• G1 Therapeutics

  Participated · Series C · May 2016

  G1 Therapeutics is a clinical-stage oncology company developing novel small-molecule therapies that address unmet needs in people with cancer. Its lead programs are CDK4/6 inhibitors G1T28 and G1T38. G1T28 is a potential first-in-class combination therapy currently in two proof-of-concept trials in patients with small-cell lung cancer. G1T38 is described as a potential best-in-class oral drug and was slated to begin clinical development later this month. The company completed a $47M Series C to advance clinical development of these programs and to expand its pipeline across multiple oncology indications. G1 Therapeutics is led by CEO Mark Velleca, MD, PhD, and is based in Research Triangle Park, NC. G1 Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small-molecule therapies in oncology. The company leverages a proprietary kinase drug discovery platform to advance a pipeline targeting CDK4/6 antineoplastics and bone marrow chemoprotection. Its lead program, G1T28, is a highly potent and selective CDK4/6 inhibitor currently being evaluated in Phase 1a trials in healthy volunteers. Data from the Phase 1a study will inform dose and schedule for multiple Phase 1b/2a trials in cancer patients planned to begin in 2015. The company intends to use new financing to advance G1T28 through proof of concept as both an antineoplastic agent and a chemoprotectant. G1 Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecules for cancer therapy and biodefense applications. Its lead clinical candidate is a proprietary CDK4/6 inhibitor that has been evaluated in multiple preclinical studies for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. The company intends to use newly raised capital to advance that candidate through an IND filing and into initial clinical testing. Based on a pre-IND meeting with the FDA, G1 expected to file its IND by summer 2014 and to initiate clinical testing before the end of 2014. G1 was founded by Dr. Ned Sharpless and Dr. Kwok Wong and is led by Executive Chair Christy Shaffer.

• Livongo

  Participated · Series C · Apr 2016

  Livongo Health is a Mountain View, California-based consumer digital health company that offers Livongo for Diabetes and Livongo for Hypertension. Led by CEO Glen Tullman, the company combines consumer health technology, personalized recommendations, and real-time support to drive behavior change at the point of impact. Powered by advanced data science, Livongo creates personalized experiences so members receive the right information, tools, and support at the right time. The company announced a $105M funding round and will use the proceeds to accelerate growth, continue investing in data science, deepen integration with clients and partners, and develop its comprehensive consumer platform. Livongo also announced a strategic partnership with Cambia Health Solutions to improve member health beginning with diabetes, and to co-develop and market new offerings. In conjunction with the financing, Kinnevik’s Senior Investment Director Chris Bischoff is joining Livongo’s board of directors. Livongo Health offers a cellular-connected blood glucose monitor coupled with monitoring and coaching services that intervene when readings fall outside normal bounds. Readings are sent to Livongo’s monitoring service, which issues recommendations or connects users to a specialist for high or low values. The company emphasizes rapid human response—aiming to reach users within 90 seconds—and lowers usage barriers by providing free test strips and persistent data storage. Livongo works with self-insured employers and pharmacy benefit providers to distribute its product to patients. Management says the company, a little more than three years old, has demonstrated potential payer savings of up to $100 per member per month. Future plans include international expansion and broadening the platform to manage other chronic conditions such as hypertension and depression. Operational metrics cited include a coach-to-member ratio of roughly one coach per 2,500 members and the need to scale educator staffing as membership grows. Livongo Health offers a diabetes management platform that combines a cellular two-way interactive glucose meter, a smart cloud for personalized analytics, and certified diabetes educators to provide real-time, contextual support. The company pairs technology, data science, and coaching to drive clinical improvement, member satisfaction, and cost savings for payers and employers. Livongo reports rapid adoption among self-insured employers, payers, and healthcare providers and is expanding nationally with existing clients such as Lowe’s. The platform is consumer-directed and designed to integrate patients’ care teams including family and medical professionals. The company intends to use new capital to support growth, accelerate the launch of new products and services, and expand into new market segments. Founded in September 2014 by CEO Glen Tullman, Livongo Health offers a digital chronic disease management platform that began with a diabetes program called Livongo for Diabetes. The company supplies users with a blood glucose smartmeter that uploads biometric data to a cloud-based inference engine using historical data, clinical rules and predictive modeling to generate actionable information. Livongo’s product lets members inform family and care teams in real time and is targeted at people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The company has signed agreements to provide its program to employees of self-insured employers including Office Depot, Iron Mountain and multiple Fortune 100 companies. Livongo plans to further develop its chronic disease management ecosystem and accelerate adoption of its diabetes program among self-insured employers, healthcare providers and payers. The article notes a $20M Series B financing to support these efforts. Livongo Health builds digital health tools and services to help people with chronic conditions access technology, real-time personalized information, and support from a chosen care team. The company is initially focusing on diabetes and offers an FDA-cleared two-way interactive glucometer, unlimited monitoring supplies, cloud-based analytics, and real-time monitoring and support. Led by Glen Tullman, Livongo has partnerships with HealthCare Partners and self-funded employers including Office Depot. The company is based in Palo Alto and also has operations in Chicago. Livongo expects a number of additional strategic partnerships to be announced in the coming months. Financially, the company recently closed a named financing round (see deal details).

