Led · Series A · Apr 2022

Design Pharmaceuticals’ core product is an ultrahigh-throughput discovery platform that biomines drug-like molecules from natural sources such as microbiota and evaluates them at unprecedented speed and scale on hundreds of GPCR targets. The platform combines cell-free biosynthesis with microfluidic technologies to access structurally diverse bioactive molecules while avoiding limitations of traditional chemistry or live production strains. The company says this approach accelerates lead compound optimization and condenses the drug discovery process. Design plans to commercialize the platform and use proceeds to further build the discovery technology and operations. Its business model targets a continuously growing portfolio of joint development and license agreements with pharmaceutical partners, and it has recently signed two collaborations with pharma. Design Pharmaceuticals is based in Cambridge, Mass.

Participated · Series C · Aug 2019

HiFiBiO Therapeutics is a multinational biotherapeutics company that combines single-cell profiling, deep biological expertise, and data intelligence (DIS™) to discover and develop antibody drugs. Its core focus is differentiated antibody therapeutics for oncology and autoimmune disorders, with multiple discovery-stage programs and clinical candidates. The company will use proceeds from its oversubscribed $75M Series D to advance two lead oncology antibodies—HFB200301 (anti‑TNFR2) and HFB301001 (second‑generation anti‑OX40)—into Phase I trials and to continue discovery and clinical development. HiFiBiO also highlighted prior progress including rapid development of HFB30132A, a SARS‑CoV‑2 neutralizing antibody, into a Phase I trial (NCT04590430) and the launch of IND‑enabling studies and biomanufacturing for multiple antibodies. The company intends to validate its DIS™ approach and biomarker hypotheses in the clinic to enhance the probability of trial success for current and future programs. HiFiBiO operates laboratories across Cambridge, Mass.; Paris; Shanghai; Hong Kong; and Hangzhou, reflecting a global footprint. HiFiBiO Therapeutics operates a proprietary single-cell analytics platform (including CelliGO™) and Drug Intelligent Science (DIS™) to enable deep immune profiling and antibody discovery. The company integrates biological expertise with comprehensive single-cell technologies to identify precise patient subsets and novel biomarkers. HiFiBiO aims to advance multiple antibody drug candidates into clinical trials and accelerate pipeline development. It plans to use platform expansion to increase discovery throughput while reducing time and costs. The company has announced collaborations, an acquisition, a joint venture, and a Nature Genetics publication that demonstrate scientific and strategic progress. HiFiBiO maintains laboratories across Cambridge, Mass., Paris, France, and Shanghai, China. HiFiBiO Therapeutics develops antibody drugs by integrating deep biological expertise with single-cell profiling technologies and its proprietary single-B-cell functional antibody discovery CelliGOTM platform. The company is focused on advancing a pipeline of antibody therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune diseases and is establishing strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to drive that pipeline. HiFiBiO operates more than 50 full-time employees across three facilities in the USA, France and China, with laboratories in Cambridge, MA and Hangzhou, China located within Nest.Bio Ventures incubator facilities. Liang Schweizer, PhD, serves as President and CEO, supported by a leadership team including Jeff He (COO), Colin Brenan, PhD (CCO) and Fred Dom (CFO). Financially, the company completed a $37.5M Series B financing in 2018 to support its discovery and development efforts. The company positions its proprietary platform and strategic partnerships as central to advancing its therapeutic pipeline.

