Led · Series A · Jul 2023

Verismo Therapeutics develops a novel KIR-CAR T cell platform designed to improve persistence and efficacy against aggressive solid tumors. Its lead asset, SynKIR-110, is a first-in-human KIR-CAR T cell therapy currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The company is also advancing SynKIR-310 in preclinical development for blood cancers. Verismo is positioned as a pioneer of dual-chain KIR-CAR technology and focuses on applications for advanced solid tumors, an area of high unmet need. The company plans to use new funding to continue the SynKIR-110 clinical trial and to support SynKIR-310 preclinical work. Verismo launched in 2020 and is based in Philadelphia, PA. Verismo Therapeutics, based in Philadelphia, is a clinical-stage company developing a KIR-CAR platform — a modified NK-like receptor engineered to improve persistence and efficacy against aggressive solid tumors. Its lead program, SynKIR-110™, is a first-in-class KIR-CAR T cell candidate for solid tumors, and the company is also developing SynKIR-310 for blood cancers. Led by CEO Dr. Bryan Kim, Verismo is on track to bring its first asset into first-in-human clinical trials in 2023. The company raised $7M in a pre-Series A financing to support continued advancement of the SynKIR-110 clinical trial and preclinical development of SynKIR-310. The financing was led by BRV Capital Management with participation from Ignite Innovation. The capital is intended to advance clinical and preclinical programs of the KIR-CAR platform in areas of high unmet medical need.

Led · Seed · Nov 2021

Valted Seq develops the HiF-Seq platform to collect single-cell and single-nuclei sequencing data from high-quality, clinically characterized post-mortem brain tissues of patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The company is building what it describes as the world’s largest transcriptomic repository from clinically characterized brain tissues to identify disease pathways, validated drug targets and biomarkers. Valted Seq also is developing minimally invasive assays to detect poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) in CSF, serum and serum-derived exosomes and to assess c-Abl pathway molecules for diagnosing Parkinson’s and related α‑synucleinopathies. Those proprietary assays are intended for high specificity and potential use in clinical trials for target engagement, patient selection and as companion diagnostics. The company intends to partner with biopharmaceutical companies to commercialize and broadly leverage the HiF-Seq dataset and assays. Valted Seq was co-founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md.; Nina Urban is serving as interim CEO.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2018

Neuraly is focused on developing disease‑modifying agents for neurodegenerative disorders, primarily Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Its lead program, NLY01, is a brain‑penetrant, long‑acting GLP‑1 receptor agonist that showed neuroprotective effects in preclinical models, including inhibition of microglial activation, prevention of neuronal death, slowed disease progression, improved motor and cognitive function, and extended lifespan in Parkinson’s models. NLY01 leverages a GLP‑1R class safety profile documented by approved diabetes treatments, and Neuraly expected to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in 2018. The company was formed in 2016 based on Johns Hopkins research and holds exclusive licenses to related patents; supporting data were published in Nature Medicine. Neuraly also reports two additional early‑stage pipeline candidates targeting complementary mechanisms. The company launched alongside a Series A financing to fund clinical development.