Mission BioCapital

Dren Bio is a biotechnology company with a portfolio of attractive projects focused on powerful protein engineering technologies for the depletion of cells, protein aggregates, and other disease-causing agents. It is a holding company business model aimed at creating value with multiple projects as stand-alone assets.

Asher Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing immunotherapy drugs for cancer treatment. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company aims to create innovative therapeutic solutions to improve patient outcomes in oncology. Asher Bio leverages advanced technologies and research to enhance the effectiveness of immune-based therapies, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving field of cancer treatment.

Vedere Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 2019. The company focuses on developing gene therapy products aimed at restoring functional vision for patients who have experienced vision loss due to Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs) and other causes of vision impairment, both genetic and non-genetic. Unlike many ocular gene therapies that primarily slow the progression of vision loss, Vedere Bio seeks to restore lost vision, regardless of the patient's genetic background or stage of their condition. As of September 2020, Vedere Bio operates as a subsidiary of Novartis AG.

Caribou Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Berkeley, California, specializing in cellular engineering and genome analysis through CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Founded in 2011, the company provides a gene editing platform that allows for targeted modifications in the genome. Its applications span various sectors, including human and animal therapeutics, agricultural biotechnology, and industrial biotechnology. Caribou's solutions facilitate the development of new disease models, enhance traits in plants, and support functional genomic screens. The company aims to advance both basic and applied biological research, leveraging its transformative capabilities to impact therapeutic development and bioproduction.

Dren Bio is a biotechnology company with a portfolio of attractive projects focused on powerful protein engineering technologies for the depletion of cells, protein aggregates, and other disease-causing agents. It is a holding company business model aimed at creating value with multiple projects as stand-alone assets.

Symbiome, Inc. is a skincare company based in San Francisco, California, specializing in products formulated with microbiomic and plant-based ingredients. Founded in 2017, the company aims to provide skincare solutions that reflect natural principles and utilize ancestral ingredients. Originally known as Persona Biome, Inc., it adopted the name Symbiome, Inc. in December 2019. By combining scientific research with traditional knowledge, Symbiome develops products designed to promote healthy skin.

QurAlis Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing precision therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological diseases. Established in 2016 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, QurAlis aims to address the genetic underpinnings of ALS, leveraging its proprietary platforms and biomarkers to create targeted treatments. The company's pipeline includes innovative therapies designed to restore dysfunctional cellular processes, treat overactive neurons, and eliminate toxic proteins associated with the disease. By concentrating on genetically validated targets, QurAlis seeks to advance antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule programs that can effectively manage various subtypes of ALS, ultimately working to halt disease progression and improve patient outcomes. QurAlis operates as a subsidiary of Q-State Biosciences, Inc.

Vedere Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 2019. The company focuses on developing gene therapy products aimed at restoring functional vision for patients who have experienced vision loss due to Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs) and other causes of vision impairment, both genetic and non-genetic. Unlike many ocular gene therapies that primarily slow the progression of vision loss, Vedere Bio seeks to restore lost vision, regardless of the patient's genetic background or stage of their condition. As of September 2020, Vedere Bio operates as a subsidiary of Novartis AG.

Tangible Science, LLC specializes in the development of innovative products aimed at enhancing the comfort of contact lens users, particularly those suffering from dry eye conditions. Founded in 2011 and based in Redwood City, California, the company has created a polymer coating technology that provides a bio-compatible and highly hydrated surface for contact lenses. This technology helps maintain the natural tear film, significantly reducing discomfort associated with lens wear. Tangible Science's product offerings include contact lens coatings, cleaners, rejuvenators, and a line of disposable lenses, all designed to improve the overall experience for patients, eye care professionals, and contact lens manufacturers.

Photoswitch Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Menlo Park, California, founded in 2008. The company specializes in developing innovative tools for drug screening and safety pharmacology studies, focusing on excitable membrane biology. It manufactures instruments that control the function of ion channels and offers optical kinetic plate readers and voltage-sensitive dyeing devices. These products enable the assay of electrical properties in induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes, whether in a spontaneously active or optically paced state. By utilizing channelrhodopsin-based optical control, Photoswitch Biosciences simplifies the screening and testing of new drug candidates, providing valuable resources for biotechnology researchers.

QurAlis Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing precision therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological diseases. Established in 2016 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, QurAlis aims to address the genetic underpinnings of ALS, leveraging its proprietary platforms and biomarkers to create targeted treatments. The company's pipeline includes innovative therapies designed to restore dysfunctional cellular processes, treat overactive neurons, and eliminate toxic proteins associated with the disease. By concentrating on genetically validated targets, QurAlis seeks to advance antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule programs that can effectively manage various subtypes of ALS, ultimately working to halt disease progression and improve patient outcomes. QurAlis operates as a subsidiary of Q-State Biosciences, Inc.

