Samsara BioCapital

Samsara BioCapital LLC is a principal investment firm founded in 2016 and based in Palo Alto, California. The firm specializes in investing in biotechnology companies across the United States, with a focus on sectors such as pharmaceuticals, oncology, life sciences, and digital health. As a registered investment adviser, Samsara BioCapital aims to support innovative healthcare ventures through strategic investments.

Srini Akkaraju

Founder and Managing Partner

Srinivas Akkaraju

Founder and Managing Partner

Aditya Asokan

Senior Associate

Robert Baffi

Venture Partner

Abraham Bassan

Principal and Vice President

Abe Bassan

Principal

Mike Dybbs

Partner

Cory Freedland

Partner

Donald McCarthy

Principal

Donnie McCarthy

Principal

Marcos Milla

Venture Partner

Levi Smith

Senior Associate

Roger Zhang

Senior Associate

Ravi Rao Ph.D

Venture Partner and Head of Company Creation

David Parry Ph.D

Venture Partner

Past deals in Life Science

MiroBio

Series B in 2022
MiroBio Ltd is a biotechnology company based in Oxford, United Kingdom, focused on developing antibody modulators for immune cell receptors aimed at treating autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2018, MiroBio leverages pioneering research from the University of Oxford to understand how immune cells communicate and are activated. This foundational knowledge allows the company to create innovative antibodies that stimulate specific immune cell signals, harnessing the body's natural control mechanisms to restore balance within the immune system. By activating these natural pathways, MiroBio's therapeutics aim to provide significant benefits to patients suffering from various autoimmune conditions, enabling clinicians to effectively manage overactive immune responses associated with these diseases.

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.

Science 37

Post in 2021
Science 37, Inc. is a technology-driven clinical trial company focused on transforming clinical research through patient-centric models. It has developed NORA (Network Oriented Research Assistant), a cloud-based mobile research platform that facilitates communication between researchers and patients via videos, photographs, and surveys, enabling end-to-end networked clinical trial services. The company also offers the Science 37 Metasite, which enhances access to diverse patient populations for clinical studies, and the Science 37 Platform for decentralized clinical trials. By utilizing its virtual model, Science 37 has demonstrated faster enrollment and higher patient retention, reaching a broader and more representative patient demographic than traditional site-based research. The company serves a wide range of clients, including large pharmaceutical firms, biotechnology companies, universities, and startups. Since its incorporation in 2014, Science 37 has established itself as a leader in virtual clinical trials, leveraging an extensive network of telemedicine investigators and home-health nurses to conduct more decentralized interventional trials than any other organization.

Alamar Biosciences

Series B in 2021
Alamar Biosciences develops technologies for the detection and treatment of cancer and other diseases at the earliest possible time. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Hayward, California.

Vedere Bio ll

Series A in 2021
Vedere Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 2019. The company focuses on developing gene therapy products aimed at restoring functional vision for patients who have experienced vision loss due to Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs) and other causes of vision impairment, both genetic and non-genetic. Unlike many ocular gene therapies that primarily slow the progression of vision loss, Vedere Bio seeks to restore lost vision, regardless of the patient's genetic background or stage of their condition. As of September 2020, Vedere Bio operates as a subsidiary of Novartis AG.

ElevateBio

Series C in 2021
ElevateBio, LLC, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a holding company focused on the development of cell and gene-based therapies. Established in 2017, ElevateBio operates a portfolio of subsidiary companies that aim to create innovative treatments for cancer and viral infections. The company partners with leading scientists and inventors to foster its portfolio and has established a centralized facility designed to streamline the translation of research and development into commercially viable therapies. This integrated approach enables the efficient development, manufacturing, and commercialization of life-transforming medicines, ultimately helping to provide patients with effective treatments for severe diseases.
Syros Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative treatments for cancer and monogenic diseases through gene control medicines. The company is advancing its lead candidates, SY-1425, a selective retinoic acid receptor alpha agonist currently undergoing Phase II trials for specific patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, and SY-5609, a cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitor in Phase I trials for select advanced solid tumors. Syros employs a proprietary platform that integrates assay technologies, bioinformatics, and biological insights to map gene regulatory circuits and modulate gene expression, positioning itself as a leader in gene control research. Additionally, Syros has established collaborations, including a target discovery agreement with Incyte Corporation focused on myeloproliferative neoplasms, and a licensing agreement with TMRC Co. Ltd. for tamibarotene's development and commercialization. Founded in 2011, Syros Pharmaceuticals aims to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology and beyond.

A2 Biotherapeutics

Series B in 2020
A2 Biotherapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company located in Southern California that develops novel medicines for serious illnesses. We utilize an advanced targeting technology platform to increase the effectiveness of the body’s natural immune defenses.

Flame Biosciences

Venture Round in 2020
Flame Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in New York that specializes in the research, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies targeting cancer and inflammatory diseases. Established in 2017, the company is advancing its FL-101 therapy, designed to treat lung cancers associated with inflammation, and FL-201, aimed at alleviating chronic inflammation in patients. By leveraging the emerging field of inflammasome science, Flame Biosciences seeks to provide effective treatments that enhance the quality of life for individuals affected by serious health conditions.

