Led · Seed · Oct 2020

HDT Bio’s core platform is a proprietary nanoparticle that delivers an attached RNA into cells; the company uses this approach for vaccines, cancer treatments and other therapeutics. The firm is developing a nasal spray built from the same nanoparticle‑RNA technology, using a RIG‑I activating RNA derived from Hepatitis C that was developed by UW immunology professor Michael Gale. Company animal studies show the RNA prevents replication of influenza A and COVID‑19, and cell studies show suppression of other respiratory viruses; a COVID‑19 RNA vaccine based on the company’s tech was recently approved in India. HDT Bio plans safety and potency studies under the U.S. Army grant and anticipates clinical trials could begin in 2025. The company was co‑founded in 2019 by Michael Gale, Christopher Pirie, Darrick Carter, André Lieber and Steve Reed; Reed is CEO and Pirie is COO. Financially, HDT Bio has secured a nearly $1.8M U.S. Army grant for the nasal spray and previously received a $1.5M small business grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for enterovirus D68 work. HDT Bio develops immunotherapies and vaccines using RNA, formulation, and adjuvant technologies, including its RNA/LION platform that combines formulation and adjuvant ingredients to stabilize and deliver RNA. Its lead candidate, HDT-301, is a COVID-19 vaccine slated to enter clinical trials in Q4 2020 in partnership with the NIH/NIAID. The company also maintains a variety of other immunotherapy technologies that explore different approaches to immune stimulation or modulation. HDT Bio completed a seed financing round totaling approximately $3 million and management said that, together with non-dilutive funding and early-stage revenue, the company is positioned to advance at least three products into the clinic in the next twelve months. The round was co-led by Zoic Capital and joined by angel investors from multiple biotechnology hubs. As it expands operations the company plans to complement its research and discovery team with clinical development expertise and leadership with decades of preclinical-to-clinical experience.

Led · Equity · Oct 2018

Optina develops a Retinal Deep PhenotypingTM platform that combines retinal imaging and AI to produce rapid, non-invasive diagnostic tests (a 1‑second eye scan) for brain health and systemic disease. Its lead product is the awAIrTM cerebral amyloid status test for Alzheimer's disease detection, and the company aims to support regulatory approval and clinical deployment of that test. Optina's platform received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in 2019 for its first indication and its Optina-4CTM hyperspectral camera obtained 501(k) clearance in 2020. The company is running a pivotal clinical study across five sites in the USA, Canada and Europe and intends to expand cohort size and install its platform at additional leading institutions. Recent financing activity follows an oversubscribed Series A led by DigitalDx Ventures with participation from Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Desjardins, Zoic Capital and others. The new funding is intended to support the pivotal study and the FDA regulatory submission for the awAIr test and to accelerate broader clinical site deployment. Optina Diagnostics develops retinal imaging tools aimed at improving brain health and systemic disease detection, centered on its Retinal Deep PhenotypingTM platform. The company has an awAIrTM cerebral amyloid status test and the platform obtained FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in 2019 for a non-invasive test to aid Alzheimer’s disease evaluation. Optina is led by CEO David Lapointe. It closed a CA$24.8M Series A to support a pivotal study for the awAIr test and to advance platform development for early detection of systemic diseases. The financing will also accelerate deployment of additional clinical study sites and installations of its Retinal Deep PhenotypingTM platform at leading institutions in the United States, Canada and Europe. Optina Diagnostics is a Montreal-based company that uses artificial intelligence and spectral/hyperspectral retinal imaging to detect disease early, with an initial focus on Alzheimer’s. The company is developing a cerebral Amyloid prediction test based on retinal imaging and clinical data. Clinical data were gathered with financial support from CQDM and CTS, and the company says it is ready to extend its clinical sites. Leadership is headed by CEO David Lapointe. Optina intends to use newly raised funds to scale clinical development, accelerate regulatory approval efforts, and speed market readiness. The company raised C$4m in funding to support these plans.