Ventus Therapeutics U.S., Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Natick, Massachusetts, with an additional location in Montreal, Canada. Founded in 2019, it focuses on discovering and developing novel small-molecule medicines that target the innate immune system to address autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. The company employs a structural immunology platform that integrates protein engineering to elucidate molecular structures and mechanisms of action. This platform facilitates the development of precise binding and functional screening assays, as well as structure-based modeling. Ventus Therapeutics is advancing an emerging pipeline of drug programs aimed at key targets within the innate immune system, leveraging its proprietary capabilities in rational and structure-based drug design.
Newel Health is dedicated to developing and commercializing digital medicine and digital therapeutic solutions in collaboration with pharmaceutical, medical device companies, and other health and wellness stakeholders. The company focuses on creating clinically validated platforms that enhance healthcare access and improve patient outcomes. By integrating data and technology, Newel Health aims to bridge the gap between clinical research and real-world applications, ensuring that the needs of patients and healthcare professionals are prioritized in the design of its products. With a commitment to innovation and human empathy, Newel Health seeks to transform the healthcare landscape through its advanced therapeutic solutions.
Koneksa Health Inc. is a healthcare data analytics company based in New York, with an additional location in London. Founded in 2013, the company specializes in designing and developing software for pharmaceutical and biotech firms to facilitate decision-making and regulatory claims based on remotely generated patient data. Its flagship product, Koneksa Compare, provides a dashboard for capturing, monitoring, and analyzing patient-generated data and outcomes in clinical studies. The software supports the integration of emerging technologies, such as bio-sensors, activity trackers, and mobile-based questionnaires, allowing researchers to expand the range of analyzable data and reduce subjectivity in clinical endpoints. Koneksa Health aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of clinical research through its innovative solutions.
ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, develops and commercializes drugs focusing on patients with inflammatory/renal diseases who have high unmet medical needs. Its clinical pipeline includes phase 2a-ready VAR 200, a cholesterol efflux mediator for the treatment of an orphan renal disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and a novel inflammasome inhibitor with potential for multiple inflammatory diseases. ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc. was formerly known as Variant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc. in May 2019. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Weston, Florida.
EpicentRx Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in La Jolla, California, focused on developing innovative immunotherapy solutions for cancer treatment. The company specializes in the RRx-001 portfolio, which aims to transform treatment-resistant tumors into treatment-sensitive ones by normalizing the tumor microenvironment and activating tumor-associated macrophages. This approach seeks to enhance the effectiveness of standard therapies for various cancers, including small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, and colorectal cancer. Additionally, EpicentRx is advancing AV-255, a genetically modified adenovirus designed to target and eliminate cancer cells. The company, formerly known as RadioRx, Inc., was established in 2002 and has a unique perspective, as it is led by practicing oncologists who prioritize personalized treatment options for patients with limited alternatives.
Koneksa Health Inc. is a healthcare data analytics company based in New York, with an additional location in London. Founded in 2013, the company specializes in designing and developing software for pharmaceutical and biotech firms to facilitate decision-making and regulatory claims based on remotely generated patient data. Its flagship product, Koneksa Compare, provides a dashboard for capturing, monitoring, and analyzing patient-generated data and outcomes in clinical studies. The software supports the integration of emerging technologies, such as bio-sensors, activity trackers, and mobile-based questionnaires, allowing researchers to expand the range of analyzable data and reduce subjectivity in clinical endpoints. Koneksa Health aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of clinical research through its innovative solutions.
AlzProtect SAS, a biopharmaceutical company, discovers and develops drug candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and orphan disease progressive supranuclear palsy. AlzProtect SAS was founded in 2007 and is based in Loos, France.
Asceneuron SA is a biotechnology company based in Lausanne, Switzerland, founded in 2012, that focuses on discovering and developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders with significant unmet medical needs. The company targets conditions such as progressive supranuclear palsy, orphan tauopathies, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Asceneuron aims to develop orally bioavailable small molecule drugs that address both symptomatic relief and disease progression for these debilitating conditions. Tauopathies, characterized by the accumulation of tau protein deposits in the brain, are a key area of focus, as they currently lack effective treatments. With the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease posing a major healthcare challenge, Asceneuron aspires to become a leading entity in the biotech sector by providing innovative and more effective therapeutic options for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. The company operates as a subsidiary of Merck KGaA.
