Participated · Series A · Jan 2025

Hinge Bio is a development-stage biotechnology company led by CEO Barry Selick, Ph.D., that leverages its proprietary GEM-DIMER™ platform to design multivalent, multispecific antibody-based therapeutics. The GEM-DIMER technology enables creation of antibody therapeutics that bind targets cooperatively to enhance biological activity and functionality. The company is advancing a lead product candidate, HB2198, intended for patients living with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus). Hinge Bio plans to use new funding to support entry of HB2198 into a Phase 1 clinical trial and to develop additional therapeutics from the GEM-DIMER platform. The company is based in Burlingame, CA. The article describes Hinge Bio as development-stage and does not disclose operating metrics beyond the financing.

Participated · Series D · Dec 2021

Freenome develops blood-based screening tests for early cancer detection using a multiomics platform that combines computational biology, machine learning, and other technologies. Its initial programs focus on colorectal and lung cancers, with single-cancer and tailored multi-cancer tests under development. The platform is also being evaluated with biopharma and diagnostic partners to non-invasively detect minimal residual disease (MRD) augmented by biological insights. The company has registrational studies underway, including PREEMPT CRC (>40,000 participants) and PROACT LUNG (up to 20,000 participants), plus multi-cancer research programs such as the Vallania Study (more than 6,200 participants) and additional studies totaling >10,000 paired RWD participants. Freenome intends to use the newly raised funds to advance its pipeline of single-cancer and multi-cancer early detection tests. The company is led by CEO Mike Nolan and is based in San Francisco, CA. Freenome develops a multiomics platform that uses routine blood draws to detect cancer in its earliest stages. Its core product is a blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) being validated in the large prospective registrational study PREEMPT CRC, which is nearing completion of enrollment. The company plans to commercialize the CRC screening test and expand the platform to detect other cancers, and has reported promising data in pancreatic cancer detection. Freenome combines molecular biology, computational biology, and machine learning to identify disease-associated patterns among circulating cell-free biomarkers. Financially, Freenome announced a $300M Series D and has raised over $800M in total financing since its 2014 founding. The new funding is intended to support commercialization and further development of multi-cancer tests. Freenome has developed a comprehensive multiomics platform to detect cancer early from a routine blood draw, beginning with a colorectal cancer screening test. The platform integrates genomics, transcriptomics, methylomics, and proteomics with advanced computational biology and machine learning to recognize disease-associated patterns among circulating cell-free biomarkers. Freenome launched the PREEMPT CRC FDA registrational clinical trial in May 2020 to support approval of its first front-line blood test for colorectal cancer screening and precancerous lesion detection. The company intends to use proceeds from the financing to accelerate PREEMPT CRC toward approval, reimbursement, and commercialization, advance a pipeline of blood tests for additional cancers, and continue building its proprietary multiomics platform. Financially, Freenome closed an oversubscribed $270 million Series C that brings total financing to over $500 million since the company’s launch. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. Freenome has built a multiomics platform that integrates assays for cell-free DNA, methylation, and proteins with computational biology and machine learning to detect early signs of cancer from a routine blood draw. The company’s first test targets colorectal cancer and uses a multidimensional view of tumor- and immune-derived signatures to improve sensitivity and specificity. Freenome reported promising clinical results at Digestive Disease Week showing high sensitivity and specificity in a cohort of mostly early-stage colorectal cancer patients. The company plans a pivotal validation study and intends to submit to the FDA and CMS under the Parallel Review Program for its colorectal cancer screening application. Proceeds from its recent financing will also fund expansion of laboratory infrastructure and software to support growth and future development. Freenome is headquartered in South San Francisco and was founded in 2014. Freenome is a health-technology company combining machine learning, biology and computer science to develop non-invasive disease screening assays based on cell-free DNA and other analytes. The company has collaborated with more than 25 research partners, including UCSD Moores Cancer Center, UCSF and MGH, and has processed thousands of samples through research and clinical trials. Freenome is working with five pharmaceutical companies to validate its software for clinical trial stratification and precision prescribing. The company is focused on scaling its technology and improving screening accuracy for lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers, with plans to address additional cancers and diseases. Proceeds from the Series A financing are being used to accelerate clinical trials, expand research, and advance its first products toward regulatory review. Headquartered in South San Francisco and launched in 2014, Freenome has raised more than $70 million since founding.

