Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC

Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC, established in 1973 and based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, serves as the corporate venture capital arm of Johnson & Johnson. The organization focuses on accelerating early-stage innovation by fostering strategic collaborations. JJDC connects potential partners with essential resources to support advancements in transformation science and technology across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer healthcare, and medtech. Through its investment activities, JJDC aims to drive innovation and enhance the development of new solutions that can improve health and well-being.

Kadir Kadhiresan Ph.D

Vice President, Venture Investments

Fiona MacLaughlin Ph.D

Principal, Venture Investments

Tamir Meiri

Principal, Venture Investments

Sanjay Mistry Ph.D

Vice President, Venture Investments, New Company Creation

Marian Nakada Ph.D

Vice President, Venture Investments

Asha Nayak Ph.D

Vice President, Consumer Health Investments

Chris Picariello

President

Elizabeth Wu Ph.D

Director, Early Innovation Partnering

Wei Wu Ph.D

Principal, Venture Investments

Asish Xavier

Vice President, Venture Investments

Past deals in Therapeutics

Perceive Pharma

Series A in 2025
Perceive Pharma operates as a pharmaceutical company. Perceive Pharma develops innovative small molecule neuroprotective treatments.

Cala Health

Series C in 2024
Cala Health, Inc. is a bioelectronic medicine company based in Burlingame, California, founded in 2013. It specializes in developing wearable neuromodulation therapies aimed at treating chronic diseases. The company's flagship product, Cala Trio, is a non-invasive prescription therapy designed to provide transient relief from hand tremors in adults with essential tremor. By integrating advancements in neuroscience and technology, Cala Health focuses on delivering individualized peripheral nerve stimulation. In addition to its work on essential tremor, the company is also developing therapies for other neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease, as well as applications in psychiatry, cardiology, and autoimmune disorders.

TRex Bio

Series B in 2024
TRexBio is a biotechnology company that leverages cutting-edge computational biology tools, a focus on human tissue, and expertise in immunobiology to develop therapeutics for cancer and inflammatory diseases. Its 'deep biology' discovery engine maps human tissue Treg behavior to disease processes, identifying and characterizing novel targets for therapeutic intervention. The platform supports the development of a portfolio of therapies that modulate the immune system to restore tissue immune homeostasis.

ONL Therapeutics

Series D in 2024
ONL Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutics to protect and improve vision in patients with retinal diseases and conditions. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company specializes in creating photoreceptor protective agents that target the FAS apoptotic pathway. Its drug programs aim to safeguard photoreceptors, thereby enhancing outcomes for patients undergoing surgeries related to retinal detachment and other serious vision-threatening issues. Through its research and development efforts, ONL Therapeutics seeks to provide effective solutions for preserving sight and improving the quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions.

SpectraWAVE

Series B in 2024
Spectrawave is a medical device company that develops optical diagnostic and therapeutic devices. It enhances the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and primarily operates in the diagnostic equipment, medical business/industry. The Waltham, Massachusetts based company was founded in 2017.

Loci Orthopaedics

Series A in 2024
Loci Orthopaedics Limited, based in Upper Newcastle, Ireland, specializes in developing innovative medical technologies to address significant unmet clinical needs in orthopedics. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on creating surgical implants, particularly the InDx implant, which is designed to treat arthritis in the thumb base joint. This implant uniquely mimics the natural motions of the thumb joint, offering a less invasive and easier insertion method compared to existing surgical options. Additionally, Loci Orthopaedics is known for its Osteoanchor surface architecture, which is based on evidence-based designs, enabling clinicians to effectively address challenges in orthopedic extremities.

Asceneuron

Series C in 2024
Asceneuron develops effective therapeutics for orphan tauopathies and Alzheimer’s disease. By focusing on areas of high unmet medical need, Asceneuron aspires to become a leading biotech company specialized in small molecule drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Tauopathies are currently untreatable neurodegenerative diseases that rapidly progress towards debilitating conditions. The appearance of deposits of the microtubule-associated tau protein as e.g. neurofibrillary tangles in neurons of the brain is a common feature of tauopathies that is shared with Alzheimer’s disease. Neuronal tau deposits are known to be a major contributor to neurodegeneration and mutations in the tau gene are causative of the tauopathy fronto-temporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). Due to increasing life expectancy, Alzheimer’s disease is viewed as one of the largest healthcare problems of this century, imposing a major economic burden on societies in the Western and developing world. Current treatment options provide limited benefits supporting the urgent need for more efficacious and better tolerated medicines that address symptomatic relief as well as disease progression.