Principia Biopharma Inc. is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company based in South San Francisco, California, focused on developing innovative therapies for immune-mediated diseases. The company's lead candidate, rilzabrutinib, is an inhibitor currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials for pemphigus and pemphigus foliaceus, as well as Phase 1/2 and Phase 2 trials for immune thrombocytopenia and IgG4-related disease, respectively. Additionally, Principia is advancing PRN2246/SAR442168, aimed at treating multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system disorders, which is in Phase II trials. Another candidate, PRN473, is in Phase I trials for various immune-mediated diseases. Principia Biopharma collaborates with Genzyme Corporation to explore treatments for relapsing and progressive multiple sclerosis, enhancing its commitment to addressing significant unmet medical needs in immunology and oncology. Established in 2008, the company operates as a subsidiary of Sanofi.

Alector, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. The company's lead product, AL001, is a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody currently in phase II clinical trials for frontotemporal dementia. Additionally, AL101 is in phase I clinical trials for various neurodegenerative diseases, while AL002 and AL003 are undergoing phase 1b trials specifically for Alzheimer's disease. Alector is leveraging advancements in antibody technology, neuroimmunology, and human genetics to create innovative therapeutics. The company maintains a collaboration with Adimab, LLC, which aids in the discovery and optimization of antibody therapeutics. Alector has a pipeline of ten programs in the research and development stage and aims to advance several candidates through pre-clinical development within the next two years. Founded in 2013, Alector is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

Cell Design Labs is a biotherapeutics company pioneering breakthrough science to develop disruptive cell-based therapies for cancer and other devastating diseases. Cell Design Labs leverages the power of the body’s immune system to develop smart, living therapies with the capability to treat our most challenging diseases with unprecedented power, precision, safety and durability

Zephyrus Biosciences, Inc. is a life science research tools company based in Berkeley, California, founded in 2013. The company specializes in the development and commercialization of innovative research tools that facilitate protein analysis at the single-cell level. Its flagship product, the scWestern System, allows for western blotting on individual cells, a significant advancement in the field of single-cell analysis. This system employs microfluidics technology to isolate single cells in micro-wells, lysing them and performing SDS-PAGE separation on each lysate. Researchers utilize Zephyrus's tools to explore critical areas such as cancer biology, stem cell research, neurology, and broader human disease studies, ultimately contributing to advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics. As of March 2016, Zephyrus operates as a subsidiary of Bio-Techne Corp.

Redwood Bioscience specializes in precision protein-chemical engineering to create optimized biotherapeutics. The company employs site-specific modification technology, which addresses the challenges of conjugating biologics with synthetic molecules, resulting in homogeneous hybrid biotherapeutics. These hybrid drugs combine the specificity and extended half-life of biologics with the potency of synthetic peptides and small molecules. By utilizing modified carrier scaffolds, Redwood develops peptide therapeutics aimed at enhancing serum half-lives and antibody-drug conjugates that exhibit improved potency and reduced toxicity. Additionally, the company is expanding the chemical space of protein drugs by creating heterofunctional products with unique architectures. Redwood collaborates with partners to enhance the value of existing programs and to jointly develop innovative compounds while also pursuing its own internal biotherapeutic programs.

Circle Pharma, Inc. is an early-stage biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California, focused on developing cell-permeable macrocyclic peptide therapeutics. Founded in 2012 by Professors Matt Jacobson and Scott Lokey, the company utilizes proprietary computational design algorithms and innovative synthetic chemistry to create macrocycles targeting significant clinical challenges. Their approach involves an iterative design process that leverages large virtual libraries of diverse macrocycle scaffolds, selected for their permeability. Circle Pharma aims to address unmet clinical needs, particularly in the treatment of cancer, by focusing on intracellular protein-protein interactions through its novel macrocycle therapies, which can be delivered via multiple routes, including oral administration. The company's work is intended to enable healthcare professionals to advance internal development efforts in this critical area of medicine.

Sentieon, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, specializing in cloud-based bioinformatics solutions for the life sciences and clinical markets. The company develops a suite of bioinformatics tools designed for the efficient processing of genomics data, focusing on high accuracy and computational efficiency. Key products include Sentieon DNAseq, which facilitates germline DNA analysis, and Sentieon TNseq, used for detecting somatic variants in tumor-normal samples. Sentieon's software solutions are characterized by their scalability, deployability, and upgradability, allowing them to adapt to various user needs. The company's advanced algorithms and robust software implementation ensure rapid turnaround times and consistent results, benefiting scientists, clinicians, and patients by enhancing precision in genomic data analysis.

SiteOne, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics and diagnostics for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. Established in 2010 and based in Bozeman, Montana, the company aims to provide safe and effective alternatives to existing pain management therapies, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids. SiteOne's lead therapeutic candidates are selective inhibitors of the voltage-gated sodium ion channel Naᵥ1.7, which is essential for transmitting pain signals in the nervous system. By targeting this specific channel, SiteOne seeks to offer new solutions for patients suffering from various pain conditions.

iPierian is engaged in the research and development of therapies aimed at treating neurodegenerative diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The company utilizes induced pluripotent stem cells to facilitate drug discovery and development, focusing on addressing significant unmet medical needs. In particular, iPierian is developing therapies and monoclonal antibodies that target Tauopathies, which are diseases characterized by the accumulation of tau protein in the brain. These therapies aim to slow the spread of tau throughout the brain, thereby inhibiting the progression of associated diseases.