Bio - Genomics Exits
Bio/Geno. - Successful Exit
Acquired by Evolva Holding SA (ELVAF) in 2014
Allylix
Flavor & fragrance
Allylix has high quality, low-cost terpene products made from yeast for flavor and fragrance - food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products. These include a skin protectant for pests found in grapefruit seed, synthesized flavor found only in low concentration in oranges, and a product with potential for concentrated jet-fuel.
Amplyx
Antifungal
Bio/Genomics - Successful Exit
Sold to Pfizer in 2021
Invested 2015, 2017, 2020
Amplyx has a broad spectrum antifungal with IV & oral formulations. The two lead products are fosmanogepix (APX001) for the treatment of life-threatening fungal infections caused by pathogens such as Candida, Aspergillus and rare molds; and MAU868, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize the BK virus which can cause significant morbidity and mortality in transplant patients.
Axsome
CNS disorders
Bio/Geno. - Successful Exit
IPO in 2015 (AXSM)
Axome has drugs for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The conditions treated include: resistant depression (TRD), major depressive disorder (MDD), agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the acute treatment of migraine.
Carmenta Bioscience
Maternal health
Bio/Geno. - Successful Exit
Acquired by Progenity 2015
Carmenta has a serum-based diagnostic test for pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is an increase in blood pressure occurring around the 20th week of pregnancy, which can cause complications. It effects about 5% of pregnancies in the United States. Early therapies can alleviate symptoms more effectively -- thus improving maternal and fetal health.
Moleculo
DNA sequencing
Bio/Geno. - Successful Exit
Acquired by Illumina (ILMN) in 2012
Moleculo has a DNA sequencing technology for generating long, accurate reads that combines a new library preparation method and genome analysis tools. The technology breaks DNA into large fragments that are sequenced on Illumina sequencing platforms for subsequent assembly into synthetic long reads or whole human genome phasing using proprietary informatics.
Zephyrus
Single cell Western Blot
Bio/Geno. - Successful Exit
Acquired by Bio-Techne Corp (TECH) in 2016
Zephyrus’s Milo™ measures protein expression in thousands of single cells in a single run so scientists can profile heterogeneity in samples. The cell suspension is loaded and the scWest chip captures about 1,000 single-cells. Milo then does a fast, one minute SDS-PAGE separation on each single-cell lysate on-chip.
Zogenix
Pain & CNS disorders
Bio/Geno. - Successful Exit
IPO (ZGNX) in 2010
Zogenix has drugs for pain and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Zogenix pairs each new drug with its proprietary “DosePro” device for subcutaneous (not intravenous) delivery.
Bio - Genomics Selected Recent Investments
Fatty Liver Disease Detection
aged diagnostics.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2023
AGED diagnostics is pioneering the creation of groundbreaking blood tests for fatty liver disease, a condition affecting one-third of the American population. These tests are poised to revolutionize the approach to a disease that currently incurs over $108 billion in annual direct management costs for insurers.
Neurodegenerative Diseases
allyxthera.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2021
Allyx Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company based in New Haven, CT. They are targeting synapse preservation as a disease-modifying approach for treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Astrocyte
Traumatic Brain Injury
astrocytepharma.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2020
Astrocyte develops novel cerebroprotective therapies for the treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and other CNS indications. The drugs enhance mitochondrial energy production in astrocytes and promote multiple intrinsic healing mechanisms including protection against edema, glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress.
Chameleon
Gene therapy delivery
chameleonbiosci
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2019, 2020
Chameleon’s gene delivery technology is resistant to pre-existing antibodies, can be dosed repeatedly, offers enhanced gene delivery, and maintains tissue specificity as compared to other Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) based gene therapies.
Chimera
CAR T cell control
chimera.bio
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2015, 2016, 2019
Chimera’s initial products are ribozyme control systems for CAR T cells (method of harnessing immune system for untreatable cancers), making them safer, more powerful, and persistent.
EuMentis
Pill - Autism,
Alzheimers
eumentistx.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2020
Eumentis has an oral pill that when taken daily helps preserve and improve learning and memory for the the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, autism and cognitive impairment associated other brain diseases.
