Participated · Grant · Jun 2026

Lys Therapeutics is developing LYS241, a fully humanized, Fc‑silent IgG1 monoclonal antibody designed to selectively block the pathological interaction between tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and NMDA receptors while preserving physiological receptor function. The company is positioning LYS241 to address blood‑brain barrier dysfunction, neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity across Parkinson’s disease, synucleinopathies including multiple system atrophy, and ischemic stroke. Preclinical data cited by the company support potential effects on BBB dysfunction, neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative progression, and suggest relevance as a standalone or adjunctive therapy in ischemic stroke to improve reperfusion quality and reduce complications. Lys has completed preclinical, regulatory, manufacturing and translational milestones and plans a biomarker‑rich Phase 1a/1b program including healthy volunteers and indication‑specific patient cohorts. Financially, the company has raised more than €25 million since founding in 2021, including a grant of over $5 million from The Michael J. Fox Foundation and support from Bpifrance, France 2030 and private investors.

Led · Grant · Jun 2026

Neuron23 is developing NEU-411, a potent, selective, brain-penetrant oral inhibitor of the LRRK2 kinase pathway intended to treat LRRK2-driven Parkinson’s disease. The company is running the global Phase 2 NEULARK clinical trial that prospectively identifies patients with LRRK2-driven disease and randomized them to receive NEU-411 or placebo for a 52-week treatment period. NEULARK is among the first Parkinson’s trials to apply a precision medicine approach and uses Roche’s smartphone-based digital biomarker software to frequently monitor motor and non-motor symptoms. Neuron23 has identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms predicted to drive LRRK2 overactivity in up to 30% of people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and includes people with LRRK2 gene mutations in its target population. The company is expanding NEULARK into Israel with clinical sites in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa and recently screened its first patient there. Neuron23 has partnered with Sano Genetics to streamline referrals and offer saliva test kits to identify potential trial participants. The $2.5 million grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation will support site activation and patient screening for the Israeli expansion.

Led · Equity · Mar 2026

Casma Therapeutics is engineering therapies that target the cell’s autophagy and lysosomal systems to eliminate disease-causing cellular waste. Its lead program, CSM-101, is an orally bioavailable, brain-penetrant small-molecule agonist of the lysosomal ion channel TRPML1 intended to restore lysosomal function and provide disease-modifying benefit in Parkinson’s disease. In preclinical studies, CSM-101 demonstrated high CNS exposure, reduced toxic lipid accumulation, lowered neuroinflammation, decreased alpha-synuclein levels, and preserved dopaminergic neurons in Gaucher-associated and idiopathic Parkinson’s models. The company is first pursuing Gaucher’s patients who develop Parkinson’s, with plans to expand into broader GBA-associated and idiopathic PD populations. Beyond CSM-101, Casma is building a pipeline that applies its lysosomal and autophagy platform to neurodegeneration, oncology, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. Casma recently secured $7.6 million in non-dilutive grant funding to complete biomarker development and IND-enabling studies for CSM-101, positioning the candidate for first-in-human trials. No additional financial metrics or revenue figures were disclosed.

Led · Grant · Nov 2025

Booster Therapeutics is a Berlin-based biotech using its DGRADX™ platform to discover small-molecule proteasome activators that restore the cell’s natural protein quality-control system. Unlike targeted protein degraders that rely on ubiquitin-tagging and the 26S proteasome, Booster’s compounds directly stimulate the 20S proteasome, enabling simultaneous clearance of multiple misfolded or disordered proteins. The company has built a substantial library of activators and is advancing a multi-disease pipeline initially focused on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Its lead program aims to enter first-in-human Phase 1 trials by re-establishing proteasome function in neurodegenerative patients. Booster was founded by Dr. Diogo Feleciano, Prof. Dr. Darci Trader, and Apollo Health Ventures, with additional backing from Novo Holdings. The firm positions its approach as addressing the root biological drivers of age-related proteinopathies, potentially offering broad therapeutic benefit across complex diseases.

Led · Grant · Apr 2025

Accure Therapeutics is a Barcelona neuroscience R&D company advancing ACT-02, a novel Prolyl Endopeptidase (PREP) inhibitor intended as a disease‑modifying therapy for Parkinson’s disease. The ACT-02 program is at an advanced preclinical stage with comprehensive positive efficacy data in Parkinson’s in vivo models and a GLP toxicology and safety pharmacology data set. Accure reports neuroprotective effects, reduced α-synuclein aggregation, decreased neuroinflammation, improved mitochondrial function, and motor/cognitive benefits in Thy1‑aSyn mouse studies. The company plans to complete the preclinical activities required for an IND filing and to start a phase I IND study targeted for 2026. Recent non-dilutive funding includes grants to support IND-enabling work and translational iPSC‑based studies to inform patient selection for future precision‑medicine strategies. Management states these steps are intended to advance ACT-02 toward clinical development in Parkinson’s disease. Accure Therapeutics is an R&D-focused company formed in 2020 to develop a portfolio of CNS drug candidates. The company launched with three programs (ACT-01, ACT-02 and ACT-03): ACT-01 is positioned to enter Phase 2 and ACT-02 and ACT-03 are in preclinical studies. Its initial pipeline targets four CNS indications: optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. Initial assets were sourced from Spanish R&D companies Bionure and Iproteos and from academic neurobiology research centers. Accure follows a lean pharma R&D model that integrates existing assets, experienced personnel, programs and high-value investors to create patient and shareholder value. The company intends to expand the current portfolio into additional innovative R&D programs for CNS indications.