Mission BioCapital

D2B3 is a biotechnology startup focused on developing innovative drug delivery technologies for the brain and central nervous system. The company operates a pre-clinical platform that temporarily and selectively opens the blood-brain barrier, allowing for targeted and effective treatment of central nervous system diseases. Its proprietary technology is versatile and can be applied to various drugs and therapeutic classes, providing a plug-and-play approach.

SiteOne Therapeutics is a San Francisco-based company developing innovative therapeutics and diagnostics for acute and chronic pain. Their lead candidates are selective inhibitors of the Naᵥ1.7 ion channel, aiming to treat pain safely and effectively without relying on NSAIDs or opioids.

Jupiter Bioventures is a venture builder company dedicated to de-risking early-stage therapeutic projects. It operates by evaluating opportunities through a specific set of investment criteria and providing initial seed capital to founders. This approach enables the growth of innovative projects in the biotechnology sector, supporting entrepreneurs as they navigate the challenges of early development. By focusing on early-stage initiatives, Jupiter Bioventures aims to foster advancements in therapeutic solutions while minimizing the inherent risks associated with new ventures.

NuCyRNA Therapeutics aims to refine RNA-targeting therapeutics based on a novel oligonucleotide platform, with an initial focus on CNS diseases.

Umlaut.Bio is a spinout of the European Molecule Biology Laboratory (EMBL), is pursuing tRNA targets for treatment of cancer and immunological diseases.

TippingPoint Biosciences is developing therapeutics that target abnormal DNA packaging states in diseases such as cancer.

Cloverleaf Bio specializes in the development of an innovative RNA therapeutic platform focused on oncology. This platform enables the direct inhibition of cancer-promoting enzymes using a single therapeutic molecule, offering a novel approach to improve patient outcomes in cancer treatment.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Progentos Therapeutics focuses on developing regenerative medicine therapies. Its primary approach involves stimulating the body's natural repair mechanisms to restore myelin in patients with multiple sclerosis, aiming to improve neurological function and enhance quality of life.

Mediar Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics to treat fibrosis in chronically damaged organs. It designs antibodies that neutralize mediators driving fibrotic activity with the aim of halting and reversing fibrosis to improve patient outcomes. Founded in 2019 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company targets key fibrotic mediator proteins to address late-stage disease with precision and efficacy.

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.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Integrated Biosciences focuses on developing innovative therapeutics aimed at combating age-related diseases. Founded on research from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and UCSB, the company has made significant strides in the field, including the first AI-driven discovery of anti-aging drug candidates and the introduction of a novel structural class of antibiotics in six decades. By leveraging synthetic biology and machine learning, Integrated Biosciences seeks to control cellular stress responses, facilitating advancements in cellular rejuvenation and empowering medical professionals with next-generation treatment options.

Dren Bio is a biotechnology company that specializes in protein engineering technologies aimed at depleting pathogenic cells, protein aggregates, and other disease-causing agents. The company operates under a holding business model, developing a diverse portfolio of projects that function as stand-alone assets. Dren Bio's platform is designed to address a range of health conditions, including hematologic neoplasms, solid tumors, autoimmune disorders, and diseases associated with protein aggregation. By focusing on innovative protein-based technologies, Dren Bio enables healthcare professionals to manage and treat various serious diseases more effectively.

Arkuda Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative treatments for patients with neurological diseases. The company utilizes new insights into progranulin and lysosomal biology to create therapies that aim to correct progranulin deficiency and address lysosomal dysfunction, particularly in genetically-defined frontotemporal dementia associated with mutations in the GRN gene. By targeting these underlying biological mechanisms, Arkuda's lead compounds are designed to improve cellular health in the brain, potentially delaying the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and the onset of their symptoms.

GraphWear Technologies Inc. is a company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, specializing in advanced nanotechnology sensing platforms that enable non-invasive monitoring of vital body metrics. Founded in 2015, GraphWear develops patch sensors that measure lactic acid and glucose levels in sweat, providing solutions for dehydration monitoring, glucose detection, and assessing muscle endurance and recovery. The company primarily serves professional sports teams, college athletics, and amateur athletes, aiming to enhance performance and prevent dehydration. In addition to its athletic applications, GraphWear is conducting clinical trials for a glucose monitoring device designed to support diabetes management, with potential expansions into monitoring conditions such as heart disease and cancer. By offering a no-needle, no-blood approach to health monitoring, GraphWear seeks to empower users with timely and accurate health information, facilitating better diagnosis and care.

Asher Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California, founded in 2019. The company specializes in the development of immunotherapy drugs aimed at effectively treating cancer. Its innovative therapies are designed to enhance the immune system's ability to target and eliminate cancer cells while minimizing side effects. This focus allows healthcare providers to deliver effective treatments to patients in a shorter timeframe, aiming to improve overall outcomes in cancer care.

