The Venture Codex

Participated · Series B · Feb 2026

Kainova Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on modulating G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to improve patient outcomes in immuno-oncology and inflammation. The company’s lead program is a clinical-stage, Treg-depleting anti-CCR8 antibody that management says offers differentiated competitive features. A second program, currently at the pre-IND stage, is a first-in-class biased antagonist of PAR2 aimed at inflammatory pathways. By advancing these assets, Kainova seeks to build a diversified pipeline of GPCR-targeting therapies that can address multiple high-value indications. The firm operates across North America, France, and Australia, leveraging global clinical infrastructure. Proceeds from its recent Series B financing will be used to move its GPCR programs further into clinical development. No revenue, patient enrollment, or other operating metrics were disclosed, reflecting its pre-commercial status.

Participated · Series A · Jan 2026

Find Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing novel therapies for demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic Optic Neuropathy. Its lead candidate, tasronetide (formerly FTX-101), is a first-in-class peptide that targets the NRP1/Plexin-A1 receptor complex to promote natural remyelination and neuroprotection. Preclinical studies have shown robust myelin repair, and a completed Phase I trial in healthy subjects demonstrated that tasronetide is safe and well tolerated. The company is preparing for a Phase 1b PET imaging study in MS patients and broader Phase 2-readiness activities. Find Therapeutics licenses its core technology from scientific founder Dr. Dominique Bagnard at the University of Strasbourg and is supported by investors CTI Life Sciences, Investissement Québec, and adMare BioInnovations. The recent CAD$10 million Series A extension strengthens its balance sheet to finance upcoming clinical milestones and corporate growth. Dr. Thierry Abribat, a seasoned biotech entrepreneur, has been appointed Executive Chairman to guide strategic development.

Led · Series B · Dec 2025

Aeovian Pharmaceuticals is focused on restoring cellular metabolic quality control through highly selective inhibition of mTORC1 or CD38. Its lead candidate, AV078, is a first-in-class, CNS-penetrant selective mTORC1 inhibitor engineered to bypass the toxicities seen with non-selective mTOR blockers such as everolimus. Following encouraging Phase 1 data, AV078 is being advanced into a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial for patients with TSC-related refractory epilepsy, a condition that affects roughly one million people worldwide and remains resistant to therapy in about two-thirds of cases. The company’s wholly owned pipeline aims to expand selective mTORC1 inhibition to additional rare and age-related indications. Proceeds from its recent financing will support the Phase 2 study and further pipeline development. Aeovian operates out of Berkeley, California and remains privately held; no revenue or user metrics were disclosed in the article.

