Led · Series A · Oct 2024

Horizon Surgical Systems develops Polaris, an assistive microsurgical robotics platform that combines state-of-the-art robotics, advanced medical imaging, and AI to extend surgeons' capabilities in eye surgery. The company positions Polaris to improve consistency, speed, and outcomes while enhancing access to care through augmented visualization and precision robotic control. Proceeds from its $30M Series A will advance Polaris development, fund progression to first-in-human studies, and support team expansion. Horizon emphasizes automated, AI-enabled robotics to push the boundaries of surgical precision in ophthalmology. The company was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from UCLA and is based in Malibu, California.

Participated · Series C · Mar 2023

ONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics to protect and improve vision in patients with retinal disease, specifically geographic atrophy (GA) associated with dry AMD. The firm targets a mechanism of action that prevents Fas-mediated death of retinal cells and inflammatory signaling pathways, which it cites as root causes of vision loss. Its lead candidate, ONL1204 Ophthalmic Solution, showed reductions in the rate of growth of GA lesions in a Phase 1b trial after six months with either a single injection or two injections 90 days apart versus sham. A consistent treatment effect was observed when comparing treated eyes to fellow eyes. The company is led by CEO David Esposito and co-founder and chief scientific officer David Zacks, M.D., Ph.D. ONL plans to use the new financing to expand development efforts and further advance its differentiated clinical program in GA. ONL Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, developing first-in-class therapeutics to protect retinal cells from Fas-mediated cell death. Its lead asset, ONL1204 Ophthalmic Solution, is a novel small-molecule Fas inhibitor intended to protect photoreceptors and other retinal cells across a range of retinal diseases. ONL1204 has an active IND and has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). The company is preparing to initiate a U.S.-based Phase 2 study in macula-off RRD next quarter and is conducting two ongoing Phase 1b studies in geographic atrophy (GA) associated with AMD and in progressing open-angle glaucoma (OAG) at sites in Australia and New Zealand. Preclinical work is ongoing to enable trials in other indications, including inherited retinal degeneration. The recently announced financing will support advancement of ONL1204 into Phase 2 and regulatory preparations for additional Phase 2 programs in GA and OAG. ONL Therapeutics, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is developing novel therapies to protect vision in patients with retinal disease. Its lead compound, ONL1204, is a novel small-molecule Fas inhibitor designed to protect key retinal cells, including photoreceptors, from Fas-mediated cell death. The company is building a platform of products intended for a range of blinding diseases, including retinal detachment, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and inherited retinal degeneration (IRD). ONL1204 has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. FDA for retinal detachment, and the company has focused initial clinical plans on the acute indication of retinal detachment while pursuing preclinical work for chronic indications. Planned clinical activity includes completing a Phase 1 study in retinal detachment and initiating Phase 1b studies in open-angle glaucoma and dry AMD, plus a repeat-dose toxicology study to support accelerated chronic dosing. The company is led by CEO David Esposito and co-founder/CSO David Zacks, M.D., Ph.D. ONL Therapeutics is developing a platform of Fas inhibitors intended to protect key retinal cells and preserve vision across a range of retinal diseases. Its lead compound, ONL1204, is a novel, first-in-class small-molecule Fas inhibitor designed to protect photoreceptors and other retinal cells from cell death. ONL1204 has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of retinal detachment. The company is preparing ONL1204 for a Phase I study in retinal detachment to be conducted in Australia later in 2019. ONL is pursuing a Series B to continue funding clinical development and to expand its Fas inhibitor pipeline into indications including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and inherited retinal degeneration. Financially, ONL recently raised $3 million in a convertible note from a mix of current investors, management, and new investors to advance its clinical program. ONL Therapeutics is developing ONL1204, a novel first‑in‑class small‑molecule Fas inhibitor designed to prevent retinal cell death via direct and inflammatory signaling. The company is initially advancing ONL1204 toward clinical trials for retinal detachment, where the compound has received U.S. FDA orphan drug designation. Preclinical data and literature cited by the company support potential application of ONL1204 in glaucoma, wet and dry age‑related macular degeneration (AMD), non‑infectious uveitis and other retinal neuropathies. ONL closed a $4.25 million Series A and combined those proceeds with a recently announced $1.0 million grant from the National Eye Institute to finalize preclinical development. The financing also included conversion of a previously announced $1.0 million bridge loan. Funds will be used to complete preclinical work, prepare for first‑in‑human trials, and broaden research into other ocular indications with significant unmet need.

