Astellas Venture Management

Cleave Therapeutics develops oncology pharmaceuticals designed to target neurodengeneration and pathways used by cancer cells to grow. The company is engaged in the discovery of novel, small-molecule drugs that affect protein-degradation pathways, upon which cancer cells depend for survival, enabling patients to get cured from cancer.

Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics is a developer of microRNAs designed to target regulatory proteins.The company's modulating RNA which are short non-coding RNAs that inhibit target gene expression by suppressing mRNA translation and promoting mRNA decay and develop small molecules that can modulate levels of miRNAs by targeting proteins that interact with these miRNAs, enabling users to target miRNAs are directly involved in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis.

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines which are referred to as Bicycles. The Bicycles are synthetic short peptides constrained to form two loops which stabilize their structural geometry. Its initial internal programs are focused on oncology indications with high unmet medical need. The company's product candidate, BT1718, is a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate, or BTC.

eFFECTOR Therapeutics is an early stage company focused on the discovery and development of new small molecule cancer therapeutics. eFFECTOR is developing translation regulators to selectively block disregulated translation impacting tumor growth and survival. The company has selected control of mRNA translation as a key point of theerapeutic intervention, providing potency and selectivity while inhibiting growth of cancer cells. eFFECTOR's novel approach provides a real opportunity to bring innovative new medicines to patients in need.

F2G Ltd develops novel therapies to treat fungal diseases. It primarily focuses on developing an F3 series of anti-mold compound, which is an antifungal agent. The company offers orotomides that are antifungal agents against Aspergillus and other filamentous molds. F2G Ltd was formerly known as Functional Fungal Genomics Ltd and changed its name to F2G Ltd in July 1999. F2G Ltd was founded in 1998 and is based in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Raze Therapeutics is leading the discovery and development of a new class of oncology therapeutics that target key metabolic pathways. Raze is advancing a pipeline of therapeutics based on new biological insights into how cancer cells reprogram metabolism to activate central anabolic processes essential for tumors to grow and survive.

Oncorus, Inc. is a lean early-stage biotechnology company developing a next-generation immunotherapy platform to treat cancer. Oncorus was founded MPM Managing Director Mitch Finer, a well-known biotechnology entrepreneur. Oncorus is a leader in corporate philanthropy, and has taken a pledge to donate a portion of product sales to fund promising cancer research and to support cancer care in the developing world.

Crescendo Biologics is a new Cambridge-based company whose vision is to deliver next-generation antibody therapeutics based on novel class-leading platforms. The focus of the company is on developing platforms that will address key issues in generating high-affinity, soluble, human VH antibody fragments. These are the smallest fragments that retain antibody binding, and have many desirable properties as potential therapeutics. Crescendo will then utilise these platforms for product development of in-house targets or in partnership with other companies.

Crescendo Biologics is a new Cambridge-based company whose vision is to deliver next-generation antibody therapeutics based on novel class-leading platforms. The focus of the company is on developing platforms that will address key issues in generating high-affinity, soluble, human VH antibody fragments. These are the smallest fragments that retain antibody binding, and have many desirable properties as potential therapeutics. Crescendo will then utilise these platforms for product development of in-house targets or in partnership with other companies.

The company is establishing collaborations with its scientific founders “to better understand whether regulatory T cells play a more prominent role in certain tumors,” he added. Although research suggests that Tregs cells play a more prominent role in creating immunosuppression in the microenvironment in some tumor types than others, “quite honestly, the data are lacking. One of the ways we’re going to differentiate the company is to understand that relationship better.

Fate Therapeutics is using the fundamental biological mechanisms that guide cell fate to develop stem cell therapeutics. The company has brought together the foremost scientists from the nation's research hotbeds (Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle) who have demonstrated the potential to create and modulate stem cells to restore health. The backstory is that while others were working towards therapies based on transplanting stem cell-derived cells into patients, Randall Moon (HHMI and the University of Washington) and Alex Rives (Arch Venture Capitol) envisioned a different approach to develop regenerative therapies. The concept, based on data from hematopoietic progenitor cells, was that one could modulate the properties of stem cells in vivo using small molecules or biologics. They presented this idea to Arch Venture Capitol in Seattle, which launched the company, soon to be joined by other investors.

CODA Biotherapeutics’ revolutionary chemogenetic platform aims to control the activity of cells to treat disease with chemogenetics, the goal is to modify a target cell population using gene therapy to express a tunable “switch” protein. Cells modified with the “switch” can be activated or inactivated in a dose-dependent manner by a subsequently administered small molecule therapeutic, an effect that should only occur in the modified cells.

PanOptica, Inc., develops topical eye drop for the treatment of sight-threatening eye diseases caused by abnormal or leaky blood vessels. The company offers PAN-90806, a small-molecule selective VEGF receptor antagonist that shows promise as a topical treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. It serves pharmaceutical companies. The company was founded in 2009 and is based in Mount Arlington, New Jersey.

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines which are referred to as Bicycles. The Bicycles are synthetic short peptides constrained to form two loops which stabilize their structural geometry. Its initial internal programs are focused on oncology indications with high unmet medical need. The company's product candidate, BT1718, is a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate, or BTC.

Viamet Pharmaceuticals discovers and develops "best-in-class" inhibitors of validated metalloenzymes via an innovative and proprietary metal-binding approach, their Metallophileâ„¢ Technology. Viamet's disruptive Metallophileâ„¢ technology is based on their world-class expertise in bioinorganic chemistry and metalloenzymes and allows them to identify validated targets with high therapeutic and commercial potential; leverage existing metalloenzyme inhibitors as the basis for Viamet's best-in-class analogs; and rapidly and cost-effectively generate best-in-class, patentable, small molecule compounds by optimizing the metal-binding component of existing inhibitors.

Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of innate defense regulators (IDRs) that modulate the body's innate defenses without causing inflammation. The company offers IMX942, an IDR product that improves survival, ameliorate tissue damage, and reduce bacterial infections through modulation of innate defenses. Its products are used to treat infections and conditions involving tissue injury; ventilator associated pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, bacteremia, endocarditis, and mucositis; and cancer diseases. Inimex Pharmaceuticals Inc. was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.

Evolva was founded in 2004 around a distinctive, proprietary, technology platform that uses synthetic biology to create innovative small molecule drugs and other compounds. In particular their platform allows the creation of chemistries that recapitulate the themes found in natural products, but without the disadvantages of those approaches.

eFFECTOR Therapeutics is an early stage company focused on the discovery and development of new small molecule cancer therapeutics. eFFECTOR is developing translation regulators to selectively block disregulated translation impacting tumor growth and survival. The company has selected control of mRNA translation as a key point of theerapeutic intervention, providing potency and selectivity while inhibiting growth of cancer cells. eFFECTOR's novel approach provides a real opportunity to bring innovative new medicines to patients in need.

Viamet Pharmaceuticals discovers and develops "best-in-class" inhibitors of validated metalloenzymes via an innovative and proprietary metal-binding approach, their Metallophileâ„¢ Technology. Viamet's disruptive Metallophileâ„¢ technology is based on their world-class expertise in bioinorganic chemistry and metalloenzymes and allows them to identify validated targets with high therapeutic and commercial potential; leverage existing metalloenzyme inhibitors as the basis for Viamet's best-in-class analogs; and rapidly and cost-effectively generate best-in-class, patentable, small molecule compounds by optimizing the metal-binding component of existing inhibitors.

PhoreMost Limited, a drug discovery company, engages in identifying new druggable targets for cancer and other unmet diseases. It develops Site-Seeker, a platform that systematically unmasks druggable sites in the human genome and links them to useful therapeutic functions in a live-cell context. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

eFFECTOR Therapeutics is an early stage company focused on the discovery and development of new small molecule cancer therapeutics. eFFECTOR is developing translation regulators to selectively block disregulated translation impacting tumor growth and survival. The company has selected control of mRNA translation as a key point of theerapeutic intervention, providing potency and selectivity while inhibiting growth of cancer cells. eFFECTOR's novel approach provides a real opportunity to bring innovative new medicines to patients in need.

F2G Ltd develops novel therapies to treat fungal diseases. It primarily focuses on developing an F3 series of anti-mold compound, which is an antifungal agent. The company offers orotomides that are antifungal agents against Aspergillus and other filamentous molds. F2G Ltd was formerly known as Functional Fungal Genomics Ltd and changed its name to F2G Ltd in July 1999. F2G Ltd was founded in 1998 and is based in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Cleave Therapeutics develops oncology pharmaceuticals designed to target neurodengeneration and pathways used by cancer cells to grow. The company is engaged in the discovery of novel, small-molecule drugs that affect protein-degradation pathways, upon which cancer cells depend for survival, enabling patients to get cured from cancer.

Catamaran Bio, Inc. develops CAR-NK immune cell therapies for the treatment of tumor. The company develops Tailwind platform to engineer, expand, and process NK cells into allogenic CAR-NK cell therapy shelf products. Catamaran Bio, Inc. was incorporated in 2019 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The company is establishing collaborations with its scientific founders “to better understand whether regulatory T cells play a more prominent role in certain tumors,” he added. Although research suggests that Tregs cells play a more prominent role in creating immunosuppression in the microenvironment in some tumor types than others, “quite honestly, the data are lacking. One of the ways we’re going to differentiate the company is to understand that relationship better.

Mogrify® is a UK biotechnology company whose mission is to transform the development of ex vivo cell therapies, as well as pioneer a new class of in vivo reprogramming therapies. The Company has developed a proprietary direct cellular conversion platform that, for the first time, makes it possible to both systematically enhance the efficiency of stem cell-derived reprogramming and directly convert (transdifferentiate) mature cell types into other mature cell types (or states) without going through a pluripotent stem cell- or progenitor cell-state. Mogrify is applying its award-winning platform to engineer an evergreen and scalable source of cell types that exhibit efficacy and safety profiles necessary to develop ex vivo cell therapies or in vivo reprogramming therapies for indications of high unmet clinical need in oncology, ophthalmology and other disease areas. The platform is protected by the foundational patent application and a suite of additional patent applications covering improvements to the core platform and specific cell conversions. The Company is commercializing this via a business model of internal cell therapy development, co-development partnerships, and licensing of novel cell conversions to partners engaged in cell therapy development and regenerative medicine ($39 billion market USD by 2023). Mogrify was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Heartseed has set a mission to “open the door to heart disease treatment with regenerative medicine” and is working toward the day-to-day clinical application of myocardial regenerative medicine.

DecImmune Therapeutics, Inc. develops novel peptides and antibodies for acute tissue damaging inflammation in myocardial infarction, burns, vascular injury, and reperfusion. It develops therapeutics for treating second degree burns and prevents reperfusion injury in transplant patients. DecImmune Therapeutics, Inc. was formerly known as Natural Antibodies, Inc. and changed its name to DecImmune Therapeutics, Inc. in September 2004. The company was incorporated in 2001 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

NeoPhore is a provider of novel small molecule therapies intended to treat cancer through stimulation of the immune system.The company's small molecule therapies target genetic mechanisms in order to create neoantigen which is known to stimulate the immune system and potentially be a weak spot in a tumor cell's defense mechanisms, enabling cancer patients to get treated and achieve improved clinical outcomes.

Crescendo Biologics is a new Cambridge-based company whose vision is to deliver next-generation antibody therapeutics based on novel class-leading platforms. The focus of the company is on developing platforms that will address key issues in generating high-affinity, soluble, human VH antibody fragments. These are the smallest fragments that retain antibody binding, and have many desirable properties as potential therapeutics. Crescendo will then utilise these platforms for product development of in-house targets or in partnership with other companies.

