Samsara BioCapital

Samsara BioCapital LLC is a private equity firm established in 2016 and located in Palo Alto, California. The firm specializes in investing in biotechnology companies across the United States, providing capital and strategic support to help advance innovations in the life sciences sector. Samsara BioCapital aims to identify and cultivate promising biotechnological advancements that can transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes.

Srini Akkaraju

Founder and Managing Partner

Aditya Asokan

Associate

Abe Bassan

Principal

Michael Dybbs Ph.D

Partner

Cory Freedland

Partner

Roger Zhang

Associate

Past deals in New England

Scholar Rock

Post in 2022
Scholar Rock is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in the discovery and development of innovative therapies targeting growth factor signaling in serious diseases. The company’s lead product candidate, SRK-015, is a selective inhibitor of myostatin activation and is currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials for spinal muscular atrophy. Additionally, Scholar Rock is advancing SRK-181, which is in Phase I trials for treating cancers resistant to checkpoint inhibitors. The company employs a proprietary platform to design monoclonal antibodies that selectively modulate the activation of growth factors in disease microenvironments, addressing challenges associated with traditional growth factor inhibition. Scholar Rock is also developing a pipeline of candidates for a variety of conditions, including neuromuscular disorders, cancer, fibrosis, and anemia. Furthermore, the company has a collaboration with Gilead Sciences to explore specific inhibitors of transforming growth factor beta for fibrotic diseases. Founded in 2012, Scholar Rock aims to improve patient outcomes through its targeted therapeutic approach.

Upstream Bio

Series A in 2022
Upstream Bio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company established in 2004 and headquartered in the United States. The company specializes in developing antibody therapies aimed at treating inflammatory diseases, with a primary focus on severe respiratory disorders, particularly severe asthma. Upstream Bio is advancing its lead candidate, verekitug, an antagonist that targets the receptor for Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP), a cytokine known to play a significant role in driving inflammatory responses. The approach of targeting TSLP positions Upstream Bio to address various immune-mediated conditions by intervening at a crucial point in the signaling pathways involved in inflammation.

Lyra Therapeutics

Post in 2022
Lyra Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage therapeutics company that specializes in developing and commercializing innovative drug and delivery solutions for the localized treatment of ear, nose, and throat diseases. Utilizing its proprietary XTreo technology platform, the company aims to deliver medications directly to affected tissues for extended periods with a single administration. Its lead product candidates, LYR-210 and LYR-220, are bioresorbable polymeric matrices designed for non-invasive in-office procedures, providing up to six months of continuous drug therapy specifically for chronic rhinosinusitis. The active ingredient in these formulations is mometasone furoate, which is recognized for its efficacy and safety in various FDA-approved therapies. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, Lyra Therapeutics was formerly known as 480 Biomedical, Inc. before rebranding in July 2018.

Seismic Therapeutic

Series A in 2022
Seismic Therapeutic is a biotechnology company focused on accelerating immunology drug development through the integration of machine learning in the biologics discovery process. Utilizing its IMPACT™ platform, Seismic Therapeutic aims to tackle key challenges in biologics discovery by combining structural biology, protein engineering, and translational immunology. This comprehensive approach facilitates the creation of optimized therapies that can reach patients more quickly. The company is developing a pipeline of innovative biologics targeting adaptive immune system dysregulation, with the goal of treating autoimmune diseases.

Dewpoint Therapeutics

Series C in 2022
Dewpoint Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotech company focused on researching biomolecular condensates and their role in cellular function. Established in 2018 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, the company aims to develop innovative treatments for a range of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, immunology, cardiovascular conditions, women’s health, and virology. Dewpoint Therapeutics utilizes a novel drug platform that specifically targets biomolecular condensates to advance its therapeutic solutions.

Simcha Therapeutics

Series B in 2022
Simcha Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing engineered cytokine immunotherapy for cancer. The company uses directed evolution to engineer novel cytokines designed to unlock the precision and power of the immune system. Simcha’s lead program, ST-067, is a designer IL-18 cytokine that has shown potent antitumor effects in animal models, both as a monotherapy and when combined with anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, as described in Nature in June 2020. It was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Exo Therapeutics

Series B in 2021
Exo Therapeutics, Inc. is a molecule drug discovery and development company to address intractable pharmaceutical targets. The company develops a pipeline of drug candidates that bind exosites, distal, and unique binding pockets that reprogram enzyme activity for therapeutic effect in oncology, inflammation. Exo Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2018 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Obsidian Therapeutics

Series B in 2021
Obsidian Therapeutics is a developer of a next-generation cell and gene therapies created to extend adoptive immunotherapy to every patient with cancer.The company's next-generation cell and gene therapies with pharmacologic operating systems provide exquisite control of protein activity in cells and create adoptive cell therapies with new functions that are under control of the treating physician using simple, safe, orally-active, marketed drugs, enabling patients to improve on the current generation of cell therapies.

Tango Therapeutics

Post in 2021
Tango Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, develops cancer drugs based on synthetic lethality. The company uses the genetic principle of synthetic lethality to discover and develop therapies that take aim at driver genes in cancer. It focuses counteracting tumor suppressor gene loss; reversing the ability of cancer cells to evade the immune system; and identifying novel combinations that are more effective than single agent therapy. Tango Therapeutics, Inc. was formerly known as Cancer Combos NewCo, Inc. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Abata Therapeutics

Series A in 2021
Abata Therapeutics, a company focused on translating the biology of regulatory T cells (Tregs) into transformational medicines for patients living with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and other severe autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Vedere Bio ll

Series A in 2021
Vedere is developing cutting-edge gene therapy products to restore functional vision to patients who have suffered vision loss from Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs), as well as other causes of both genetic and non-genetic vision loss. While the vast majority of ocular gene therapies only limit the rate of inevitable vision loss, we aim to restore lost vision regardless of a patient’s underlying genetics or their stage of disease.

ElevateBio

Series C in 2021
ElevateBio, LLC is a holding company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on developing cell and gene-based therapies. Founded in 2017, ElevateBio operates a portfolio of companies dedicated to creating, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative treatments for cancer and viral infections. The company collaborates with leading scientists and inventors to build its portfolio and has established a centralized facility designed to streamline the research and development process. This approach allows ElevateBio to translate scientific advancements in cell and gene therapy into viable medical products, ultimately aiming to provide effective treatments for patients with severe diseases.

Centessa Pharmaceuticals

Series A in 2021
Centessa Pharmaceuticals is a next-generation biopharmaceutical company that aims to reshape the traditional drug development process. The company applies an asset-centric R&D model at scale to advance a portfolio of highly validated programs led by industry-leading teams. Each program is developed by a Centessa Subsidiary and supported by a centralized infrastructure and the Centessa management team.

Abcuro

Series A in 2021
Abcuro’s mission is to develop a new class of immune-modulatory bio-therapeutics for treating both autoimmunity and cancer. They leverage the systematic target validation and clinical insights gained by its founders to identify new targets. Their intensive use of bioinformatics to interrogate the transcriptome of human disease together with ex-vivo validation in diseased tissue has uncovered new approaches to target key compartments of the immune system. The company was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Newton, Massachusetts.
Syros Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for cancer and genetic disorders through innovative gene control medicines. The company is advancing its lead product candidates, including SY-1425, a selective retinoic acid receptor alpha agonist currently undergoing a Phase II clinical trial for specific patient subsets with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, and SY-5609, a cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitor in a Phase I clinical trial for select advanced solid tumors. Syros employs a unique approach that integrates gene regulatory circuit mapping and modulation of gene expression factors, supported by a proprietary platform of assay technologies and bioinformatics. The company collaborates with Incyte Corporation to discover therapeutic targets, particularly for myeloproliferative neoplasms, and has a licensing agreement with TMRC Co. Ltd. for the development of tamibarotene. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Syros Pharmaceuticals was previously known as LS22, Inc. and rebranded in 2012.

Decibel Therapeutics

Series D in 2020
Decibel Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing therapies aimed at protecting, repairing, and restoring hearing. The company focuses on a range of hearing disorders, including those related to cancer treatments, cystic fibrosis, noise exposure, age-related and genetic hearing loss, as well as tinnitus. It utilizes advanced techniques such as single-cell genomics, bioinformatics, and precision gene therapy technologies to enhance its understanding of inner ear pathology and to develop effective treatments. Decibel Therapeutics also offers expertise in drug delivery to the inner ear, imaging, and pharmacokinetic modeling, contributing to innovative therapeutic approaches for patients experiencing various forms of hearing loss. Founded in 2013 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, Decibel Therapeutics was previously known as Hearing, Inc. before rebranding in 2014.

Dewpoint Therapeutics

Series B in 2020
Dewpoint Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotech company focused on researching biomolecular condensates and their role in cellular function. Established in 2018 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, the company aims to develop innovative treatments for a range of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, immunology, cardiovascular conditions, women’s health, and virology. Dewpoint Therapeutics utilizes a novel drug platform that specifically targets biomolecular condensates to advance its therapeutic solutions.

