FACIT is a Toronto-based commercialization venture firm focused on advancing oncology innovation through partnerships with entrepreneurs. By leveraging industry expertise, financial resources, and a robust network of clinician-scientists from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, FACIT aims to enhance the local economy and improve patient outcomes globally. The firm specializes in the healthcare, life sciences, and health technology sectors, and offers accelerator programs to support biotech companies. Since its inception, FACIT has successfully attracted over $850 million in investments to Ontario, underscoring its commitment to fostering research and development in cancer treatment and care.
Esphera SynBio is a biotechnology company specializing in synthetic biology for disease treatment and prevention. It develops innovative cancer and immunoregulatory therapies using a proprietary platform that produces functionalized vesicles, either in vitro or in vivo, via transgene technology. Beyond oncology, the platform also shows promise in broader immunomodulation applications, such as enhancing mRNA vaccine efficacy for infectious diseases.
Hyivy
Seed Round in 2024
Hyivy Health specializes in developing an innovative pelvic rehabilitation device aimed at addressing the needs of women experiencing pelvic health complications, which affect one in three women globally. The company's device stands out by offering the first quantifiable data set on pelvic floor health, utilizing multiple biosensors and mechanical functions to deliver three distinct therapeutic approaches. This technology enables patients and their healthcare providers to monitor progress, adapt treatment plans, and enhance the overall rehabilitation experience. By integrating remote therapeutic and monitoring capabilities, Hyivy Health aims to improve the management of pelvic and gynecological conditions, providing a more effective and comfortable solution for patients.
Radiant Biotherapeutics
Series A in 2024
Radiant Biotherapeutics is an innovative company focused on developing a modular platform for multi-valent and multi-specific therapeutics. This platform aims to advance antibody engineering by producing multi-functional biologics capable of addressing challenging diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. By leveraging enhanced binding power and multi-specificity, Radiant Biotherapeutics seeks to create potent therapeutics that have the potential to significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients. The company is committed to delivering transformative therapies through its cutting-edge approach to antibody technology.
HDAX Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2024
HDAX Therapeutics is focused on developing innovative small molecule therapeutics aimed at treating conditions driven by HDAC6, particularly in the realms of cardiovascular and neurological diseases. By addressing the root causes of these conditions, the company seeks to improve patient outcomes significantly. Their approach involves a unique targeted therapeutics platform that utilizes a two-site binding mechanism for HDAC6, which allows for the delivery of treatments that are both safe and effective. This strategy is designed to meet the substantial unmet medical needs associated with neuropathies and cardiometabolic diseases.
Tenomix
Seed Round in 2024
Tenomix is focused on developing innovative technologies aimed at enhancing the pathology workflow, particularly in the staging of colorectal cancers. The company has created a robotic scanning device that assists pathology staff in the efficient and reliable collection of lymph nodes from surgically removed colon cancer tissues. This technology facilitates accurate identification of cancer spread, ultimately enabling healthcare providers to optimize cancer care and reduce associated costs. Through these advancements, Tenomix seeks to address existing inefficiencies in cancer pathology and improve patient outcomes.
Radiant Biotherapeutics
Seed Round in 2023
Radiant Biotherapeutics is an innovative company focused on developing a modular platform for multi-valent and multi-specific therapeutics. This platform aims to advance antibody engineering by producing multi-functional biologics capable of addressing challenging diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. By leveraging enhanced binding power and multi-specificity, Radiant Biotherapeutics seeks to create potent therapeutics that have the potential to significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients. The company is committed to delivering transformative therapies through its cutting-edge approach to antibody technology.
CTRL Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2023
CTRL Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, focused on the development of cell therapies and innovative diagnostic solutions. The company has created a microfluidic platform that enhances the detection of rare circulating tumor cells. This technology is integral to the development of a cancer liquid biopsy test, which aims to predict how patients will respond to targeted therapies. By enabling the evaluation of protein expression on tumor cells, CTRL Therapeutics seeks to provide valuable insights for doctors in tailoring treatment plans for cancer patients.
HDAX Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2022
HDAX Therapeutics is focused on developing innovative small molecule therapeutics aimed at treating conditions driven by HDAC6, particularly in the realms of cardiovascular and neurological diseases. By addressing the root causes of these conditions, the company seeks to improve patient outcomes significantly. Their approach involves a unique targeted therapeutics platform that utilizes a two-site binding mechanism for HDAC6, which allows for the delivery of treatments that are both safe and effective. This strategy is designed to meet the substantial unmet medical needs associated with neuropathies and cardiometabolic diseases.
