Participated · Series B · Feb 2018

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.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2017

Gritstone Oncology develops personalized cancer immunotherapies built around a tumor antigen identification platform (Gritstone EDGE) and a neoantigen delivery system. The company leverages deep learning and extensive human tumor molecular analysis to predict and deploy patient-specific neoantigens. Its lead program targeting tumor-specific neoantigens is expected to enter clinical trials in mid-2018 in non-small cell lung cancer and gastric cancer. Proceeds from the financing will advance the EDGE platform and Gritstone’s pipeline and fund completion of a 43,000 square-foot cGMP manufacturing facility in Pleasanton, CA. The facility is intended to form the nucleus of manufacturing for personalized therapeutics, with first investigational products expected to be manufactured in 2018. Gritstone launched in October 2015 and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with certain functions in Cambridge, MA. Gritstone Oncology develops personalized cancer immunotherapies centered on tumor-specific neo-antigens (TSNAs). The company focuses initially on discovering and developing TSNA-based therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It operates out of San Francisco, CA and Cambridge, MA. Gritstone intends to use new funding to advance discovery and development programs. Leadership includes co-founder, president and CEO Andrew Allen, M.D., Ph.D., and co-founders Tim Chan, Naiyer Rizvi, Jean-Charles Soria, Graham Lord and Mark Cobbold. The company raised a $102M Series A to support these efforts.

Participated · Series B · Aug 2016

Cleave Therapeutics is advancing therapies that target valosin-containing protein (VCP/p97) to modulate protein homeostasis and stress pathways in cancer and neurodegeneration. Its lead candidate, CB-5339, is a potent, oral, selective, second‑generation VCP/p97 inhibitor described as IND‑ready and designed to address exposure and selectivity limitations of earlier compounds. The company is initiating a Phase 1 clinical study in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The National Cancer Institute plans to sponsor a Phase 1 trial of CB-5339 in solid tumors in collaboration with Cleave. Cleave announced the closing of a $12 million equity financing to advance CB-5339 through early clinical development. The company also announced executive appointments including Amy Burroughs as CEO, Scott Harris as COO, and Laura Shawver as board chair. Cleave Biosciences develops drugs that target protein homeostasis, with a lead program CB-5083—an oral inhibitor of p97—aimed at treating a range of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. CB-5083 is being evaluated in two Phase 1 trials: CLC-101 for patients with solid tumors and CLC-102 for patients with lymphoid hematologic malignancies including multiple myeloma. The program has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA for multiple myeloma. The company intends to use the Series B proceeds to advance clinical development of CB-5083 and to support discovery efforts around its AAA ATPase platform. Laura Shawver, Ph.D., serves as CEO and the company is based in Burlingame, California. Cleave Biosciences discovers small-molecule drugs that modulate protein degradation pathways, with a lead program targeting p97, a central player in the ubiquitin–proteasome and autophagy systems. The company is led by CEO Laura Shawver, Ph.D. Cleave plans to use new capital to move its lead program into clinical trials and to advance a second discovery program. Financially, the company has been funded through venture rounds and this financing increased its Series A to $54M. In 2011 Cleave raised $44M from investors including US Venture Partners, 5AM Ventures, Clarus Ventures, OrbiMed Advisors, Astellas Venture Management and Osage University Partners. The recent financing also added New Enterprise Associates as an investor and included a board appointment. Cleave Biosciences is a newly established biopharmaceutical company based in Burlingame, California, focused on discovering and developing novel cancer therapies directed at protein homeostasis. Its current programs are small-molecule discovery and development efforts that are undergoing lead identification and optimization. The company plans to use the Series A proceeds to support multiple discovery and development programs in this area. Cleave was co-founded by Raymond Deshaies, Seth Cohen and Francesco Parlati. Its management team includes CEO Laura Shawver and President and CSO Mark Rolfe. In conjunction with the financing, several investors and company leadership will join the board.

Led · Equity · Jun 2016

Flowonix Medical focuses on advanced implantable drug-delivery solutions, centered on its Prometra II Programmable Infusion Pump System. The company said it will use the proceeds to further investment in sales and marketing infrastructure to support the continued commercial ramp of Prometra II and to expand manufacturing capacity. Flowonix received FDA approval to market the Prometra system in 2012 after conducting its first clinical trial in 2007. Founded in 2005 and led by President and CEO Larry Heaton, the company aims to improve care for patients with chronic pain via implantable drug delivery. The recent financing includes both an equity-style investment and venture term debt, reflecting a mix of capital sources. The company is headquartered in Mount Olive, New Jersey. Flowonix Medical Inc. is a medical device company focused on advanced, implantable drug-delivery solutions, centered on the Prometra Programmable Infusion Pump System. Prometra received FDA marketing approval in 2012 after clinical trials, and the company emphasizes the device's accuracy, longevity and safety for chronic pain treatment. Flowonix plans to use new capital to invest in sales and marketing infrastructure, build and mobilize sales and support teams, and pursue new product development. It also intends to broaden the addressable market to include cancer pain patients and those who fail other implantable treatments. Founded in 2005, Flowonix has offices in New Jersey and Massachusetts and holds multiple patents related to its implantable pump technology. Flowonix Medical develops implantable drug-delivery solutions, notably Prometra, an FDA-approved pump that delivers therapeutic drugs into the spine to treat chronic disorders. The company is focused primarily on alleviating chronic pain. Flowonix intends to use new capital to enter the U.S. market and to continue developing its drug delivery technologies. Founded in 2005 and based in Mt. Olive, New Jersey, the company is led by President and CEO Steve Adler. It recently received FDA approval to market Prometra, positioning the company for commercial expansion. The company raised $25M in funding to support these efforts.

Participated · Series B · Apr 2016

Lumos Pharma is an Austin, Texas-based biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics for orphan diseases. The company is led by CEO Rick Hawkins and its lead compound is LUM-001, a disease-modifying therapeutic targeting Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD). LUM-001 has been granted orphan status in the U.S. and is in preclinical development in partnership with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) through its TRND program. The NCATS collaboration has helped generate the data needed to file an investigational new drug (IND) application with the FDA, advancing LUM-001 as a clinical candidate. Lumos intends to use financing proceeds for clinical trials and commercialization of LUM-001 and for further development of other therapeutics in its pipeline. CTD is described in the article as a severely debilitating genetic disorder and the second leading cause of X-linked intellectual disability in males after Fragile X Syndrome, with severe developmental delays, behavioral abnormalities, epilepsy, and lifelong care needs. Lumos Pharma is developing LUM-001, a small-molecule therapeutic targeting the rare metabolic disorder Creatine Transporter Deficiency (CTD). In preclinical studies the compound has shown disease-modifying potential. LUM-001 has also received orphan designation from the FDA. The company will use the funds to support preclinical and clinical development of LUM-001. Lumos is led by founder, president, and CEO Rick Hawkins, with Jon Saxe, formerly of Hoffmann-LaRoche, serving as chairman. The company is based in Austin, Texas.