Amgen Ventures

Amgen Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Amgen that makes direct investments in early through late-stage biotechnology companies. It focuses on discovering and developing human therapeutics across oncology, inflammation, bone health, nephrology, metabolic disorders, neuroscience, and cardiovascular diseases, including in oncology areas such as signal transduction, cell cycle, and apoptosis, and in supportive care like mucositis and cachexia. In nephrology it targets renal failure and hyperparathyroidism; in inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, COPD, and osteoarthritis; in cardiovascular disease, acute coronary syndromes, dyslipidemia, and heart failure; and in metabolic disorders, diabetes and osteoporosis. It also covers neuroscience areas like pain, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, sleep, cognition, and schizophrenia. The firm engages in early-stage research collaborations and technology, including antibody platforms, biomarkers, and computational tools. Headquartered in Thousand Oaks, with offices in San Francisco, Seattle, and Cambridge, it typically invests 2-3 million per transaction, up to 10 million per company, and seeks ownership under 15 percent. Founded 2004.

David Haddad

Director of Product Management

Majed Kheir

Gladys Nunez

Managing Director

Esteban Santos

Executive Vice President, Operations

Past deals in New England

EnClear Therapies

Venture Round in 2024
EnClear Therapies develops device-based therapies for treating neurodegenerative diseases by removing toxic proteins from cerebrospinal fluid. Its initial targets are Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Incorporated in 2018, the company is based in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Generate Biomedicines

Series C in 2023
Generate Biomedicines, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative therapeutics through its pioneering platform in Generative Biology. Established in 2018, the company utilizes machine learning to analyze existing proteins, enabling it to understand the principles governing the relationship between genetic sequences and protein structure. This approach facilitates the invention of novel antibodies, peptides, enzymes, receptors, and other protein-based therapeutics optimized for specific biological functions. By harnessing its advanced technology, Generate Biomedicines aims to accelerate drug discovery by generating new biological molecules with significant therapeutic potential. Originally known as Generate Biologics, the company adopted its current name in March 2020 to reflect its expanded focus on biomedicine.

Casma Therapeutics

Series C in 2022
Casma Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that specializes in developing innovative therapeutic strategies centered on the natural cellular process of autophagy. Founded in 2017, the company aims to enhance autophagy to improve the clearance of unwanted proteins, organelles, and pathogens, thereby addressing significant medical challenges. Casma Therapeutics is advancing preclinical programs targeting various conditions, including muscle disorders, liver disease, inflammatory disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. By harnessing and manipulating the autophagy system, the company seeks to arrest or reverse disease progression, ultimately enabling physicians to meet unmet medical needs and provide effective treatments for patients with serious health issues.

Kernal Biologics

Series A in 2022
Kernal Biologics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on designing and developing mRNA immunotherapies aimed at treating diseases such as COVID-19 and various cancers. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company leverages its mRNA platform to enable researchers and organizations to create vaccines and therapeutics. Kernal’s innovative approach allows specific cells to produce their own therapeutic agents. With a team that has strong connections to prestigious institutions like MIT and Harvard, as well as experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Kernal Biologics has garnered recognition for its work, winning multiple awards from notable organizations, including Amgen and NASA.

TileDB

Venture Round in 2022
TileDB, Inc. is a technology company specializing in the management of multi-dimensional array data, primarily for scientific applications. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an additional location in Athens, Greece, TileDB offers a cloud-based storage platform and embedded storage engine. Its innovative software is designed to handle diverse data types, including unstructured and multimodal data, making it suitable for complex scientific inquiries such as genomic research and biomedical imaging. TileDB enables users to access, analyze, and share intricate datasets effectively, supporting scientific teams in pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors to advance drug discovery and other research initiatives. Through its robust platform, TileDB facilitates parallel data analytics and integrates various dimensions and attributes within data arrays, positioning itself as a critical tool for scientific breakthroughs.

Celsius Therapeutics

Series B in 2022
Celsius Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing precision medicines for patients suffering from cancer and autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating the expertise of scientists, computational biologists, and clinicians. Celsius Therapeutics utilizes advanced techniques such as single-cell genomic analysis and machine learning to identify and develop innovative therapeutic solutions. By leveraging these cutting-edge technologies, the company aims to create life-changing medicines that address unmet medical needs.

QurAlis Corporation

Series A in 2020
QurAlis Corporation is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. It focuses on drugs that directly target disease-causing genetic alterations using proprietary platforms and biomarkers to identify and treat patients with specific genetic mutations, aiming to halt disease progression and improve outcomes.

EnClear Therapies

Series A in 2020
EnClear Therapies develops device-based therapies for treating neurodegenerative diseases by removing toxic proteins from cerebrospinal fluid. Its initial targets are Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Incorporated in 2018, the company is based in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Caraway Therapeutics

Series A in 2018
Caraway Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases by modulating mitophagy and autophagy. The company aims to address the degradation of toxic cellular components, which is a key factor in various neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. By leveraging an understanding of critical neural pathways, Caraway Therapeutics seeks to discover and develop novel small molecules that can restore cellular balance and improve lysosomal function. Founded in 2018 and initially known as Rheostat Therapeutics, Inc., the company rebranded in 2019 to reflect its commitment to finding effective therapies for patients affected by these debilitating diseases.