Qurcan Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2021
Qurcan Therapeutics is focused on developing advanced therapeutic solutions for solid tumors, particularly brain cancers. The company has created a nanotechnology-based drug delivery platform that enhances the precision of cancer treatment by overcoming challenges associated with traditional drug delivery methods. This platform improves the release of therapeutic agents while minimizing liver accumulation, allowing for more effective targeting of difficult-to-reach tumors. Among its innovations is Manganescan®, a theranostic agent that serves as both an MRI contrast agent and a radio-sensitizer, enabling early detection of brain tumors and enhancing the effectiveness of radiation therapy. By facilitating improved drug delivery and modulating the tumor microenvironment, Qurcan Therapeutics aims to increase therapeutic efficacy and extend patient survival in the fight against solid tumor cancers.
Replica Analytics
Seed Round in 2020
Replica Analytics Ltd. is a Canadian company based in Ottawa, established in 2019, that specializes in creating modeling software for generating synthetic data from real clinical datasets. The company employs advanced machine learning techniques to produce privacy-protective synthetic data that retains the statistical properties of actual data, ensuring high utility while adhering to global privacy regulations. In addition to generating this synthetic data, Replica Analytics provides supporting documentation that outlines the utility characteristics of the data, allowing businesses to analyze and utilize data effectively without compromising privacy.
bridge7
Seed Round in 2020
Bridge7 is a company that specializes in AI-powered consultation software aimed at enhancing the quality of care for cancer patients. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Bridge7's software leverages machine learning algorithms to analyze data from thousands of patients. This capability provides clinical teams with decision-making metrics that facilitate informed consultations regarding cancer treatment options. By offering insights on the quality of cancer care before treatment begins, Bridge7 helps healthcare providers improve clinical efficiency and enhance the overall delivery of care.
Xpan
Seed Round in 2020
Xpan Inc. is a Toronto-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in the development of surgical access instruments for minimally invasive surgeries (MIS). The company focuses on creating innovative devices, including access trocars and ports, which facilitate the insertion of surgical instruments and cameras. Xpan's universal trocar system aims to enhance medical procedures by reducing incision sizes, thereby improving surgical efficiency. This design not only allows surgeons to perform complex operations with smaller incisions but also contributes to faster recovery times and reduced post-surgical pain for patients.
Qurcan Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2020
Qurcan Therapeutics is focused on developing advanced therapeutic solutions for solid tumors, particularly brain cancers. The company has created a nanotechnology-based drug delivery platform that enhances the precision of cancer treatment by overcoming challenges associated with traditional drug delivery methods. This platform improves the release of therapeutic agents while minimizing liver accumulation, allowing for more effective targeting of difficult-to-reach tumors. Among its innovations is Manganescan®, a theranostic agent that serves as both an MRI contrast agent and a radio-sensitizer, enabling early detection of brain tumors and enhancing the effectiveness of radiation therapy. By facilitating improved drug delivery and modulating the tumor microenvironment, Qurcan Therapeutics aims to increase therapeutic efficacy and extend patient survival in the fight against solid tumor cancers.
Cellular Analytics
Seed Round in 2019
Cellular Analytics Inc. is a Toronto-based company that specializes in cancer diagnostics through its proprietary microfluidic platform, CytoFind. This innovative technology allows for the detection and molecular characterization of rare circulating tumor cells, enabling sensitivity assessments to immune-oncology agents with significantly reduced sample volumes and costs. The platform is particularly aimed at advancing the development of a liquid biopsy test that can predict patient responses to targeted therapies, thereby enhancing personalized treatment approaches in oncology.
Qurcan Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2019
Qurcan Therapeutics is focused on developing advanced therapeutic solutions for solid tumors, particularly brain cancers. The company has created a nanotechnology-based drug delivery platform that enhances the precision of cancer treatment by overcoming challenges associated with traditional drug delivery methods. This platform improves the release of therapeutic agents while minimizing liver accumulation, allowing for more effective targeting of difficult-to-reach tumors. Among its innovations is Manganescan®, a theranostic agent that serves as both an MRI contrast agent and a radio-sensitizer, enabling early detection of brain tumors and enhancing the effectiveness of radiation therapy. By facilitating improved drug delivery and modulating the tumor microenvironment, Qurcan Therapeutics aims to increase therapeutic efficacy and extend patient survival in the fight against solid tumor cancers.