Palladio Biosciences

Series B in 2020
Palladio Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing transformative medicines for orphan diseases of the kidney. Founded in 2015 and based in Horsham, Pennsylvania, the company is in the clinical stage and specializes in therapeutics aimed at renal diseases, particularly polycystic kidney disease (PKD). One of its key developments is Lixivaptan, a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist designed to treat PKD, a life-threatening genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. Palladio Biosciences aims to provide innovative treatment options that can help prevent the progression of kidney diseases.

Nura Bio

Series A in 2020
Nura Bio, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, discovers and develops neuroprotective drugs that prevent axon loss after acute injury/chronic degenerative disease. It offers SARM1, an axon-intrinsic metabolic sensor and regulator with putative immune function, playing a central role in axonal degeneration; and develops small molecule inhibitors of SARM1 for the treatment of peripheral, central, and ocular nervous system disorders. Nura Bio, Inc. was formerly known as Proneurotech, Inc. and changed its name to Nura Bio, Inc. in February 2020. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in South San Francisco, California.

Alpine Immune Sciences

Funding Round in 2020
Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Seattle, Washington, specializing in the discovery and development of protein-based immunotherapies aimed at treating cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory disorders. The company's lead programs include ALPN-101, an antagonist targeting the inducible T cell costimulator and CD28 pathways for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and ALPN-202, which combines programmed cell death protein ligand 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 antagonism with PD-L1 dependent CD28 costimulation for cancer treatment. Additionally, Alpine has a collaboration with Kite Pharma, Inc. to develop immunotherapies that target the immune synapse for cancer therapy. The company utilizes a proprietary platform to transform native immune system proteins into innovative, multi-targeted therapeutics.

ElevateBio

Series B in 2020
ElevateBio, LLC, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a holding company focused on the development of cell and gene-based therapies. Established in 2017, ElevateBio operates a portfolio of subsidiary companies that aim to create innovative treatments for cancer and viral infections. The company partners with leading scientists and inventors to foster its portfolio and has established a centralized facility designed to streamline the translation of research and development into commercially viable therapies. This integrated approach enables the efficient development, manufacturing, and commercialization of life-transforming medicines, ultimately helping to provide patients with effective treatments for 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.

A2 Biotherapeutics

Series A in 2019
A2 Biotherapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company located in Southern California that develops novel medicines for serious illnesses. We utilize an advanced targeting technology platform to increase the effectiveness of the body’s natural immune defenses.

MiroBio

Series A in 2019
MiroBio Ltd is a biotechnology company based in Oxford, United Kingdom, focused on developing antibody modulators for immune cell receptors aimed at treating autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2018, MiroBio leverages pioneering research from the University of Oxford to understand how immune cells communicate and are activated. This foundational knowledge allows the company to create innovative antibodies that stimulate specific immune cell signals, harnessing the body's natural control mechanisms to restore balance within the immune system. By activating these natural pathways, MiroBio's therapeutics aim to provide significant benefits to patients suffering from various autoimmune conditions, enabling clinicians to effectively manage overactive immune responses associated with these diseases.

AlloVir

Series B in 2019
AlloVir, Inc. is a clinical-stage cell therapy company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in the development of allogeneic, off-the-shelf multi-virus specific T cell (VST) therapies for viral-associated diseases. Its lead product, Viralym-M, targets several viruses including BK virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpesvirus 6. The company's pipeline also includes candidates for treating respiratory syncytial virus, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis B, and human herpesvirus-8. AlloVir's proprietary VST therapy platform aims to provide accessible treatment options for patients facing severe viral infections, addressing the pressing need for effective therapies in this area. Founded in 2013, AlloVir was previously known as ViraCyte, Inc. and rebranded in May 2019.

ElevateBio

Series A in 2019
ElevateBio, LLC, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a holding company focused on the development of cell and gene-based therapies. Established in 2017, ElevateBio operates a portfolio of subsidiary companies that aim to create innovative treatments for cancer and viral infections. The company partners with leading scientists and inventors to foster its portfolio and has established a centralized facility designed to streamline the translation of research and development into commercially viable therapies. This integrated approach enables the efficient development, manufacturing, and commercialization of life-transforming medicines, ultimately helping to provide patients with effective treatments for severe diseases.

Sutro Biopharma

Series E in 2018
Sutro Biopharma is a clinical stage drug discovery, development, and manufacturing company. It is mainly engaged in the development of biopharmaceutical products. The company manufactures next-generation protein therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune disorders through its proprietary integrated cell-free protein synthesis platform, XpressCF. Products offered by the company include STRO-001 for patients with multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and STRO-002 for the treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Levo Therapeutics

Series A in 2017
Levo Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for Prader-Willi Syndrome and related disorders. Founded in 2014 and located in Skokie, Illinois, the company is known for its therapeutic program LV-101, which specifically targets hyperphagia and behavioral issues associated with Prader-Willi syndrome. Levo Therapeutics employs genetic insights to enhance its research and development efforts, aiming to provide effective solutions for this multisystem neurodevelopmental disorder and improve the lives of affected patients.
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