Participated · Seed · May 2013

Graematter has developed a patented regulatory intelligence system that integrates data from more than 100 FDA-related databases into a single searchable database. The product provides advanced search capabilities that the company says shorten searches from days or weeks to under two hours and reduce the chance of missing critical information. Graematter's mission is to accelerate getting innovative medical products to patients by improving regulatory intelligence and the quality of regulatory submissions. The company was selected to showcase its technology at the 2012 HHS Datapalooza. Graematter is an early-stage information-technology venture headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, led by founder Melissa Walker and CEO Merle Symes. The company expects to launch the product into the market by mid-2013.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2012

Confluence Life Sciences develops protein kinase inhibitors using its proprietary KINect Technology Platform, which the company says enables identification and development of new kinase drugs in a fraction of the time of traditional approaches. The team has created a pipeline focused on hard-to-treat cancers and chronic inflammatory diseases, with a lead program targeting the kinase TAK1 implicated in cancer cell transformation, metastasis, tumor growth and drug resistance. The lead program is aimed at creating an orally active small-molecule drug to improve survival in pancreatic and other cancers such as breast and colon. Confluence positions its platform as applicable to hundreds of kinase targets and emphasizes rational, structure- and function-based drug design. Epidarex Capital has invested to support identification and development of Confluence's lead drug candidates, and Epidarex Managing Partner Kyp Sirinakis will join Confluence's board. Existing investors include Mercury Fund, BioGenerator and the Missouri Technology Corporation. Confluence Life Sciences is a biotechnology company focused on the rapid discovery and development of kinase inhibitors to treat cancer and inflammatory disease. The company uses a proprietary discovery platform and cutting-edge methods to identify inhibitors with improved selectivity and potency for novel kinases. It is developing a portfolio of candidates intended to be first- and/or best-in-class to address unmet medical needs in cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Confluence also operates a contract research arm, Confluence Discovery Technologies, which provides biological assay development and execution on a contract basis. Proceeds from its announced $4 million Series A venture financing will enable advancement of its product candidates and further leverage its technology platform. The company was launched with support from BioGenerator, the St. Louis County Port Authority Helix Fund, Missouri Technology Corporation programs, and the St. Louis Arch Angels, and is headquartered within the BioGenerator Accelerator Labs at CORTEX-1 in St. Louis.