UNUM Therapeutics

Post in 2020
Unum Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immunotherapy products for cancer treatment, utilizing proprietary T-cell engineering technology. The company’s lead programs, based on its Antibody-Coupled T-cell Receptor (ACTR) technology, are in Phase I clinical trials. These include ACTR707 and ACTR087, both being tested in combination with rituximab for relapsed or refractory CD20+ non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as ACTR087 combined with SEA-BCMA for relapsed multiple myeloma. Additionally, ACTR707 is being evaluated with trastuzumab for HER2+ solid tumors. Unum Therapeutics is also exploring BOXR1030, a pre-clinical candidate targeting glypican-3 to enhance T cell functionality in the solid tumor microenvironment. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Unum aims to activate the body’s immune system to effectively combat cancer through its innovative therapies.

ElevateBio

Series B in 2020
ElevateBio, LLC is a holding company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on developing cell and gene-based therapies. Founded in 2017, ElevateBio operates a portfolio of companies dedicated to creating, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative treatments for cancer and viral infections. The company collaborates with leading scientists and inventors to build its portfolio and has established a centralized facility designed to streamline the research and development process. This approach allows ElevateBio to translate scientific advancements in cell and gene therapy into viable medical products, ultimately aiming to provide effective treatments for patients with severe diseases.

Fluent BioSciences

Series A in 2020
Fluent BioSciences is a privately funded life science company focused on developing high-sensitivity molecular analytical products. Utilizing proprietary instrument-free micro-self-assembly technology, the company enables the analysis of extremely low molecular and cellular sample inputs. Its platform facilitates the instantaneous self-assembly of individual cells or molecules into millions of uniform partitions, allowing for sensitive and unbiased preparation of proteins and nucleic acids for sequencing applications. This innovative approach provides researchers in the biotechnology sector with enhanced capabilities for single-cell analysis, broadening their access to advanced analytical techniques.

FORMA Therapeutics

Series D in 2019
Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for treatment of rare hematologic diseases and cancers. Its core product candidates for development include FT-4202, which is Phase 1 trial for the treatment of sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies; and FT-7051 for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The company is also developing FT-2102, an oral selective small molecule investigational agent that is designed to bind to and inhibit mutated IDH1 enzymes, which is being evaluated in a Phase 2 trial for relapsed/refractory AML, as well as an exploratory Phase 1 trial for glioma; and FT-4101 and FT-8225, which are selective fatty acid synthase inhibitors. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Pieris Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on discovering and developing anticalin-based therapeutics. Anticalins are low molecular-weight proteins derived from lipocalins, which are naturally occurring proteins in the human body. The company’s lead respiratory candidate, PRS-060, is in Phase I trials for asthma and other inflammatory diseases, while its lead immuno-oncology candidate, PRS-343, is also in Phase I trials targeting various cancers. Additionally, Pieris is advancing PRS-080, a treatment for functional iron deficiency in patients with chronic kidney disease, currently in Phase IIa trials, and PRS-344, a bispecific anticalin-antibody fusion protein in preclinical development for oncology. The company collaborates with several partners, including Les Laboratoires Servier, AstraZeneca, and Seattle Genetics, and has research collaborations with academic institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh. Founded in 2000, Pieris Pharmaceuticals aims to address critical medical needs through its innovative drug development approach.

ElevateBio

Series A in 2019
ElevateBio, LLC is a holding company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on developing cell and gene-based therapies. Founded in 2017, ElevateBio operates a portfolio of companies dedicated to creating, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative treatments for cancer and viral infections. The company collaborates with leading scientists and inventors to build its portfolio and has established a centralized facility designed to streamline the research and development process. This approach allows ElevateBio to translate scientific advancements in cell and gene therapy into viable medical products, ultimately aiming to provide effective treatments for patients with severe diseases.

SpringWorks Therapeutics

Series B in 2019
SpringWorks Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that specializes in identifying, developing, and commercializing therapies for underserved patient populations suffering from severe rare diseases and cancer. The firm's pipeline product includes Mirdametinib, Nirogacestat, and others. The company was founded in 2017 and headquartered in Connecticut, United States.

Dewpoint Therapeutics

Series A in 2019
Dewpoint Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotech company focused on researching biomolecular condensates and their role in cellular function. Established in 2018 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, the company aims to develop innovative treatments for a range of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, immunology, cardiovascular conditions, women’s health, and virology. Dewpoint Therapeutics utilizes a novel drug platform that specifically targets biomolecular condensates to advance its therapeutic solutions.