Led · Series C · Apr 2025

Glycomine is a clinical-stage biotech based in San Carlos, California, focused on developing transformative therapies for rare orphan diseases. Its lead candidate, GLM101, is a first-in-class mannose-1-phosphate replacement therapy designed to deliver mannose-1-phosphate into cells and bypass disease-causing PMM2 mutations to restore N-glycosylation. GLM101 has received Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and E.U., and Rare Pediatric Disease and Fast Track designations in the U.S. The company has enrolled more than 20 patients across Europe and the U.S. in an ongoing Phase 2 open-label study and has initiated dosing in pediatric patients. Data from the Phase 2 open-label study showed an average 11.9-point improvement on the ICARS among nine adult and adolescent patients over 24 weeks, providing clinical proof of concept for improvement in ataxia. Glycomine recently announced a $115 million Series C financing to support advancing GLM101 into a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2b safety and efficacy study later this year. Glycomine is a biotechnology company based in San Carlos, California, developing therapies for orphan diseases. Its lead candidate, GLM101, is a mannose-1-phosphate substrate replacement therapy designed to deliver mannose-1-phosphate intracellularly to bypass PMM2 enzyme deficiency and restore N-glycosylation. Preclinical studies have shown GLM101 can restore disrupted glycosylation pathways in PMM2-CDG. GLM101 has received Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation in the U.S. Glycomine plans to use the Series B proceeds to advance GLM101 into initial clinical trials and confirm clinical potential across PMM2-CDG genotypes. The company focuses on replacement therapies targeted to clinically relevant cellular compartments for rare metabolic and protein-misfolding disorders. Glycomine focuses on developing orphan drugs for serious rare monogenic disorders of metabolism and protein misfolding. The company’s approach combines replacement therapies—substrates, enzymes, or proteins—with delivery vehicles made of bio-nanomaterials or ligands to target molecules to the cell interior of relevant organs. Glycomine intends to use the new capital to advance its substrate replacement therapy for PMM2‑CDG (CDG‑1a) into early-stage clinical studies. The company raised $33m in a Series B financing led by Novo Holdings A/S. In connection with the financing, Peter McWilliams, Ph.D., moved from acting CEO to full-time CEO. Kenneth Harrison, Ph.D., of Novo Ventures and Chris Starr, Ph.D., joined the company’s board. Glycomine is a San Francisco, CA–based biotechnology company developing a new generation of replacement therapies for rare monogenic disorders of metabolism and protein misfolding. Its approach combines replacement therapies—substrates, enzymes, or proteins—with intracellular delivery vehicles consisting of bio‑nanomaterials or targeting ligands to deliver molecules into clinically relevant organs. The company is led by CEO Agnes Rafalko, PhD, with Christopher Starr, PhD serving as Executive Chairman. Glycomine raised $12m in a Series A financing to advance its pipeline. The company intends to use the funds to complete IND‑enabling preclinical studies and initiate clinical studies of a substrate replacement therapy in patients with Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation Type Ia (CDG‑Ia). Proceeds will also be used to accelerate discovery efforts toward an enzyme replacement therapy for N‑glycanase deficiency (Ngly1).

Participated · Series A · Oct 2024

Epitopea develops accessible, off-the-shelf RNA-based immunotherapies that target a new class of broadly shared tumor-specific antigens termed Cryptigen™ TSAs. The company discovers Cryptigen™ TSAs using its proprietary CryptoMap™ platform, which leverages immunopeptidomics, genomics and a bioinformatics pipeline to identify aberrantly expressed tumour-specific antigens hidden in cancer’s ‘junk’ DNA. Its Cryptigen™ antigens were first discovered through research led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the Université de Montréal. Epitopea intends to use the new funding to support strategic development and the clinical entry of its lead Cryptigen immunotherapeutics. Led by CEO Dr. Alan C. Rigby, the company operates sister entities in Cambridge, UK and Montreal, Canada. To date, Epitopea has raised more than USD $45M in financing. Epitopea, based in Cambridge, UK and Montreal, Canada, develops accessible off-the-shelf RNA-based immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers. The company focuses on a new class of untapped antigens—CryptigenTM TSAs—identified by its proprietary CryptoMapTM platform, which leverages immunopeptidomics, genomics, and a bioinformatics pipeline. CryptoMap discovers aberrantly-expressed tumor-specific antigens (aeTSAs) hidden within cancer’s 'junk' DNA; these hidden CryptigenTM TSAs were first discovered through research led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at the Université de Montréal. Epitopea is developing both therapeutic vaccines and T cell receptor-based therapies targeting antigens differentially presented by stromal cells. Led by CEO Dr. Alan C. Rigby, the company recently received a £500K non-dilutive grant from Innovate UK’s Cancer Therapeutics programme to support this research. The funding is intended to advance vaccines and TCR-based approaches against antigens that are broadly shared across multiple patients with the same tumor type. Epitopea is a Cambridge, UK and Montreal, Canada‑based biotechnology company developing cancer immunotherapies that target a newly described class of tumour‑specific antigens called Cryptigen™ TSAs. The company discovers these conserved, aberrantly expressed antigens using a proprietary approach combining immunopetidomics, mass spectrometry, genomics, and bioinformatics. Epitopea plans to translate these discoveries into novel cancer immunotherapeutics, including therapeutic vaccines, cell therapies, and TCR‑based biologics. The hidden Cryptigen™ TSAs were identified in research led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer at Université de Montréal. Led by CEO Dr. Jon Moore (also an Operating Partner at Advent Life Sciences), the company intends to use new funding to build its executive team and advance further research and translational programs. Financially, Epitopea completed a seed financing to support these R&D and team‑building activities.