Led · Series A · May 2022

Genascence completed the first closing of a Series A financing totaling $10.5M. The company intends to use the proceeds to accelerate clinical development of GNSC-001, its lead program in osteoarthritis. GNSC-001 is a recombinant adeno-associated vector carrying a coding sequence for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) designed to provide long-term inhibition of IL-1 following a single injection into the affected joint. Genascence was founded in 2017 in Palo Alto and licensed technology from Mayo Clinic, University of Florida and NYU Langone Health. The company was founded and is led by Thomas Chalberg, Ph.D., who was elected chairman of the board. As part of the financing, Brian Kotzin, M.D. and Jackson Streeter, M.D. joined Genascence’s board of directors.

Led · Equity · Dec 2021

CODA Biotherapeutics is developing a gene therapy‑mediated chemogenetic platform intended to modulate specific neuronal circuits for neurological disorders. The approach uses AAV‑mediated delivery of an engineered inhibitory receptor via standard neurosurgical procedures. The receptor is designed to remain quiescent until activated dose‑dependently by a novel, orally bioavailable small‑molecule agonist. CODA expects this controllable mechanism to produce durable symptom control while potentially avoiding off‑target or adverse effects of current treatments. The company is preclinical but plans to advance its neuropathic pain programs toward human clinical trials. Recent financing increased CODA’s cash balances to fund continued progress on its platform and initial indications. CODA Biotherapeutics is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company creating a gene therapy–mediated chemogenetic platform to control neuronal activity for neurological disorders. The company uses AAV vectors to deliver engineered inhibitory ligand-gated ion channel receptors that remain quiescent until activated by proprietary, orally bioavailable small-molecule agonists. CODA’s initial therapeutic focus is neuropathic pain, with epilepsy also cited as an area of interest. The firm intends to advance its receptor–ligand pairs toward human clinical trials to provide durable, targeted pain relief while minimizing off-target effects. CODA has been funded via a $670,000 NINDS SBIR grant over two years to support its neuropathic pain program and is participating in the NIH HEAL Initiative. The company was also selected to collaborate with NCATS to develop iPSC-derived Aβ sensory neurons to evaluate and characterize its inhibitory chemogenetic receptors. CODA is located in South San Francisco, California. Coda Biotherapeutics develops chemogenetic gene therapies that create engineered receptors in sensory neurons which can be activated by small-molecule drugs to silence pain signals. The company was co-founded by Joseph Glorioso and Dr. Nicholas Boulis and is led by president and CEO Michael Narachi. Coda repurposes a portfolio of previously developed receptor–small-molecule pairs that were discarded for lack of efficacy, engineering receptors to respond only to those man-made drugs. Its initial clinical focus is severe chronic neuropathic pain (which it cites as affecting more than 19 million Americans) and focal epilepsy (Coda says focal epilepsy represents about 60% of epilepsy manifestations; roughly 3.4 million people in the U.S. have epilepsy). So far the company has raised $34 million and recently secured a $15 million cash infusion from investors including Versant Ventures, MPM Capital and Astellas Venture Management. Proceeds will support preclinical work—Coda plans early animal trials followed by human clinical trials. Coda Biotherapeutics is a South San Francisco–based preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a chemogenetic gene therapy platform to treat intractable diseases. Its platform seeks to modify target cell populations via gene therapy to express a tunable “switch” protein that enables dose-dependent activation or inactivation of only the modified cells by a subsequently administered small-molecule therapeutic. The company’s initial clinical focus is neurological diseases, with the first application aimed at management of chronic neuropathic pain. Coda intends to use the Series A proceeds to advance its gene therapy platform toward the clinic. The company is led by president and CEO Michael Narachi, M.S., MBA, and its board includes partners from its investors alongside company founders and executives.

