• CalciMedica

  Participated · Series D · Mar 2021

  CalciMedica is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovery and development of small-molecule CRAC channel inhibitors to treat severe acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Its lead product, Auxora, has data from a Phase 2a acute pancreatitis trial and a Phase 2 COVID-19 pneumonia trial suggesting prevention of organ tissue damage and rapid restoration of organ function. Auxora is currently being evaluated in a blinded, placebo-controlled trial in severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia (up to 400 patients planned; over 200 randomized to date) and a Phase 2b trial in acute pancreatitis is set to start enrolling in the coming weeks. The company plans to use proceeds from the Series D financing to advance clinical development across Auxora and its broader CRAC inhibitor portfolio. CalciMedica is privately held and headquartered in San Diego, California, and the announced financing will be completed in multiple private closings. The financing also included board augmentation with Zafi Avnur, Ph.D., of Quark Venture joining the board, indicating investor operational involvement. CalciMedica is a La Jolla, California-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovery and development of drugs that target calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels for treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The company is advancing Auxora (formerly CM4620-IE), a potent and selective small-molecule CRAC channel inhibitor that prevents CRAC channel overactivation. CRAC channels control the entry of calcium into immune and other cell types, and CalciMedica says modulating this pathway can reduce detrimental calcium signaling in inflammatory conditions. The company intends to use the new funding to advance ongoing clinical trials evaluating Auxora in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy and to accelerate commercial manufacturing for the drug. CalciMedica is led by CEO Rachel Leheny, Ph.D. In May 2020 the company raised $15M in a Series C financing led by Valence Life Sciences with participation from Bering Capital, Mesa Verde Venture Partners and existing investor Sanderling Ventures. CalciMedica is developing selective CRAC channel inhibitors intended to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Over the past year the company reported significant progress identifying and characterizing CRAC channel inhibitors with attractive pharmaceutical properties. Management states these candidates have the potential to become safe and effective drugs for inflammatory and autoimmune indications. Financially, CalciMedica closed the second tranche of a $12M Series C financing and has raised a total of $19M in equity funding to date. Prior financings include a seed round from SR One in December 2006 and a Series B in August 2007. The Series C round included participation from BiogenIdec New Ventures, Sanderling Ventures and SR One. CalciMedica is a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on autoimmune and inflammatory disease. The reporting states the company raised $1.53 million in its first funding round. The funding was provided by S.R. One, according to a regulatory filing cited by PE Hub. The articles do not disclose specific product candidates, pipeline details, or operating metrics such as revenue or user numbers. No future plans or use of proceeds were detailed in the coverage. The public reporting is limited to the amount raised, the investor, and the regulatory filing citation.

• Invuity

  Participated · Equity · Feb 2015

  Invuity develops Intelligent Photonics™ devices and a broad product line of advanced visualization devices aimed at transforming care for minimal access surgery. Clinical applications cited include breast and thyroid oncology, plastics, spine, orthopedic, cardiothoracic and general surgery. Led by President and CEO Philip Sawyer, the company positions its technology to create a new standard of care in those surgical domains. The company intends to use newly raised capital to accelerate growth and to further commercial initiatives across its product line. Financially, Invuity closed a $20m funding round to support those commercial and growth plans. Invuity develops advanced medical devices that improve access and visualization in minimally invasive and minimal access surgeries. Its products incorporate proprietary Eigr technology into hand-held illumination devices and access systems for specialties including spine, orthopedics, breast and thyroid oncology, and plastic surgery. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Invuity reported that revenue has been more than doubling each year. Management says the recent financing will be used to accelerate commercial initiatives, accelerate product introductions, and expand the commercialization team. The deal structure combines equity and debt to provide a lower cost of capital and a less dilutive arrangement. Invuity is a San Francisco, CA-based developer of surgical visualization and illumination technology aimed at improving visualization in minimally invasive surgeries. Led by CEO Philip Sawyer, the company integrates its proprietary Eigr™ illumination technology into advanced access systems for a variety of surgical specialties. Its product portfolio combines illumination and access tools to support surgeons across specialties. In June 2012 the company closed a $25M Series D financing. Invuity intends to use the funding to expand development, manufacturing and commercialization efforts for its medical devices. In conjunction with the financing, Eric Roberts from Valence Advantage will join the company’s Board of Directors.

• Celator Pharmaceuticals

  Led · Equity · Apr 2013

  Celator Pharmaceuticals is developing CPX-351, a liposomal formulation of cytarabine:daunorubicin, as its lead investigational product for acute myeloid leukemia. The company’s CombiPlex platform locks synergistic molar drug ratios in nano-scale delivery vehicles and underpins a pipeline that includes CPX-1 (irinotecan:floxuridine) in colorectal cancer and preclinical CPX-571. Celator is conducting an enrolling Phase 3, 300-patient randomized study in 60–75 year-old patients with secondary AML with overall survival as the primary endpoint. The company completed a private placement of common stock and warrants that raised aggregate proceeds of $39.3 million (including $6.8 million from prior closings) and $32.5 million in the final close. Proceeds from the financing are expected to fully fund the currently enrolling Phase 3 clinical study. Celator has locations in Princeton, NJ and Vancouver, BC. Celator Pharmaceuticals develops liposome-based cancer therapies, with lead candidate CPX-351 for acute myeloid leukemia. CPX-351 has been granted orphan drug status by the U.S. FDA, providing seven years of U.S. market exclusivity and potential regulatory incentives. The company reported positive randomized phase 2b data showing a statistically significant overall survival benefit in first-relapse AML patients with an unfavorable risk profile. Its pipeline also includes CPX-1 for colorectal cancer (phase 2) and preclinical CPX-571 for small cell lung cancer. Celator’s nanoparticle delivery system was developed in conjunction with Princeton University and remains in early-stage research. The company has offices in Princeton, New Jersey, and Vancouver, British Columbia, and is balancing clinical development with ongoing fundraising. Celator Pharmaceuticals is developing new therapies to treat cancer, with a lead investigational product focused on acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Its lead product is CPX-351 (Cytarabine:Daunorubicin) Liposome Injection. CPX-351 is based on CombiPlex®, Celator’s proprietary drug ratio technology platform and has been granted orphan drug status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company said it will use new capital to support completion of ongoing clinical trials and activities related to advancing CPX-351. Celator is based in Princeton, NJ and also operates offices in Vancouver, BC. The company raised $20M in a Series D private equity financing to fund these activities. Celator Pharmaceuticals focuses on combining two existing chemotherapy drugs into single, fixed-ratio formulations intended to enhance tumor killing while minimizing overlapping toxicities. Its lead candidate, CPX-1 (a 1:1 molar combination of irinotecan and floxuridine), is in mid-stage human trials, and CPX-351 (cytarabine plus daunorubicin) is entering a phase I trial for acute myeloid leukemia. An earlier phase I test of CPX-1 in 26 patients produced 15 cases of tumor stabilization for at least two months and two instances of tumor shrinkage, but that trial was non-randomized, uncontrolled and not blinded. Coverage questioned the company’s framing of “clinical benefit,” noting 17/26 equals 65% and that three patients were unevaluated (one surviving less than two weeks). Financially, the company recently raised $10 million and previously completed a $40 million second funding in 2005. Investors named in coverage of the recent follow-on include Domain Associates, Quaker BioVentures, TL Ventures, Ventures West Management, GrowthWorks Capital, the Business Development Bank of Canada and Hearthstone Investment.

No current team members are available.