonprofit organization headquartered in Seattle that invents and advances vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and health-system innovations aimed at solving pressing public-health challenges in low-income regions, primarily across Africa and Asia. Its portfolio spans research, development, and deployment of solutions targeting diseases such as intestinal worms, malaria, and other neglected tropical illnesses. The organization collaborates closely with governments, academic institutions, and commercial partners to take scientific discoveries from laboratory to large-scale implementation. A current strategic priority is securing U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for tribendimidine (TrBD) to treat hookworm infections, the first step toward mass deworming campaigns via the Tribendimidine Consortium it leads. Partners in this consortium include the Chinese CDC’s National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, manufacturer Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical Company, and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Path plans to channel its newly raised capital into accelerating this work on soil-transmitted helminth infections. No revenue or user metrics were disclosed in the article, reflecting the nonprofit nature of the organization.

Led · Series A · Aug 2016

AVROBIO, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing lentiviral-based gene therapies for rare lysosomal storage disorders and other genetic diseases. Its lead program, AVR-RD-01, is a lentiviral gene therapy in Phase 1 for Fabry disease that produced normal plasma α-galactosidase A activity in the first treated patient at six months. The company’s proprietary 3rd-generation lentiviral platform is designed for stable genomic integration and permanent gene addition in CD34+ stem cells. AVROBIO plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial of AVR-RD-01 this year and to move gene therapy candidates for cystinosis and Gaucher disease into clinical development by mid-2019, and also intends to apply its platform to other diseases including Pompe disease. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA and has offices in Toronto, ON. AVROBIO completed a $60 million Series B financing to advance multiple programs and build its lentiviral platform capabilities. AVROBIO is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing lentiviral-based, ex‑vivo gene therapies for rare diseases and cancer. Its initial clinical programs are Phase 1 candidates for Fabry disease and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The Fabry program modifies patients' stem cells to add a functional copy of the faulty gene and reinfuses them in a one‑time procedure to produce durable enzyme elevation. The AML program seeks to genetically modify residual patient cells to express IL‑12 after chemotherapy to elicit a durable anti‑cancer immune response. AVROBIO emphasizes single‑infusion, potentially disease‑modifying therapies and is actively building a broader pipeline targeting other rare diseases and solid and liquid cancers. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, MA and has offices in Toronto, ON. It raised new funding to accelerate its clinical programs and pipeline expansion.