Led · Series B · Nov 2021

Quell Therapeutics is a London, UK and Boston, MA-based company developing engineered T‑regulatory (Treg) cell therapies to address serious medical conditions driven by the immune system. Its platform is designed to enable the design, engineering and scalable manufacture of therapeutic Treg products, and includes proprietary Phenotype‑Lock technology to stabilise an immunosuppressive phenotype, CAR modules for tissue targeting, and additional modules to enhance disease‑specific efficacy and safety. The lead candidate, QEL-001, is an antigen‑specific multi‑modular CAR‑Treg being developed to induce operational tolerance following liver transplantation and is entering the LIBERATE Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Quell is also advancing programs in neuroinflammatory and autoimmune diseases and is developing both autologous and allogeneic CAR‑Treg platforms. The company intends to use recently raised capital to fund LIBERATE, advance its pipeline across transplantation, neuroinflammation and autoimmunity, and accelerate platform development. Quell raised $156M in a Series B to support these efforts. Quell Therapeutics is developing engineered T regulatory (Treg) cell therapies that leverage Tregs' immune-suppressive capacity. The company aims to advance therapies for indications including solid organ transplant rejection and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Quell was founded by Syncona in partnership with six leading experts in Treg biology, cell engineering, transplantation and autoimmune disease. The company plans to use the Series A proceeds to initiate development of its first program and to build out operations and its management team. Syncona's team will work closely with Quell as it advances its programs and expands the company.

Participated · Series B · Nov 2021

Arbor Biotechnologies discovers and develops next-generation genetic medicines using a machine learning/AI-driven discovery platform that mines a proprietary protein database. The company has built what it describes as the most extensive toolbox of wholly owned CRISPR genomic editors in the industry. Using its platform, Arbor discovers, screens, and engineers novel editing enzymes and effectors that can be tailored to target the root causes of genetic diseases. Arbor has partnered with Vertex Pharmaceuticals on several gene editing and ex vivo cell therapy programs. The company plans to use new financing to advance lead liver and CNS programs into the clinic, progress a pipeline of precision editing therapeutics (including CRISPR nucleases and transposases), and continue investing in its discovery engine. Founded in 2016 and based in Cambridge, Mass., Arbor has raised over $300 million to date.

Participated · Series A · Sep 2021

Garuda Therapeutics develops proprietary hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapies designed to enable durable, self‑renewing, HLA‑compatible and transgene‑free blood stem cells that can be made available immediately for patients. The company is led by CEO Avanish Vellanki and is based in Cambridge, MA. Its technology focuses on producing HSCs that are human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatible and transgene‑free. Garuda said its platform yields self‑renewing blood stem cells intended to be durable in patients. The company raised $50M in a Series A‑1 financing to advance its development. Garuda plans to use the proceeds to advance its pipeline into the clinic, assemble an experienced team, scale in‑house manufacturing, and support general operating activities. Garuda Therapeutics is developing an off-the-shelf platform to generate self-renewing blood stem cells intended to eliminate dependence on donor or patient cells for transplants. The company aims to provide consistent, durable, HLA-compatible and transgene-free blood stem cell therapies that could address more than 120 diseases. Garuda is advancing programs toward the clinic for hematological diseases and is developing an HSC-derived off-the-shelf durable immune cell program for oncology indications. It is also working on HLA-matched pluripotent stem cells to broaden patient eligibility and access to cellular therapies. The company is based in Cambridge, Mass., and highlights scalability, durability, and broader accessibility as core objectives. Garuda’s leadership includes Co-Founder and CEO Dhvanit Shah, Ph.D., and the company recently added Raymond J. Kelleher, M.D., Ph.D., to its board. Garuda Therapeutics is building an off-the-shelf platform to generate self-renewing, HLA-compatible, transgene-free blood stem cells intended to provide rapid and consistent access to durable stem cell therapies. The platform aims to remove reliance on donor or patient cells, potentially addressing limitations in scale, timeliness, durability, quality and safety of current blood stem cell material. Garuda positions its technology to broaden access to curative bone marrow–style therapies and to reduce match barriers faced by racial minority and mixed-race patients. Its pipeline targets hematologic malignancies, sickle cell disease, β-thalassemia, bone marrow failure diseases and other indications. Garuda launched with an oversubscribed $72 million Series A financing. The company was founded by Dhvanit Shah, Ph.D., and includes scientific founders and advisors such as David Scadden, M.D., and Sean Morrison, Ph.D.