• True North Therapeutics

  Participated · Series C · Dec 2015

  True North Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in South San Francisco developing products that selectively inhibit the Complement system to treat certain rare diseases. Its lead product candidate, TNT009, is designed to selectively inhibit a target in the Classical Complement pathway. The company intends to use proceeds from its recent financing to accelerate further development of TNT009 for Cold Agglutinin Disease (CAD) and other rare Complement-mediated diseases. CAD is a rare autoimmune disease involving destruction of red blood cells that can cause anemia, fatigue and potentially fatal thromboses; there are currently no approved pharmaceutical products for CAD in the U.S. or Europe. TNT009 received Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. FDA for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, including CAD, adding to a designation from the European Medicines Agency received in February 2016. The company is led by CEO Nancy Stagliano and completed a $45M Series D equity financing to fund its development plans. True North Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody therapies that selectively inhibit the Complement system to treat rare diseases. Its lead program, TNT009, is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that targets C1s to selectively block the Classical Complement pathway. The company is positioning TNT009 for Cold Agglutinin Disease (CAD) and other complement-mediated indications across hematology, transplantation, and dermatology. True North initiated a Phase 1a clinical study with TNT009 earlier in 2015 and plans to begin a Phase 1b clinical study later this month. Proceeds from the recent financing will be used to advance TNT009 through potential registration-enabling studies for CAD and to progress additional complement inhibitors in its pipeline. True North is based in South San Francisco, California. True North Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing a pipeline of novel therapies that selectively target the Complement pathway to address rare and antibody-driven diseases. Its lead candidate, TNT009, is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits C1s to selectively block the Classical Complement pathway while preserving the Alternative and Lectin pathways. The company plans a broad clinical program for TNT009, initiating a Phase 1a study in Q2 2015 and a Phase 1b program later in the year in indications including antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant and Cold Agglutinin Disease. Proceeds from a completed $35 million Series B equity financing will fund completion of clinical studies for TNT009 and advancement of a second preclinical drug candidate into clinical development. True North positions itself as the first company to selectively target Classical Complement pathway blockade across hematologic, kidney transplant, and skin therapeutic areas. The company is located in South San Francisco, California. True North Therapeutics is developing TNT009, a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits C1s in the Classical Complement pathway. Preclinical studies showed ex vivo efficacy for TNT009. The company is focused on Complement-mediated rare diseases across hematologic, renal (including kidney transplant), neurological and dermatology areas. True North plans to advance TNT009 into clinical development with the initiation of first human trials planned for early 2015. The Series A financing will fund completion of Phase 1a and Phase 1b studies, including evaluation of patients with autoantibody-driven rare diseases mediated by the Complement system. True North was spun out from iPierian and is based in South San Francisco, California.

• Audentes Therapeutics

  Participated · Series C · Oct 2015

  Audentes Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing AAV gene therapy products for patients with serious, rare diseases. The company has three lead programs: AT001 for X‑Linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM), AT002 for Pompe disease, and AT003 for the CASQ2 subtype of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CASQ2‑CPVT). Audentes says its team is experienced and committed to building strong relationships with patient, research, and medical communities. The company closed an oversubscribed $65 million Series C financing to fund its near‑term plans. Proceeds will be used primarily to advance the three lead programs to key clinical milestones and to establish internal GMP manufacturing capabilities. Cowen and Company served as exclusive placement agent for the financing. Audentes Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing and commercializing gene therapy products for patients with serious, rare diseases. Its two lead programs are AT001 for X‑Linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM) and AT002 for Pompe Disease, both based on AAV gene therapy technology. The company says the new funding will allow it to achieve key clinical development milestones for these programs and to continue research and in‑licensing efforts to expand its pipeline. Audentes completed a $42.5 million Series B financing and previously closed a $30 million Series A in July 2013. The Series B attracted participation from Deerfield Management, Sofinnova Ventures, Venrock, OrbiMed, 5AM Ventures, and Versant Ventures. Audentes emphasizes strong relationships with patient, research, and medical communities and aims to be a global leader in gene therapy. Audentes Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments for rare muscle diseases using adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy. Its two lead programs are AT001 for X-linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM) and AT002 for Pompe disease. The company says the financing will allow it to further advance those programs and evaluate additional candidate programs. Audentes was founded in November 2012 by Matthew R. Patterson in collaboration with Thomas J. Schuetz and OrbiMed Advisors and is headquartered in San Francisco. Matthew R. Patterson serves as President and CEO and the company emphasizes relationships with patient, research, and medical communities. The organization positions a focused team committed to advancing gene-therapy approaches for serious orphan muscle diseases.

• Corvus Pharmaceuticals

  Participated · Series B · Sep 2015

  Corvus Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small molecule and antibody agents that target the immune system to treat patients with cancer. Its programs aim to block or modify crucial immune checkpoints and reprogram T cells. The company has an oral small molecule checkpoint inhibitor advancing toward clinic, with a Phase 1B trial scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2016 and an expansion cohort to test the inhibitor alone and in combination with another checkpoint inhibitor in several cancer types. Corvus plans to use proceeds from the financing to expand its research and development programs across multiple immuno-oncology assets and to initiate a multicenter Phase 1B trial. The company completed a $75 million Series B financing. It is based in Burlingame, California.

No current team members are available.