Participated · Series B · Dec 2025

Aeovian Pharmaceuticals is focused on restoring cellular metabolic quality control through highly selective inhibition of mTORC1 or CD38. Its lead candidate, AV078, is a first-in-class, CNS-penetrant selective mTORC1 inhibitor engineered to bypass the toxicities seen with non-selective mTOR blockers such as everolimus. Following encouraging Phase 1 data, AV078 is being advanced into a Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial for patients with TSC-related refractory epilepsy, a condition that affects roughly one million people worldwide and remains resistant to therapy in about two-thirds of cases. The company’s wholly owned pipeline aims to expand selective mTORC1 inhibition to additional rare and age-related indications. Proceeds from its recent financing will support the Phase 2 study and further pipeline development. Aeovian operates out of Berkeley, California and remains privately held; no revenue or user metrics were disclosed in the article.

Led · Series B · Jan 2025

Tune Therapeutics has built the TEMPO epigenome-editing platform to develop gene, cell, and regenerative therapies targeting common and chronic diseases. Its lead program, Tune-401, is a first-in-class investigational epigenetic silencer for chronic Hepatitis B that uses TEMPO and lipid nanoparticle delivery provided by Acuitas Therapeutics. The company reported a 2023 non-human primate milestone demonstrating durable repression of PCSK9 with an associated, sustained reduction in LDL cholesterol after a single transient delivery. In November 2024 Tune moved its lead program into the clinic with approvals to begin trials in New Zealand and subsequently Hong Kong, supported by hepatologists Dr. Ed Gane and Dr. Man-Fung Yuen. Tune says it will use new funding to advance its HBV clinical program, invest in platform capabilities, and expand additional gene, cell, and regenerative therapy programs. The company was founded in 2021 and operates from Durham, N.C. and Seattle. Tune Therapeutics is deploying TEMPO, a proprietary epigenomic therapy platform designed to fine‑tune the activity of genes and gene networks in cells. TEMPO consists of two modules: a targeting module that binds to specific DNA sequences and an effector module that dials gene activity up or down by acting on epigenetic marks. The company relies on an epigenome‑editing approach involving a two‑component protein (dCas9 plus an effector), and recent academic work from the team has shown activation in stem cells and silencing of a cholesterol regulator in mouse livers. Tune aims to advance from proof‑of‑concept in rare, single‑gene disorders to treating common conditions that are not linked to a single mutation but are amenable to epigenomic control. The company operates in Seattle and Durham, N.C., has about 35 employees, and is hiring for additional positions. Leadership and scientific guidance include co‑founders and senior staff Charles Gersbach (acting CSO), Akira Matsuno (president and CFO), Fyodor Urnov (chair, scientific advisory board), and CEO Matt Kane.

Led · Series A · Aug 2024

Vandria SA is developing drug candidates that target mitophagy. Its two lead candidates are aimed at central nervous system (CNS) and muscle diseases, respectively. On Feb. 8, 2024, Vandria was awarded two grants totaling €3.8M (US$4.1M). The grants were awarded by Innosuisse and Eurostars. The funding is intended to support advancement of the company’s two lead drug candidates. Vandria discovers and develops first-in-class small-molecule mitophagy inducers that target a novel protein to induce mitophagy and provide anti-inflammatory effects, with strong genetic links to several human diseases. Its lead program, VNA-318, is aimed at early-stage CNS and neurodegenerative disorders to improve cognition and limit memory-loss progression. The company also maintains a pipeline of mitophagy-inducing molecules targeting muscle, lung, and liver diseases. Since the initial Series A close in December, Vandria has advanced its platform and lead program, expanded its team, and moved into dedicated lab facilities at Superlab Suisse on the Biopôle Lausanne campus. Vandria raised CHF4.2M in non-dilutive funding via two Innosuisse grants and an Eurostars grant to support preclinical work alongside its equity financing. Management plans to complete Single Ascending Dose (SAD) and Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) Phase 1 studies of VNA-318 and, subject to positive Phase 1 results and regulatory approvals, initiate three parallel Phase 1b/2a efficacy studies in 2025. Vandria develops small-molecule mitophagy inducers aimed at rejuvenating cells to treat age-related and chronic diseases. Its lead program, VNA-318, is a brain-penetrant, patent-protected mitophagy inducer that has shown memory and learning improvement and disease-modifying effects in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. VNA-318 is expected to enter the clinic in Q2 2024. The company is also advancing mitophagy-inducing programs targeting muscle, lung, and liver diseases, and a separate program focused on ferroptosis. Vandria intends to use the Series A proceeds to expand operations and advance its development efforts. The company is led by CEO Klaus Dugi, CSO Penelope Andreux and Head of BD & Finance Peter Harboe-Schmidt, and is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Participated · Series A · Apr 2024

Rubedo Life Sciences develops novel small-molecule therapies engineered to selectively target various types of senescent cells using its ALEMBIC™ drug discovery platform. Its lead candidate, RLS-1496, is being advanced into Phase 1 studies for chronic atopic dermatitis and chronic psoriasis. The company is also developing programs targeting senescent cells in pulmonary diseases, including a program for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that received a substantial CIRM grant last year. Rubedo’s pipeline targets multiple therapeutic areas tied to aging biology, such as pulmonary, dermatological, oncological, neurodegenerative and fibrotic disorders. The company is led by CEO & Co‑Founder Marco Quarta with Ali Siam as Chief Business Officer and is based in Sunnyvale, California. Financially, Rubedo recently closed a $40M Series A to fund its clinical and preclinical programs. Rubedo Life Sciences develops novel senolytic small‑molecule prodrugs via its proprietary ALEMBIC drug discovery platform to selectively target pathologic senescent cells that drive age‑related diseases. The company is advancing a pharmacological regenerative program for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), aiming to characterize senescent lung stem and progenitor cells and to screen a library of senolytic prodrugs on IPF primary cells. Rubedo plans to nominate a lead senolytic development candidate and to develop a clinical study using a humanized IPF model. The program is supported by a $1.45M award from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Rubedo has partnered with Cedars‑Sinai for the IPF research, with Cory Hogaboam, PhD, leading the Cedars‑Sinai effort. The company is based in Sunnyvale, CA, and is led by CEO and co‑founder Marco Quarta, PhD. Rubedo Life Sciences develops novel small-molecule therapies engineered to selectively target senescent, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cell populations using its proprietary ALEMBIC™ drug discovery platform. The company’s lead programs focus on respiratory diseases with high unmet need, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Rubedo also has preclinical candidates in oncology and plans to pursue programs in neurodegenerative conditions, skeletal muscle disorders and other age-related diseases. The company plans to advance several compounds into IND-enabling studies in pulmonary diseases starting next year. Rubedo is based in Sunnyvale, California. It recently closed a seed financing to accelerate development of its clinical pipeline.