DNAstack
Pre Seed Round in 2019
DNAstack Inc. is a Toronto-based company that specializes in a cloud-based platform for managing and analyzing genomic data. Founded in 2014, the platform enables researchers, clinical laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies to securely manage, analyze, search, and share genomic datasets efficiently. By providing push-button access to advanced technologies, DNAstack facilitates the accumulation of genomics data and enhances collaboration among organizations with relevant patient information. The company also offers tools like a Cost Calculator to help users estimate bioinformatics cloud costs and monthly storage fees, making genomics research more accessible and cost-effective.
Talon pharmaceuticals
Venture Round in 2018
Talon Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative medicines aimed at enhancing patient quality of life and addressing critical health challenges. Utilizing its Multiphore drug design platform, Talon focuses on creating small molecule therapeutics to treat central nervous system disorders and difficult bacterial infections. Among its lead candidates are treatments designed to mitigate levodopa-induced dyskinesia and psychosis in Parkinson's disease, as well as therapies aimed at improving gait. By prioritizing the needs of patients and medical professionals, Talon Pharmaceuticals strives to develop effective solutions that can save lives.
Polumiros
Grant in 2018
Polumiros Inc. is a biomaterials company based in Toronto, Canada, established in 2016. The company specializes in developing biocompatible amino acid-derived polymers, focusing on medical device coatings, tissue regeneration scaffolds, and drug carriers. Its innovative immunomodulatory polymer technology is designed to manage inflammation and enhance healing, ultimately improving patients' health and quality of life. One of its key products, ReFilx, is a regenerative filler matrix aimed at breast cancer patients, providing a solution for restoring breast tissue defects after lumpectomy. This product offers a cosmetically superior, minimally invasive, and cost-effective option that reduces pain and fibrosis associated with biomedical implants while promoting bio-integration.
16 Bit
Pre Seed Round in 2018
16 Bit Inc. is a Toronto-based company that specializes in developing medical image analysis systems, utilizing artificial intelligence to enhance diagnostic capabilities. The company is focused on creating a breast cancer screening triaging algorithm, as well as solutions for neurological emergency detection and pediatric bone age assessment. By leveraging its innovative software, 16 Bit aims to improve the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of healthcare, aiding physicians and radiologists in interpreting medical results more effectively.
Dalriada Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2018
Dalriada Therapeutics Inc. is a Canadian company based in Mississauga, established in 2016. It specializes in the development of novel small molecule inhibitors targeting various medical conditions, including oncology, pain modulation, and neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders. The company employs a TURN-KEY model that integrates research and development with business strategy and intellectual property management, thereby supporting global innovators in the pharmaceutical industry.
DNAstack
Pre Seed Round in 2017
DNAstack Inc. is a Toronto-based company that specializes in a cloud-based platform for managing and analyzing genomic data. Founded in 2014, the platform enables researchers, clinical laboratories, and pharmaceutical companies to securely manage, analyze, search, and share genomic datasets efficiently. By providing push-button access to advanced technologies, DNAstack facilitates the accumulation of genomics data and enhances collaboration among organizations with relevant patient information. The company also offers tools like a Cost Calculator to help users estimate bioinformatics cloud costs and monthly storage fees, making genomics research more accessible and cost-effective.
Radialis
Seed Round in 2017
Radialis develops an organ-targeted positron emission tomography (PET) imaging system aimed at providing high-definition and low-dose imaging solutions for oncology, neurology, and cardiology. Its technology significantly enhances the efficiency of detecting radiotracers compared to conventional PET systems, which allows for improved cancer detection. The system has received broad FDA clearance in the United States for imaging and measuring injected positron-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. Currently, the leading application of this technology is in the high-resolution imaging of primary solid tumors, assisting in treatment planning as a complement to traditional staging PET/CT without requiring additional radiotracer. Furthermore, Radialis is exploring opportunities for early detection of cancer and Alzheimer's disease using low-dose imaging techniques in high-risk populations.
Propellon Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2017
Propellon Therapeutics is developing and commercializing novel cancer therapies targeting the WDR5 protein, essential for assembly of methyltransferase complexes and proper histone modification. The overexpression of WDR5 and resulting deregulation of epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in various cancers and correlated with poor patient survival. Established by FACIT, Propellon’s WDR5 inhibitor platform arises from discoveries, research and innovations originating from OICR.
