Participated · Series B · Dec 2025

Protego Biopharma engineers first-in-class pharmacological chaperones that stabilize misfolded proteins, preventing toxic amyloid accumulation at the root of systemic amyloid diseases. Its lead candidate, PROT-001, targets immunoglobulin light chains and is being advanced toward a pivotal trial for AL amyloidosis, a rare and often fatal condition with limited treatment options. The company’s platform, grounded in human genetics and protein-folding biology, positions it to address a broad spectrum of protein misfolding disorders beyond AL amyloidosis. Protego’s approach aims to deliver disease-modifying rather than symptomatic therapies, representing a potential paradigm shift in this field. Backed by a syndicate of blue-chip life-science investors, the company is now well capitalized following its Series B raise. Although still pre-revenue, Protego benefits from renewed investor confidence and plans to use the new capital primarily for clinical development and regulatory activities related to PROT-001.

Participated · Series B · Jun 2019

BlackThorn Therapeutics is a clinical-stage neurobehavioral health company that applies machine learning and computational sciences to develop personalized therapies for mental disorders. The company has been focused on a drug candidate for mood disorders and reported positive Phase I results in April. BlackThorn plans to use new funding to advance its clinical-stage programs for mood disorders and to pursue potential treatments for autism spectrum disorder, targeting a clinical investigation in 2020. Its data-driven approaches are intended to yield patient enrichment strategies to address patient heterogeneity and improve trial success and patient outcomes. The company has been building its team, adding a chief medical officer and a vice president of corporate affairs, and expanded its board with investor representatives in conjunction with the financing. Proceeds will support advancing the platform and therapeutic pipeline at the intersection of technology and clinical neuroscience. BlackThorn Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing targeted treatments for neurobehavioral disorders. Its INFORM™ platform links brain physiology to behavior using advanced functional imaging and objective assessment tools. The company is building a pipeline of first- and best-in-class small molecules and collaborates with academic investigators to enable focused, rapid translational studies. BlackThorn’s lead clinical-stage asset is BTRX-246040, a first-in-class antagonist of the nociceptin receptor (NOPR), a target linked to multiple neurobehavioral disorders. The company plans to use additional funding to advance BTRX-246040 through Phase 2 clinical development and to conduct exploratory pilot studies in targeted indications. BlackThorn is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. BlackThorn Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing targeted treatments for neurobehavioral disorders. Its lead program, BTRX-246040, is a first-in-class antagonist of the nociceptin receptor (NOPR) and is entering Phase 2 clinical trials, leading a pipeline of small-molecule programs. Development is enabled by the company's INFORM™ platform, which links brain physiology to behavior using advanced functional imaging and objective assessment tools. The company says it will build a robust portfolio of first- and best-in-class treatments by leveraging advances in neuroscience and by segmenting patient subpopulations for more targeted trials. BlackThorn has assembled an experienced management team and a distinguished scientific advisory board drawn from top research institutions. Financially, the company closed a $40 million Series A financing to support its clinical and discovery efforts.