Mediar Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics to treat fibrosis in chronically damaged organs. It designs antibodies that neutralize mediators driving fibrotic activity with the aim of halting and reversing fibrosis to improve patient outcomes. Founded in 2019 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company targets key fibrotic mediator proteins to address late-stage disease with precision and efficacy.

Dren Bio is a biotechnology company that specializes in protein engineering technologies aimed at depleting pathogenic cells, protein aggregates, and other disease-causing agents. The company operates under a holding business model, developing a diverse portfolio of projects that function as stand-alone assets. Dren Bio's platform is designed to address a range of health conditions, including hematologic neoplasms, solid tumors, autoimmune disorders, and diseases associated with protein aggregation. By focusing on innovative protein-based technologies, Dren Bio enables healthcare professionals to manage and treat various serious diseases more effectively.

Totient Inc. is an AI-driven biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 2016. The company specializes in using advanced machine learning and immunoinformatics to analyze complex datasets in the field of drug discovery and development. It focuses on identifying novel tissue-specific antigens and reconstructing high-affinity antibody therapeutics from tissues impacted by cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infections. By leveraging its platform's unique capabilities, Totient aims to quickly and accurately identify potent antibody candidates suitable for a variety of therapeutic applications, including cell therapies and bispecific antibodies. This innovative approach positions the company to address significant medical challenges in multiple areas of healthcare.

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.

Pandion Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Watertown, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative therapeutics for patients with autoimmune diseases. The company’s lead product candidate, PT101, is an engineered interleukin-2 variant currently undergoing Phase 1a clinical trials for various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition to PT101, Pandion's pipeline includes PT627, a systemic PD-1 agonist in preclinical studies, and two bifunctional molecules, PT001 and PT002, designed to provide tissue-selective immunomodulation by targeting specific adhesion molecules in the gastrointestinal tract. Pandion employs a network-based approach to immune system conceptualization through its TALON drug design platform and collaborates with Astellas Pharma to develop locally acting immunomodulators for pancreatic autoimmune diseases. The company aims to create a new generation of therapeutics that offer enhanced efficacy and safety for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Arkuda Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative treatments for patients with neurological diseases. The company utilizes new insights into progranulin and lysosomal biology to create therapies that aim to correct progranulin deficiency and address lysosomal dysfunction, particularly in genetically-defined frontotemporal dementia associated with mutations in the GRN gene. By targeting these underlying biological mechanisms, Arkuda's lead compounds are designed to improve cellular health in the brain, potentially delaying the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and the onset of their symptoms.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Comet Therapeutics, established in 2018 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializes in developing novel small-molecule treatments for various diseases, with a focus on orphan neurological disorders. The company's core technology is its CoEnzyme metabolism platform, which aims to restore dysregulated CoEnzyme A metabolism, thereby addressing significant unmet medical needs in these areas.

Tangible Science, LLC is a company specializing in the development of innovative contact lens technology aimed at alleviating discomfort for individuals suffering from dry eye conditions. Founded in 2011 and based in Redwood City, California, the company has created a polymer-based coating for hydrogel and silicone hydrogel lenses. This advanced coating forms a bio-compatible and highly hydrated surface that maintains the integrity of the natural tear film, thereby helping users to eliminate symptoms of dryness during lens wear. The company's focus on enhancing comfort for contact lens patients positions it as a key player in the ocular health market.

Telo Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative cancer therapeutics aimed at reversing cancer cell immortality. The company employs a precision medicine approach to target telomerase, an enzyme that cancer cells utilize during the immortalization process. By inhibiting this enzyme, Telo Therapeutics seeks to leave healthy cells unscathed while improving treatment outcomes for patients who have exhausted other options. Through its unique platform, the company aspires to enhance survival and well-being in cancer patients, ultimately contributing to more effective treatment strategies and potential cures for various forms of cancer.

Invenio Imaging, Inc. is a privately held company founded in 2012 and based in Santa Clara, California. It specializes in the development of advanced technology for non-destructive microscopic analysis of the molecular composition of tissues and various materials. The company offers a multi-modal coherent Raman scattering microscope aimed at research and development as well as medical applications. Invenio Imaging's innovative platform technology is designed to facilitate intraoperative histology by providing high-resolution imaging that allows for the examination of specimens from multiple sites within a surgical cavity. The company was established based on research conducted by Professor Sunney Xie at Harvard University and has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health's Small Business Innovation Research programs.

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.

Cereius, Inc. is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, focused on developing innovative small-molecule therapies for brain metastasis, particularly in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Incorporated in 2017, the company specializes in novel radiolabeling chemistries that enhance the uptake and retention of radionuclides in targeted tumors while reducing the absorption in healthy tissues. This approach significantly improves both the therapeutic index and the diagnostic contrast of targeting agents, enabling medical practitioners to more effectively treat solid tumor brain metastasis and potentially improve patient survival rates.

