Aspire Capital

Satsuma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative treatments for migraines. The company's primary product candidate, STS101, is a drug-device combination featuring a proprietary dry-powder formulation of dihydroergotamine mesylate. This medication is designed for self-administration using a pre-filled, single-use nasal delivery device. Currently, STS101 is undergoing Phase III clinical trials, marking a significant step in its development process. Founded in 2016 and based in South San Francisco, California, Satsuma Pharmaceuticals aims to provide effective solutions for individuals suffering from acute migraine attacks.

Solid Biosciences Inc. is a life science company focused on developing therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe genetic disorder primarily affecting boys. The company's lead candidate, SGT-001, is a gene transfer therapy currently undergoing a Phase I/II clinical trial aimed at restoring functional dystrophin protein expression in muscle tissues. In addition to SGT-001, Solid Biosciences is advancing Anti-LTBP4, a monoclonal antibody designed to mitigate fibrosis and inflammation by targeting the LTBP4 protein. The company also works on developing biomarkers and wearable assistive devices under the Solid Suit program, which aims to provide therapeutic benefits to patients. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Solid Biosciences has established a strategic collaboration with Ultragenyx to further develop and commercialize gene therapies for DMD. The company’s initiatives address a critical need, as there are currently no effective cures or satisfactory treatments for this progressive and life-threatening condition.

Mereo is based in London and was founded in March 2015 to fund and develop novel, innovative specialist focused products from large pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. Pharmaceutical companies face increasingly difficult choices in the allocation of internal resources to their drug development programs. With significant P&L constraints and rich pipelines it has become increasingly difficult for many companies to fully fund and advance development all of their drug candidates, especially beyond Phase 2. Mereo has been formed to take advantage of the global pharmaceutical industry's drive for creative ways to progress their clinical development pipelines. Mereo has acquired an initial mid-late stage portfolio of three exceptionally well characterised novel products for the treatment of diseases with considerable unmet medical need from Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Each of these programmes has a comprehensive dataset for both pre-clinical and proof-of-concept clinical studies. Additional product opportunities are under evaluation. Mereo's focus is the development of innovative medicines that have the potential to significantly transform the lives of patients suffering from rare and other specialised conditions around the world. To do this, the Company depends on the combination of its team's expertise in selecting and acquiring product opportunities, creating value in the development pipeline and structuring creative transactions. Mereo's internal expertise is complemented by a unique partnership with a leading global CRO, ICON. Mereo combines the operational discipline and efficiency of a small company with the financial resources to conduct comprehensive clinical studies. Mereo will rapidly progress each of the products through further value inflection points before partnering or divesting its products. The Company also has the option to directly commercialise products, for example in orphan disease indications.

Novan, Inc. is a clinical development-stage biotechnology company based in Morrisville, North Carolina, focused on creating nitric oxide-based therapies for dermatological and oncovirus-mediated diseases. The company is developing several clinical-stage dermatology product candidates, including SB204 for acne vulgaris, SB206 for viral skin infections, SB208 for fungal infections, and SB414 for inflammatory skin diseases. Additionally, Novan is working on SB207, another topical anti-viral product. Utilizing a proprietary technology platform, Novan encapsulates nitric oxide in nanoparticles to effectively deliver therapeutic agents to targeted areas, addressing unmet medical needs. The company has established strategic partnerships, including a license agreement with Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and a collaboration with Orion Corporation, to enhance its research and development capabilities. Founded in 2006, Novan remains committed to leveraging the properties of nitric oxide to develop innovative treatments for conditions that are currently under-treated.

Titan Medical Inc. is a research and development stage company based in Toronto, Canada, that specializes in the design and development of robotic surgical technologies for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The company's primary focus is on the SPORT Surgical System, a single-port robotic surgical system that features a surgeon-controlled patient cart equipped with a 3D high-definition vision system and multi-articulating instruments. This system allows surgeons to perform a variety of MIS procedures, including those related to gynecologic, urologic, colorectal, and abdominal conditions. The SPORT Surgical System includes an ergonomic surgeon workstation that provides a 3D endoscopic view of the surgical area, enhancing the overall surgical experience and precision.