Bright Peak Therapeutics

Series C in 2024
Bright Peak Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company specializes in cytokine therapeutics that enable tissue and cell-specific targeting of cytokine payloads. This approach aims to enhance the efficacy of treatments, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life. By leveraging innovative immuno-cytokines, Bright Peak seeks to provide more effective therapeutic options for complex medical conditions.

Flindr Therapeutics

Series A in 2024
Flindr Therapeutics, a private biotech company develops next-generation precision oncology treatments.

Rallybio

Post in 2024
Rallybio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative therapies for patients with severe and rare disorders. Founded in 2018 and based in New Haven, Connecticut, the company is advancing its lead product candidate, RLYB211, which aims to prevent fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT), a serious condition that can lead to uncontrolled bleeding in fetuses and newborns. Rallybio's portfolio includes a range of promising product candidates targeting rare diseases across various therapeutic areas, including hematology, immuno-inflammation, maternal-fetal health, and metabolic disorders. The company's efforts are supported by a team of experienced professionals with extensive expertise in biopharma research and development.

Asgard Therapeutics

Series A in 2024
Asgard Therapeutics is a private biotech company focused on developing innovative cancer immunotherapies through direct cell reprogramming technologies. Emerging as a spin-off from Lund University, the company utilizes its proprietary TrojanDC technology to initiate immune responses by leveraging the unique properties of professional antigen-presenting cells. This approach aims to create efficient and personalized gene therapy products that activate robust anti-cancer immune defenses. By offering off-the-shelf solutions, Asgard Therapeutics seeks to provide new treatment options for patients suffering from cancers that are resistant to traditional therapies, thereby expanding the possibilities for effective cancer treatment.

Accent Therapeutics

Series C in 2024
Accent Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing oncology-focused, small molecule therapies in the emerging field of epitranscriptomics. This field of biology encompasses post-transcriptional chemical modifications of RNA that provide cells with a unique mechanism for regulating proteins critical for cellular growth and differentiation. By targeting cancer-linked RNA-modifying proteins (RMPs) with precision therapies, they aim to translate extraordinary science into life-changing therapies for patients.

Nanobiotix

Post in 2023
Nanobiotix SA develops nanomedicine programs for the treatment of cancer. The company provides NanoXray that offers a solution for cancer therapy based on a technology that is designed to allow destruction of cancer cells by inert particles. Its products include magnetic particles and laser activated nanoparticles for the treatment and diagnostic of cancer.

RefleXion Medical

Venture Round in 2023
RefleXion Medical Inc. is a medical equipment company specializing in the development of biologically-guided radiotherapy systems for cancer treatment. Its flagship innovation, the RefleXion X1 machine, is designed to deliver advanced radiation therapies such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The company's biologically-guided radiotherapy (BgRT) technology utilizes positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging data to allow tumors to continuously signal their location during treatment, enabling the possibility of treating multiple tumors in a single session, especially in cases of metastasized cancers. This real-time adaptation to the biological characteristics of tumors represents a significant advancement in radiation oncology. RefleXion Medical, incorporated in 2009 and based in Hayward, California, has established strategic partnerships with Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and HealthMyne Inc. to further its mission in cancer treatment innovation.

Nanobiotix

Post in 2023
Nanobiotix SA develops nanomedicine programs for the treatment of cancer. The company provides NanoXray that offers a solution for cancer therapy based on a technology that is designed to allow destruction of cancer cells by inert particles. Its products include magnetic particles and laser activated nanoparticles for the treatment and diagnostic of cancer.

Jurata Thin Film

Grant in 2023
Jurata Thin Film specializes in innovative storage technology for vaccines and biologics, aimed at enhancing their manufacturing, distribution, and delivery processes. The company has developed a unique thermostable film matrix that stabilizes biological materials, including bacterial-based vaccines and antibody-based therapeutics, allowing them to retain therapeutic efficacy even under extreme temperature conditions. This technology facilitates the long-term storage of vaccines and biologics at room temperature or higher, significantly simplifying logistics and accessibility. Additionally, the therapeutic cargo stored within this film can be rehydrated to recover the payload in an aqueous solution, offering versatile delivery options for healthcare providers.

