Acorn Bioventures

OnKure Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative cancer therapies. The company specializes in creating less toxic kinase inhibitor drugs and epigenetic therapies, including selective inhibitors of histone deacetylases. Its lead candidate, OKI-179, has demonstrated significant efficacy in preclinical models of hematological and solid tumor cancers, effectively reducing tumor growth both alone and in combination with other targeted therapies. Additionally, OnKure is advancing its HDAC3 selective inhibitor, OKI-422, into preclinical toxicology studies. The company's drug candidates are designed to directly target malignant cells, enhance the effects of small molecule therapies, and optimize the tumor microenvironment for improved checkpoint inhibition, addressing unmet medical needs in cancer treatment.

Acrivon Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on precision oncology, developing therapeutics that target challenging cancer types without straightforward single-gene mutations. The company employs a proteomics-based platform to identify patients whose tumors are likely to respond to specific treatments. Acrivon's pipeline includes ACR-368, also known as prexasertib, which is currently in Phase 2 trials, alongside preclinical programs aimed at key components of DNA damage response and cell cycle regulation, such as the WEE1 and PKMYT1 proteins. Acrivon seeks to expedite the development of both in-licensed clinical-stage assets and its internally developed programs through accelerated registration trials, aiming to enhance treatment success in oncology.

ARTARA THERAPEUTICS is a clinical-stage healthcare company focused on developing transformative therapies for individuals with rare and specialty diseases. Its lead program, TARA-002, is an investigational cell therapy designed to treat lymphatic malformations and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Additionally, the company is advancing intravenous choline chloride, an investigational phospholipid substrate replacement therapy aimed at addressing intestinal failure-associated liver disease. Based in New York, ARTARA THERAPEUTICS is dedicated to providing innovative solutions for patients with limited treatment options, leveraging a team that values creativity and diverse perspectives to expedite the development of its therapies.

Neurosterix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative medicines for neurological disorders through a unique approach known as allosteric modulation. This method aims to address the limitations of traditional treatments, enhancing efficacy, safety, and tolerability for conditions such as schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. By leveraging a specialized drug discovery and development platform, Neurosterix aspires to provide improved therapeutic options for underserved patient populations, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by these challenging conditions.

Q32 Bio Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative therapies for severe autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Established in 2017, the company aims to address immune system dysregulation, providing treatment options for conditions that currently have limited or inadequate therapies. Q32 Bio's pipeline includes ADX-914, a human anti-IL-7R antibody designed to re-regulate adaptive immune function, and ADX-097, which demonstrates effective distribution to affected tissues and robust efficacy. With a team of experienced scientists and industry professionals, Q32 Bio is dedicated to restoring healthy immune balance through novel biologic therapies that target critical pathways in both the innate and adaptive immune systems.

Cybin is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing research and development in psychedelic and medicinal mushrooms. It focuses on creating safe and effective therapeutics for mental health issues, with an emphasis on psilocybin-based products. The company is actively launching these products in jurisdictions where they are permitted and is engaged in clinical studies across North America and other regions. Through strategic partnerships with academic and institutional entities, Cybin seeks to develop novel compounds and delivery mechanisms, aiming to provide innovative treatments for various psychiatric and neurological conditions.

VYNE Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development and commercialization of innovative treatments for dermatological conditions. Its flagship product, AMZEEQ, is a topical minocycline designed for the treatment of inflammatory lesions associated with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris in patients aged nine and older. VYNE is advancing several other products, including FMX103, which is in Phase III clinical trials for moderate-to-severe papulopustular rosacea, and FCD105, a topical combination foam currently in Phase II trials for acne vulgaris. Additionally, the company is developing Serlopitant, an oral NK1 receptor antagonist aimed at alleviating pruritus linked to conditions such as prurigo nodularis. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, VYNE Therapeutics was previously known as Menlo Therapeutics Inc. before its name change in September 2020.

