Led · Series C · Jan 2026

Ukko is developing next-generation allergy treatments by re-engineering allergenic proteins and delivering them via mRNA/LNP formulations to avoid severe reactions while retraining the immune system. Its lead drug candidate, UKK-0018, targets peanut allergy and has shown strong tolerability and protection against anaphylaxis in animal models. Regulatory clearance has been secured in Australia and New Zealand to launch a Phase 1/2a trial in 1H 2026 that will enroll roughly 32–40 adult subjects, with initial data expected in early 2027. The company’s proprietary platform is intended to be scalable to additional allergens such as milk, tree nuts, and respiratory triggers. Ukko recently strengthened its leadership team by appointing Matt Ottmer as COO and Grace Chen-Philips, M.D., as CMO. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Rechovot, Israel, Ukko believes its approach can overcome safety and tolerability limitations of existing exposure-based desensitization methods. A $45 million Series C round is expected to fund operations, including the planned clinical study, through 2027.

Led · Equity · Oct 2024

Vensica Medical is a urology therapeutics company developing a proprietary needle-free delivery system for Xeomin® (botulinum toxin A) aimed at treating overactive bladder (OAB). The company’s platform is intended to provide a minimally invasive, needle-less alternative for delivering botulinum toxin A. Vensica plans to use newly raised capital to accelerate upcoming Phase 2 clinical trials across the United States and Europe. As part of a strategic partnership with Merz, Vensica has secured exclusive rights to Xeomin® in needle-less therapeutic applications in several urologic indications and will receive Merz’s clinical development support. The company was established in the incubator program of The Trendlines Group and The Israel Innovation Authority and maintains an office in Herzliya, Israel. Leadership includes CEO Avner Geva and CTO Avi Eftel. Vensica is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a proprietary ultrasound-assisted drug delivery platform for urological indications including overactive bladder, neurogenic bladder, and interstitial cystitis. The company has an exclusive arrangement with Merz Therapeutics to use Merz’s botulinum neurotoxin A (Xeomin®) for needle-free urological procedures. Vensica plans to use the new funding to conduct phase II multicenter clinical trials in Europe and the USA. It also intends to expand its workforce in Israel to support clinical and regulatory development of its device in collaboration with Merz. Vensica was founded in 2015 by Avner Geva and is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company is in the clinical development stage and is advancing its device and combination product toward later-stage trials. Vensica Medical is developing VensiCare, an ultrasound-based, needle-free drug-delivery system whose initial indication is delivery of botulinum toxin to treat overactive bladder (OAB). The company also holds intellectual property for delivering oncology agents to the bladder. Led by CEO Avner Geva, Vensica plans to commence human clinical trials of VensiCare for OAB in the fourth quarter of 2018. Vensica received a $2M investment from Cogentix Medical. Cogentix will take one seat on Vensica’s board and received options to acquire the entire company for an additional $8M. Cogentix is a global medical device company (NASDAQ: CGNT) focused on the Urology, Uro/Gyn and Gynecology markets.

Led · Series C · Dec 2020

Biosight is a private Phase 2 clinical‑stage biotechnology company developing therapeutics for hematological malignancies and disorders. Its lead asset, BST‑236 (aspacytarabine), is a proprietary anti‑metabolite composed of cytarabine covalently bound to asparagine and acts as a pro‑drug designed to enable high‑dose therapy with lower systemic exposure and reduced toxicity. BST‑236 has received FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations and is being investigated as a single‑agent first‑line treatment for AML in a multi‑center Phase 2b trial in the U.S. and Israel. Biosight plans to expand BST‑236 into two additional Phase 2 trials — one in Europe and another in the U.S. — to evaluate relapsed/refractory MDS and AML, including a collaboration with the European cooperative group GFM. The company completed a deferred close of its Series C, bringing total proceeds to $46M to advance these clinical programs. Management states the funds will support additional clinical launches and continued enrollment in the ongoing Phase 2b study, with updated data reported at the 2020 ASH Annual Meeting. BioSight develops innovative chemotherapy pro-drugs designed to reduce toxicity, with a lead candidate called Astarabine. Astarabine is a compound of the chemotherapy drug cytarabine (Ara-C) and the amino acid asparagine intended for the treatment of AML. The company is completing a Phase I/IIa clinical trial of Astarabine as monotherapy for AML and ALL at Rambam Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Tsila Zuckerman. BioSight plans to advance Astarabine into a multi-center Phase IIb clinical trial using recently raised funds. The company is led by Co-Founder and Chief Scientist Stela Gengrinovitch, PhD, and CEO Ruth Ben Yakar, PhD. BioSight is based in Karmiel, Israel.

Participated · Series B · May 2019

Ayala Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in November 2017 with operations in Rehovot, Israel and Wilmington, Delaware. The company is developing AL101 and AL102, best-in-class gamma secretase (pan‑Notch) inhibitors, with clinical and preclinical studies underway. AL101 is in Phase 2 for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and Ayala intends to initiate a Phase 2 trial in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) bearing Notch activating mutations/fusions. AL102 is being investigated in hematologic malignancies, and Ayala is collaborating with Novartis in multiple myeloma. The FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development has granted Orphan Drug Designation to AL101 for potential treatment of ACC. The company is focused on advancing its lead candidates through clinical development.

Led · Series B · Jan 2019

Biond Biologics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapies for cancer and INspire, a platform that enables intracellular delivery of biologics. Its leading development programs include BND-22 (an ILT2-blocking antibody), BND-67 (a CD28 signaling modulator) and BND-35 (an ILT3 antibody). BND-22 is being developed in a strategic collaboration with Sanofi and the first patient has been dosed in the first-in-human phase 1 trial. The company expects potential milestone payments from Sanofi that it says will help advance preclinical programs to the clinic. Biond aims to translate immunoregulatory discoveries into transformational drugs and to enable delivery of protein therapeutics to intracellular targets currently considered undruggable. The company recently closed a $15 million Series C to support advancement of its pipeline and platform. Biond Biologics, founded in 2016 by the former scientific team of cCam Biotherapeutics, is focused on discovery and development of immune-based therapies. Its in-house pipeline centers on newly discovered immune-checkpoints and immune-evasion mechanisms. The lead preclinical candidate, BION-202, is a novel macrophage activator that the company intends to advance into clinical trials; BION-206 is being developed to overcome a natural immune suppression mechanism. Biond is also developing a proprietary antibody cell-internalization platform to enable intracellular targeting of biologics. The company seeks collaborations with leading pharma groups to translate its science into therapies for diseases with unmet medical need and recently closed a $17 million Series B to fund near-term development.