Led · Equity · Nov 2024

Endosense, founded in 2003 and based in Geneva, is developing a Force Sensor ablation catheter intended to provide physicians with an objective, real-time measure of contact between the catheter and the beating heart wall. The product aims to improve the safety and efficacy of percutaneous catheter ablation and to increase adoption of the procedure for treating atrial fibrillation. Management changes include the appointment of Eric Le Royer as CEO and CTO Giovanni Leo on the board; Dina Chaya of 3i and Claudio Nessi of NeoMed also joined the board following the financing. The company positions its catheter as a potential breakthrough that could drive wider international adoption of ablation therapy. Endosense states the technology could help capture a market that analysts project may exceed a billion dollars in sales over the next decade. The company completed a CHF 26 million (USD 20 million) financing to support bringing the technology to market. Endosense is a medical‑technology company that pioneered contact‑force measurement in catheter ablation and developed the TactiCath, the first force‑sensing ablation catheter providing real‑time, objective contact‑force data. The company focuses on improving the efficacy, safety and accessibility of catheter ablation procedures for cardiac arrhythmias. Proceeds from its Series C will support development of its pipeline and the roll‑out of the TactiCath® Quartz contact‑force sensing ablation catheter in Europe via a new direct sales force. Endosense is also advancing a program to gain access to the U.S. market, where the TactiCath is currently an investigational device. Financially, the company has completed multiple Series C closings totaling USD 44.6 million (CHF 41.4 million). Endosense was founded in Geneva in 2003 and is backed by a syndicate of investors including Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Neomed, Gimv, VI Partners, Sectoral Asset Management, Ysios Capital Partners, Initiative Capital Romandie and NGN Capital. Endosense is a Swiss medical technology company focused on improving the efficacy, safety and reproducibility of catheter ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Its core product is the proprietary force-sensing ablation catheter, the TactiCath. The Geneve-based company announced it received US$36m in Series B financing. The company will use the proceeds to fund European commercialization and a U.S. Premarket Approval (PMA) clinical study of the TactiCath. The financing is intended to support regulatory and commercialization activities for the device in Europe and the U.S.

Participated · Equity · Mar 2021

Oxular develops sustained‑release formulations and a semi‑automated ocular delivery device to treat retinal diseases with the goal of providing up to 12 months of effect from a single administration. Its lead asset, OXU‑001, is a sustained‑release formulation of dexamethasone designed to provide up to 12 months of treatment for diabetic macular edema following one administration. The company’s platform includes Oxuspheres™, a biodegradable polymer sustained‑release system, and Oxulumis™, an illuminated microcatheter device for suprachoroidal delivery. Oxular says this combination aims to improve therapeutic precision, reduce treatment frequency, and lower the burden on patients and healthcare systems. Its pipeline includes OXU‑003 for retinoblastoma (recently granted Rare Pediatric Disease and Orphan‑Drug designations by the FDA), OXU‑004 for uveal melanoma, and OXU‑005 for AMD and diabetic retinopathy. The company plans Phase 2 studies for OXU‑001 and intends to advance OXU‑003 to Phase 2 in 2022, while preparing OXU‑004 and OXU‑005 for IND submissions; it raised financing to support these activities and to build its team. Precision Ocular is developing novel retinal treatments engineered to access specific small spaces in the eye and provide drug distribution to tissues involved in retinal diseases. Its product development pipeline targets prevalent retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema, as well as rare and orphan indications. The company also aims to enable development of next-generation ocular drug delivery systems capable of administering cell and gene therapies to the back of the eye. Founded in 2014 and led by CEO Tom Cavanagh, Precision Ocular is based in Oxford, UK. It closed a £15.5m Series A to advance these programs and platform technologies. Investors in the round include Imperial Innovations, Consort Medical plc, NeoMed, V-Bio Ventures and Hovione Scientia Ltd.

