Participated · Series B · Jun 2021

Tvardi Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule inhibitors of STAT3. Its lead product, TTI-101, is in a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced solid tumors who have failed all lines of therapy and has been reported as well-tolerated with multiple durable radiographic objective responses. Tvardi says its STAT3 inhibitors target a regulatory protein involved in cancer cell survival, immune evasion, and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. Proceeds from the recent financing will be used to advance its product candidates through multiple clinical data readouts in mid-stage trials for cancer and fibrosis. Management stated the financing positions the company to move out of stealth mode and grow its team. The company is based in Houston. Tvardi Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing small-molecule inhibitors of STAT3. Its lead compound, TTI-101, is undergoing validation and clinical development with planned trials in hepatocellular carcinoma and gastrointestinal cancers. The company received targeted grant awards to support both clinical trials and translational work, including HCC prevention efforts. Management includes Co-Founder and Director Ronald DePinho, M.D., and CEO Imran Alibhai, Ph.D. Tvardi is using newly awarded non-dilutive funding to advance ongoing clinical programs for TTI-101. The company is based in Houston, TX. Tvardi Therapeutics is a Houston, Texas–based clinical-stage private biopharmaceutical company focused on developing inhibitors of STAT3. Its lead compound, TTI-101, is in ongoing Phase 1 studies for solid tumor cancers. The company is also advancing a second product toward IND-enabling studies for non-cancer indications, including cachexia. Tvardi said it will use proceeds from its recent financing to complete the TTI-101 Phase 1 and the IND-enabling work for the second program. The company describes STAT3 as a key signaling molecule at the intersection of pathways controlling gene networks integral to cancer cell survival, immune sequestration, and the pathogenesis of inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. Tvardi was founded in 2017 by Ronald DePinho, M.D., and David Tweardy, M.D., both affiliated with MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Led · Series A · Jun 2021

Stellanova Therapeutics is advancing cancer therapies that target the tumor microenvironment, specifically carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Its lead program is an anti-DKK3 monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize a factor secreted by CAFs that promotes tumor progression and therapy resistance. In preclinical studies, anti-DKK3 antibody combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors produced sustained tumor eradication in mouse models of pancreatic cancer refractory to current chemo or immune therapies. The company intends to use the Series A proceeds to advance the lead antibody into first-in-human clinical trials, establish its discovery platform, and build its team. Emmanuelle Schuler, Ph.D., MBA, was appointed founding CEO, and Rosa Hwang, M.D., is a co-founder guiding the scientific focus. Stellanova is a resident company at JLABS @ TMC, a Johnson & Johnson biotech incubator in Houston’s Texas Medical Center.

Led · Series A · May 2021

Asylia Therapeutics is a development-stage biotechnology company advancing immune-modulating therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its platform centers on modulating antigen presentation to trigger cytotoxic T-cell responses, with a lead antibody, ASY-77A, that targets extracellular HSP70. ASY-77A is antigen-agnostic and has demonstrated anti-tumor activity across multiple established cancer models. HSP70’s role in shuttling tumor-derived antigens to dendritic cells and regulating macrophages and T-cells underpins the company’s mechanism to activate multiple arms of the immune system. The company plans to use the Series A proceeds to advance multiple assets into first-in-human clinical trials in oncology and to seek proof-of-concept signals in autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Asylia was founded in 2019 by three physician-scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and is based in Houston, Texas, and is supported by a $3 million grant from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas.