A4Cell
Venture Round in 2023
A4Cell is a company focused on advancing the study of living single cells through the development of suspended planar-array chips, known as SPAchips. These innovative devices enable the monitoring of single-cell behavior, offering insights into disease progression and the cellular response to treatments. By allowing real-time analysis of cellular processes over extended periods, A4Cell aims to enhance the accuracy and quality of cell study data, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of disease mechanisms. The company’s products, including the CytoCHECK SPAchip, are designed to facilitate detailed intracellular assessments, providing physicians with valuable tools for research and clinical applications.
Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals
Series B in 2023
Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a drug development company focused on creating neuroprotection therapies for various brain injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, concussions, acute ischemic strokes, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Founded in 2014 and located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company is dedicated to demonstrating the neuroprotective benefits of selective astrocyte activation. Its lead product, AST-004, is a novel small molecule designed for acute administration that protects and repairs damaged neurons by selectively stimulating astrocytes. Astrocyte Pharmaceuticals aims to advance innovative therapeutic agents to improve recovery and well-being for patients suffering from brain injuries.
Nido Biosciences
Venture Round in 2020
Nido Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on developing precision medicines and small-molecule therapeutics for severe neurological and neuromuscular diseases. It employs a functional genomics platform using human cell lines and tailored screens to identify therapeutic targets driven by human genetics, with the aim of addressing the underlying biology of disease and restoring healthy cell function through targeted interventions.
Aardvark Therapeutics
Series A in 2019
Founded in 2017, Aardvark Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing small molecule therapeutics targeting metabolic diseases. Its lead product candidate, ARD-101, is an oral gut-restricted therapy designed to selectively activate bitter taste receptors for hunger-associated conditions.
Chimeron Bio
Venture Round in 2018
Chimeron Bio Corporation is a Philadelphia-based company founded in 2015 that specializes in the discovery and development of immunotherapeutics and personalized gene therapies for cancer treatment. The company focuses on creating self-amplifying therapeutics and vaccines, utilizing a unique platform that employs chimera-encased self-amplifying RNA technology. This innovative approach aims to enhance therapeutic expression and provide a wider dynamic range compared to traditional messenger RNA methods. Chimeron Bio seeks to revolutionize cancer treatment by offering personalized medicines that can effectively address serious diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, and genetic disorders.
Inspirna is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class cancer therapies that target RNA-regulated drivers of tumor growth. Using RNA biology-based discovery platforms, including miRNA-DRIVEr and RNA-DRIVEr, it identifies novel cancer targets and advances them with oral small-molecule medicines and antibody-drug conjugates. Its lead programs include RGX-202 for RAS-mutant colorectal cancer and RGX-104 for small cell and non-small cell lung cancers, currently in early-phase trials (Phase 1b/2). The company aims to translate RNA-centric targets into treatments for patients with cancers that lack effective options.