Participated · Series A · Mar 2022

Celsius leverages its SCOPE (Single Cell Observations for Precision Effect) platform combining clinically annotated human tissue, single-cell RNA sequencing and machine learning to identify therapeutic targets and patient stratification hypotheses. The company has performed single-cell RNA sequencing on over 1,000 clinical tissue samples and uses that dataset to nominate targets and biomarkers. Its lead clinical candidate is CEL383, an anti-TREM1 antibody for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), identified via SCOPE and positioned for a precision-medicine approach with multiple biomarker hypotheses. Celsius expects to file an IND for CEL383 within the next year and anticipated a Phase 1 study to commence in early 2023. Beyond IBD, the company has two ongoing oncology discovery programs derived from analysis of hundreds of clinical solid tumor samples and plans to advance those toward development candidate nomination. Celsius also announced progress in a colorectal cancer collaboration with Servier, where the first candidate target selection triggered a milestone payment, and strengthened its balance sheet with additional financing. Celsius applies single-cell genomic sequencing combined with sophisticated computational and machine-learning algorithms to identify the specific cell types and genes that drive autoimmune diseases and certain cancers. The company uses a systematic approach starting with single-cell sequencing on defined patient samples to reveal cell-level dysfunction and cellular interactions missed by traditional genomic methods. Celsius plans to translate those cellular insights into first-in-class precision therapies and to identify the right combination of treatments for the right patients, building on promising results in immuno-oncology. The team brings expertise across single-cell RNA sequencing, computational biology, disease biology and drug discovery. Celsius has licensed key technologies from the Broad Institute, including non-exclusive licenses to single-cell technologies and an exclusive license to early-stage therapeutic programs. The company launched in 2018 and is based in Cambridge, Mass.; it announced a $65 million Series A to fund its discovery and development efforts.

Led · Series C · Aug 2021

InterVenn Biosciences operates a proprietary glycoproteomics biomarker interrogation platform that combines mass spectrometry with AI to enable next-generation precision medicine. The platform has been used to develop 16 clinical use cases across oncology and other indications. The company is developing Dawn™, a liquid-biopsy assay for predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, which it planned to commercialize in 2022. With new funding, InterVenn intends to accelerate development and commercialization of Dawn and to expand investment in glycoproteomics-based liquid biopsy solutions across the oncology spectrum (screening through therapy response monitoring) and into non-oncology applications. The financing will also enable the company to expand its partnership ecosystem to accelerate development and commercialization of new clinical solutions and broaden insights into new biomarkers and therapies. InterVenn is based in South San Francisco, California. InterVenn develops a proprietary glycoproteomic biomarker‑interrogation platform that combines mass spectrometry with an AI neural network (PiP™) and powers the Vista™ research product. Vista™ provides application‑specific disease classifier panels across more than a dozen oncology indications and has been used to predict response to checkpoint‑inhibitor treatment. The company is commercializing a High‑Throughput‑Glycoproteomic LDT for ovarian cancer and is enrolling patients in V.O.C.A.L.™, a multicenter international trial whose interim results show the InterVenn test outperforming CA 125 in specificity and sensitivity. InterVenn plans to use new funds to scale commercialization of the ovarian diagnostic, service increasing partnership platform demand, and accelerate development of immuno‑oncology treatment‑response and colorectal cancer indications. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco and is commissioning new office and laboratory space there. Leadership additions include John Leite, Ph.D., as Chief Business Officer and David Michael of Anzu Partners joining the board. InterVenn BioSciences develops an AI-driven mass spectrometry glycoproteomics platform to rapidly characterize post-translational modifications and identify clinically relevant biomarkers. The company leverages mass spectrometry, high-resolution PTM characterization, and artificial intelligence to streamline glycoproteomics workflows and improve reproducibility across sample collection, processing, and instrument ingestion. Its first product is a blood-based ovarian cancer diagnostic that is undergoing analytical and clinical validation. Once validation and regulatory processes are completed, InterVenn plans to offer the test as a laboratory diagnostic. The platform is positioned for additional applications across cancers, autoimmunity, fibrosis, and neurodegeneration. The company is headquartered in Redwood City, California.