ND BioSciences is a biotechnology company that was founded with the mission of developing and providing innovative technologies, solutions, tools, assays, and services to accelerate the development of early diagnostics and therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Arkuda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company leveraging new insights into progranulin and lysosomal biology to develop medicines to change the trajectory of neurodegenerative disease. Arkuda’s lead compounds aim to correct progranulin deficiency and lysosomal dysfunction in GRN-related frontotemporal dementia (FTD-GRN), a genetically-defined subtype of frontotemporal dementia caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in the GRN gene.
MISSION Therapeutics Ltd. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, focused on discovering and developing small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs). The company's pipeline includes promising candidates such as USP30, which is aimed at treating Parkinson's disease and cancer, and USP7, which is recognized as a significant target in oncology. In addition to these, MISSION Therapeutics has various DUB programs that address conditions in oncology, neurodegeneration, rare mitochondrial diseases, kidney disease, and inflammation. Founded in 2011, the company is actively engaged in advancing its innovative drug development platform, which capitalizes on the ubiquitin pathway to enhance protein homeostasis and offers potential therapeutic options in several challenging medical areas.
NRG Therapeutics is a drug discovery company focussed on therapeutic approaches that will restore mitochondrial function and slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and motor neurone disease. Founded in 2018 by a team of experienced biotech and pharmaceutical industry professionals, with a background in neuroscience drug discovery, NRG Therapeutics will initially focus on the discovery and development of brain penetrant mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
Private Equity Round in 2021
Wealthsimple Financial Inc. is a Toronto-based company that offers digital investment advisory services across Canada, including provinces and territories such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. Founded in 2014, the firm provides a range of financial tools designed to help investors grow and manage their wealth. Wealthsimple's primary offerings include an application that allows users to invest in diversified portfolios of exchange-traded funds and a hybrid product known as Wealthsimple Cash, which combines savings and spending features. The company serves over one million Canadians and is supported by a team of financial experts and technology professionals with experience from leading firms. In addition to its Canadian operations, Wealthsimple has offices in New York and London and operates as a subsidiary of Purpose Advisor Solutions Inc.
MapLight Therapeutics is focused on discovering and developing innovative therapies for brain disorders. The company utilizes a unique platform that integrates single-cell transcriptomics with optogenetics, enabling the identification of novel drug targets. By leveraging these advanced technologies, MapLight aims to create effective treatments tailored to address complex neurological conditions. Founded in 2018 and based in San Francisco, California, the company is committed to advancing the understanding and treatment of brain disorders through its cutting-edge research and development efforts.
Rheostat’s mission is to invent novel treatments for neurodegenerative disease through modulation of mitophagy and autophagy. They believe that the degradation of toxic cellular components, whether they are damaged organelles or aggregated proteins, is a fundamental node of biology. Mutations that impair these clearance pathways cause multiple neurodegenerative diseases, many of which are associated with cognitive impairment. They aim to leverage our understanding of these critical pathways to discover and develop novel small molecules that will restore cellular balance and treat neurodegenerative and rare diseases.
Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company highly committed to improving the quality of life of people living with psychiatric and neurological disorders. For this purpose, Lundbeck is engaged in the research, development, production, marketing, and sale of pharmaceuticals across the world. The company’s products are targeted at disease areas such as depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the World Health Organization, WHO, more than 700 million cases of psychiatric and neurological disorders are reported every year. These are serious and life-threatening diseases that affect the quality of life of the patients as well as of their relatives. As these diseases also involve major socio-economic costs, it is imperative for the general society that new and innovative pharmaceuticals are developed. Over the past 50 years, new pharmaceuticals have revolutionized the treatment options, but there remains a large unmet need for new and innovative therapeutics. Focus on R&D is the most important pillar in Lundbeck’s ambition to improve treatment for people living with psychiatric and neurological disorders. We are specialists in our area and have research facilities in Denmark and China, and more than 1,000 employees work in our R&D units. We cooperate closely with strategic partners all over the world, ensuring the best possible foundation for innovation and the development of new treatment solutions. Lundbeck employs approximately 5,300 people worldwide, 1,700 of whom are based in Denmark. We have employees in 55 countries, and our products are registered in more than 100 countries. We have production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy and research centers in Denmark and China.