Inhalon
Inhaled Immunotherapy
inhalon.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2020
Inhalon is developing an inhaled “muco-trapping” antibody platform for treating a variety of acute respiratory infections. Inhalon’s platform halts infections immediately, extends critical drug supplies and places less burden on the healthcare system. Its first drug candidate is a treatment for COVID-19. It is also developing treatments for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and metapneumovirus (MPV) infections.
InnoSIGN
Pathway Profiling
InnoSIGN
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested: 2022
InnoSIGN’s proprietary mRNA-based signaling pathway tests, database with
pathway activity profiles, and advanced analytics software will drive the next breakthroughs in
precision medicine, initially in oncology, and then in other autoimmune and infectious diseases. InnoSIGN completed its spin-put from Philips with an $8M Series A in March 2022. Its proprietary database already includes over 100,000 pathway activity profiles for drug development and diagnostics to predict patient response to targeted therapies.
InvVax
Universal flu vaccine
www.inv-vax.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested: 2015, 2017, 2018
InvVax has licensed technology from UCLA to identify sequences of influenza virus genomes that are invariant among the virus mutations and are also critical to the functioning of the virus. They are developing vaccines to destroy these sequences. There has been early success in mouse models.
Bio/Genomics - Recent
2022
Mebias’s proprietary protein-NMR drug discovery platform targets G‑protein coupled receptors. The initial drugs are novel analgesics without the on‑target adverse effects of current drugs.
Mission Bio
Single cell genomics missionbio.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
2017, 2018, 2020
Mission Bio’s Tapestri Platform is the first single-cell multi-omics platform that is capable of simultaneously providing both genotype and phenotype data from the same cell, across thousands of cells. The Instrument partitions thousands of cells into individual droplets, which act like mini reaction tubes, enabling thousands of individual reactions simultaneously. Cell lysis and protease digestion then follow off-instrument enabling access to DNA and protein for downstream amplification.
Saccharo
Novel cancer theapeutic
saccharo.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2021
Saccharo has discovered a polysaccharide that covers human cancer cells. The Sacchario approach has a method of action that enables drugs to have multiple killing effects, a predicted safety profile, an extended therapeutic window and applications to many cancers.
S2 Genomics
Single cells from tissue
s2genomics.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested 2019, 2020
S2’s Cell Singulator System™ (CCS) inputs raw tissue samples and outputs high-quality single cells into strip tubes. The CCS will directly feed downstream single cell NGS, digital droplet PCR, and other genomic analyzes. The CCS additionally captures the three-dimensional spatial coordinates of the single cell location in the tissue sample.
Seal Rock
NASH drug
sealrocktx.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested: 2017, 2018
Seal Rock is developing a safe, highly effective drug for the life-threatening liver disease NASH (non alcoholic steatohepatitis – a fatty liver condition). NASH affects 10 million people and has no approved drugs.
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested: 2024
TRIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a cancer immunotherapeutics company developing two novel bispecific antibody drug technologies to increase treatment efficacy in cancer by respectively reducing toxicity and increasing anti- tumor immune response.
Visgenx
Dry Eye AMD
visgenx.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested: 2021
Visgenx is developing therapeutics for dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration based on restoring the expression of a retinal gene known as ELOVL2. Our strategy includes : 1) an epigenetic approach using a small molecule de-methylating agent and 2) ELOVL2 gene therapy.
VisiCell
GPS for cell therapy
visicellmedical.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested: 2021
VisiCELL’s technology provides non-invasive, imaging-based cell tracking solutions for cell-based therapies. The nanoparticle-based solutions support in vivo tracking of therapeutic cells by standard clinical imaging modalities. This enables clinicians to monitor cell-based therapies during treatment and adjust treatment strategies for better outcomes.
UTI Infections
watershedtx.com
Bio/Genomics - Recent
Invested: 2021
Watershed Therapeutics has developed a novel, targeted, drug-delivery platform for diseases of the bladder. The initial target is prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections. The therapy can be adapted to serve patients suffering form overactive bladder, painful bladder syndrome, and bladder cancer.