Arialys Therapeutics

Seed Round in 2023
Arialys Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company that specializes in neuroscience, particularly in the development of precision medicines aimed at blocking pathogenic autoantibodies in the brain. The company investigates the role of the immune system in central nervous system (CNS) health and disease, focusing on the characterization and prevalence of pathogenic auto-antibody activity. Arialys Therapeutics aims to provide advanced therapies for various CNS disorders, including neuropsychiatric conditions linked to autoimmune diseases, thereby contributing to the healthcare industry's efforts to address complex neurological challenges.

ROME Therapeutics

Series B in 2023
ROME Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Established in 2019, the company utilizes the repeatome—a previously overlooked segment of genetic material—to create novel treatment options. By identifying multiple drug targets and advancing several discovery programs, ROME Therapeutics aims to tap into this unexplored area of biology. The organization has assembled a team of experts in oncology, immunology, virology, and machine learning to lead its research and development efforts, which are designed to provide healthcare professionals with effective new treatments for patients suffering from these conditions.

Rapport Therapeutics

Series B in 2023
Rapport Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing innovative small-molecule therapies for neurological disorders. The company focuses on understanding the intricate biology of neuronal receptor complexes, which are essential for proper neuronal function and signaling. By mapping and targeting these receptor systems, Rapport Therapeutics aims to create precision medicines that can effectively address the unmet needs of patients suffering from central nervous system disorders. Through its foundational research, the company seeks to transform treatment options and improve outcomes for individuals with these challenging conditions.

CirCode

Series A in 2023
CirCode Bio is an innovative biotechnology company focusing on the development of circular RNA nucleic acid drugs.

Rapport Therapeutics

Series A in 2023
Rapport Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing innovative small-molecule therapies for neurological disorders. The company focuses on understanding the intricate biology of neuronal receptor complexes, which are essential for proper neuronal function and signaling. By mapping and targeting these receptor systems, Rapport Therapeutics aims to create precision medicines that can effectively address the unmet needs of patients suffering from central nervous system disorders. Through its foundational research, the company seeks to transform treatment options and improve outcomes for individuals with these challenging conditions.

Perceive Biotherapeutics

Series B in 2023
Perceive Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative ophthalmic therapeutics aimed at treating various eye diseases. The company leverages novel protective biologies to create a diverse pipeline of therapeutic assets that target significant causes of irreversible blindness. By utilizing multiple therapeutic modalities, Perceive Biotherapeutics seeks to provide medical professionals with effective solutions for improving eye health and preventing vision loss.

HistoSonics

Convertible Note in 2022
HistoSonics, Inc. is a medical technology company based in Plymouth, Minnesota, specializing in non-invasive tumor ablation systems. The company has developed the Edison Platform, which employs advanced imaging and proprietary sensing technology to deliver precise sonic beam therapy. This innovative platform utilizes histotripsy and focused sound energy to liquefy and destroy targeted tissues at the sub-cellular level, enabling personalized treatments. HistoSonics' technology allows physicians to monitor the treatment in real time, offering a safe alternative to traditional interventional and surgical methods, minimizing undesirable side effects often associated with these approaches. Incorporated in 2009, HistoSonics aims to enhance treatment outcomes through its pioneering non-invasive solutions.

SonoThera

Series A in 2022
SonoThera is a biotechnology company focused on developing non-viral genetic therapies using ultrasound technology. The company aims to create genetic medicines that address the root causes of human diseases, particularly for conditions that currently have limited or no effective treatments. By leveraging ultrasound-guided nonviral gene therapy, SonoThera seeks to enhance treatment options and improve health outcomes for millions of patients.