Olaris, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Waltham, Massachusetts, focused on developing a precision medicine diagnostic platform aimed at improving disease diagnosis and treatment. Founded in 2013, Olaris specializes in metabolite profiling and personalized biomarkers of response, utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms. This innovative approach allows healthcare providers to identify the most effective treatments for individual patients, thereby optimizing clinical outcomes and minimizing adverse effects associated with therapies. Through its metabolomics platform, Olaris seeks to transform the way diseases, particularly breast cancer, are diagnosed and managed.
Nitrase Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs targeting a newly identified class of enzymes known as Nitrases. Initially concentrating on Parkinson’s disease, Nitrase aims to create therapies that may slow or halt the progression of this neurodegenerative condition. Beyond its primary focus, the company plans to expand its research to address other aging-related diseases, including Type II diabetes, heart disease, and various cancer types. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Jackson, Wyoming, with additional facilities in San Francisco, California, Nitrase Therapeutics is positioned to contribute significantly to the treatment of complex diseases associated with aging.
Casma Therapeutics is a developer of a natural cellular process of autophagy to open new target areas for drug discovery and development. The company focuses on autophagy system to improve the cellular process of clearing out unwanted proteins, organelles and invading pathogens as well as tries to arrest or reverse the progression of lysosomal storage disorders, muscle disorders, inflammatory disorders and neurodegeneration, enabling physicians to address unmet medical needs.
Aprinoia Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative imaging-based diagnostic tools and therapies for neurological diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and tauopathies. Established in 2015 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, with additional facilities in China and Japan, the company specializes in creating diagnostic tracers, including 18F-PM-PBB3 for tau positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging, which aids in identifying tauopathies and supports the development of corresponding treatments. Aprinoia Therapeutics aims to enhance the detection, progression monitoring, and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia through its advanced diagnostic and therapeutic platforms, ultimately striving to improve patient outcomes and brain health.
Inflazome Ltd. is a biotechnology company based in Dublin, Ireland, founded in 2016, that focuses on developing orally available drugs for inflammatory diseases by targeting the inflammasome. The company's innovative approach aims to block inflammasome signals, addressing the underlying causes of inflammation. Inflazome's portfolio includes treatments for a range of conditions, such as orphan diseases like Muckle-Wells syndrome and familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, as well as chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the central nervous system, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. The company also targets systemic inflammatory diseases like cardiovascular and gastrointestinal issues, and explores applications in oncology and dermatology. Inflazome operates as a subsidiary of Roche Holding AG.
Alkahest, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in San Carlos, California, focused on developing therapies derived from blood to address neurological diseases, particularly those related to aging, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Founded in 2014, the company emphasizes research into the beneficial factors found in the blood plasma of younger organisms, which have shown potential in reversing cognitive deficits associated with aging and neurodegenerative conditions in preclinical models. Alkahest operates as a subsidiary of Grifols, S.A., a global healthcare company that specializes in plasma therapies, and strives to enhance health and vitality through innovative treatments aimed at counteracting the effects of aging.
OccamzRazor is a San Francisco-based AI-neuroscience startup dedicated to developing disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson's Disease and other complex ailments. The company employs a computational approach that leverages both structured and unstructured biomedical data, including published literature and clinical trial results. By constructing a comprehensive knowledge graph that encapsulates all known information about Parkinson's Disease, OccamzRazor facilitates enhanced therapeutic insights and informed decision-making in biomedical research. This platform aims to identify new therapeutic targets and support strategic drug development, addressing the multifactorial nature of complex diseases like Parkinson's.
Neuropore Therapies is a pharmaceutical company located in San Diego, CA committed to the discovery and development of disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. They are located on Road to the Cure in San Diego, CA.Their approach is based on the fundamental concept that the pathological accumulation of misfolded and aggregated neurotoxic proteins is the underlying basis of these disorders. Their therapeutic candidates directly target these proteins and restore cellular autophagy mechanisms to degrade and dispose of these neurotoxic proteins.
MISSION Therapeutics Ltd. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, focused on discovering and developing small-molecule drugs that selectively target deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs). The company's pipeline includes promising candidates such as USP30, which is aimed at treating Parkinson's disease and cancer, and USP7, which is recognized as a significant target in oncology. In addition to these, MISSION Therapeutics has various DUB programs that address conditions in oncology, neurodegeneration, rare mitochondrial diseases, kidney disease, and inflammation. Founded in 2011, the company is actively engaged in advancing its innovative drug development platform, which capitalizes on the ubiquitin pathway to enhance protein homeostasis and offers potential therapeutic options in several challenging medical areas.
