• Madison Vaccines

  Participated · Series A · Jan 2014

  Madison Vaccines is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing plasmid DNA vaccines to treat prostate cancer. Its lead candidate, MVI-816, is designed to activate patients' immune systems to kill prostate cancer cells after initial treatment; the Phase 2 trial is expanding to include Johns Hopkins University and UCSF. The company plans to pair MVI-816 with a PD-1 pathway inhibitor in a combination trial for late-stage disease and will procure that inhibitor for the study. The FDA approved a Phase 1 IND for MVI-118, a second plasmid DNA vaccine targeting the human androgen receptor to address treatment resistance in advanced prostate cancer, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison is finalizing preparations for the Phase 1 trial. Both MVI-816 and MVI-118 are plasmid DNA vaccines that the company says can be rapidly and inexpensively manufactured, are relatively stable in storage, and have no solubility problems. To fund these programs, MVI increased its Series A financing to $11 million with its current syndicate of investors. The planned late-stage combination trial will be conducted under the direction of Dr. Douglas McNeel and is supported by an award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation through the Movember Challenge program. Madison Vaccines (MVI) develops plasmid DNA vaccines targeting prostate cancer antigens, primarily MVI-816 (targets prostatic acid phosphatase, PAP) and MVI-118 (targets the androgen receptor). MVI-816 is a plasmid DNA vaccine designed to induce antigen-specific immune responses and has advantages in cost, stability, and solubility versus protein/peptide vaccines. MVI completed a Phase 1 trial in which MVI-816 was safe, elicited antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell responses, and produced biochemical changes (slowing of PSA doubling times) in more than 30% of patients. The company is conducting an expanded, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in men with PSA-recurrent, non-metastatic prostate cancer (PSA doubling times ≤12 months) measuring metastasis-free survival at 24 months and median time to progression. MVI plans to use the Series A proceeds to complete the expanded Phase 2 for MVI-816 and to advance MVI-118 through preclinical work and Phase 1 safety studies, including development of a sensitivity test to identify patients likely to benefit. MVI has licensed patented technologies from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), based on work from Dr. Douglas McNeel’s lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• SOLOMO Technology

  Led · Series A · May 2013

  SOLOMO Technology offers the SOLOMO Exchange™ platform, which connects to retailers’ branded mobile applications to enable the exchange of individual customer data in return for value. The platform lets retailers offer products, services, special offers, or leverage loyalty programs to trade virtual currency for customer data. Customers retain ownership of the data they store on the platform and can update or revoke it, giving them control over their personal information. One service, SOLOMO Geo™, provides WiFi-based anonymous indoor location analytics and opt-in localized customer engagement capabilities to help retailers engage customers in-store and better understand behavior. The company works with clients across specialty retail, convenience, malls and airlines. Led by CEO Liz Eversoll, SOLOMO plans to use new funding to accelerate product development and expand sales and marketing activities.

• Swallow Solutions

  Led · Series A · Mar 2013

  Swallow Solutions is a life sciences company with a novel dysphagia treatment platform that includes patented swallowing retraining mouthpieces and devices. Its products and systems were developed by Dr. JoAnne Robbins and her team at the University of Wisconsin. The company intends to commercialize a portfolio of diagnostic and therapeutic devices and to add new products and services. Early trials indicate many patients using Swallow Solutions’ devices can regain all or a significant portion of their ability to swallow effectively. Swallow Solutions cites a national market opportunity on the order of $2.5 billion annually for its retraining devices, driven by more than 18 million U.S. adults (and several million children) affected by swallowing difficulties. The company recently raised capital to support commercialization and expansion.

No current team members are available.