OnKure Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative cancer therapies. The company specializes in creating less toxic kinase inhibitor drugs and epigenetic therapies, including selective inhibitors of histone deacetylases. Its lead candidate, OKI-179, has demonstrated significant efficacy in preclinical models of hematological and solid tumor cancers, effectively reducing tumor growth both alone and in combination with other targeted therapies. Additionally, OnKure is advancing its HDAC3 selective inhibitor, OKI-422, into preclinical toxicology studies. The company's drug candidates are designed to directly target malignant cells, enhance the effects of small molecule therapies, and optimize the tumor microenvironment for improved checkpoint inhibition, addressing unmet medical needs in cancer treatment.

CG Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer treatment, particularly focusing on bladder cancer. The company specializes in oncolytic immunotherapies, with its lead candidate, cretostimogene grenadenorepvec, designed as a targeted, intravesical immunotherapy. Currently, CG Oncology is conducting multiple clinical trials, including two phase three trials aimed at high-risk patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who are unresponsive to BCG therapy, as well as an additional phase two study in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor. The company aims to provide effective bladder-sparing treatment options for patients while advancing the development of its proprietary therapies.

X4 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for primary immune deficiencies and cancer. The company's lead drug candidate, mavorixafor, is an oral small molecule antagonist of the chemokine receptor CXCR4, currently undergoing multiple clinical trials. These include a Phase III trial for patients with warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis syndrome, as well as Phase Ib and Phase IIa trials focused on severe congenital neutropenia and clear cell renal cell carcinoma, respectively. In addition, X4 Pharmaceuticals is advancing X4P-002, targeting glioblastoma multiforme, and X4P-003 aimed at primary immune deficiencies. The company has also established a license agreement with Abbisko Therapeutics to develop mavorixafor in combination with checkpoint inhibitors for oncology applications. Founded in 2014, X4 Pharmaceuticals was previously known as Arsanis, Inc. before rebranding in March 2019.

Neuron23, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for genetic disorders, particularly neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Munich, Germany, the company utilizes advanced artificial intelligence and genetic insights to enhance drug discovery. Neuron23's innovative platform integrates the latest advancements in human genetics with AI-driven methodologies to create targeted treatments for patients facing debilitating health challenges. By focusing on genetically defined conditions, Neuron23 aims to improve therapeutic options and outcomes for individuals affected by these disorders.

ONK Therapeutics Limited is a cell therapy company based in Galway, Ireland, focused on developing innovative anti-cancer therapies utilizing natural killer (NK) cells. Founded in 2015, the company aims to create off-the-shelf, optimally engineered NK cell therapies that target both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. ONK Therapeutics employs advanced technologies to optimize NK cells, including the expression of chimeric antigen receptors, high-affinity CD16, and novel immune checkpoint silencing. This approach enhances the efficacy of NK cells in targeting and eliminating tumor cells, addressing significant unmet medical needs in cancer treatment. The company has also partnered with Avectas to further develop its therapeutic offerings.

Renovacor, Inc. is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dedicated to developing gene therapies for cardiovascular diseases. Founded in 2013, the company focuses on innovative treatments for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), particularly cases caused by mutations in the BAG3 gene. This condition affects over 3 million individuals in the United States, with around 35,000 patients estimated to have BAG3 mutations, classifying it as an orphan disease. Patients with BAG3-associated DCM, often younger and experiencing faster disease progression, currently have limited treatment options, primarily consisting of standard heart failure care. Renovacor's lead program involves a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy aimed at replacing the defective BAG3 gene, which holds the potential to prevent disease progression and improve outcomes for this vulnerable patient population.

Eliem Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in developing therapeutic drugs for hyperexcitability disorders affecting the nervous system. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on creating innovative treatments for conditions such as chronic pain, depression, epilepsy, and anxiety, which significantly impact millions of individuals. Eliem utilizes its expertise in neuroscience and translational medicine to advance a promising pipeline of drug candidates, including its lead candidate, ETX-155, aimed at addressing major depressive disorder and focal onset seizures. The company's mission centers on meeting unmet medical needs and improving patients' quality of life through its novel therapies.