Ritter Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops novel therapeutic products, which modulate the human gut microbiome to treat inflammatory, gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases. We are discovering a new frontier in human gut health research by exploring the metabolic capacity of the gut microbiota and translating the functionality of prebiotic-based therapeutics into safe and effective applications that can have a meaningful impact on a patient’s health. Our pipeline of novel microbiome modulators selectively increase the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colonic ecosystem and create a meaningful impact on a patient’s health. Our first therapy, RP-G28, is currently under development for the treatment of lactose intolerance and has the potential to become the first FDA-approved drug for the treatment of lactose intolerance, a debilitating disease that affects over 1 billion people worldwide. RP-G28 has been studied in a Phase 2 clinical trial and is a first-in-class compound.

Atossa Genetics is a health care company focused on the development and marketing of novel cellular and molecular diagnostic risk assessment products for breast cancer. Using our patented, FDA-approved Mammary Aspirate Specimen Cytology Test (MASCT) System, a nurse or physician’s assistant, can painlessly collect a sample of Nipple Aspirate Fluid (NAF) in about 10 minutes. The NAF sample contains cells (cytology) and molecular diagnostic biomarkers that are useful in finding cancers and pre-cancerous changes, especially Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH), which confers a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Sophiris Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: SPHS) is a biopharmaceutical company developing a clinical-stage, targeted treatment for the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH or enlarged prostate), which it believes is an unsatisfied patient population with significant market potential. Sophiris is currently developing PRX302 for the treatment of BPH symptoms which is designed to be as efficacious as pharmaceuticals, less invasive than the surgical interventions, and without the sexual side effects seen with existing treatments. PRX302 is currently in Phase 3 clinical development with a blinded interim analysis expected in the second half of 2014 followed by a complete data analysis in the second half of 2015. For more information, please visit www.sophiris.com.

Mobiquity Technologies specializes in location-based data and insights that help businesses understand consumer behavior and trends for marketing and research purposes. The company leverages a combination of exclusive datasets, including shopping malls, premium outlets, and cinema beacon data, along with first-party location data obtained through its advanced Software Development Kit (SDK). This approach utilizes multiple geo-location technologies to provide accurate and scalable solutions for mobile data collection and analysis. Additionally, Mobiquity Technologies operates two subsidiaries, Advangelists and Mobiquity Networks, which focus on programmatic marketing technology and trade desk services. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Shoreham, New York, the company aims to empower businesses to micro-target audiences and enhance customer engagement through advanced data intelligence and insights.

MediciNova, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in La Jolla, California, specializing in the development of novel small-molecule therapeutics aimed at addressing serious diseases with unmet medical needs in the United States. The company is advancing several key product candidates, including MN-166, an oral anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent targeting neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Other notable compounds in its pipeline include MN-221, a selective beta-2-adrenergic receptor agonist for acute asthma exacerbations; MN-001, aimed at treating fibrotic diseases; and MN-029, a tubulin binding agent for solid tumor cancers. MediciNova also collaborates with BioComo and Mie University on the joint development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Established in 2000, MediciNova seeks to leverage strategic alliances, particularly with Japanese pharmaceutical companies, to enhance its portfolio of clinical and preclinical candidates, each designed to fulfill specific therapeutic needs.

Athersys is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic product candidates designed to extend and improve the quality of human life. The product development portfolio of the Company includes MultiStem, a stem cell product, which is being developed as a treatment for multiple disease indications, and is being evaluated in two ongoing clinical trials, and has been authorized for use in a third clinical trial. In addition, the Company is developing pharmaceuticals to treat indications such as obesity, certain cognitive and attention disorders, and narcolepsy or other forms of excessive daytime sleepiness.

Kips Bay Medical, Inc. is a medical device company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that focuses on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing external saphenous vein support technology. The company's primary product, the eSVS Mesh, is an extravascular prosthesis made from nitinol, designed to be placed over saphenous vein grafts during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The eSVS Mesh aims to enhance the long-term patency of saphenous vein grafts by reducing wall stress, thereby preventing intimal hyperplasia, which can lead to vessel narrowing and reduced blood flow. Kips Bay Medical primarily sells its products to distributors, who then provide them to hospitals and clinics, mainly in the European Union. Founded in 2007, the company is dedicated to improving outcomes in cardiac surgery through its innovative support technology.