• Pneumagen

  Participated · Equity · Jun 2023

  Pneumagen is a clinical-stage biotech focused on Neumifil, a broad-spectrum antiviral intranasal drug for prophylaxis and treatment of viral respiratory tract infections. Neumifil is an engineered multivalent Carbohydrate Binding Molecule (mCBM) generated using Pneumagen’s GlycoTarge™ technology that binds viral pathogens to prevent entry into the lungs and reduce susceptibility to direct viral resistance. The company is advancing Neumifil through clinical development and is currently conducting a Phase 2a human challenge study in healthy participants infected with influenza, with initial results expected mid-2023. Pneumagen plans to begin a Phase 2b study in COPD patients to prevent virus-induced exacerbations in 2024. The firm is also leveraging its GlycoTarge™ platform to develop a pipeline of intranasal therapies targeting other infectious lung diseases. Pneumagen was established in 2016 as a spin-out from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Pneumagen is a clinical-stage biotech developing Neumifil, a novel engineered multivalent Carbohydrate Binding Molecule (mCBM) formulated as an intranasal therapy to prevent and treat influenza, RSV and coronaviruses including COVID-19. Neumifil was generated using Pneumagen’s proprietary GlycoTarge™ technology and acts by binding viral pathogens to block entry into the lungs and reduce susceptibility to viral resistance. The company is also leveraging the GlycoTarge™ platform to build a pipeline of intranasal therapies targeting other infectious lung diseases. Pneumagen is led by CEO Douglas Thomson and is based in St. Andrews, Scotland, UK. The company intends to use newly raised funds to advance clinical development and manufacturing of Neumifil, including progressing into Phase II and conducting an influenza controlled human challenge study run by hVIVO. Planned development work also includes further GMP manufacturing with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies and concluding extended GLP toxicology studies to support the Phase II programme. Pneumagen is a spin-out from the University of St Andrews focused on preventing and treating respiratory infections by targeting the human glycome using its GlycoTarge platform. The company engineers glycan-targeted carbohydrate-binding module domains (mCBMs) derived from bacterial glycosidases as a novel therapeutic modality. Its lead product, Neumifil (an mCBM40), is being developed as a first-in-class intranasal therapeutic for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. In preclinical models Neumifil demonstrated prevention, treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza and RSV infection. The business raised a further GBP2.5m to support clinical development of Neumifil in 2021. Douglas Thomson leads the company. Pneumagen is developing Neumifil, a therapeutic built from carbohydrate binding modules (mCBMs) produced via its proprietary GlycoTarge™ platform. Neumifil is being advanced as a universal treatment for respiratory tract infections caused by influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and coronaviruses including SARS‑CoV‑2. The company is a spin‑out from the University of St Andrews and is led by CEO Douglas Thomson. Pneumagen raised GBP £4m in a financing round to support clinical development. The company intends to use the funds specifically for clinical development of Neumifil for the prevention and treatment of COVID‑19. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article.

• Amlo Biosciences

  Participated · Equity · Apr 2022

  AMLo Biosciences is a spin-out from Newcastle University that builds a prognostic 'rule-out' test called AMBLor to identify genuinely low-risk, early-stage melanomas. The test aims to enable risk stratification and more targeted, personalised management of skin cancers, reducing unnecessary invasive surveillance and patient anxiety. The company says AMBLor can accurately identify low-risk early-stage melanomas, potentially sparing thousands of patients from invasive follow-up. AMLo has completed scientific validation and a successful pilot launch in the U.K., and is using new funds to complete essential clinical studies. The proceeds are intended to generate the evidence required for inclusion in clinical guidelines and to support launches in the U.K. and U.S. in 2022 and Australia in 2023. Leadership includes CEO and co-founder Dr Marie Labus.