Participated · Equity · Feb 2020

JenaValve designs, develops and commercializes the Trilogy Heart Valve System, a TAVR platform intended to treat symptomatic, severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and aortic stenosis (AS) in high surgical risk patients. The Trilogy System received CE Mark approval in May 2021 and is positioned as a dual‑disease treatment device. The company has received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for ALIGN-AR to facilitate review of a pivotal U.S. trial as part of a PMA filing. JenaValve intends to use its recent financing to complete an IDE/PMA study to obtain FDA approval for Trilogy in AR patients. Proceeds will also support real‑world data development in Europe and expansion of worldwide manufacturing capabilities. The company is led by CEO John Kilcoyne and operates locations in Irvine, CA, Leeds, U.K., and Munich, Germany. JenaValve Technology develops and manufactures differentiated transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) systems, including the Trilogy® TAVR system. The Trilogy system is intended to treat patients with severe symptomatic aortic regurgitation (AR) and aortic stenosis (AS). JenaValve is conducting the ALIGN-AR PMA clinical trial (IDE approved August 2021) and reports patient enrollment remains on track as it pursues U.S. FDA approval for the Trilogy Heart Valve System. The company said the capital from the new partnership will support the ALIGN-AR trial and accelerate expansion of its current commercial activities in Europe. JenaValve is headquartered in Irvine, California, with additional locations in Leeds, U.K., and Munich, Germany. Existing backers include Bain Capital Life Sciences, Cormorant Asset Management, Andera Partners, Gimv, Legend Capital, NeoMed Management, RMM, Valiance Life Sciences, VI Partners and Peijia Medical. JenaValve develops the JenaValve Pericardial TAVR System, a self‑expanding nitinol stent with a porcine pericardial valve available in three sizes. The device is investigational and not available for sale in the U.S. or internationally. The company is conducting a global multicenter clinical program targeting severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and AR‑dominant mixed aortic valve disease in high‑risk surgical patients. JenaValve recently received Breakthrough Device designation from the U.S. FDA, which allows priority review of its Align Clinical Trial. Following completion of the Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) portion of the trial, enrollment will continue to support a Premarket Approval (PMA) submission under the Breakthrough program. The company also anticipates filing for CE mark approval for both aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation in the second half of 2020. JenaValve Technology develops, manufactures and markets next-generation transcatheter aortic valve repair (TAVR) systems to treat patients with aortic valve disease. Its Transapical TAVR system (JenaValve valve plus Cathlete PLUS delivery) has CE Mark approval for aortic stenosis and the unique indication to treat aortic valve insufficiency. The company currently markets this product in Europe and selected markets worldwide and has operating locations in Munich, Germany and Irvine, California. JenaValve completed a $26.5 million Series C expansion financing to fund further growth in the global TAVR market. Proceeds will support key clinical studies required to gain European regulatory approval and to complete a U.S. feasibility study for a new aortic valve and transfemoral delivery system. The financing is positioned to help JenaValve advance its product pipeline and execute regulatory and clinical plans. JenaValve Technology develops, manufactures and markets transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) systems, including a CE‑marked transapical TAVI system currently sold in Europe and other markets. Its JenaValve prosthesis pairs a porcine bioprosthesis with a Nitinol self‑expanding stent and features a “3‑feeler element” for accurate positioning plus a JenaClip anchoring mechanism; the valve is retrievable and repositionable and implanted on the beating heart. The company’s transfemoral TAVI system entered a first‑in‑man clinical study at the end of 2013 and was anticipated to be commercially available in 2015. JenaValve positions its devices as second‑generation TAVI products aimed at easing implantation and reducing pacemaker implantation and paravalvular leakage. Financially, the company expanded its Series C by $10 million, bringing the round total to $72.5 million. JenaValve is a U.S. corporation with primary operations in Munich and was founded by cardiologists Prof. Hans R. Figulla and Prof. Markus Ferrari.