Participated · Series C · Mar 2020

RubiconMD operates a digital eConsult platform that connects primary care clinicians with specialist insights to reduce unnecessary referrals and patient wait times. Launched in 2013 by Gil Addo and Carlos Reines, the platform offers quick access across more than 120 specialties and has partnered with major payors. The company aims to enable primary care to practice at the top of its license and to improve quality and affordability amid a shift toward value-based care. RubiconMD plans to leverage its data to deliver new product offerings for primary care clinicians and to expand its reach. Financially, the company has raised more than $40 million to date, including an $18 million Series C announced in this round. The new capital is intended to fuel ongoing growth and product development. RubiconMD provides a digital consult platform that connects primary care doctors with specialists. The company is New York-based and launched in 2013. RubiconMD announced a $13.8 million Series B round. The Series B was led by HLM Venture Partners and Optum Ventures and included Centene Corporation and Blue Ivy Ventures. The round also included all participating investors from its Series A. RubiconMD previously raised a $4 million Series A in mid-2016. RubiconMD operates a platform that allows primary care providers to request same-day eConsults from top medical specialists to improve patient care. Launched in 2013 and based in New York City, the company aims to unlock medical expertise by removing access barriers to specialty care. Its platform is intended to cut health care costs, save time, and streamline care so primary care providers can make faster, more informed recommendations. RubiconMD has an ongoing partnership with Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and is expanding its presence in California. The company recently added strategic hires — including Christine Peterson as Head of Customer Success in Berkeley — and expanded its advisory board with Hal Yee Jr., M.D., Ph.D. These moves, together with a direct investment from Heritage Provider Network, are intended to build California infrastructure and reach underserved populations on the West Coast. Launched in 2013 and based in New York City, RubiconMD offers eConsult, a digital messaging platform that connects primary care clinicians with specialists across more than 100 specialties and sub‑specialties. Clinicians use the app on any device and are algorithmically matched to a specialist, receiving educational responses usually within four hours or less. The platform is intended to create a collaborative medicine environment to help primary care providers make more informed patient care plans and to democratize medical expertise. The company has pursued opportunities to expand access in underserved regions, with a stated focus on improving specialty care access for Medi‑Cal enrollees in California, including rural areas. RubiconMD has participated in the athenahealth accelerator and is a graduate of Blueprint Health. The company recently announced a $750,000 investment from the California Health Care Foundation Innovation Fund and has raised over $6 million to date. RubiconMD operates an eConsult platform that connects primary care providers to a panel of specialists, allowing clinicians to upload images, labs, and studies and receive expert answers within hours. The system uses smart routing to identify the appropriate specialist and is designed to fit into primary care workflows to reduce unnecessary referrals, shorten patient wait times, and optimize care plans. The company has implemented its product with customers across twenty-six states. RubiconMD validated its model in a study finding that 97% of eConsults offered meaningful support to clinicians and 72% directly improved care plans. Launched in 2013 by two Harvard MBAs and a physician on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, the company recently closed a $4.0 million Series A to expand access and invest in product enhancements and data analytics.

Participated · Series A · Nov 2018

Alphamab Oncology develops multifunctional biologics for cancer using protein engineering and proprietary platforms, including Bispecific and Mix-mAb platforms and single-domain antibodies. Led by Dr. Ting Xu (Founder, Chairman and CEO), the company is advancing multiple clinical-stage assets. Its pipeline includes KN035 (Envafolimab), a subcutaneous PD-L1 antibody in phase II and phase III trials; KN046, a PD-L1/CTLA-4 bispecific progressing through phase II after phase I trials; KN026, an anti-HER2 bispecific entering phase II in China; and immunomodulator KN019 in phase II. Alphamab has formed partnerships (HEC Research Institute and TOT Biopharm) to develop combination therapies involving KN046. The company plans to use new funds to develop its pipeline, commission a new R&D and manufacturing site, accelerate clinical development of its assets, and prepare for commercial launch of KN035. Financially, Alphamab completed a US$60M Series B in May 2019 following a US$130M Series A in November 2018. Alphamab Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization of cancer therapeutics. Led by Dr. Xu Ting, the company uses multiple in-house platforms including bispecifics, protein engineering and antibody screening. Its oncology/immunology pipeline includes KN035 (Envafolimab), a subcutaneously administered PD-L1 antibody in pivotal trials in China; KN046, a PD-L1–CTLA-4 bispecific in phase I in Australia with planned phase I/II trials in China and BLA-enabling studies; and KN026, an anti-HER2 bispecific in phase I in China. Alphamab plans to use the financing to advance global clinical development—especially its second-generation immuno-oncology medicine—expand global clinical and commercial teams, and complete construction of its biologics manufacturing facilities. The company completed a Series A financing of more than $100 million to support these objectives.

Participated · Series A · Oct 2018

Glympse Bio develops bioengineered, tunable sensors designed to measure disease progression in vivo for protease‑mediated diseases. Its core platform is a biosensor technology intended for applications in fibrotic diseases such as NASH, as well as oncology and infectious diseases. The company was founded in 2015 as an MIT spin‑out and is led by President & CEO Caroline J. Loew, Ph.D., and CSO Wendy Winckler, Ph.D. In October 2019 Glympse announced a strategic collaboration with Gilead Sciences to evaluate the technology as both a diagnostic and prognostic tool. In July 2020 the company closed a $46.7M Series B to continue development of its platform. Board and observer seats were added in connection with the financing, reflecting investor involvement. Glympse Bio is developing an in vivo sensing platform that uses bioengineered activity sensors to noninvasively detect human diseases and monitor drug response. The sensors are designed to travel to sites of disease, directly interrogate biological activity, and emit signals that can be detected noninvasively from a patient’s urine; they can be administered in a minimally invasive manner with selectable analytical readouts. The company reports validation of the technology in 10 different diseases using multiple delivery methods and a broad range of analytical readouts. Its lead indication targets non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which the article states affects more than 100 million people worldwide and over 15 million in the U.S. Proceeds from the financing will be devoted to conducting clinical trials and advancing the pipeline in NASH and cancer into the clinic, and Glympse has signed multiple collaborations in NASH with pharmaceutical companies. Glympse is a spinout from the laboratory of Sangeeta Bhatia at MIT and is based at the Lab Central incubator in Cambridge, MA.