Participated · Series A · Nov 2022

Re-Vana Therapeutics develops proprietary photo-crosslinked, biodegradable sustained-release ophthalmic drug-delivery technologies, including EyeLief®, EyeLief-SD™ and OcuLief®. The company aims to reduce the frequency of intravitreal injections for a range of retinal diseases, including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Re-Vana intends to use recent financing to advance development of its drug-delivery platforms and to expand operations and development teams. Founded in 2016 as a spin-out from Queen's University Belfast, the company is headquartered in Belfast with a U.S. office in Tampa, Florida. Its technology may enable a broader set of sustained-release products across multiple therapeutic areas. The company strengthened its board in conjunction with the financing, appointing Robert Avery, M.D., of Visionary Ventures and InFocus Capital Partners as a board member and naming Michael O’Rourke as board chair. Re-Vana closed a Series A round totaling $11.9M to support these plans. Re-Vana Therapeutics is developing proprietary photocrosslinked EyeLief™ and OcuLief™ biodegradable technologies to deliver biologic and small-molecule therapeutics for retinal and other ocular diseases. The platform has demonstrated at least four months sustained release of an anti-VEGF drug with greater than 50% drug loading and targets 4–6 months delivery for large-molecule biologics and 6–9 months for small molecules. Proceeds from recent financing will advance proof-of-concept and preclinical development and enable expansion of the company’s research and development team. Re-Vana also holds rights to a novel nanoparticle polymer–based drug delivery technology for ophthalmic applications. The company was founded in 2016 as a spin-out from Queen’s University Belfast and maintains its main office in Belfast with a U.S. office in Tampa, Florida. Re-Vana has previously received Innovate U.K. funding (more than $400K) and entered a 2020 strategic feasibility collaboration with a global pharmaceutical company.

Participated · Series B · Oct 2022

Valitor leverages a Multivalent Polymer technology platform originating at U.C. Berkeley to create macromolecular therapeutics by combining multiple copies of bioactive molecules on individual biopolymer chains. The platform is designed to optimize pharmacokinetics, target engagement, tissue localization, therapeutic durability, and safety for challenging bioactives and indications. The company’s lead program is a novel anti-VEGF antibody for wet AMD that is positioned to enable twice-yearly treatment and is entering IND-enabling studies. Valitor intends to apply its technology broadly across ophthalmology and vision-threatening diseases to improve patient outcomes. The company is led by CEO Steven Lo, President & CSO Wesley Jackson, CDO William (Sandy) White, and founders Kevin Healy, Ph.D., and David Schaffer, Ph.D. Valitor recently closed a $28M Series B to support its development programs.

Participated · Series B · Mar 2021

DTx Pharma develops novel RNA-based therapeutics using a proprietary delivery platform that employs fatty acids as targeting ligands to enable oligonucleotide delivery to tissues and cell types throughout the body. Its FALCON fatty acid motifs are intended to improve cellular uptake and targeting of oligonucleotide therapies. In preclinical studies the company has demonstrated cellular uptake and broad activity of oligonucleotides in the retina, muscle, heart, neurons, T cells, and other specialized cell types. Led by CEO Arthur T. Suckow, Ph.D., and COO Denise Bevers, the company plans to advance assets into clinical development across several therapeutic areas over the next few years. The company is based in San Diego, CA. DTx Pharma is developing a fatty-acid–mediated platform to deliver siRNA and other RNA-based treatments into cells. The company’s approach uses fatty acids to exploit cell membrane receptors and carry genetic material into cells like a Trojan horse. Founded in 2017 by Arthur Suckow with former Regulus colleagues John Grundy and Adam Pavlicek, the team aims to address the major delivery hurdle for RNA medicines. CEO and CSO Arthur Suckow leads technology development; Jeffrey Friedman joined as chief operating officer after investing through Tech Coast Angels. The company plans to use recent funds to develop a treatment for retinitis pigmentosa and to explore applications in muscular dystrophy. DTx is headquartered in Torrey Pines, has five local employees, and has demonstrated progress from cell culture to mouse studies per investor statements. Financially, it has raised $5.5 million to date and has also received two NIH Small Business Innovation Research grants of more than $300,000 each.