Participated · Equity · Jan 2009

Anacor Pharmaceuticals is a Palo Alto-based biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule therapeutics derived from its boron chemistry platform. The company has discovered and is developing five clinical compounds, including lead programs AN2690 (a topical antifungal for onychomycosis), AN2728 (a topical anti-inflammatory PDE-4 inhibitor for psoriasis) and GSK 2251052 (a systemic antibiotic optioned to GlaxoSmithKline). Additional candidates include AN2718 (topical antifungal) and AN2898 (topical anti-inflammatory for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis). Anacor is privately held; investors include Rho Ventures, Venrock Associates, Care Capital Investments and Aberdare Ventures. Financially, Anacor was awarded approximately $1.5M from the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program, with $1.4M payable in November 2010 and $0.1M in the first quarter of 2011. The grant is part of a federal program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to support research aimed at producing new therapies for unmet medical needs. Anacor Pharmaceuticals develops topical treatments for fungal infections of the nails. The company is based in Palo Alto, Calif. Its lead program is a topical antifungal aimed at onychomycosis and is being advanced toward phase three clinical trials. Anacor has partnerships with GlaxoSmithKline and Schering‑Plough, both of which became stockholders. Financially, the company recently raised $50 million in a fifth round, bringing total capital raised to $87 million. It previously raised $5 million in a fourth round in 2006 and withdrew an IPO filing two weeks earlier due to poor market conditions.