• Shoreline Biosciences

  Participated · Equity · Nov 2021

  Shoreline Biosciences is developing intelligently designed, off-the-shelf induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NK and macrophage cellular immunotherapies. The company focuses on standardized, targeted cell products including next-generation, more persistent iPSC-derived NK cells and macrophage-cell therapies. Shoreline is advancing proprietary iPSC differentiation methods, genetic reprogramming of disease-relevant pathways, and plans to create NK-specific CARs, switchable CAR-NK engagers, and macrophage-specific CARs. It targets both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors and has established strategic partnerships with Kite (a Gilead Company) and BeiGene. Shoreline also reports contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) partnerships to support manufacturing. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA and is well-capitalized to continue pipeline advancement. Shoreline Biosciences is developing intelligently designed allogeneic, off-the-shelf natural killer (NK) and macrophage cellular immunotherapies derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). The company focuses on standardized and targeted NK- and macrophage-based cell therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. It plans to use new funding to accelerate advancement of its proprietary iPSC platform and next-generation NK and macrophage cell therapy programs. Research efforts supported by the financing include work to create potent and persistent NK cell-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), switchable CAR-NK cell engagers, and macrophage-specific CARs. Shoreline has entered a strategic relationship with the Advanced Cell Therapy Laboratory of UC San Diego to secure GMP manufacturing of its cell therapy products. The company was co-founded by Dan Kaufman, M.D., Ph.D., along with Steven Holtzman, William Sandborn, M.D., and Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D.

• Structure Therapeutics

  Participated · Series B · Oct 2021

  Structure Therapeutics, formerly ShouTi, is a clinical-stage global biopharmaceutical company that leverages structural biology and computational design to discover next-generation small-molecule therapies focused on GPCR targets. Its lead program, GSBR-1290, is an orally available small-molecule GLP‑1 receptor agonist being developed for type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. The company completed dosing in a single ascending dose Phase 1 study of GSBR-1290 in 48 healthy volunteers to evaluate safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics; no serious adverse events were reported. Structure Therapeutics designs biased GLP‑1R agonists intended to mitigate β‑arrestin–mediated internalization and desensitization and to offer a differentiated oral alternative to peptide biologics. Proceeds from the recent financing will be used to advance the lead programs through clinical investigation and to expand application of its structure-based drug discovery platform across GPCR targets. The company announced a corporate name change to Structure Therapeutics to reflect its foundation in structural biology and computational design. ShouTi combines state-of-the-art computational chemistry, structural biology, and large-scale data integration to design orally available medicines with improved pharmaceutical properties. The platform focuses on high-resolution membrane protein structures, particularly GPCRs, to convert biologics and peptide therapeutics into small molecules with enhanced bioavailability and stability. ShouTi is advancing a clinical-stage pipeline targeting chronic cardiovascular, metabolic, and pulmonary diseases. Proceeds from its recent financing will be used to advance the discovery platform and continue development of the clinical-stage programs. The leadership team includes experienced drug developers and pioneers in high-throughput structure-based drug discovery, led by CEO Raymond Stevens. With the Series B, ShouTi has raised $158 million since initiating operations.

No current team members are available.