• Versantis

  Participated · Series B · Sep 2019

  Versantis is a clinical-stage biotech focused on orphan drugs for serious liver diseases and pediatric inborn errors of metabolism. The company pursues therapies built on a proprietary liposome-based detoxification platform, with lead candidate VS-01 designed to enhance clearance of ammonia and other toxins. VS-01 is being evaluated in first-in-human clinical trials targeting cirrhosis (including ascites and mild hepatic encephalopathy) and has orphan designations from the EMA (acute liver failure) and FDA (ACLF). Earlier in the year Versantis initiated its first-in-human study; outcomes for VS-01 were expected mid-2020. The company says it will use the new funding mainly to assess multi-dose safety and to establish clinical proof of concept in decompensated cirrhosis and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure. Versantis is headquartered in Zurich and was founded by scientists from ETH Zurich alongside industry experts. Versantis is a Zurich-based pharmaceutical company focused on developing products for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of liver diseases. Its lead candidate, VS-01, is at the preclinical stage and aims to be the first drug for acute liver disease that simultaneously supports multiple failing organs. VS-01 targets three rare indications and has received Orphan Drug Designation in acute liver failure (ALF). The company's pipeline also includes VS-02 and VS-03, which are being developed for chronic liver diseases and for the treatment of drug intoxications. Led by CEO and co-founder Dr. Vincent Forster and COO and co-founder Dr. Meriam Kabbaj, Versantis plans to advance VS-01 into a Phase I/II clinical trial for hepatic encephalopathy in acute-on-chronic liver failure. The company raised CHF4.4M in a Series A to progress VS-01 and further develop its preclinical programs.

• UroSens

  Participated · Equity · Jun 2013

  UroSens develops proprietary urine-based ELISA and point-of-care immunoassays (notably the Mcm5-ELISA) for detection of prostate and bladder cancer under an exclusive licence from Cancer Research Technology. The Mcm5-ELISA has achieved CE mark as a research-use-only product and is compatible with established assay technologies and automated platforms. The company plans to commercialise ELISA and point-of-care urine tests for use in urology clinics, hospital labs and GP surgeries. New funding will enable a series of clinical studies involving over 1,200 patients at four UK hospitals, with study completion expected by October 2013; UroSens also has ethics approval to run similar prostate cancer trials. UroSens was established in 2007 and is based at the Babraham Research Campus (Cambridge) and the North East Business and Innovation Centre (Sunderland).

• Atox Bio

  Led · Equity · Dec 2011

  Atox Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Ness Ziona, Israel and Chapel Hill, NC, developing novel therapies for critically ill patients. The company is led by CEO Dan Teleman and is developing Reltecimod (AB103), a peptide that binds the CD28 co-stimulatory receptor to restore the host immune response to severe infections. Reltecimod is currently being studied in ACCUTE, a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections (NSTI). Atox Bio plans to advance Reltecimod into Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and intends to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study in that indication during 2018. Reltecimod has received Orphan Drug status from the FDA and EMA and holds Fast Track designation. The company raised $30M in financing to support these clinical programs. Atox Bio, based in Ness Ziona, Israel, develops immunomodulatory therapeutics for severe infections, notably AB103 for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI). AB103 is a short peptide licensed from Yissum, discovered by Prof. Raymond Kaempfer and Dr. Gila Arad, that binds the CD28 dimer interface to modulate the host inflammatory response without inhibiting it. This host-targeting approach aims to avoid rapid drug resistance and provide broad-spectrum activity independent of pathogen type. AB103 completed a Phase 2 trial showing faster resolution of organ dysfunction, fewer ICU days, reduced need for assisted ventilation, and fewer surgical debridements. The product has FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations and a positive opinion from the EMA’s COMP. The company recently secured financing to advance AB103 into late-stage clinical development beginning in the second half of 2015. Atox Bio is developing AB103, a rationally designed short peptide that acts as a CD28 modulator to regulate the host inflammatory response. AB103 is in Phase 2 clinical trials at seven leading U.S. surgical trauma centers for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI). The FDA granted AB103 orphan drug designation in October 2011. The company raised $3.25 million in an initial closing and said proceeds will be used to advance the Phase 2 study and to expand into new therapeutic categories. A second closing was planned for early 2012. Atox Bio will be included as a portfolio company of Integra Holdings, a holding company formed by Yissum.

No current team members are available.