Participated · Equity · Dec 2020

Peptomyc was founded in 2014 as a spin-off supported by the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) and Icrea and is based in Barcelona. The company is developing Omomyc, a biologic designed to inhibit the oncogene Myc, which its cofounder Laura Soucek has studied for decades. Peptomyc completed an initial clinical trial in patients with solid tumors and is currently running studies targeting pancreatic cancer and osteosarcoma. The recent €5 million financing will fund completion of those clinical programs. The company has indicated it may pursue a partnership with a pharmaceutical firm to accelerate development and commercialization. Public and institutional backers such as CDTI and the EIC Fund are among its current supporters.

Participated · Series D · Jun 2019

Sanifit is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for progressive vascular calcification disorders, with lead candidate SNF472. SNF472 is orphan-designated for calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA) and the company intends to advance it into a pivotal Phase 3 trial using proceeds from the financing. The candidate is also being assessed in a Phase 2b proof-of-concept CaLIPSO study evaluating reduction in progression of cardiovascular calcification in haemodialysis patients, with a readout expected in Q4 2019. Founded in 2007 as a spin-off from the University of the Balearic Islands, Sanifit expanded U.S. activities in 2016 with a San Diego subsidiary. The company is led by CEO Dr. Joan Perelló and has raised around $130M to date, including the recent €72.2m financing. Sanifit is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing SNF472, an experimental drug targeting cardiovascular calcification in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing haemodialysis. The program has efficacy data from more than 20 preclinical studies and showed safety and tolerability in a phase Ia trial in healthy volunteers. Sanifit is concluding a phase Ib/IIa pharmacology study in haemodialysis patients. With €36.6M in Series C financing, the company intends to advance SNF472 through a phase IIb proof-of-concept trial for cardiovascular diseases linked to calcification and to complete a phase II/III program for calciphylaxis. The company is led by CEO Joan Perelló and is based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Following the financing, Sanifit appointed Dr. Russell Greig as chairman of the board. Laboratorios Sanifit is a Palma de Mallorca–based biopharmaceutical spin‑off of the Universitat de les Illes Balears, founded in 2007, focused on discovering and developing compounds against pathological tissue and organ calcification. The company pursues two development lines: an oral‑care product range for tartar prevention (licensed in 2013 to a leading oral‑care multinational) with ongoing efforts to secure veterinary commercialization deals, and an experimental drug, SNF472, targeting calcification disorders. SNF472 is being developed for two indications: cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients and calciphylaxis. The drug has completed phase 1 studies in healthy volunteers and is planned to enter a phase 1b/2a clinical trial at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona in dialysis patients. Recent financing will fund progression of SNF472 to that next clinical stage.

Participated · Series B · Sep 2018

Minoryx Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing leriglitazone, a novel brain-penetrant selective PPARγ agonist, for X‑linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X‑ALD) and other CNS diseases. Its lead program, leriglitazone (MIN-102), showed significant clinical benefit in the ADVANCE Phase II/III trial in adult male AMN patients, reducing progression of cerebral lesions and myelopathy symptoms. The company is also running NEXUS, an open-label Phase II/III study in male pediatric patients with early-stage cerebral ALD. Minoryx intends to use the new funding to support the marketing authorization application (MAA) and launch preparations in the EU for adult male X‑ALD patients with AMN and to pursue approval in the US for the same indication. Proceeds will also fund continued development in pediatric cALD and label-expansion efforts into women affected by X‑ALD. The company is led by CEO Marc Martinell and is based in Mataró, Barcelona, Spain, with Belgian facilities. Minoryx Therapeutics is a clinical‑stage biotech focused on new therapies for rare central nervous system (CNS) disorders, with its lead asset leriglitazone (MIN‑102). Leriglitazone is a selective PPARγ agonist being evaluated in three advanced clinical trials: ADVANCE (phase II/III in adrenomyeloneuropathy, AMN), NEXUS (phase II in cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy, cALD) and FRAMES (phase II in Friedreich’s ataxia). The compound has demonstrated brain penetration, a favorable safety profile in phase 1, and preclinical proof‑of‑concept across models of mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, demyelination and axonal degeneration. In October 2020 the European Investment Bank approved a €25M venture debt facility to support the development of leriglitazone, provided under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (FEIE). The financing will fund R&D activities targeting orphan genetic CNS diseases and is expected to create more than 50 jobs during implementation. Minoryx was founded in 2011, operates in Spain and Belgium, and to date has raised more than €60M from a consortium of international investors. Minoryx Therapeutics, based in Mataró, Barcelona, is a clinical-stage company focused on therapies for X‑ALD and other rare diseases. Its lead compound, MIN-102, is an orally bioavailable, selective PPAR gamma agonist with a profile suited to CNS-related diseases. MIN-102 is currently in a phase 2/3 clinical trial for adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), enrolling adult male patients in Europe and the US, with results expected in 2020. The company intends to use new proceeds to expand the list of indications for MIN-102 and to conduct a new clinical trial for a second orphan CNS indication. Founded in 2011 and led by co-founder and CEO Marc Martinell, Minoryx has raised a total of €50M to date. Khalid Islam serves as chairman of the board. Minoryx Therapeutics, based in Mataró, Barcelona, focuses on discovering new drugs for orphan diseases using its proprietary SEE-Tx platform. Its lead program, MIN-102, is a differentiated PPAR gamma agonist being advanced for multiple CNS indications. The company is exploring MIN-102 for clinical validation in X-ALD, a genetic, progressive neurodegenerative disease with no available pharmacological treatment. Minoryx is also developing a pipeline of non-competitive pharmacological chaperones identified via SEE-Tx. The company intends to use new funds to expand its team, particularly in R&D, and to progress MIN-102 into clinical development. The company is led by CEO and co-founder Marc Martinell. Minoryx focuses on developing therapies for congenital errors of metabolism and other rare or orphan diseases, including a lead program targeting adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). The company was founded in 2011 and is based at Parc TecnoCampus Mataró‑Maresme. Its lead program is a first drug candidate for ALD; with the new funding the company plans to begin clinical trials. Minoryx closed a €1.6 million financing in early 2015 led by Caixa Capital Risc through the Caixa Innvierte BioMed II fund, with participation from the Swiss Sanfilippo Foundation; that operation also saw the exit of Inveready. The business targets indications for which there are often no approved treatments and is positioning its pipeline toward clinical development.

Participated · Equity · Nov 2017

GlyCardial Diagnostics is a Barcelona, Spain-based biotechnology spin-off of the Catalan Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences. The company has developed a biomarker intended to detect a possible ischaemic attack before it happens and to identify patients at risk of a repeat cardiovascular event. Its core product is a new blood test to diagnose cardiac ischaemia in the early stages. GlyCardial intends to complete clinical validation and obtain CE marking for the test over the next three years. The company was created this year by scientists Lina Badimon, Judit Cubedo, Teresa Padró and Gemma Vilahur. It recently raised €2.4M to advance development of its first test.

Participated · Series A · Mar 2017

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.