GraphWear Technologies Inc. is a company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, specializing in advanced nanotechnology sensing platforms that enable non-invasive monitoring of vital body metrics. Founded in 2015, GraphWear develops patch sensors that measure lactic acid and glucose levels in sweat, providing solutions for dehydration monitoring, glucose detection, and assessing muscle endurance and recovery. The company primarily serves professional sports teams, college athletics, and amateur athletes, aiming to enhance performance and prevent dehydration. In addition to its athletic applications, GraphWear is conducting clinical trials for a glucose monitoring device designed to support diabetes management, with potential expansions into monitoring conditions such as heart disease and cancer. By offering a no-needle, no-blood approach to health monitoring, GraphWear seeks to empower users with timely and accurate health information, facilitating better diagnosis and care.

ViewPoint Therapeutics, founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in developing treatments for diseases caused by protein misfolding. Its primary focus is on age-related cataracts, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The company's innovative approach involves creating crystallin stabilizers, including a small molecule active in preclinical models of cataracts. These stabilizers aim to prevent or reverse protein misfolding, which underlies various common disorders associated with aging. ViewPoint Therapeutics is committed to advancing its pipeline to deliver effective therapies for these conditions.

Cell Design Labs, Inc. is a biotherapeutics company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2015. The company specializes in developing innovative cell-based therapies aimed at treating cancer and other severe diseases. By harnessing the potential of the body's immune system, Cell Design Labs creates advanced therapies that are designed to target and eliminate malignant cells with high precision and safety. Its focus includes developing disruptive T cell receptor therapies that modify immune cells to recognize and destroy cancerous threats effectively. As a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, Cell Design Labs is positioned to contribute significantly to the field of cancer treatment through its pioneering research and development efforts.

Mitokinin, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in New York, focused on developing small molecule therapeutics aimed at treating neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. The company specializes in medicinal chemistry to create kinetin analogs that optimize the activation of PINK1, a protein involved in cellular health. Mitokinin's compounds are designed to enhance the activity of active-form PINK1 without interfering with its natural regulation. Founded in 2017, the company comprises a team of neuroscientists, chemists, and pharmacologists dedicated to advancing disease-modifying therapies in the healthcare sector.

Atreca is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops antibody-based immunotherapeutics for various solid tumor types. Its lead product candidate, ATRC-101, is a monoclonal antibody with a novel mechanism of action and target derived from its proprietary discovery platform.

Founded in 2014, Vivace Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It focuses on discovering and developing cancer therapeutics by targeting novel pathways, with a particular emphasis on the Hippo pathway which controls tissue regeneration and organ size.

Redwood Bioscience is a biotechnology company focused on precision protein-chemical engineering to develop optimized biotherapeutics. Established in 2008 and based in Emeryville, California, the company specializes in site-specific modification technology, which addresses the challenges of conjugating biologics with synthetic molecules. This innovative approach enables the creation of homogeneous hybrid biotherapeutics, enhancing the effectiveness of treatments. Redwood Bioscience's methods for optimizing drug conjugates leverage the binding specificity and extended half-life of biologic carriers while incorporating the potency advantages of small molecules and synthetic peptides, positioning the company at the forefront of advancements in antibody-drug conjugates and semi-synthetic biotherapeutics.

Symic Biomedical is a biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California, focusing on developing matrix regulator therapeutics. These therapeutics are designed to target and bind to specific sites within the body's extracellular matrix that have been damaged due to injury or disease. By inhibiting pathological inflammatory responses, Symic Biomedical aims to address conditions such as fibrosis, oncology, and diseases of the central nervous system. The company was incorporated in 2012 and operates as a subsidiary of Symic Holdings, LLC.

Circle Pharma, Inc. is an early-stage biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California, founded in 2012 by Matt Jacobson and Scott Lokey. The company specializes in developing cell-permeable macrocyclic peptide therapeutics aimed at critical clinical targets. It employs proprietary computational design algorithms and innovative synthetic chemistry to create first-in-class macrocycle therapies that can be administered through various routes, including oral delivery. Circle Pharma's platform utilizes structure-based rational drug design and an iterative process to generate large virtual libraries of diverse macrocycle scaffolds, which are selected for their permeability. This approach enables the company to address challenging targets, particularly in the context of intracellular protein-protein interactions that play a significant role in cancer, thereby fulfilling unmet clinical needs. The company is led by David J. Earp.

SiteOne Therapeutics is a San Francisco-based company developing innovative therapeutics and diagnostics for acute and chronic pain. Their lead candidates are selective inhibitors of the Naᵥ1.7 ion channel, aiming to treat pain safely and effectively without relying on NSAIDs or opioids.

iPierian is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells, the company focuses on addressing significant unmet medical needs, particularly in conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. iPierian is engaged in the research and development of innovative therapies, including monoclonal antibodies aimed at treating Alzheimer's disease and other Tauopathies. By targeting the mechanisms that drive disease progression, the company aims to provide physicians with effective tools to slow the spread of Tau in the brain, thereby potentially improving patient outcomes.