• Proniras

  Participated · Series B · Feb 2024

  Proniras Corporation was spun out by Accelerator Life Science Partners to advance tezampanel, an Eli Lilly-originated compound that blocks central-nervous-system receptors to prevent excessive neurological activity. Unlike the benzodiazepines that dominate current care, tezampanel offers a mechanistically distinct approach and may provide a safer, longer-lasting option for seizure control. In partnership with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the company is also exploring the drug’s use as an antidote to lethal nerve agents. Proniras begins operations with three full-time employees housed at Accelerator’s Seattle headquarters, where the fund retains executive oversight while co-founder Chris Toombs serves as chief scientific officer. The startup’s financial runway is anchored by an $89.5 million milestone-based BARDA contract earmarked for pre-clinical and clinical development. Supplementing the federal award, Proniras raised an undisclosed amount of launch capital from Alexandria Venture Investments, ARCH Venture Partners, Eli Lilly and Company, and Johnson & Johnson Innovation.

• Magnolia NeuroSciences

  Participated · Series A · Aug 2018

  Magnolia Neurosciences is developing a new class of neuroprotective therapies that target specific components of programmed cell death to preserve brain tissue. The company’s programs are built on discoveries from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Neurodegeneration Consortium. Preclinical data cited in the articles show that blocking these pathways preserves neurons and leads to enhanced memory in animal models. Magnolia aims to develop potent, highly selective neuroprotective therapies with compelling preclinical pharmacologic profiles and to obtain clinical proof of concept rapidly. The company was launched with a $31 million Series A investment and is positioned to address unmet needs across Alzheimer’s disease, neuronal injury, and other CNS conditions. Its offices are located in the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York City.

• Rodeo Therapeutics

  Participated · Series A · Jul 2017

  Rodeo Therapeutics is developing small-molecule therapies designed to promote regeneration and repair of multiple tissue types by increasing tissue levels of prostaglandin PGE2. Its scientific approach targets inhibition of the prostaglandin‑degrading enzyme 15‑PGDH; preclinical studies published in Science showed that increasing PGE2 accelerates hematopoietic stem cell reconstitution after bone marrow transplant, protects against colitis, and promotes liver regeneration in animal models. The company will initially focus on developing 15‑PGDH inhibitors for inflammatory bowel disease and to promote blood cell reconstitution following bone marrow transplant. Founding scientists and advisors include Sanford Markowitz, Stanton Gerson, and Joseph Ready, based on research from Case Western Reserve University and UT Southwestern. Rodeo announced a $5.9 million Series A financing intended to provide resources to advance the development program toward human trials. No operating revenue or user metrics were disclosed in the article.

• ApoGen Biotechnologies

  Participated · Series A · Dec 2016

  ApoGen is focused on developing a new class of therapeutics that target drivers of cancer genomic mutations, specifically the APOBEC cytidine deaminases, an antiviral component of the human innate immune system implicated in producing cancer mutations. The company is pursuing inhibition of APOBEC-induced mutagenesis as a mechanism to prevent development of resistance to cancer therapies. ApoGen raised an additional $4m in Series A financing, bringing total Series A funding to $11m. M Ventures and existing investors provided the new funding. The company plans to use the expanded Series A to hire additional staff and establish a laboratory in Seattle. Recent leadership additions include Stephen Gwaltney, PhD, as vice president of chemistry and Peter de Vries, PhD, as senior director of biology. ApoGen Biotechnologies is developing a new class of therapeutics aimed at drivers of cancer genomic mutation, specifically the APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases. Its core product effort is discovery and development of highly selective, potent small‑molecule inhibitors of APOBEC enzymes and companion diagnostics to identify patients most likely to benefit. The company holds a worldwide, exclusive license from the University of Minnesota to a portfolio of APOBEC technologies developed by its scientific founders. ApoGen’s team includes University of Minnesota investigators and an experienced life‑science entrepreneur, and it has assembled a scientific advisory board of leading cancer and chemical‑biology investigators. The company intends to advance its programs toward clinical and commercial development to slow or stop tumor evolution and therapy resistance. Financially, ApoGen announced a $7 million Series A financing to support its drug discovery and development efforts.

• Lodo Therapeutics

  Participated · Series A · Jan 2016

  Lodo Therapeutics was launched by Accelerator Corporation to advance a metagenomics-driven, culture-independent platform that discovers genetically encoded small molecules from uncultured soil bacteria and the human microbiome. The company holds a license from The Rockefeller University to practice and expand Sean Brady’s discovery platform and aims to develop therapeutics across infectious disease, oncology, metabolic disorders and rare diseases. Early programs build on Brady’s prior work in antibiotics and include efforts against tuberculosis and drug-resistant infections. Lodo plans to advance drug candidates toward the initiation of human clinical trials, working in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. David Pompliano, Ph.D., will serve as interim chief scientific officer alongside co-founder Sean Brady. Lodo’s offices and labs will be based at Accelerator’s facilities in the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York City.

No current team members are available.