RefleXion Medical

Venture Round in 2022
RefleXion Medical Inc. is a medical equipment company specializing in the development of biologically-guided radiotherapy systems for cancer treatment. Its flagship innovation, the RefleXion X1 machine, is designed to deliver advanced radiation therapies such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The company's biologically-guided radiotherapy (BgRT) technology utilizes positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging data to allow tumors to continuously signal their location during treatment, enabling the possibility of treating multiple tumors in a single session, especially in cases of metastasized cancers. This real-time adaptation to the biological characteristics of tumors represents a significant advancement in radiation oncology. RefleXion Medical, incorporated in 2009 and based in Hayward, California, has established strategic partnerships with Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and HealthMyne Inc. to further its mission in cancer treatment innovation.

TRex Bio

Series A in 2022
TRexBio is a biotechnology company that leverages cutting-edge computational biology tools, a focus on human tissue, and expertise in immunobiology to develop therapeutics for cancer and inflammatory diseases. Its 'deep biology' discovery engine maps human tissue Treg behavior to disease processes, identifying and characterizing novel targets for therapeutic intervention. The platform supports the development of a portfolio of therapies that modulate the immune system to restore tissue immune homeostasis.

Rondo Therapeutics

Series A in 2022
Rondo Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel bispecific antibodies aimed at activating the immune system to combat cancer. Founded in 2021 and based in Hayward, California, the company specializes in creating cancer immunotherapies specifically for solid tumor types that do not respond to conventional immune checkpoint inhibitors. By targeting areas of unmet medical need, Rondo Therapeutics enables researchers to advance innovative drug solutions in the fight against cancer.

V-Wave

Series C in 2021
V-Wave Ltd. is a private company that develops percutaneous implantable therapeutic devices for patients suffering from chronic heart failure. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, with additional offices in the United States, V-Wave has created a proprietary interatrial shunt designed to alleviate symptoms associated with both preserved and reduced ejection fraction heart failure. This biocompatible implant regulates left atrial pressure, addressing a key factor in the deterioration of heart failure. The device aims to enhance patients' quality of life by reducing hospitalizations and improving exercise capacity. V-Wave's team consists of experienced engineers and medical scientists dedicated to advancing treatment options for individuals who continue to experience debilitating symptoms despite optimal medical care.

AviadoBio

Series A in 2021
AviadoBio is focused on developing innovative gene therapies aimed at transforming the lives of individuals affected by neurodegenerative disorders, specifically frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company leverages advanced research from King's College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute to create its therapeutic platform. By integrating a comprehensive understanding of brain biology with proprietary gene therapy techniques, AviadoBio seeks to address the challenges of effectively delivering treatments to targeted areas in the brain. This approach aims to enhance the therapeutic potential of gene therapies, offering hope for halting or potentially reversing the progression of these debilitating diseases.

Visus Therapeutics

Debt Financing in 2021
Visus Therapeutics is a clinical-stage company developing innovative medicines to improve the vision for people around the world.

Point Biopharma Global

Post in 2021
POINT Biopharma Global Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of radioligand therapies for cancer treatment. The company is focused on creating a robust platform for the clinical development of radiopharmaceuticals, utilizing advanced radioisotopes such as Actinium-225 and Lutetium-177. POINT Biopharma's product pipeline includes several candidates, such as PNT2002, PNT2004, PNT2003, and PNT2001, among others. By leveraging a combination of innovative manufacturing technology and direct-to-patient targeting, POINT Biopharma aims to transform theragnostic drug development and enhance the commercialization of radioligands in the fight against cancer.

Ribon Therapeutics

Series C in 2021
Ribon Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Lexington, Massachusetts, focused on developing novel cancer therapies that target monoPARP proteins, which are essential regulators of cancer survival mechanisms. Established in 2015, Ribon is leveraging insights from its scientific founders and an experienced management team to create a proprietary drug discovery platform aimed at understanding the molecular actions and biological functions of monoPARPs. This platform enables the development of small molecule inhibitors designed to disrupt cancer cells' abilities to withstand stress, potentially leading to innovative treatments for cancer and other diseases. The company is supported by notable life science investors, positioning it for growth in the biopharmaceutical sector.

Pulmocide

Series C in 2021
Pulmocide Ltd, a company focused on the discovery and development of a new generation of inhaled medicines for the treatment of serious viral and fungal infections of the respiratory tract.

