The Venture Codex

Participated · Series A · Feb 2026

Third Arc Bio, launched in 2022, focuses on creating multispecific antibodies that form immune synapses to either activate or inhibit T cells with high precision. Its lead program, ARC101, is a bispecific T-cell engager targeting CLDN6 and is currently in Phase 1 dose-escalation studies for patients with advanced solid tumors. The company’s solid-tumor ARCStim platform and immunology-focused ARCTag (Tethered Agonist) platform underpin a broader pipeline aimed at both cancer and immune-mediated disorders. By localizing immune modulation to sites of disease, Third Arc seeks to improve both efficacy and safety over conventional systemic therapies. The management team includes executives with prior drug-development track records, and a16z General Partner Jorge Conde recently joined the board. Financially, Third Arc Bio has secured at least $217 million in Series A funding (an initial $165 million plus a $52 million extension) in addition to earlier seed capital. Proceeds are earmarked to accelerate its immunology portfolio and advance additional oncology programs into the clinic.

Participated · Series F · Jan 2026

Parabilis Medicines is pioneering stabilized, cell-penetrant α-helical peptides, called Helicons™, to modulate intracellular proteins that small molecules and antibodies cannot reach. Its lead candidate, FOG-001 (zolucatetide), directly inhibits the β-catenin:TCF interaction within the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and has shown meaningful single-agent activity across five tumor types, including desmoid tumors and adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. The drug has U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation for desmoid tumors and is moving toward a registrational trial while additional data in hepatocellular carcinoma and familial adenomatous polyposis are forthcoming. Beyond FOG-001, Parabilis is advancing preclinical Helicon degraders against ERG and allosteric ARON for prostate cancer, demonstrating the broad applicability of its platform. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company leverages proprietary data, AI- and physics-based algorithms, and more than a decade of laboratory innovation. Financially, Parabilis closed an oversubscribed $305 million Series F round at an increased valuation, positioning it to expand clinical and preclinical programs. No revenue or user metrics have been disclosed, consistent with its clinical-stage status.

Participated · Series B · Aug 2025

Strand Therapeutics is developing programmable mRNA-based therapeutics that combine self-replicating and circular RNA modalities with genetically programmed logic circuits to enable precise, controlled payload delivery. Its platform is designed to localize and durably express therapeutic payloads, including IL-12, to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and stimulate systemic anti-tumor immunity. The lead program, STX-001, is a self-replicating mRNA encoding IL-12 that is in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (IND cleared December 2023) and presented early human data at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting showing multiple RECIST responses, complete responses, prolonged disease stabilization, and a favorable safety profile. Strand also presented preclinical data for STX-003, a first-in-class systemically administrable, tumor-targeting mRNA therapy programmed to avoid off-target delivery including liver avoidance, at AACR and ASGCT. The company emphasizes a computational design engine and modular platform intended to expand into immuno-oncology, cell therapy, autoimmune diseases, and other indications, and to enable partnerships and licensing opportunities. Strand Therapeutics engineers programmable, long-acting mRNA therapeutics delivered in nanoparticles to control the location, timing, intensity, and duration of protein expression in patients. Its platform programs genetic logic circuits so mRNA senses microRNA signatures and restricts expression to target cells, aiming for improved efficacy and safety versus first-generation mRNA. The company is developing a pipeline of multifunctional mRNA candidates, including a lead programmable mRNA therapy for solid tumor immuno-oncology. Strand plans to advance that lead candidate into Phase 1 clinical trials next year and to further develop a systemic delivery mechanism to target tumor sites and immune cells. The company will expand its biology, bioengineering, bioinformatics, manufacturing, automation, and G&A teams to support clinical and delivery development. Strand is headquartered in Boston and has announced a Series A financing totaling $97 million to support these efforts. Strand Therapeutics develops programmable, long-acting self-replicating mRNA therapeutics designed to enable precise control of location, timing, intensity, and duration of therapeutic activity. Its platform combines self-replicating mRNAs with genetically programmed logic circuits that sense and classify cell-type expression signatures to deliver multi-functional treatments in a single mRNA drug. The company’s initial focus is cancer immunotherapy, with plans to begin clinical trials of its first candidate in 2022 and ambitions to address solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Strand is also developing programmable mRNA for generation of cell therapies intended to be re-doseable and off-the-shelf to expand patient access. The company has a licensing collaboration with BeiGene to develop and commercialize its multi-functional mRNA technology for solid tumor immuno-oncology. Financially, Strand announced an oversubscribed $52M Series A and has raised $66M in total to date. Strand Therapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company building programmable, “smart” mRNA therapeutics using synthetic biology innovations developed at MIT. The company says it created a bespoke programming language to enable mRNA therapies that can make sophisticated decisions and dynamically respond to their microenvironment. Scientific co-founders include MIT professors Ron Weiss and Darrell J. Irvine; operational co-founders are Jacob Becraft (CEO) and Tasuku Kitada (President). Strand is initially targeting immuno-oncology and plans to extend into other disease indications as the platform matures. The company will use its latest financing to hire at its Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters, grow its pipeline of engineered gene therapies, and further develop its synthetic biology platform. Strand is a resident company of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS.

Participated · Series D · Oct 2024

Orasis Pharmaceuticals developed Qlosi (pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) 0.4%, a corrective eye drop indicated for the treatment of presbyopia in adults. Qlosi uses the lowest effective concentration of pilocarpine approved and a multi-faceted vehicle, does not contain an antimicrobial preservative, and improves near visual acuity via pupil modulation (a "pinhole effect"). The company emphasizes a balance of efficacy, safety, and comfort for patients seeking an alternative to reading glasses. Orasis plans to use the new financing to support the commercial launch of Qlosi. The company is led by industry executives and eye care professionals and is funded by a diverse group of life-science and healthcare investors. Orasis has offices in the United States and Israel. Orasis Pharmaceuticals, based in Herzliya, Israel, is developing a proprietary ophthalmic formulation intended to treat presbyopia symptoms. Its lead candidate is an eye drop designed to achieve an optimal balance between efficacy, safety and comfort. The company plans to use the Series C proceeds to advance that lead eye drop through completion of Phase 3 clinical trials and to fund pre-commercialization activities ahead of a potential product launch. Orasis is led by CEO Elad Kedar. The company positions its novel formulation to potentially make it an emerging leader in the presbyopia space. It closed a $30M Series C financing to support these programs. Orasis Pharmaceuticals, led by CEO Elad Kedar and based in Herzliya, Israel, is a clinical-stage company developing an innovative eye drop to treat presbyopia as an alternative to reading glasses. Its lead product candidate, CSF-1, is being advanced through clinical development. The company intends to use the new funding to complete its Phase 2b trial of CSF-1, prepare for a Phase 3 trial, and continue pre-commercial activities ahead of a potential launch. Orasis closed a financing that supports these near-term clinical and commercial milestones. The company added board members from its new investors as part of the financing.