Inhibikase Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease and related disorders affecting the brain and other parts of the body. The company's lead product candidate, IkT-148009, is a c-Abl protein kinase inhibitor aimed at treating Parkinson's Disease, dysphagia, and neurogenic constipation. Additionally, Inhibikase is advancing IkT-001Pro, a prodrug of the anti-cancer agent Imatinib, which is designed to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. Other notable candidates include IkT-01427, which targets the virus responsible for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, and the IkT-148x series, intended for Dementia with Lewy Body and Multiple System Atrophy. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Inhibikase has also developed a small molecule platform that targets both bacterial and viral infectious diseases through a unified mechanism, aiming to create effective multi-pathogen anti-infectives while minimizing resistance development.
Addex Therapeutics Ltd is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative small-molecule pharmaceutical products aimed at treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The company specializes in creating oral allosteric modulators that target G-protein coupled receptors, which are crucial for therapeutic interventions. Its leading programs include Dipraglurant, designed for treating levodopa-induced dyskinesia and dystonia in Parkinson’s disease, ADX71149 for epilepsy and other undisclosed CNS disorders, and a GABAB PAM aimed at addressing addiction. Addex Therapeutics has established a collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to advance the development of mGluR2PAM compounds for human health applications. Founded in 2002, the company has evolved its focus and pipeline based on a pioneering drug discovery platform that emphasizes allosteric modulation.
Neuropore Therapies is a pharmaceutical company located in San Diego, CA committed to the discovery and development of disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. They are located on Road to the Cure in San Diego, CA.Their approach is based on the fundamental concept that the pathological accumulation of misfolded and aggregated neurotoxic proteins is the underlying basis of these disorders. Their therapeutic candidates directly target these proteins and restore cellular autophagy mechanisms to degrade and dispose of these neurotoxic proteins.
Asceneuron SA is a biotechnology company based in Lausanne, Switzerland, founded in 2012, that focuses on discovering and developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders with significant unmet medical needs. The company targets conditions such as progressive supranuclear palsy, orphan tauopathies, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Asceneuron aims to develop orally bioavailable small molecule drugs that address both symptomatic relief and disease progression for these debilitating conditions. Tauopathies, characterized by the accumulation of tau protein deposits in the brain, are a key area of focus, as they currently lack effective treatments. With the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease posing a major healthcare challenge, Asceneuron aspires to become a leading entity in the biotech sector by providing innovative and more effective therapeutic options for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. The company operates as a subsidiary of Merck KGaA.
Saniona is a research and development company with low burn rate, a world class team and high ambitions.
nLife Therapeutics S.L. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Granada, Spain, with an additional office in Barcelona. Founded in 2009, it specializes in developing innovative treatments for central nervous system (CNS) and neuromuscular disorders through the use of cell-specific oligonucleotides. nLife Therapeutics is advancing a first-in-class disease-modifying therapy that selectively silences alpha-synuclein in monoaminergic neurons to halt toxic accumulation associated with Parkinson’s disease. The company is also focused on Huntington’s disease by reducing altered Htt levels in striatal and cortical neurons to slow disease progression. Utilizing next-generation targeted nucleic acid technologies, nLife Therapeutics aims to deliver conjugated nucleic acids to specific neurons via a single intra-nasal application, and is actively progressing its clinical trials to bring these treatments to market.
Domain Therapeutics SA is a biopharmaceutical company based in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France, focused on the discovery and early development of therapeutic drugs targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), which are key drug targets in various diseases. The company specializes in developing treatments for Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders and cancer. Utilizing its proprietary DTect-All technology, Domain Therapeutics identifies both orthosteric and allosteric ligands, including Silent Allosteric Modulators (SAMs), which are not discoverable through conventional methods. This innovative approach allows the company to address challenging GPCRs, including orphan and peptidic receptors. Founded in 2001, the company was previously known as Faust Pharmaceuticals SA before rebranding in December 2008.
Motus Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing peptide therapeutics that address unmet needs in metabolic diseases. Rhythm investors include MPM Capital and New Enterprise Associates. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Developer of neurodiagnostic technologies intended to commercialize blood testing products. The company provides critical data that can be useful in diagnosis, monitoring and assessing therapeutic responses that help to make discoveries for brain health and diseases, enabling pharmaceutical companies and researchers to drug discovery and conduct studies in brain disease.
