Participated · Seed · May 2026

Violet Therapeutics uses its proprietary CONNECT platform to map cellular interaction networks at scale and identify novel therapeutic targets implicated in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Its lead program is a small-molecule candidate targeting EphB3, a receptor tyrosine kinase implicated in microglia–astrocyte signaling and synaptic loss. The company is preclinical-stage and plans IND-enabling studies for the EphB3 program, funded in part by the recently closed $4.75M seed extension. Violet was founded by Mass General Brigham Ventures with researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is based in Cambridge, MA. The company aims to build a pipeline of first-in-class CNS therapies that prevent synapse loss and restore synaptic function across neurodegenerative diseases.

Participated · Series C · May 2026

Cerevance uses a proprietary Nuclear Enriched Transcript Sort sequencing (NETSseq) platform to identify drug targets expressed in specific human brain cell types. Its lead investigational candidate, solengepras (CVN424), is a once-daily oral therapy being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 3 ARISE trial, which is fully enrolled with 341 patients. ARISE is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing solengepras as an adjunctive therapy in patients with motor fluctuations; topline data are expected at the end of Q3 2026. The company also is developing CVN293, a selective oral inhibitor targeting THIK1 (KCNK13). Cerevance announced an oversubscribed $20 million Series C to fund operations through the ARISE readout and to advance its pipeline, extending runway into mid-2027. The company is clinical-stage and based in Boston.

Participated · Series A · May 2025

Therini Bio is a clinical-stage biotech based in Sacramento, California developing fibrin-targeting immunotherapies for neurodegenerative diseases driven by vascular dysfunction. Led by CEO Tara Nickerson, Ph.D., the company’s lead candidate, THN391, is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively block fibrin-mediated neuroinflammation without affecting coagulation pathways. THN391 demonstrated activity in preclinical studies preventing vascular and neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease and retinal disease models. In a Phase 1a trial in healthy volunteers, THN391 was well-tolerated, showed no adverse hematological effects or impact on coagulation and fibrinolysis, lacked an anti-drug antibody response, and had dose-proportional pharmacokinetics with a half-life supporting monthly dosing. The company plans to use proceeds to fund Phase 1b trials of THN391 in Alzheimer’s Disease and diabetic macular edema and to support development of a fibrin/VEGF bispecific. Financially, Therini raised an additional $39M in a Series A extension, increasing its Series A total to $75M. Therini Bio develops therapeutic candidates that selectively target the inflammatory component of fibrin to treat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, and retinal diseases including diabetic macular edema. Its lead program is a humanized monoclonal antibody, THN391, which binds the inflammation-driving region of fibrin and—based on preclinical studies—does not impair fibrin’s role in blood clotting. The company plans to advance THN391 into clinical trials and expects to announce key safety and proof-of-mechanism clinical data by the end of 2024. Therini’s pipeline aims to provide first-in-class approaches to reduce fibrin-mediated inflammation and inhibit microglial activation in the brain. The foundational science was licensed from Katerina Akassoglou’s laboratories at the Gladstone Institutes at UCSF (and formerly UCSD). Financially, the company has raised capital including a $36M Series A and holds a NIH NIA non-dilutive grant awarded in 2021 to support its Alzheimer’s program through 2024. Therini Bio is a South San Francisco–based vascular biology company focused on discovering and developing therapeutics that target fibrin. Its lead program is a monoclonal antibody against fibrin, which the company plans to advance toward the clinic for patients with inflammatory conditions associated with vascular damage. The company was co‑founded by Dr. Katerina Akassoglou and Dan Burgess, who serves as President and CEO, and is a spin‑out from the Gladstone Institutes based on technology from Dr. Akassoglou's laboratory. Therini previously announced initial seed funding of $9.35M in 2020 led by the Dementia Discovery Fund, Dolby Family Ventures and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. It has also received support from the Fast Forward program of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Proceeds from the latest financing will be used to accelerate development of the lead program toward clinical testing. MedaRed is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing therapeutics that target fibrin. The company was founded upon the work of Dr. Katerina Akassoglou of Gladstone Institutes and UCSF, who discovered molecules that reduce neuroinflammation and subsequent neuronal damage. MedaRed intends to develop those molecules into fibrin-targeting therapeutics for diseases with significant unmet clinical need. Its initial therapeutic focus is on Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Leadership includes acting CEO Daniel Burgess and Chief Scientific Officer Jeffrey Stavenhagen, who brings two decades of scientific leadership in biologics development. The company recently completed seed financing to support its preclinical development and advancement of its candidates.

Participated · Series B · Feb 2024

Sudo Biosciences designs and develops next-generation TYK2 inhibitors, including a brain-penetrant CNS candidate and a topical candidate for dermatologic diseases. Its CNS program targets relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative conditions with neuroinflammation such as Alzheimer’s and ALS. The topical program targets psoriasis and other immune-mediated dermatologic diseases. Both candidates are anticipated to enter clinical trials in 2024. Sudo is based in Carmel, Indiana, with operations across the US and UK. Since its founding in 2020 the company has raised $188 million in total financing. Sudo Biosciences is focused on designing and developing a pipeline of best-in-class precision TYK2 inhibitors. Founded in 2020 and based in Menlo Park, CA, with operations in Indianapolis and London, the company's lead programs target the TYK2 pseudokinase domain. TYK2 is a key mediator in cytokine signaling linked to immune-mediated inflammatory conditions, and inhibition has shown benefit in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus. Sudo has developed four distinct TYK2 pseudokinase programs intended to be best-in-class and aims to explore utility across a broader range of autoimmune disorders such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and multiple sclerosis. The company announced a $37M Series A financing that will be used primarily to advance its lead drug candidates into the clinic. Leadership and investors, including Frazier Life Sciences and Velosity Capital, have provided strategic and financial support during the company's early development.

Participated · Series A · Oct 2023

AstronauTx is a biotechnology company developing small-molecule drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The company raised £48M ($61M) in Series A financing to advance its programmes. It intends to use the funds to progress its portfolio, including a clinical study in patients with Alzheimer's for its lead programme. AstronauTx was created in 2019 by Dr Ruth McKernan and Dr David Reynolds and is based in London, UK. In July 2023 it partnered with Danish biotech Saniona to identify new treatments by modulating a novel ion channel target, expanding its pipeline. In September 2023 the company was awarded an Innovate UK grant to fund preclinical work on one of its programmes.