Mestag Therapeutics

Seed Round in 2021
Mestag Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases. Utilizing a research and development platform that leverages insights into the role of activated fibroblast populations in disease, the company aims to create therapeutics that target fibroblast-mediated effects on immune cells. This approach is designed to enhance the medical industry's ability to combat and potentially cure rare and life-threatening conditions. Through its work, Mestag Therapeutics seeks to contribute meaningful advancements in the treatment landscape for these challenging diseases.

Visus Therapeutics

Series A in 2021
Visus Therapeutics is a clinical-stage company developing innovative medicines to improve the vision for people around the world.

ONL Therapeutics

Series B in 2020
ONL Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutics to protect and improve vision in patients with retinal diseases and conditions. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company specializes in creating photoreceptor protective agents that target the FAS apoptotic pathway. Its drug programs aim to safeguard photoreceptors, thereby enhancing outcomes for patients undergoing surgeries related to retinal detachment and other serious vision-threatening issues. Through its research and development efforts, ONL Therapeutics seeks to provide effective solutions for preserving sight and improving the quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions.

Datavant

Series B in 2020
Datavant, Inc. is a health data platform company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2017. The company specializes in aggregating and analyzing biomedical data using machine learning to enhance the efficiency of drug development. It focuses on improving the clinical trial process by employing artificial intelligence and organizing healthcare data to derive actionable insights for trial design and interpretation. By facilitating secure and accessible data connectivity, Datavant enables over 60 million healthcare records to be exchanged among thousands of organizations, including more than 70,000 hospitals and clinics. The company serves the clinical development and commercial pharmaceutical sectors, as well as researchers, and aims to improve patient outcomes while protecting patient privacy through its innovative platform.

Syndesi Therapeutics

Series A in 2020
Syndesi Therapeutics is developing molecules that uniquely modulate the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, which plays a central role in synaptic transmission (the communication between neurons in the brain). Regulating synaptic transmission represents a promising approach to treating Alzheimer’s Disease and other disorders with cognitive impairment. Syndesi has an exclusive license to its platform technology from UCB, the leading company in SV2A research.

V-Wave

Series C in 2020
V-Wave Ltd. is a private company that develops percutaneous implantable therapeutic devices for patients suffering from chronic heart failure. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, with additional offices in the United States, V-Wave has created a proprietary interatrial shunt designed to alleviate symptoms associated with both preserved and reduced ejection fraction heart failure. This biocompatible implant regulates left atrial pressure, addressing a key factor in the deterioration of heart failure. The device aims to enhance patients' quality of life by reducing hospitalizations and improving exercise capacity. V-Wave's team consists of experienced engineers and medical scientists dedicated to advancing treatment options for individuals who continue to experience debilitating symptoms despite optimal medical care.

ImmPACT Bio

Series A in 2020
ImmPACT Bio USA Inc. is a cell therapy company focused on developing engineered T-cells specifically designed to target and treat solid tumors. By utilizing advanced technology, the company aims to create chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies that exhibit tumor specificity, allowing them to induce cytotoxicity only when interacting with tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues. This selective targeting mitigates the safety risks commonly associated with existing CAR-T therapies, providing a promising approach to cancer treatment that enhances efficacy and reduces potential harm to noncancerous cells.

Vor Biopharma

Series B in 2020
Vor Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing engineered hematopoietic stem cell (eHSC) therapies for cancer treatment. The company's lead product candidate, VOR33, is designed specifically for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is currently in preclinical development. VOR33 eHSCs are engineered to lack CD33, a protein commonly expressed by AML cells, allowing for selective targeting of the cancer without harming normal cells. This innovative approach seeks to minimize the toxicities associated with traditional immunotherapies, which often affect both cancerous and healthy tissues. By protecting healthy stem cells from depletion while generating functional immune cells, Vor Biopharma aims to enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients with hematological malignancies.

HistoSonics

Series C in 2020
HistoSonics, Inc. is a medical technology company based in Plymouth, Minnesota, specializing in non-invasive tumor ablation systems. The company has developed the Edison Platform, which employs advanced imaging and proprietary sensing technology to deliver precise sonic beam therapy. This innovative platform utilizes histotripsy and focused sound energy to liquefy and destroy targeted tissues at the sub-cellular level, enabling personalized treatments. HistoSonics' technology allows physicians to monitor the treatment in real time, offering a safe alternative to traditional interventional and surgical methods, minimizing undesirable side effects often associated with these approaches. Incorporated in 2009, HistoSonics aims to enhance treatment outcomes through its pioneering non-invasive solutions.