Participated · Equity · Jan 2020

Sonendo, based in Laguna Hills, California and founded in 2006 by Fjord Ventures, develops innovative technologies for dentists. Its flagship GentleWave® System offers an alternative to traditional root canal treatment and departs from standard file-based cleaning techniques. The company reports that over 300,000 patients have been treated with the GentleWave System. Sonendo is also the parent company of TDO® Software, an endodontic practice management platform that integrates practice management, imaging, social media, referral reporting, CBCT imaging and communication with the GentleWave System. The company is led by President and CEO Bjarne Bergheim and continues to develop and expand its dental technology offerings. Sonendo develops dental technologies focused on improving root canal treatment, with its flagship GentleWave® System offering an alternative to standard file-based methods of tissue removal and disinfection. The GentleWave System is available in the US. The company is led by President and CEO Bjarne Bergheim and is based in Laguna Hills, Calif. Sonendo raised $50M in growth funding to support its commercial trajectory. The company intends to use the proceeds to accelerate ongoing commercialization efforts and to expand and diversify its current product portfolio. No operating metrics were disclosed in the article. Sonendo is a Laguna Hills, California developer of dental technology centered on the GentleWave® System. The company positions the GentleWave System as an alternative to standard root canal treatment and, available in the U.S., shows significant improvements in clinical efficacy and treatment efficiency compared with standard techniques. Led by President and CEO Bjarne Bergheim, Sonendo intends to use new funding to advance commercialization of the GentleWave System. It also plans to develop additional products in adjacent verticals. Sonendo completed a $35M equity financing to support these efforts, and Michael Zhao of DiNovA Capital joined the company’s board in conjunction with the financing. Sonendo, based in Laguna Hills, California, develops technology for the endodontic marketplace, principally the GentleWave System for root canal therapy. The GentleWave System is 510(k) FDA cleared, debuted at the American Association of Endodontists annual meeting in May, and is currently in limited market release. Led by President and CEO Bjarne Bergheim, the company is launching the system and aims to change the standard of care for root canal procedures. Sonendo completed a $35m equity financing to support further technology development, fund clinical studies, and commercialize the GentleWave System. The company previously closed a $10m debt financing with Oxford Finance in April 2014 and raised $18m in venture capital in June 2013. Paul Madera of Meritech Capital Partners joined Sonendo’s board in conjunction with the round. Sonendo develops technology for the endodontic marketplace, focusing on systems to transform traditional endodontic therapy. Its core product is the Multisonic Ultracleaning System, which is set to launch in 2014. The company closed a $10M venture debt facility intended to commercialize that system. Sonendo is led by President and CEO Bjarne Bergheim. Investors in the company include OrbiMed Advisors LLC, Themes Investment Partners, Fjord Ventures, NeoMed Management and Oxford Finance LLC. The company is based in Laguna Hills, California.

Participated · Series D · Apr 2017

Arsanis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted monoclonal antibodies for pre-emptive and post-infection treatment of serious bacterial and viral diseases. Its lead program, ASN100—a combination of two human mAbs, ASN-1 and ASN-2—broadly neutralizes six Staphylococcus aureus cytotoxins and has received FDA Fast Track designation. A global Phase 2 study of a single dose of ASN100 versus placebo for prevention of S. aureus pneumonia in high-risk mechanically ventilated patients is underway, with data anticipated in 2018. The company plans to complete the ASN100 Phase 2 study and to advance preclinical gram-negative programs and its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) program toward the clinic. Arsanis is also conducting discovery research in neonatal S. aureus sepsis with the potential for future funding to advance a neonatal sepsis candidate. The company is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, with European research and preclinical development operations in Vienna, Austria. Arsanis is developing human monoclonal antibodies targeting severe infectious diseases, with a lead program ASN-100 — a monoclonal antibody cocktail for hospital-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections — currently in manufacture for clinical trials. The company’s pipeline includes preclinical programs against multi-drug resistant gram-negative pathogens Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, plus a program targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae. Arsanis combines in-house infectious disease expertise with antibody discovery and optimization through a partnership with Adimab LLC. Founded in 2010, the company plans to use recent funding to advance ASN-100 into clinical development while maturing its broader anti-infective antibody portfolio. Financially, Arsanis closed a $20 million Series B and has secured over $7 million in non-dilutive grant funding, with potential for an additional $20 million of grant support over the next three years. Leadership includes co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Eszter Nagy and co-founder/chair Tillman Gerngross; Dr. Claudio Nessi of NeoMed will join the board as part of the recent financing. Arsanis focuses on development of monoclonal antibody therapeutics targeting severe infectious diseases, including antibiotic-resistant pathogens and infections in immune-compromised patients. The company uses first-in-class monoclonal antibody discovery technologies to select highly potent antibodies with unique qualities. Its pipeline is at pre-clinical stage, with plans to advance the most successful programs into clinical proof-of-relevance studies. Proceeds from its recent financing will support several pre-clinical proof-of-concept programs across anti-microbial infectious disease targets. The company was founded in fall 2010 by Dr. Eszter Nagy, Dr. Tillman Gerngross and Errik Anderson, and will initiate operations in Vienna, Austria. Management emphasizes building a broad portfolio of infectious disease targets and advancing programs based on pre-clinical success.