• ENYO Pharma

  Participated · Series B · Jun 2018

  ENYO Pharma, based in Lyon, France, is developing highly selective FXR agonists—lead candidate Vonafexor and fast follower EYP651—as once-daily oral treatments for renal diseases. Vonafexor showed an effect on renal function (eGFR) in the Phase 2 LIVIFY study of patients with kidney impairment and fibrotic liver disease, and preclinical Alport syndrome and CKD mouse models showed beneficial effects on kidney remodeling and function. In 2023 Vonafexor received Orphan Drug Designation from both the EMA and the FDA for Alport syndrome. ENYO recently received FDA clearance of its IND to initiate the Phase 2 Alpestria-1 study in Alport syndrome. The company plans to further profile Vonafexor in other kidney diseases such as Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). A recent financing will support the Alpestria-1 study and continued clinical development. ENYO Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class small-molecule therapeutics that mimic virus strategies to modulate host cellular functions. Its lead candidate, EYP001, is an orally bioavailable synthetic non-steroidal, non-bile acid FXR agonist currently in phase Ib and is planned to enter two Phase II trials in chronic HBV and NASH before the end of 2018. ENYO positions EYP001 as targeting cccDNA to pursue an HBV cure and reports efficacy in preclinical NASH models with differentiated C4/FGF19 pharmacology. A second asset, EYP002, is a first-in-class chemical series slated for IND-enabling studies in H2 2018 and planned to enter the clinic by 2019. The company has built a discovery engine based on a database of virus–human protein–protein interactions to discover cellular targets and design small molecules. ENYO was incorporated in January 2014 and is headquartered in Lyon, France, with a subsidiary in Melbourne, Australia. ENYO Pharma is focused on developing treatments for viral infections and other infectious diseases through modulation of host cell biology, building on an internal drug development programme around an autophagy target. Its MIMESIS project expands prior feasibility work to an industrialised screening effort using a proprietary library of 10,000 small molecules and original peptides designed to disrupt protein:protein interactions and modulate intracellular targets. The library will be screened in phenotypic assays for inhibitors of several viruses (Influenza, RSV, HRV, Zika), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and for inducers of immunogenic cell death in tumors. With a total MIMESIS budget of €3.6 million over 24 months, most promising chemistries will enter hit‑to‑lead optimisation programmes funded within the EU grant. Those optimisation efforts targeting novel intracellular mechanisms are intended to generate new intellectual property. Upon completion of MIMESIS, ENYO plans to further optimise its best chemical series internally or in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners up to clinical proof of concept. ENYO Pharma develops therapeutics that block interactions between viral proteins and human intracellular proteins, targeting host cellular functions required for viral replication. The company’s platform arose from work by an Inserm team in Lyon and has produced licensed patents and identified new human drug targets. Its flagship programme targets hepatitis B, with plans to accelerate clinical development following a new financing round. ENYO expects Phase I trials in the first half of 2016 and Phase II trials in chronic hepatitis B patients by 2017. The company says the approach may limit resistance and could apply to other severe viruses, including emerging influenza strains. The recent financing is intended to speed rollout of the hepatitis B programme and broader discovery efforts.

• Advicenne

  Participated · Equity · Mar 2017

  Advicenne develops paediatric-friendly therapeutics focused on orphan renal and neurological diseases, with lead programs in nephrology and neurology. Its lead product, ADV7103, is in a pivotal Phase III trial in Europe targeting a renal tubulopathy (an orphan indication). The company expects to announce Phase III results for ADV7103 during summer 2017 and is pursuing a second renal indication in Europe. Advicenne also plans the registration of ADV6209, a paediatric anaesthesiology product it outlicensed to Primex Pharmaceuticals in 2016. The company is led by CEO Dr. Luc-André Granier. Recently it closed a €16M financing (approx. $17.2M) to advance its late-stage pipeline. Advicenna Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and marketing paediatric products targeting neurological diseases and nephrological disorders. The company is based in Castries, France and was founded in 2007. It is led by Luc André Granier and Mme Caroline Roussel-Maupetit. Advicenna intends to use the newly raised funds to advance its programs clinically and to enroll its first products. The articles note the company previously raised its first round in its founding year. The current financing increases resources available to support clinical development and regulatory progress.