QurAlis Corporation

Seed Round in 2018
QurAlis Corporation is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. It focuses on drugs that directly target disease-causing genetic alterations using proprietary platforms and biomarkers to identify and treat patients with specific genetic mutations, aiming to halt disease progression and improve outcomes.

Kymera Therapeutics

Series B in 2018
Kymera Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on targeted protein degradation. It employs a proprietary predictive modeling platform to discover novel small molecule therapeutics that selectively degrade disease-causing proteins.

Akili Interactive

Series C in 2018
Akili Interactive Labs, Inc., established in 2011 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, specializes in developing digital medicine solutions. The company's core business involves creating video game-based technology to assess and enhance cognitive abilities. Akili's broad pipeline focuses on treating cognitive deficiencies and improving symptoms associated with various medical conditions, such as ADHD, MDD, ASD, and inflammatory diseases.

QurAlis Corporation

Seed Round in 2018
QurAlis Corporation is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. It focuses on drugs that directly target disease-causing genetic alterations using proprietary platforms and biomarkers to identify and treat patients with specific genetic mutations, aiming to halt disease progression and improve outcomes.

Kymera Therapeutics

Series A in 2017
Kymera Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on targeted protein degradation. It employs a proprietary predictive modeling platform to discover novel small molecule therapeutics that selectively degrade disease-causing proteins.

Akili Interactive

Series B in 2016
Akili Interactive Labs, Inc., established in 2011 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, specializes in developing digital medicine solutions. The company's core business involves creating video game-based technology to assess and enhance cognitive abilities. Akili's broad pipeline focuses on treating cognitive deficiencies and improving symptoms associated with various medical conditions, such as ADHD, MDD, ASD, and inflammatory diseases.

Ra Pharmaceuticals

Series B in 2015
Ra Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing therapeutics for diseases linked to the excessive activation of the complement system. Utilizing a peptide chemistry platform, the company produces synthetic macrocyclic peptides that offer the specificity and diversity of antibodies alongside the pharmacological advantages of small molecules. Its lead product candidate, Zilucoplan, is an injectable treatment that has completed Phase II clinical trials for generalized myasthenia gravis and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, as well as a Phase Ib trial for patients with renal impairment. In addition to Zilucoplan, Ra Pharmaceuticals is advancing pre-clinical programs targeting Factor D inhibition for C3 glomerulonephritis and dense deposit disease, among other conditions. The company has also established a collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. to explore orally available cyclic peptides for cardiovascular targets. Founded in 2008, Ra Pharmaceuticals operates as a subsidiary of UCB SA.

Surface Oncology

Series A in 2015
Surface Oncology, Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative cancer therapies. The company specializes in creating human immunoglobulin isotype G4 monoclonal antibodies, including SRF231, which inhibits CD47; NZV930, which targets CD73; SRF617, which inhibits CD39; SRF388, aimed at interleukin 27; and SRF813, which targets CD112R. Additionally, Surface Oncology is advancing several preclinical programs that address other critical elements of the tumor microenvironment, such as regulatory T cells and natural killer cells. The company has established strategic collaborations with Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. to advance the development of its therapies, including evaluating the combination of SRF617 with Merck’s KEYTRUDA. Founded in 2014, Surface Oncology aims to leverage novel immunotherapy targets and insights into cancer immuno-biology to enhance anti-tumor immune responses.

DecImmune Therapeutics

Venture Round in 2010
DecImmune Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative peptides and antibodies to address acute tissue-damaging inflammation associated with conditions such as myocardial infarction, burns, and vascular injury. The company aims to create therapeutics that treat second-degree burns and prevent reperfusion injury in transplant patients. It has made significant advancements in monoclonal antibodies targeting innate pathways to mitigate tissue damage and preserve organ function, particularly in the context of vascular inflammatory diseases. Founded in 2001 and originally named Natural Antibodies, Inc., DecImmune Therapeutics has since established itself as a key player in the field of inflammation and autoimmunity.

Epizyme

Series B in 2009
Epizyme, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative epigenetic medicines for cancer and other serious diseases. Founded in 2007, the company has developed Tazemetostat, an approved treatment for metastatic or locally advanced epithelioid sarcoma, and is exploring its use in various combinations for other malignancies, including follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and platinum-resistant solid tumors. In addition to Tazemetostat, Epizyme is advancing other drug candidates, such as pinometostat for acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and inhibitors targeting PRMT5 and PRMT1 for various solid tumors and blood cancers. The company collaborates with several prominent organizations in the pharmaceutical sector to enhance its research and development efforts.

Alantos Pharmaceuticals

Acquisition in 2007
Founded in 2002, Alantos Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It specializes in the discovery and development of small molecule drugs targeting osteoarthritis, inflammation, and type II diabetes.

ViaCell

Venture Round in 2004
ViaCell is a biotechnology company focused on the area of women’s health. The company develops ViaCord, which enables families preserve their baby’s umbilical cord blood at the time of birth for possible future medical use; and ViaCyte, to broaden reproductive choices for women through the cryopreservation of human unfertilized eggs. ViaCell is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
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