OnKure Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative cancer therapies. The company specializes in creating less toxic kinase inhibitor drugs and epigenetic therapies, including selective inhibitors of histone deacetylases. Its lead candidate, OKI-179, has demonstrated significant efficacy in preclinical models of hematological and solid tumor cancers, effectively reducing tumor growth both alone and in combination with other targeted therapies. Additionally, OnKure is advancing its HDAC3 selective inhibitor, OKI-422, into preclinical toxicology studies. The company's drug candidates are designed to directly target malignant cells, enhance the effects of small molecule therapies, and optimize the tumor microenvironment for improved checkpoint inhibition, addressing unmet medical needs in cancer treatment.

Aileron Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Watertown, Massachusetts, dedicated to developing innovative therapeutics, particularly stabilized cell-permeating alpha-helical peptides, for oncology and other therapeutic areas. The company’s lead product candidate, ALRN-6924, is designed to treat advanced solid tumors and is currently undergoing various clinical trials, including Phase 2a studies for peripheral T-cell lymphoma and advanced solid tumors, as well as Phase 1 trials for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Aileron Therapeutics also explores next-generation wild type p53 reactivators and has established collaborations with notable institutions such as Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Pfizer to evaluate the effectiveness of ALRN-6924 in combination with other treatments. Founded in 2001 and originally known as Renegade Therapeutics, the company aims to address critical cell functions through its novel approach to modulating protein-protein interactions.

Neuron23, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for genetic disorders, particularly neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Munich, Germany, the company utilizes advanced artificial intelligence and genetic insights to enhance drug discovery. Neuron23's innovative platform integrates the latest advancements in human genetics with AI-driven methodologies to create targeted treatments for patients facing debilitating health challenges. By focusing on genetically defined conditions, Neuron23 aims to improve therapeutic options and outcomes for individuals affected by these disorders.

Q32 Bio Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative therapies for severe autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Established in 2017, the company aims to address immune system dysregulation, providing treatment options for conditions that currently have limited or inadequate therapies. Q32 Bio's pipeline includes ADX-914, a human anti-IL-7R antibody designed to re-regulate adaptive immune function, and ADX-097, which demonstrates effective distribution to affected tissues and robust efficacy. With a team of experienced scientists and industry professionals, Q32 Bio is dedicated to restoring healthy immune balance through novel biologic therapies that target critical pathways in both the innate and adaptive immune systems.

Freeline Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated gene therapies aimed at treating inherited systemic diseases. The company employs engineered AAV vectors and capsids, alongside novel promoters and transgenes, to introduce functional copies of therapeutic genes into human liver cells. This process allows for the production of essential proteins in the bloodstream, addressing deficiencies caused by genetic disorders. Freeline's key product candidates include FLT180a for hemophilia B, FLT190 for Fabry disease, and FLT201 for Gaucher disease Type 1. Their ongoing development programs encompass various clinical trials to advance these gene therapies and provide transformative solutions for patients suffering from debilitating conditions.

Cardiff Oncology is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, focused on developing innovative cancer therapies. Its lead drug candidate, onvansertib, is a selective Polo-like Kinase 1 inhibitor currently undergoing Phase Ib/II clinical trials for acute myeloid leukemia and metastatic colorectal cancer, as well as a Phase II trial for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in combination with Zytiga. The company also explores other therapeutics, including belinostat and quizartinib, targeting various cancers such as leukemias, lymphomas, and solid tumors. Cardiff Oncology utilizes proprietary technology to analyze circulating tumor DNA, aiding in the identification of actionable markers for cancer treatment response. The company has established a research collaboration with Nektar Therapeutics to further enhance its cancer treatment offerings. Founded in 1999 and previously known as Trovagene, Cardiff Oncology is dedicated to addressing significant unmet medical needs in oncology.