• Claret Medical

  Participated · Series C · Oct 2017

  Claret Medical is a privately held medtech company that developed the Sentinel dual-filter cerebral protection system, the first FDA-cleared device for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The company has commercialized Sentinel across Europe, selected Asia Pacific countries and recently in the U.S., where it completed a controlled commercial release. Claret has conducted a structured clinical program including three randomized studies and more than 2,300 patients, and reports that over 5,000 patients have benefited from its technology. The company highlights data showing Sentinel reduces periprocedural TAVR stroke by 70 percent. Claret plans to use new financing to support market access programs, research and development of next-generation products, and expansion of its commercial organization to build on U.S. commercialization. Claret Medical develops the Sentinel Cerebral Protection System (CPS), a filter-based device that captures and removes embolic debris released during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and other procedures. The company is focused on addressing stroke risk during TAVR through product development and clinical research. Sentinel CPS received Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval earlier this year and has been used in more than 800 procedures worldwide to date. Claret is embarking on the SENTINEL pivotal U.S. trial to evaluate reductions in number and size of new ischemic brain lesions and potential neurocognitive benefits, and plans two additional studies of structural heart procedures. The company is privately held and headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. Claret Medical is a California-based medical device company that makes the Montage Dual Filter embolic protection system, designed to capture embolic debris during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures. The device won CE Mark approval in the European Union earlier in the year. Published research enrolled 40 TAVI patients and reported the filter captured debris traveling toward the brain in 75% of patients, with captured particles ranging from 0.55 mm to 1.8 mm and consisting largely of fibrin likely from native aortic valve leaflets or the aortic wall. Financially, Claret has raised $3.6 million so far through a private offering of convertible promissory notes participated in by 28 unnamed investors. The company launched the financing in July 2012 and said it aims to raise a total of $4 million, needing another $375,000 before the offering expires in August 2015. Claret Medical is a Santa Rosa, Calif.-based medical device maker focused on embolic protection during vascular procedures. The company landed a CE Mark for its Montage system to protect against brain embolism in vascular surgery. Montage is described as the first filtration system to protect both carotid arteries simultaneously and is delivered during intravascular procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI). The catheter can remove potentially stroke-causing embolic material from the body. Claret recently raised $3.38 million in a Series A private equity offering, according to an SEC report. Clinicians quoted in the article said the CE Mark approval is an important step that could potentially reduce stroke rates in TAVI and other vascular procedures.

• ReShape Medical

  Led · Series D · Aug 2015

  ReShape Medical develops and commercializes an integrated dual intragastric balloon system as a non-surgical weight loss option for adults. The device targets adults with a BMI of 30–40 and a related health condition who haven’t succeeded with diet and exercise and do not want or do not qualify for bariatric surgery. The ReShape Procedure has been available in the European Union since December 2011. The company recently received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its integrated dual balloon system. ReShape plans to use new funding to support U.S. commercialization of that system. Richard Thompson serves as President and CEO. ReShape Medical focuses on the development and commercialization of the ReShape™ Integrated Dual Balloon System, a dual intragastric balloon used as an aid in the treatment of obese patients. The device has been available in the European Union since December 2011 and is currently being evaluated in a U.S. FDA clinical study. The company is led by president and CEO Rick Thompson. In April 2015 ReShape closed a financing that affects its near‑term cash position and commercialization plans. Management says proceeds will be used for marketing and for product enhancements. ReShape is also preparing for a forthcoming equity financing round to fund commercialization of the product. ReShape Medical develops a non-surgical device said to treat obesity. The company describes its actual technology as fairly stealthy. It plans to use the new funding to launch a trial of its lead product. ReShape is based in San Clemente, Calif., and has eight employees. The company recently closed a $20 million second-round financing. Previously it raised $7.5 million over 2006 and 2007.

• Natera

  Participated · Equity · Apr 2015

  Natera develops and commercializes non-invasive methods for analyzing cell-free DNA through a CLIA laboratory, offering preconception and prenatal genetic testing services primarily to OBGYN physicians and in‑vitro fertilization centers. Its flagship product, Panorama, launched in 2013 to screen for common fetal chromosomal anomalies as early as nine weeks of gestation. The company plans to expand worldwide sales and marketing capability and to invest in research and development. Research priorities include continuous innovation on existing products such as Panorama, development of non-invasive cell free DNA‑based tests for early cancer detection and therapeutic monitoring, and clinical trials to demonstrate test effectiveness and utility in clinical practice. Natera reported raising approximately $55.5M in funding and notes that its tests have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. FDA. Matthew Rabinowitz, PhD, is the company’s chief executive officer. Natera is a genetic testing company that developed the Panorama non-invasive prenatal test and the NATUS bioinformatics platform. Panorama analyzes 19,500 SNPs in a single reaction and uses fetal cell-free DNA to detect chromosomal abnormalities as early as nine weeks gestation. Clinical validation reported >99% sensitivity for common trisomies, 92% sensitivity for monosomy X, and 100% specificity with no false positives for the syndromes tested. Natera operates a CLIA-certified laboratory in San Carlos, Calif., and provides a range of reproductive tests including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, products-of-conception testing, paternity testing, and carrier screening. The company plans to expand its lab and team to meet rising demand and to investigate new applications for the NATUS technology. Its PreNATUS clinical trial for non-invasive screening of fetal chromosomal anomalies is funded by the NIH and is being led by maternal-fetal medicine investigators. Natera (formerly Gene Security Network) develops reproductive and prenatal genetic testing using a proprietary bioinformatics platform called Parental Support. The company operates a CLIA laboratory in Redwood City, California, and offers services including preimplantation genetic diagnosis, products-of-conception testing after miscarriage, and non-invasive prenatal testing (including paternity testing available worldwide). Natera is conducting an NIH-funded clinical trial for non-invasive detection of chromosomal anomalies. The company plans to use recent proceeds to continue development and commercialization of a non-invasive prenatal diagnostic for Down syndrome and other genetic conditions and to expand the clinical trial. Management says it is preparing for a commercial launch of the test in 2012. The name change to Natera accompanies the announced financing and commercialization push. Gene Security Network is a molecular diagnostics company that uses data informatics to enhance genetic testing of DNA. It has developed Parental Support™, a proprietary technology that diagnoses the genetic state of a single cell from an embryo. Parental Support currently incorporates genetic information from the parents and HapMap data from the Human Genome Project to clarify single-cell measurements and generate an in silico reconstruction of the cell’s genotype. The company intends to apply the technology beyond the fertility market into areas such as prenatal diagnostics to improve test accuracy and coverage. Gene Security Network closed a $12M Series C financing to accelerate these applications. The financing was announced in January 2010.

No current team members are available.