KA Imaging
Seed Round in 2017
KA Imaging Inc. is a Canadian company based in Waterloo that focuses on designing and manufacturing advanced X-ray detectors for both medical and non-medical applications. Founded in 2015, the company has developed the world's first portable dual energy subtraction X-ray detector, which enhances the sensitivity of disease identification, including conditions such as pneumonia and fractures. This innovative device, known as Reveal, has received FDA clearance and is sold globally. KA Imaging offers a range of products, including static detectors for identifying faults in infrastructure, dual-energy detectors for baggage screening, dynamic detectors for inspecting moving parts, and specialized mammography detectors. With a team of 20 full-time and 10 part-time employees, the company holds 52 global patents and 17 issued US patents, emphasizing its commitment to advancing X-ray imaging technology across various sectors.
Turnstone Biologics
Series B in 2016
Turnstone Biologics Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Ottawa, Canada, with an additional office in New York. Founded in 2015, the company is dedicated to advancing innovative viral immunotherapies aimed at improving cancer patient survival. Its lead product, RIVAL-01, utilizes a vaccinia virus backbone that encodes several immunomodulators, including Flt3 ligand, anti-CTLA-4 antibody, and IL-12 cytokine, which work together to enhance immune activity and optimize the tumor microenvironment for effective cancer treatment. Additionally, Turnstone Biologics is developing next-generation tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies by isolating and expanding the most potent and tumor-reactive T cells from patients' tumors, thereby harnessing the body's own immune system to combat solid tumors. Through these innovative approaches, Turnstone Biologics aims to deliver breakthrough cancer immunotherapies that significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients.
CapNostics
Venture Round in 2016
CapNostics is a medical device company focused on the early detection of Barrett’s Esophagus and other upper gastrointestinal diseases, including cancer and H. pylori infections. The company has developed a swallowable screening device that utilizes a medical-grade foam ball compressed into a capsule. This innovative device allows for non-endoscopic specimen collection, enabling healthcare providers to obtain samples for diagnosis quickly and efficiently. The device has received FDA clearance and is positioned to support new genome sequencing diagnostic tests, offering a potential shift toward mass outpatient screening for these conditions. Through its technology, CapNostics aims to improve early detection and diagnosis, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in gastrointestinal health.
Turnstone Biologics
Series A in 2015
Turnstone Biologics Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Ottawa, Canada, with an additional office in New York. Founded in 2015, the company is dedicated to advancing innovative viral immunotherapies aimed at improving cancer patient survival. Its lead product, RIVAL-01, utilizes a vaccinia virus backbone that encodes several immunomodulators, including Flt3 ligand, anti-CTLA-4 antibody, and IL-12 cytokine, which work together to enhance immune activity and optimize the tumor microenvironment for effective cancer treatment. Additionally, Turnstone Biologics is developing next-generation tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies by isolating and expanding the most potent and tumor-reactive T cells from patients' tumors, thereby harnessing the body's own immune system to combat solid tumors. Through these innovative approaches, Turnstone Biologics aims to deliver breakthrough cancer immunotherapies that significantly improve clinical outcomes for patients.
Privacy Analytics
Seed Round in 2014
Privacy Analytics Inc. specializes in data anonymization software tailored for healthcare organizations, insurance providers, and medical device manufacturers. The company provides solutions that enable the responsible de-identification of both structured and unstructured personal data, facilitating various secondary uses such as research, public health analysis, and marketing while ensuring individual privacy and legal compliance. Its flagship product, PARAT, integrates de-identification and data masking capabilities for clinical and health claims databases. Additionally, Privacy Analytics offers a range of tools, including text anonymization software and an online risk assessment tool to streamline data sharing agreements. The company also provides services such as re-identification risk assessments and anonymization methodology training. Founded in 2007 and based in Ottawa, Canada, Privacy Analytics operates as a subsidiary of IQVIA Holdings Inc.
Triphase Accelerator
Venture Round in 2013
Triphase Accelerator is a privately held drug development accelerator focused on advancing novel therapeutics, particularly in the field of oncology. The company specializes in acquiring and developing clinically enabled oncology assets that possess high-value potential through a shared risk model, progressing them to proof of concept before out-licensing or selling the products. Triphase aims to expedite the development process, allowing for faster and more cost-effective progression compared to traditional pharmaceutical and biotech methods, ultimately benefiting cancer patients with improved and affordable treatments. The management team at Triphase brings extensive experience in drug development, and the company has established strategic partnerships, notably with Celgene Corporation, to facilitate the rapid advancement of promising cancer therapeutics. Additionally, Triphase collaborates with the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, MaRS Innovation, and other oncology partners to generate proof-of-concept data that serves the interests of investors, regulators, and healthcare providers.
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