• Laronde

  Participated · Series B · Aug 2021

  Laronde is advancing Endless RNA™ (eRNA), an engineered form of RNA that can be programmed to express diverse proteins inside the body. The company says eRNA is persistent, non-immunogenic, allows for repeat dosing, and offers flexibility in formulation and delivery. Laronde is scaling to support the parallel development of multiple programs across many disease areas. It intends to use newly raised capital to advance its eRNA platform and a broad pipeline of programs across a number of therapeutic categories. The company was founded in 2017 by Flagship Labs and is based in Cambridge, Mass. Key executives mentioned include CEO Diego Miralles and co-founders Avak Kahvejian and Noubar Afeyan.

• CeQur Simplicity

  Participated · Equity · Apr 2021

  CeQur commercializes simple-to-use, wearable insulin-delivery devices designed to replace multiple daily injections, with CeQur Simplicity as its mealtime insulin patch offering. The company reports clinical evidence showing significantly improved A1C and time-in-range outcomes and cites studies and presentations supporting patient adherence. Adoption is expanding across primary care and endocrinology practices; the company says better than 85% of claims are covered as a pharmacy benefit with an average copay of less than $45 per month. Nearly 90% of patients reported better adherence with CeQur Simplicity versus multiple daily injections, according to cited patient-experience data. CeQur has new FDA clearances and an advancing pipeline that includes extended 7-day wear and 1-unit and 2-unit patch options. The company announced a $100 million Series E to fund commercial expansion, including growth of its field sales organization.

• Graphite Bio

  Participated · Series B · Mar 2021

  Graphite Bio develops next-generation gene editing therapies that harness targeted gene integration and homology-directed repair (HDR) to repair genetic defects, deliver genetic cargo precisely, and engineer new cellular effector functions. The company is initially focused on ex vivo engineering of hematopoietic stem cells and advancing a portfolio of programs with curative potential. Its lead candidate, GPH101, has received IND clearance from the FDA to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in sickle cell disease. Graphite is completing IND-enabling studies for GPH201 (XSCID/IL2RG deficiency) and GPH301 (Gaucher disease, Types 1 and 3). The company says it will use newly raised funds to expand and advance its pipeline into the clinic and to support initial clinical milestones. Graphite Bio was co-founded by academic pioneers including Maria Grazia Roncarolo, MD, and Matthew Porteus, MD, PhD. Graphite Bio develops a next-generation gene editing platform that enables high-efficiency, site-specific DNA integration to precisely insert or replace genetic payloads. The platform combines complementary technologies and builds on academic work from Dr. Danny Dever and Dr. Matt Porteus that increased integration efficiency from under 1% to greater than 50% across diverse lesions and cell types. Its approach aims to correct defective genes (including single-nucleotide mutations), replace malfunctioning genes while preserving normal regulation, or insert therapeutic cargo into precise genomic loci with durable expression and reduced off-target toxicity. The company’s lead program corrects the sickle β‑globin point mutation and Graphite has shown restoration of healthy hemoglobin in patient cells. Graphite expects an upcoming IND and to commence Phase 1 studies of its first candidate in early 2021, with several other programs advancing toward the clinic in the next 12–18 months. The company was co-founded by academic pioneers including Matthew Porteus and Maria Grazia Roncarolo and is led by CEO Josh Lehrer; it is backed by Versant Ventures and Samsara BioCapital following a $45 million Series A.

• Century Therapeutics

  Participated · Series C · Mar 2021

  Century Therapeutics is a biotechnology company advancing regenerative cell therapies aimed at curing serious diseases. Its lead asset, CNTY-813, is an engineered beta islet cell program designed to provide a potentially curative treatment for Type 1 diabetes by restoring insulin-producing capacity. The company reports rapid progress on this program and plans to accelerate R&D activities with newly secured capital. Beyond CNTY-813, Century indicates ambitions to expand a pipeline of truly transformative cell-based therapies, though specific additional candidates were not detailed in the article. Century’s execution momentum has attracted strong investor interest, resulting in an oversubscribed financing round. The $135 million private placement substantially enhances the firm’s balance sheet and will fund preclinical and clinical development of CNTY-813 and related platform work.

• Alector

  Participated · Series E · Jul 2018

  Alector is a privately held biotechnology company developing therapies that harness the immune system to cure neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The company focuses on immuno-neurology and immuno-oncology programs, guided by human genetic studies implicating dysfunctional immune responses in neurodegeneration. Alector has identified a portfolio of drug candidates designed to restore normal immune function in the aging brain and counteract neurodegeneration. It has announced intended indications for three lead neurodegenerative candidates: AL001 for frontotemporal dementia (FTD); AL002, which targets TREM2 implicated in Alzheimer’s disease; and AL003, which targets SIGLEC-3, a prevalent Alzheimer’s risk factor. Alector plans to advance these clinical programs and expand its discovery platform. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California, and recently closed a $133 million Series E to fund its clinical and discovery efforts. Alector LLC is a biotech company pioneering the discovery and development of first-in-class immuno-modulatory therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The company combines state-of-the-art antibody technology with recent discoveries in neuro-immunology and human genetics to build a platform of therapeutics that harness the immune system to fight dementia and neurodegeneration. Alector’s approach is enabled by a strategic alliance with Adimab for discovery of fully human antibodies and bispecifics. The company aims to efficiently generate and validate antibody drugs that engage genetically validated neuro-immune targets and to advance promising candidates into the clinic. Alector says its strong cash position from recent financings gives it optionality to prioritize and partner across its portfolio while independently progressing drug candidates. The company is actively hiring immunologists and neurobiologists at all levels. Alector has built a platform of next-generation, immuno-modulating antibodies that mobilize the immune system to target multiple disease-causing pathologies in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. The company focuses on genetically validated targets and antibody drugs, enabled by a strategic alliance with Adimab for discovery of fully human antibodies and bispecifics. Co-founders include Asa Abeliovich, Arnon Rosenthal and Tillman Gerngross. Proceeds from the announced financing will be used to broaden Alector’s drug pipeline and advance its most promising candidates toward clinical trials. The company is actively hiring immunologists and neurobiologists to support its development efforts. The firm presented its approach as applying immuno-oncology–style immune mobilization to neurology. The press release was issued from San Francisco. Alector LLC focuses on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, and related neurodegenerative disorders. The company combines state-of-the-art antibody technology with recent discoveries in neuroimmunology and human genetics to generate and validate antibody drugs with unique functional properties. Alector has a strategic alliance with Adimab to support discovery and optimization of antibody therapeutics. The founding team includes Arnon Rosenthal, Tillman Gerngross, Asa Abeliovich, and Errik Anderson, who bring expertise in neuroscience, antibody discovery, and biotech management. Alector is developing leads for four major targets and anticipates taking two of these through preclinical development and IND-enabling studies within 24 months. The company recently closed a Series A financing to fund research and development on innovative targets.

No current team members are available.