• GamaMabs Pharma

  Participated · Series B · Dec 2015

  GamaMabs Pharma develops innovative monoclonal antibodies targeting cancer, led by CEO Stéphane Degove. Its lead candidate, GM102 (formerly 3C23K), targets the Anti‑Mullerian Human Receptor II (AMHRII/MISRII) in gynecological cancers and is in pre‑IMPD stage. The company planned first‑in‑man clinical trials of GM102 in the first half of 2016. GamaMabs intends to use the proceeds from its Series B to conduct the phase I and phase II clinical trials of GM102. The company previously raised €3.6m in a 2013 Series A led by InnoBio (Bpifrance). GamaMabs Pharma was launched to develop new cancer therapies and its lead product is a monoclonal antibody, 3C23K, targeting gynecological cancers including ovarian cancer. The company holds an exclusive global sublicense from the LFB group for 3C23K and is supported by LFB’s EMABling® platform. 3C23K has shown effectiveness in experimental models of ovarian cancer and the program is developed in collaboration with Inserm, Université de Montpellier and the Institut du cancer de Montpellier. Management includes Dr Jean-François Prost (VP R&D and Strategy) and Stéphane Degove (CEO). The financing will be used to validate the therapeutic concept and to prepare the company’s first clinical trial, with an aim to launch clinical trials in 2015. LFB also provides bioproduction capacity through its subsidiary LFB Biomanufacturing and holds a minor equity participation in GamaMabs Pharma.

• Biom'Up

  Participated · Series C · Sep 2015

  Biom'Up develops a new generation hemostatic product, HEMOBLAST TM, and markets proprietary collagen-based products including COVA TM, COVAMESH TM and MATRITM BONE. The company focuses on absorbable medical devices for use in biosurgery. Management is led by CEO Étienne Binant. Biom'Up reported turnover of more than €3m in 2014 and expected over 30% sales growth for its existing product portfolio in 2015. The company plans to use new funds to further develop HEMOBLAST TM, specifically to support its clinical study activities in Europe and North America. Operations are based in Saint-Priest, France. Biom'Up designs, develops and manufactures re-absorbable medical implants for a range of surgical applications from nerve regeneration to cardio-thoracic surgery. Its marketed products include COVA, a membrane for prevention of adhesions and controlled healing available in Europe and the US, and MATRI BONE, a bone regeneration matrix sold in Europe. The company employs 27 people, including eight engineers and three doctors. Biom'Up plans to use new funding to strengthen its sales team to accelerate domestic and export roll-out and to finance a phase III clinical trial in Europe and the US for a new product range targeting major surgery and regenerative medicine markets. It has initiated a US development strategy by filing initial 510(k) applications with the FDA and establishing a multidisciplinary scientific advisory board of opinion leaders in France and the US. Founded in 2005 and based in Lyon, France, Biom'Up is focused on advancing its clinical pipeline and commercial expansion.

• Sensorion

  Led · Equity · Jan 2015

  Sensorion is a biotech spinoff founded within Inserm in 2009 that focuses on treatments for inner ear pathologies such as acute vertigo, tinnitus and progressive hearing loss. The company has developed a technological platform centered on hair‑cell biology to identify and test symptomatic and anti‑lesional drug candidates. Its lead candidate, SENS‑111, is intended to treat bouts of vertigo or tinnitus; a second programme targeting progressive inner‑ear lesions is also advancing toward clinical testing. Sensorion plans to start a 1b clinical trial for SENS‑111 in Q1 2015 and to select a second drug candidate for clinical development. The company employs 15 staff, holds a portfolio of seven patent families, and reports financial backing from Bpifrance and Inserm Transfert Initiative. Financially, Sensorion completed a milestone‑based funding round of up to €4 million that brings total funds raised since its 2009 founding to €10 million. Sensorion develops innovative and targeted therapeutic solutions to treat vestibular deficits, including novel vestibuloplegics intended to relieve vertigo symptoms. The company aims to protect and restore vestibular function through its therapeutic programs. Founded in June 2009 by four scientists, Sensorion is a spin-off of the Pathophysiology and Therapy of Vestibular Deficits research team (INSERM U583). Its research base is at the Montpellier Neuroscience Institute on the Gui de Chauliac Hospital campus. Sensorion recently raised €750K in funding to reinforce its development capacities. The investment was made by CDC Entreprises via InnoBio under the FSI France Investissement program.

No current team members are available.