Participated · Series B · Nov 2018

Amal Therapeutics is a Geneva, Switzerland–based pre-clinical biotechnology company developing peptide- and protein-based therapeutic cancer vaccines. Its programs are built on a proprietary KISIMA® self-adjuvanting protein-based immunization platform. The company's lead programme, ATP128, is a therapeutic protein vaccine targeting metastatic colorectal cancer and was expected to enter Phase I clinical trials in 2019. Amal plans to use recent funding to progress ATP128 toward clinical development and proof-of-concept in colorectal cancer, with a clinical trial anticipated to start in summer 2019. The company also intends to further develop the KISIMA platform to produce single therapeutic vaccines for immunotherapy and beyond. Amal is led by CEO and founder Dr Madiha Derouazi. AMAL Therapeutics is a Geneva-based Swiss biotech spun out from the University of Geneva and incorporated in September 2012. The company develops peptide-based therapeutic cancer vaccines built on its proprietary KISIMA platform, which combines a cell-penetrating peptide, multi-antigenic chimeric cargo and a toll-like receptor agonist. Its lead product candidate is ATP128, targeted at colorectal cancer. AMAL's preclinical data showed potent, multi-antigenic, long-lasting anti-tumour immunity and prevention of tumour immune escape. The company plans to use newly raised funds to progress ATP128 into clinical studies and to further develop the KISIMA platform across additional oncology indications. The firm remains privately held and advancing toward clinical proof-of-concept. Amal Therapeutics is a biotech spin-off from the University of Geneva developing therapeutic cancer vaccines based on its KISIMA technology platform. The company combines a Cell Penetrating Peptide (CPP) with a multi-antigenic chimeric cargo containing CD8+ and CD4+ epitopes and a constitutive dendritic cell activator to stimulate multi-epitopic cytotoxic T cell responses, helper T cells and immunological memory. Amal is in preclinical development with its lead vaccine candidate ATP124 for colorectal cancer and is advancing the broader KISIMA platform to generate long-lasting anti-tumor immunity and avoid tumor immune escape. The company was incorporated in 2012 as a University of Geneva spin-off and is led by CEO Dr. Madiha Derouazi. Amal intends to use the proceeds from its recent financing to progress its cancer vaccine programs. Amal Therapeutics develops therapeutic cancer vaccines based on a proprietary cell-penetrating peptide platform. The company was founded in 2012 by Madiha Derouazi as a spin‑out from the University of Geneva and is based in Geneva and Berlin. It intends to use recent seed funding to consolidate its peptide-based technology platform. Amal plans to progress its first vaccine candidate up to pre-clinical development. The company recently closed a seed round (amount undisclosed) led by Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund with participation from High‑Tech Gründerfonds. As part of the financing, Dr. Knut Elbers of BIVF joined Amal’s board of directors.

Participated · Series B · Mar 2018

On Target Laboratories develops targeted intraoperative molecular imaging agents designed to illuminate cancer during surgery, based on a near-infrared dye coupled to a targeting ligand. Its lead product, CYTALUX (pafolacianine) injection, is the company’s first commercial product and the only FDA‑approved molecular imaging agent that illuminates lung and ovarian cancer as an adjunct during surgery. CYTALUX is administered by intravenous infusion prior to surgery to help surgeons visualize and resect additional cancerous tissue. The technology traces to the work of Philip S. Low at Purdue University. The company plans to use the new financing to accelerate commercialization and expand market presence across the United States. Recent regulatory and commercialization tailwinds cited by the company include CMS granting NTAP reimbursement for CYTALUX and the clearance of Stryker’s 1788 Platform for use with CYTALUX. On Target Laboratories develops fluorescent markers and intraoperative molecular imaging technology intended to help surgeons find and remove cancerous tissue more completely. The company's lead compound is pafolacianine sodium injection, which is under priority review for ovarian cancer and is being evaluated in the Phase 3 ELUCIDATE Trial for intraoperative identification of lung cancer. The technology is based on the work of Philip S. Low, PhD at Purdue University and the company is led by President and CEO Christopher Barys. On Target plans to use recent financing to continue development and commercialization of pafolacianine sodium injection and to complete the ELUCIDATE Trial. The product is not yet approved. On Target Laboratories discovers, develops and commercializes small molecules conjugated to fluorescent dyes that target and illuminate cancerous cells and other diseased tissue for use during surgery. Its lead candidate, OTL38, is being evaluated in a Phase 3 trial in ovarian cancer and a Phase 2 trial in lung cancer and is administered intravenously before surgery to help surgeons locate lesions and margins. The company plans to use recent financing to fully develop OTL38 in ovarian and lung cancers and to introduce an additional molecule into the clinic. On Target positions its conjugates for use by surgeons and other physicians worldwide to improve diagnosis and treatment across cancers and inflammation-related disorders. Financially, the company recently completed its Series B financings, bringing the round to close to $44 million. OnTarget Laboratories has developed optical imaging technology that uses small-molecule ligands targeting receptors over-expressed on solid cancers, coupled to proprietary fluorescent imaging agents to illuminate tumors in real time during surgery. The technology was developed by Philip Low of Purdue University and initial human data were published in Nature Medicine. The company is based in the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette. OnTarget says the probes could help surgeons remove more tumor tissue than would otherwise be possible. Management plans to use new funding to conduct further clinical trials to optimize the technology platform and to develop a pipeline of tumor-targeted molecules. The company recently received additional capital to advance that clinical development.

Participated · Series A · May 2017

Aadi Bioscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing ABI-009, a nanoparticle albumin-bound mTOR inhibitor (nab-rapamycin) based on sirolimus. ABI-009 was licensed to Aadi in 2014 by Celgene and is being advanced because of its differentiated pharmacokinetic profile and higher tolerated IV doses versus oral mTOR inhibitors. The company is enrolling a phase 2 registration trial in advanced PEComa with FDA agreement on study design and an expected enrollment of ~30–35 patients, with overall response rate as the primary endpoint. An independent data monitoring committee reviewed available data and recommended the PEComa study continue without modification. Aadi also plans clinical programs in pulmonary hypertension (phase 1), early-stage bladder cancer (phase 2) and pediatric cancers (phase 1), and continues to investigate applications in cardiovascular and other diseases. The company is led by founder and CEO Neil Desai, Ph.D., and has added new board members from its investor base.

Led · Equity · Aug 2016

MEI Pharma’s lead program is Pracinostat, an HDAC inhibitor being studied for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The drug showed promising phase II results when combined with azacitidine in older patients: of 50 patients, 21 had a complete response and 19 were alive as of December 2015, with overall survival of 19.1 months. Pracinostat was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA one week before the partnership announcement, and MEI planned a phase III trial for AML in early 2017 with potential market entry in 2021 if successful. MEI is a small organization that lacks a large commercial salesforce and is partnering to access broader resources. Financially, the deal provides MEI $20 million in near-term payments, potential milestone payments up to $444 million, and a $5 million equity investment from the partner. Helsinn will assume worldwide development costs and marketing rights, enabling MEI to advance Pracinostat without funding the full development and commercialization burden.