Participated · Series B · Aug 2021

DiA Imaging Analysis, based in Beer Sheva, Israel, provides FDA-cleared and CE-marked AI-based ultrasound solutions that help clinicians capture the right images and automatically identify clinical abnormalities. Its vendor-neutral, cross-platform LVivo Toolbox is deployed on ultrasound devices and healthcare IT systems and currently serves thousands of end-users in more than 20 countries. The company announced an additional $14M in funding and plans to use the proceeds to expand its portfolio of solutions and grow its global presence in Asia, Europe and the U.S. It intends to pursue new and expanded partnerships with ultrasound vendors, PACS/Healthcare IT companies, resellers, and distributors. DiA has established channel and commercial partnerships with major healthcare technology providers and distributors including IBM Watson, Philips, GE Healthcare, and Konica Minolta. The company also added Dr. Diku Mandavia to its Board of Directors as an industry board member. DiA Imaging Analysis develops FDA- and CE-cleared cognitive image-processing software that provides fully automated ultrasound analysis, with its first product line focused on echocardiography. Its tools use advanced pattern recognition and machine-learning algorithms to automatically detect borders and motion and produce quantitative data for clinicians. The company integrates its software within ultrasound devices, healthcare IT systems and cloud platforms through partnerships with vendors including GE Healthcare, Neusoft Medical System and Google Cloud. DiA has reference sites at leading U.S. medical centers including Yale, Mount Sinai, RUSH, USF and UCSD, and its scientific advisory board is supported by cardiology and primary care ultrasound specialists. Founded by Hila Goldman Aslan (CEO), Michal Yaacobi (VP R&D) and Arnon Toussia-Cohen (VP BD), the Be'er Sheva–based company plans to expand its portfolio and build support teams in the United States, Europe and Asia. DiA closed a $5M funding round to support market penetration of its automated tools and further product development. DiACardio, founded in 2010 and based in Beer Sheva’s Hi-Tech Park, develops FDA- and CE-approved software that automatically evaluates heart function from ultrasound images. The company leverages new image-processing methods and proprietary algorithms to provide automated cardiac evaluation. DiACardio has 10 employees and has already obtained initial sales. It raised $1.95M in a post-seed financing to support growth. The company plans to use the funds to expand its automated toolbox to other areas of the heart and to grow its business in the US, Europe and emerging markets. The founding team includes Arnon Toussia-Cohen, Hila Goldman-Aslan, Michal Yaacobi, Dr. Noah Liel-Cohen and Prof. Hugo Guterman.

Participated · Series B · Mar 2021

Acepodia develops a pipeline of antibody cell effector (ACE) therapies using its Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) platform to link tumor-targeting antibodies to immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells and gamma delta T cells. The company’s ACC approach creates off-the-shelf cell therapies that combine targeted monoclonal antibodies with cancer-killing immune cells, avoiding viral vector gene transduction or genetic engineering used in CAR-based therapies. Acepodia aims to increase binding strength against tumors that express low levels of tumor antigens and to address high unmet needs across solid tumors and hematologic cancers. The company plans to further validate its ACC technology and advance its ACE therapy pipeline through additional research and development programs. Acepodia also intends to continue clinical trial expansion in the U.S. in the coming years. Financially, Acepodia has raised a total of $166 million to date, including a $47 million Series B completed in March 2021 and the recently announced Series C. Acepodia develops next-generation off-the-shelf allogeneic natural killer (NK) and NK-like gamma delta T cell therapies, leveraging a proprietary oNK cell line and Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) technology. Its lead product, ACE1702, is an antibody-conjugated NK cell therapy currently in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for HER2-expressing solid tumors at multiple U.S. cancer centers. The company uses ACC to conjugate validated anti-tumor antibodies to cell surfaces to enhance tumor engagement and targeting. Acepodia plans to advance ACE1702 through clinical development and to move its preclinical NK and gamma delta T cell candidates into the clinic. The company anticipated completing IND-enabling studies for two additional pipeline products in 2021. A recent $47 million Series B financing will fund these clinical and IND-enabling activities.

Participated · Series C · Oct 2020

AZTherapies is an advanced clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel small molecules and biologic therapies intended to change neurodegenerative disease progression. Its lead candidate, ALZT-OP1, employs a multi-modal approach that targets neuroinflammation; the Phase 3 COGNITE trial in early Alzheimer’s disease is fully enrolled. The company expected trial completion in late 2020 with results anticipated in the first quarter of 2021. After the lead program, AZTherapies is advancing candidates for ALS and post-ischemic stroke cognitive impairment and is pursuing an innovative CAR-Treg program with potential broad application across neurodegenerative diseases. On the financing side, the company recently closed a $33.6M Series C-1 financing and earlier this year received $11.2M from a Series C Preferred Stock financing that raised aggregate gross proceeds of $37.5M. The company is led by Chairman and CEO David R. Elmaleh, Ph.D. AZTherapies' lead candidate is ALZT-OP1, a multi-modal therapy built on targeting neuroinflammation and microglia to slow or stop neurodegeneration. The company has a fully enrolled pivotal Phase 3 trial, COGNITE, being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. FDA. Proceeds from the recent financing are intended to fund completion of COGNITE and ALZT-OP1 pre-commercial efforts. AZTherapies is also advancing a broader pipeline, including AZT-101, which the company plans to move into a Phase 2 trial for post-ischemic stroke cognitive impairment and a Phase 1/2a trial in ALS. The company is privately held and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Management highlighted the financing will support completing the Phase 3 trial by the end of 2020 and continued pipeline advancement.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2020

Aegle Therapeutics Corporation is an Arlington and Miami-based biotechnology company developing extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, secreted by mesenchymal stem cells as therapies for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and other severe dermatological conditions. Led by CEO Shelley Hartman, the company is developing AGLE-102 and anticipates entering the clinic with AGLE-102 in early 2021. Aegle completed a $6.5M Series A financing to advance its development programs. The company's core product approach centers on leveraging stem-cell–derived extracellular vesicles as therapeutic agents. Aegle also announced the appointment of Heidi Kempinski as Senior Vice President, Head of Operations; she brings over 25 years of global drug development experience, including roles at GSK and as an initial TESARO management team member.

Led · Seed · Jun 2020

InformAI builds artificial intelligence and deep learning algorithms for health care applications, with a particular product called the Sinus Image Classifier. The company is developing a suite of seven AI applications that include reading 3D images, optimizing organ-transplant matches, and analyzing surgical risk profiles. Since its inception in 2017, InformAI has been positioning products for regulatory approval and is working through U.S. Food and Drug Administration review for its first product. Management expects FDA approval by the end of the year and a CE Mark in Europe by August to begin sales there. InformAI has been piloting and honing its products within Texas Medical Center institutions and will move into the TMCxi space and maintain a presence in Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS@TMC. The company closed a $1.8 million funding round to advance regulatory work and reach commercial launch milestones.