RefleXion Medical

Series D in 2020
RefleXion Medical Inc. is a medical equipment company specializing in the development of biologically-guided radiotherapy systems for cancer treatment. Its flagship innovation, the RefleXion X1 machine, is designed to deliver advanced radiation therapies such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The company's biologically-guided radiotherapy (BgRT) technology utilizes positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging data to allow tumors to continuously signal their location during treatment, enabling the possibility of treating multiple tumors in a single session, especially in cases of metastasized cancers. This real-time adaptation to the biological characteristics of tumors represents a significant advancement in radiation oncology. RefleXion Medical, incorporated in 2009 and based in Hayward, California, has established strategic partnerships with Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and HealthMyne Inc. to further its mission in cancer treatment innovation.

AviadoBio

Seed Round in 2020
AviadoBio is focused on developing innovative gene therapies aimed at transforming the lives of individuals affected by neurodegenerative disorders, specifically frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company leverages advanced research from King's College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute to create its therapeutic platform. By integrating a comprehensive understanding of brain biology with proprietary gene therapy techniques, AviadoBio seeks to address the challenges of effectively delivering treatments to targeted areas in the brain. This approach aims to enhance the therapeutic potential of gene therapies, offering hope for halting or potentially reversing the progression of these debilitating diseases.

ProteKt Therapeutics

Venture Round in 2019
ProteKt Therapeutics is a drug development company aiming to develop potent and selective oral inhibitors of the kinase PKR for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. The company has raised a $4M pre-A round and graduated from the FutuRx accelerator in 2019.

X-Vax

Series A in 2019
X-Vax Technology is a biotechnology company based in Jupiter, Florida, established in 2015. The company specializes in the preclinical and clinical development of vaccines designed to combat mucosal infections caused by pathogens such as herpes, influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV, which impact millions globally. X-Vax is advancing a herpes vaccine candidate based on a genetically modified HSV-2 virus that lacks glycoprotein D. This innovative approach aims to prevent infections from both herpes type 1 and type 2 by inducing antibodies that facilitate antibody-dependent cell-mediated killing, thereby creating a robust immune response against these viruses.

Blackthorn Therapeutics

Series B in 2019
Blackthorn Therapeutics, based in South San Francisco, California, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing precision medicine for neurobehavioral disorders. Founded in 2013, the company utilizes a proprietary computational platform that integrates advances in computational and clinical neuroscience to better understand the relationship between brain function and behavior. By targeting dysfunctional brain circuits, Blackthorn aims to address longstanding challenges in drug discovery and development. The company’s approach involves identifying novel therapeutic targets, small molecule drug candidates, and biologically-based patient subgroups that are most likely to benefit from treatment, thereby enhancing the precision of therapeutic interventions in the central nervous system.

Cala Health

Series C in 2019
Cala Health, Inc. is a bioelectronic medicine company based in Burlingame, California, founded in 2013. It specializes in developing wearable neuromodulation therapies aimed at treating chronic diseases. The company's flagship product, Cala Trio, is a non-invasive prescription therapy designed to provide transient relief from hand tremors in adults with essential tremor. By integrating advancements in neuroscience and technology, Cala Health focuses on delivering individualized peripheral nerve stimulation. In addition to its work on essential tremor, the company is also developing therapies for other neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease, as well as applications in psychiatry, cardiology, and autoimmune disorders.

Fusion Pharmaceuticals

Series B in 2019
Fusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Hamilton, Canada, specializing in the development of radiopharmaceuticals as precision medicines for challenging cancers. The company employs its proprietary Targeted Alpha Therapies platform and Fast-Clear linker technology to connect alpha particle-emitting isotopes to antibodies, enabling the selective delivery of therapeutic agents to tumors. Fusion's lead product candidate, FPI-1434, is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials as a monotherapy for solid tumors expressing insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor. Additionally, the company is exploring the use of FPI-1434 in combination with approved checkpoint inhibitors and DNA damage response inhibitors in preclinical studies to enhance anti-tumor activity. Fusion is also advancing another product candidate, FPI-1966, into clinical development for head and neck and bladder cancers that express fibroblast growth factor receptor. Founded in 2014 as a spinout of the Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization, Fusion aims to transform how cancers are treated through innovative radiochemistry techniques.

