Participated · 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.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2024

Novocuff develops the Novocuff Cervical Control System (CCS), a medical device designed to stabilize and close the cervix to retain amniotic fluid and sustain cervical length with the goal of extending pregnancy. The company is focused on improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing preterm births caused by PPROM and cervical shortening. Novocuff says it aims to transform the standard of care and bring the device to global markets, including low- and middle-income countries. Proceeds from an oversubscribed $26 million Series A will fund team expansion, a U.S. multi-center pivotal clinical trial planned for early 2025, pursuit of marketing authorization, and early-stage commercialization. The company completed an initial $2 million seed round prior to the Series A and has added clinical hires Kathryn Wine (VP, Clinical Affairs) and Marissa VanDeVeer (Clinical Engineer). Novocuff frames its work against the global burden of preterm birth, citing WHO data that preterm complications caused roughly 1 million infant deaths in 2020.

Led · Series A · Nov 2023

Bright Uro develops the investigational Glean™ Urodynamics System, a comprehensive platform designed to enable wireless, catheter-free urodynamics monitoring to improve patient comfort and clinical decision-making. The system includes single-use disposable sensors, male and female insertion tools, a reusable uroflowmeter, and multiple software apps. In just 15 months after securing an exclusive IP license from the Cleveland Clinic, the company built, tested, and manufactured the complex system. Bright Uro is expanding its senior leadership team with hires including Suranjan Roychowdhury, Ph.D. as Chief Product Development Officer and Casey Kanel as Chief Commercial Officer. The company plans to use new funding to achieve FDA 510(k) clearance for Glean and to launch the product in the U.S. in 2024. Bright Uro is based in Irvine, Calif. Bright Uro develops the investigational Glean Urodynamics System, a wireless, catheter-free solution intended to improve accuracy, comfort, and ambulatory data collection for urodynamic testing. The Glean system includes an insertion tool, a Bluetooth-enabled pressure sensor housed in a flexible silicone tube, a clinician/patient software app, and a uroflowmeter. Bright Uro aims to move the urodynamics exam out of the urologist’s office and into patients’ homes to reduce cost and improve diagnostic quality. The company has exclusive rights to the catheter-free method via a licensing agreement with Cleveland Clinic for technology developed with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Case Western Reserve University, and Parker Hannifin Corporation. Bright Uro launched with seed financing and a government grant, positioning it to advance the investigational system through development and clinical validation. The company is based in Aliso Viejo, Calif.