Led · Series A · Feb 2021

GeneQuine Biotherapeutics develops gene therapies aimed at musculoskeletal disorders, with a platform designed to produce therapeutic proteins locally in target tissues. Its lead candidate, GQ-303, is being developed as a locally administered treatment for osteoarthritis and has shown potential as symptomatic and disease‑modifying therapy in several animal models. The company plans to advance GQ-303 to a Phase 1 clinical trial, develop gene therapies for intervertebral disc degeneration, expand its gene therapy vector platform, and grow operations. GeneQuine raised a total of €9.05m in the described financing (see deal details). The company previously had a program acquired by Flexion Therapeutics in 2017 that is currently in clinical Phase 1 testing. GeneQuine is headquartered in Hamburg and has sites in Luckenwalde (greater Berlin area), Germany, and Liège, Belgium. GeneQuine Biotherapeutics develops gene therapy treatments for osteoarthritis, initially focusing on veterinary applications. Its lead product is GQ-201 for osteoarthritis in horses, with a second candidate aimed at dogs. The company's long-term goal is to develop a gene therapeutic drug for osteoarthritis in humans. The underlying gene therapy technology was co-developed by CEO and co-founder Kilian Guse at Dr. Brendan Lee’s research group at Baylor College of Medicine and has shown efficacy in an osteoarthritis mouse model. GeneQuine holds a worldwide, exclusive license for the technology. The company will use new funding to demonstrate proof-of-concept of GQ-201 in a horse osteoarthritis model.

Led · Seed · Sep 2020

Avalon.ai is an NYC-based AI enterprise software and data analytics company serving business, government, educational and healthcare silos. The company develops real-time healthcare enterprise solutions that connect customers with end users through smart technology. Its platform can measure metrics related to COVID-19 and provide data and analysis for other public-health challenges such as the opioid epidemic. Avalon.ai has formed partnerships with Oxford University, Fintel Labs, Code Skools and Pacira BioSciences. Led by CEO Christopher Malter, the company closed a $1.5M seed round to support growth. The capital will be used to expand Avalon.ai's reach in both the U.S. and Europe.

Led · Equity · Oct 2017

Tela Bio develops regenerative surgical implants. The company is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania. According to a recent SEC filing, Tela Bio has raised more than $2 million in investments. The firm had sought to raise a total of $3 million, per its SEC Form D filed Dec. 4. The article does not disclose investors, terms, or operating metrics beyond the fundraising figures. Tela Bio, Inc., based in Malvern, Pa., develops and commercializes OviTex Reinforced BioScaffolds (RBSs) for soft tissue repair. OviTex RBSs integrate biologic material derived from ovine rumen with a synthetic polymer in an embroidered construction that allows free movement of fluid and cells and supports functional tissue remodeling while providing strength and improved handling. The company first commercialized OviTex in July 2016 and has completed over 1,800 implantations to date across a range of hernia procedures and surgical techniques. Tela Bio and ProMedica Innovations plan to explore a strategic partnership in research and education with surgical specialists at the ProMedica Hernia Center. ProMedica Innovations Venture Fund has agreed to invest $1M, with the first half closing immediately and a second tranche contingent on revenue milestones outlined in the agreement. Antony Koblish is president and CEO. Tela Bio develops and markets the OviTex portfolio of surgical implants for ventral hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction. Its OviTex Reinforced BioScaffold (RBS) integrates biologic and synthetic materials in an embroidered construction that allows free movement of fluid and cells through the construct. OviTex RBS products have been used in over 1,000 implantations across a wide range of hernia patients and surgical techniques. TELA Bio holds exclusive commercial rights to OviTex for hernia repair and abdominal wall and breast reconstruction in the U.S. and European markets. The company plans to use new funding to scale clinical and commercial efforts and to develop OviTex products designed for additional soft tissue procedures such as breast reconstruction. Antony Koblish is the company's president and chief executive officer. TELA Bio is a stealth surgical reconstruction company reported to be working in regenerative/orthobiologic graft materials. The company is described in filings as led by Antony Koblish, who previously led Orthovita. Other board members noted in reporting include Kevin Rakin (former Advanced BioHealing CEO) and Maarten Persenaire (former Orthovita chief medical officer). The startup raised $45.3 million in equity according to a regulatory filing and has prior financings of $16.1 million (2012) and $6.0 million (2013). Reported directors include OrbiMed venture partner Vince Burgess and Adele Oliva of 1315 Capital. The company is based in Pennsylvania and remains largely stealthy; reporters say TELA Bio has not responded to inquiries about its technology or plans. Further public detail about products, commercialization plans, or operating metrics was not disclosed in the article.