Turn Biotechnologies is a Stanford spinout developing therapies to effectively return mature differentiated cells to a dramatically younger state leaving their differentiated identity unaltered. ​Turn Biotechnologies surpasses traditional approaches based on single gene/pathway manipulations and tackles the multifaceted manifestation of cellular age at the organ, tissue, and organismal level to extend the healthspan of people. As a result, age is reset by epigenetically reprogramming cells.

Twentyeight-Seven Therapeutics is a developer of microRNAs designed to target regulatory proteins.The company's modulating RNA which are short non-coding RNAs that inhibit target gene expression by suppressing mRNA translation and promoting mRNA decay and develop small molecules that can modulate levels of miRNAs by targeting proteins that interact with these miRNAs, enabling users to target miRNAs are directly involved in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis.

CoMentis is a biotech company focused on the research and development of small molecule drugs to treat neurovascular diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other cognitive disorders. Originally founded in 2004 as Athenagen, Inc., the company was re-named CoMentis following its August 2006 merger with Zapaq, Inc., which created a leading neurovascular disease franchise.

Keyhole Therapeutics is a discovery stage drug company specializing in immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Keyhole's first program, a small molecule inhibitor of exosome release being investigated for promotion of immune-driven tumor destruction in cancer patients resistant to current immune checkpoint inhibitors, is at the hit-to-lead stage. Future programs will include additional inhibitors of exosome release, and novel exosome-related therapeutic opportunities for cellular cancer vaccines and for targeted suppression of autoreactive T cells. Keyhole Therapeutics is seeking bold, accomplished, and innovative scientists to join them in pioneering the next wave of immunotherapeutics.

Private biotechnology company that develops systematic RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases with an initial focus on oncology. The company's expertise in drug development and delivery serves as the foundation of Intradigm RNAi platform. In particular, the company proprietary RNAi Nanoplex delivery technology is unique in its ability to enable the targeted delivery of RNAi therapeutics to specific tissues through systemic administration of the drug product.

Nereus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. engages in the discovery and development of therapeutics for the treatment of oncology, infectious diseases, and inflammation. The company uses its marine microbiology technologies for the discovery and development of drug candidates. Its oncology drug candidates include NPI-2358, a tumor vascular disrupting agent for the treatment of solid tumors; and NPI-0052, a proteasome inhibitor for the treatment of solid tumors, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in San Diego, California.

Jupiter Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that creates cell-membrane-based therapeutics. The company enables a synthetic biology approach enabling the rapid design and synthesis of a pipeline of assets focused on cancer, autoimmunity, drug delivery, and gene therapy.

Heartseed has set a mission to “open the door to heart disease treatment with regenerative medicine” and is working toward the day-to-day clinical application of myocardial regenerative medicine.

Trieza Therapeutics is a new company developing immunomodulatory oncolytic viruses for the treatment of cancer. Founded as a spin-out from Potenza Therapeutics, Trieza has a portfolio containing multiple pre-clinical candidates.

NeoPhore is a provider of novel small molecule therapies intended to treat cancer through stimulation of the immune system.The company's small molecule therapies target genetic mechanisms in order to create neoantigen which is known to stimulate the immune system and potentially be a weak spot in a tumor cell's defense mechanisms, enabling cancer patients to get treated and achieve improved clinical outcomes.

F2G Ltd develops novel therapies to treat fungal diseases. It primarily focuses on developing an F3 series of anti-mold compound, which is an antifungal agent. The company offers orotomides that are antifungal agents against Aspergillus and other filamentous molds. F2G Ltd was formerly known as Functional Fungal Genomics Ltd and changed its name to F2G Ltd in July 1999. F2G Ltd was founded in 1998 and is based in Manchester, United Kingdom.