Vor Biopharma

Series A in 2019
Vor Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing engineered hematopoietic stem cell (eHSC) therapies for cancer treatment. The company's lead product candidate, VOR33, is designed specifically for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is currently in preclinical development. VOR33 eHSCs are engineered to lack CD33, a protein commonly expressed by AML cells, allowing for selective targeting of the cancer without harming normal cells. This innovative approach seeks to minimize the toxicities associated with traditional immunotherapies, which often affect both cancerous and healthy tissues. By protecting healthy stem cells from depletion while generating functional immune cells, Vor Biopharma aims to enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients with hematological malignancies.

Ribon Therapeutics

Series B in 2019
Ribon Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Lexington, Massachusetts, focused on developing novel cancer therapies that target monoPARP proteins, which are essential regulators of cancer survival mechanisms. Established in 2015, Ribon is leveraging insights from its scientific founders and an experienced management team to create a proprietary drug discovery platform aimed at understanding the molecular actions and biological functions of monoPARPs. This platform enables the development of small molecule inhibitors designed to disrupt cancer cells' abilities to withstand stress, potentially leading to innovative treatments for cancer and other diseases. The company is supported by notable life science investors, positioning it for growth in the biopharmaceutical sector.

CuraSen Therapeutics

Series A in 2018
CuraSen Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops orphan drugs to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

PhaseBio

Series D in 2018
PhaseBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for endocrine and metabolic disorders, as well as cardiovascular diseases. The company leverages its proprietary elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) technology to enhance the stability, bioavailability, and efficacy of proteins and peptides. Its lead candidate, PB1023, is in a phase 2b clinical trial for managing hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes, with potential applications in obesity. Additionally, PhaseBio is advancing Vasomera, a candidate in phase 1 trials aimed at treating pulmonary arterial hypertension and heart failure. The company is also exploring PB2452, a novel reversal agent for the antiplatelet drug ticagrelor, and PB1046 for pulmonary arterial hypertension. With a commitment to addressing unmet medical needs, PhaseBio is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Syndesi Therapeutics

Series A in 2018
Syndesi Therapeutics is developing molecules that uniquely modulate the synaptic vesicle protein SV2A, which plays a central role in synaptic transmission (the communication between neurons in the brain). Regulating synaptic transmission represents a promising approach to treating Alzheimer’s Disease and other disorders with cognitive impairment. Syndesi has an exclusive license to its platform technology from UCB, the leading company in SV2A research.

Pulmocide

Series B in 2017
Pulmocide Ltd, a company focused on the discovery and development of a new generation of inhaled medicines for the treatment of serious viral and fungal infections of the respiratory tract.

Protagonist Therapeutics

Series C in 2015
Protagonist Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing peptide-based product candidates to meet unmet medical needs in hematology and gastroenterology. The company is advancing several key products, including PTG-300, an injectable hepcidin mimetic in Phase II clinical trials for treating beta-thalassemia-related anemia, and PTG-200, an antagonist peptide that has completed Phase I trials aimed at moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease. Additionally, PN-943, an oral integrin antagonist, is in Phase I trials for inflammatory bowel disease. Protagonist also explores both oral and injectable peptide candidates for various gastrointestinal conditions. The company has established a collaboration with Janssen Biotech for the development and commercialization of PTG-200. Founded in 2006, Protagonist Therapeutics is headquartered in Newark, California.

Cala Health

Series A in 2014
Cala Health, Inc. is a bioelectronic medicine company based in Burlingame, California, founded in 2013. It specializes in developing wearable neuromodulation therapies aimed at treating chronic diseases. The company's flagship product, Cala Trio, is a non-invasive prescription therapy designed to provide transient relief from hand tremors in adults with essential tremor. By integrating advancements in neuroscience and technology, Cala Health focuses on delivering individualized peripheral nerve stimulation. In addition to its work on essential tremor, the company is also developing therapies for other neurological conditions, including Parkinson's disease, as well as applications in psychiatry, cardiology, and autoimmune disorders.
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