Addex Therapeutics Ltd is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative small-molecule pharmaceutical products aimed at treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The company specializes in creating oral allosteric modulators that target G-protein coupled receptors, which are crucial for therapeutic interventions. Its leading programs include Dipraglurant, designed for treating levodopa-induced dyskinesia and dystonia in Parkinson’s disease, ADX71149 for epilepsy and other undisclosed CNS disorders, and a GABAB PAM aimed at addressing addiction. Addex Therapeutics has established a collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to advance the development of mGluR2PAM compounds for human health applications. Founded in 2002, the company has evolved its focus and pipeline based on a pioneering drug discovery platform that emphasizes allosteric modulation.
Envoy Therapeutics’ mission is to discover new drugs with superior efficacy and fewer side effects than existing treatments. The company’s bacTRAP® technology enables the identification of proteins in vivo that are produced by specific cell types without requiring the isolation of those cells. The technology is especially powerful in tissues of the brain, where many hundreds of cell types are intermingled. Because therapeutically modulating the activity of a specific cell type has until now been prevented by the inability to determine which proteins are uniquely expressed by that cell type, Envoy brings a new day in drug discovery.
Trevena is a privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in King of Prussia, PA, dedicated to the discovery and development of GPCR biased ligands. Established in late 2007, Trevena was created to translate groundbreaking research on GPCR signaling into a new generation of medicines. They have three programs in development: TRV027, currently in phase 2 clinical testing for the treatment of acute heart failure; TRV130, currently completing phase 1 testing for the intraveneous treatment of postoperative pain; and TRV734, currently in pre-clinical testing for oral treatment of acute and chronic pain. In addition, Trevena has built an early-stage portfolio of drug discovery programs currently in lead optimization. G protein coupled receptors are the targets for more than 30% of all currently marketed therapeutics. There is significant opportunity to improve upon currently marketed GPCR drugs because many have limited efficacy and undesirable adverse effects, which can prevent broader use. Furthermore, many GPCRs are linked to diseases but cannot be translated into medicines because of specific target-related adverse effects. Trevena's biased ligand approach has the potential to address these problems across a wide range of receptors and therapeutic areas.
Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation GmbH is a medical device company focused on advancing deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy. Founded in 2011 as a spin-out of Royal Philips Electronics, the company aims to enhance patient comfort and therapeutic outcomes with its innovative, high-resolution, and MRI-compatible DBS system. Sapiens specializes in developing a comprehensive DBS solution that includes navigation and steering software, as well as implants specifically designed for patients with Parkinson's disease. With offices in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and Munich, Germany, Sapiens leverages patented technologies to deliver effective and precise treatment options for individuals suffering from this neurological condition.
Amicus Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapies to treat a range of rare and orphan diseases. The company offers Galafold, an orally administered small molecule pharmacological chaperone for the treatment of Fabry disease. It is also conducting Phase 3 (ATB200-03) clinical study of AT-GAA for Pompe disease. The company has collaboration and license agreements with Nationwide Children's Hospital and University of Pennsylvania. Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Cranbury, New Jersey.
Ceregene is a San Diego-based biotechnology company dedicated to developing treatments for major neurodegenerative disorders through the delivery of nervous system growth factors. The company's clinical programs include CERE-110, an AAV2-based vector expressing nerve growth factor, which is preparing to enter Phase 2 studies aimed at treating Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, CERE-120, which has recently completed a Phase 2 trial for Parkinson's disease, is under evaluation for future development. Ceregene is also advancing two other treatments, CERE-135 and CERE-140, which are in preclinical development targeting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and ocular diseases, respectively.
Omeros Corporation is a Seattle-based biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, and commercialization of small-molecule and protein therapeutics. The company focuses on large-market and orphan indications, particularly targeting inflammation, complement-mediated diseases, and disorders of the central nervous system. Omeros offers OMIDRIA, a product used during cataract surgery in the United States. Its clinical pipeline includes narsoplimab, a monoclonal antibody in Phase III trials for various conditions, including hematopoietic stem-cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy and immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Other clinical programs involve treatments for opioid and nicotine addiction, as well as compulsive disorders. Preclinical efforts include developing therapies for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and exploring a range of G protein-coupled receptors for various disorders. Founded in 1994, Omeros is committed to addressing significant unmet medical needs through its innovative therapeutic approaches.