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of novel for cardiopulmonary diseases. Its lead product candidate is PB2452, a reversal agent for the antiplatelet drug ticagrelor that is in Phase III clinical trial for patients experiencing uncontrolled bleeding events or in patients requiring urgent or emergency surgery. The company is also developing PB1046, a vasoactive intestinal peptide analogue that is in Phase IIb clinical trial for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension; and PB6440, an oral agent for the treatment of resistant hypertension. The company has a co-development agreement with SFJ Pharmaceuticals X, Ltd. to develop PB2452, a reversal agent for the antiplatelet drug ticagrelor. PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

DecImmune Therapeutics, Inc. develops novel peptides and antibodies for acute tissue damaging inflammation in myocardial infarction, burns, vascular injury, and reperfusion. It develops therapeutics for treating second degree burns and prevents reperfusion injury in transplant patients. DecImmune Therapeutics, Inc. was formerly known as Natural Antibodies, Inc. and changed its name to DecImmune Therapeutics, Inc. in September 2004. The company was incorporated in 2001 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

CODA Biotherapeutics’ revolutionary chemogenetic platform aims to control the activity of cells to treat disease with chemogenetics, the goal is to modify a target cell population using gene therapy to express a tunable “switch” protein. Cells modified with the “switch” can be activated or inactivated in a dose-dependent manner by a subsequently administered small molecule therapeutic, an effect that should only occur in the modified cells.

Epizyme is a biopharmaceutical company located in Cambridge, MA, that is focused on researching treatments for blood cancer and tumors. Founded in late 2007, the company has brought together premier academic and industry leaders to rapidly translate the exciting discoveries emerging from epigenetic research into specific programs that will produce important, novel, molecularly targeted drugs of the future.

Fate Therapeutics is using the fundamental biological mechanisms that guide cell fate to develop stem cell therapeutics. The company has brought together the foremost scientists from the nation's research hotbeds (Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle) who have demonstrated the potential to create and modulate stem cells to restore health. The backstory is that while others were working towards therapies based on transplanting stem cell-derived cells into patients, Randall Moon (HHMI and the University of Washington) and Alex Rives (Arch Venture Capitol) envisioned a different approach to develop regenerative therapies. The concept, based on data from hematopoietic progenitor cells, was that one could modulate the properties of stem cells in vivo using small molecules or biologics. They presented this idea to Arch Venture Capitol in Seattle, which launched the company, soon to be joined by other investors.

Cleave Therapeutics develops oncology pharmaceuticals designed to target neurodengeneration and pathways used by cancer cells to grow. The company is engaged in the discovery of novel, small-molecule drugs that affect protein-degradation pathways, upon which cancer cells depend for survival, enabling patients to get cured from cancer.

Verastem Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of medicines to improve the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer. Its portfolio consists of small molecule kinase inhibitors that inhibit critical signaling pathways, which promote cancer cell survival and tumor growth.

Orna Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to designing and delivering a new class of fully engineered circular RNA (oRNA) therapeutics with the potential to change the way we treat disease. Orna’s proprietary platform combines novel technology to create oRNAs that drive protein expression with validated and unique delivery solutions.

Lectus Therapeutics Limited is a UK-based pharmaceutical company. Its mission is to build a development pipeline containing first-in-class ion channel therapeutics identified through the use of its proprietary proteomics technology for pain management and the treatment of urinary bladder disorders.

TScan Therapeutics is an experienced group of scientists, development specialists, and other leaders driving a cutting edge platform. TScan Therapeutics is an owner and operator of a biotechnology company intended to develop immunotherapy treatments for cancer. The company identifies T-cell targets in a genome-wide high-throughput manner, expanding the treatment of immuno-oncology to patients who have few therapeutic options. TScan Therapeutics is harnessing novel T cell systems to extend the promise of immunotherapy. The company is dedicated to changing lives by discovering new cancer targets and developing safe and effective T-cell therapies for patients.