Participated · Equity · Dec 2018

Viracta Therapeutics entered into a loan and security agreement with Silicon Valley Bank and Oxford Finance for up to $50.0 million. The new credit facility supersedes a prior $15.0 million loan and refinanced an existing $5.0 million debt balance. Under the agreement, $45.0 million remains available in two additional tranches of $20.0 million and $25.0 million. The facility is structured as a loan and security agreement provided by SVB and Oxford Finance. The company is under no obligation to draw on the remaining tranches. No operating metrics or additional financial details were disclosed in the announcement. Viracta Therapeutics, Inc. announced it received approximately $65 million in funding. The company closed the transaction on February 24, 2021. It raised $64,999,994 pursuant to Regulation D from 26 investors. The articles describe the backers only as a group of investors and do not name any participants. The reporting includes no operating metrics, product details, future plans, prior financings, founding year, or location. Beyond this Regulation D raise, the company’s broader financial situation is not disclosed in the articles. Viracta Therapeutics is a San Diego, CA–based precision oncology company targeting virus-associated malignancies. Led by President and CEO Ivor Royston, the company’s proprietary lead molecule, nanatinostat, is being evaluated orally in combination with valganciclovir in a Phase 2 trial for Epstein‑Barr virus–positive lymphomas. Viracta describes this as a Kick and Kill approach and is pursuing its application in other EBV‑associated malignancies such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and other virus-related cancers. The company closed a Series D financing of an undisclosed amount led by Taiwania Capital Management with participation from existing investors. In conjunction with the financing, Michael Huang, Managing Partner at Taiwania, joined Viracta’s Board of Directors. Proceeds are expected to be used to complete the Phase 2 study, support subsequent initiation of registration studies and for general corporate purposes. Viracta Therapeutics is a clinical-stage drug development company advancing medicines based on a 'kick & kill' approach for viral-associated cancers. Its lead candidate, nanatinostat (VRx-3996), is being developed in combination with an antiviral as the first targeted, orally administered therapy for EBV-associated malignancies. Viracta is conducting a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for EBV-associated lymphomas in the US and Brazil and plans to initiate a trial for EBV-associated solid tumors in the coming year. The company entered an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with Shenzhen Salubris to develop and commercialize the approach in China. Under the agreement Viracta received an equity investment and is eligible to receive up to $58 million in pre-commercial milestones, plus sales-level-triggered commercial milestones and tiered royalties. The partnership targets EBV-driven cancers that disproportionately affect patients in Southern China, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, and NK/T cell lymphomas. Viracta Therapeutics is a San Diego-based clinical-stage drug development company led by CEO Ivor Royston, M.D. The company advances medicines based on a proprietary viral gene activation therapeutic approach for viral-associated cancers and other serious diseases. Its lead candidate, VRx-3996, is a Class 1 histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) in Phase 2 development for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated malignancies. Viracta will use the proceeds from the financing to advance VRx-3996 into Phase 2 clinical studies. The company agreed to an exclusive license of VRx-3996 to NantKwest for use in combination with NantKwest’s natural killer (NK) cell therapy platforms. NantKwest intends to transition VRx-3996 into human clinical trials combined with its aNK, haNK and taNK platforms. As part of the transaction, NantKwest Chairman and CEO Patrick Soon-Shiong will join Viracta’s Board as Vice Chairman.

Participated · Series A · Dec 2018

Tactiva Therapeutics is a development-stage immuno-oncology company based in Buffalo, NY focused on adoptive T-cell therapy. Its core product is the dual enhanced adoptive cell therapy (DEACT™) platform, which consists of engineered CD4/CD8 cells that generate a durable supply of CD4 cells with direct anti-tumor activity and sustained helper function to CD8 TCR-transduced effector T cells. The company intends to use the $35M Series A financing to advance clinical development of DEACT for multiple myeloma and several solid tumor indications. Tactiva closed the first tranche of the Series A. The round was led by Panacea Healthcare Partners with participation from Vi Ventures and Efung Capital. The company has also received funding and collaboration support from the UB Center for Advanced Technology in Big Data and Health Sciences and partners with the Buffalo Institute for Genomics and Data Analytics; Matthew Colpoys is CEO and Tactiva operates from UB’s New York State Center of Excellence on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

Led · Series C · Aug 2018

Apexigen develops antibody therapeutics for oncology using its proprietary APXiMAB discovery platform. Its lead program, APX005M, is a monoclonal antibody targeting CD40 and is in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials for various solid tumors. The company plans to use proceeds to support ongoing clinical development of APX005M and to advance at least one new proprietary immunotherapeutic into Phase 1. Apexigen and its licensees have seven products or product candidates discovered via APXiMAB that are commercially available or in clinical development. The company is led by President and CEO Xiaodong Yang and is based in San Carlos, California. Financially, the company has raised $158M in total equity to date following the recent Series C extension. Apexigen is a San Carlos, Calif.-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company led by Xiaodong Yang, M.D., Ph.D. The company develops a new generation of antibody therapeutics for oncology, with an emphasis on immuno-oncology agents. Its lead program, APX005M, is a novel humanized monoclonal antibody that targets CD40 and stimulates anti-tumor immune responses. Binding of APX005M to CD40 on antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells, monocytes and B-cells) initiates a multi-faceted immune response involving T cells and macrophages. APX005M is in multiple Phase 2 clinical trials for indications including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and renal cell carcinoma in various combinations with immunotherapy, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The company intends to use recent financing proceeds to advance clinical development of APX005M and to discover and develop its broader pipeline of therapies. Apexigen is a Burlingame, Calif.-based biopharmaceutical product development company founded in 2010 and led by President & CEO Xiaodong Yang, MD, PhD. The company is advancing a pipeline of humanized antibodies targeting cancer, inflammatory diseases and ophthalmic disease. Its lead program is APX005, a CD40 agonist immunotherapeutic that stimulates anti-tumor immune responses by binding CD40 on antigen-presenting cells, activating co-stimulatory pathways, and can also trigger direct tumor killing. Apexigen closed a $20m Series A1 financing to fund development. The company intends to use the funds to advance APX005 and to support the development of additional pipeline programs. In conjunction with the funding, Dr. George J. Lee of Amkey Ventures joined Apexigen’s board of directors.