GBS Venture Partners

Founded in 1996, GBS Venture Partners is a venture capital firm located in Elwood, Australia, that invests in early-stage businesses focused on human healthcare and biotechnology. The firm specializes in companies developing innovative products in areas such as human therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and health information technology, as well as sectors like animal therapeutics, agribusiness, food, and environmental technology. GBS aims to support the commercialization of these products, enhancing patient outcomes while generating financial returns for its investors. The firm engages with both private and public companies, investing at various stages of development, and counts major Australian superannuation funds among its investors.

Ben Gust

Partner

60 past transactions

Moximed

Series C in 2022
Moximed focuses on enhancing care for patients suffering from osteoarthritis, particularly through the MISHA Knee System. This system offers an outpatient treatment option for those who have not found relief from other therapies and are not candidates for knee replacement. The company aims to improve patients' quality of life by addressing their specific needs and challenges.

Moximed

Series B in 2016
Moximed focuses on enhancing care for patients suffering from osteoarthritis, particularly through the MISHA Knee System. This system offers an outpatient treatment option for those who have not found relief from other therapies and are not candidates for knee replacement. The company aims to improve patients' quality of life by addressing their specific needs and challenges.

Elastagen

Series B in 2016
Elastagen is a clinical stage medical company with an advanced pipeline of products based on the human protein tropoelastin, a pioneering medical biomaterial. Elastin is a critical component of tissues in the human body which require the ability to stretch and recoil, such as the skin, lungs, arteries, elastic ligaments. Elastagen has developed a synthetic version of the elastin protein which is identical to that naturally present in the human body. Elastagen’s platform technology has potential applications in a number of areas including skin rejuvenation, scar remodelling and tissue repair. Elastagen was founded following the acquisition of intellectual property rights to the elastin technology which was developed by Prof Weiss at the University of Sydney. The Company has since successfully attracted capital from a number of leading Australian and overseas life science venture capital groups. Elastagen’s operations have expanded from its Australian base to include production in Europe and clinical operations in the UK.

Moximed

Series B in 2015
Moximed focuses on enhancing care for patients suffering from osteoarthritis, particularly through the MISHA Knee System. This system offers an outpatient treatment option for those who have not found relief from other therapies and are not candidates for knee replacement. The company aims to improve patients' quality of life by addressing their specific needs and challenges.

Ivantis

Series B in 2014
Ivantis, Inc. is a company focused on developing an innovative treatment for Glaucoma. It is their goal to develop a less invasive, more effective option for the 60+ million people worldwide suffering from Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. As they successfully address this initial goal, it is then there intention to focus on innovative development for the treatment of other debilitating diseases within ophthalmology.

AirXpanders

Series E in 2014
AirXpanders they designs and manufactures medical devices to improve breast reconstruction.

Spinifex Pharmaceuticals

Series C in 2014
Spinifex is backed by a syndicate of experienced life science investors including Novo Ventures, Canaan Partners, GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed and UniQuest. Founded in 2005, Spinifex raised an initial AU$3.25 million in Series A fundraising and a total of AU$23.08 in Series B funding support the further development of EMA401. Spinifex raised a US$45 million in a Series C round led by Novo Ventures and including additional new investor Canaan Partners in 2014. Spinifex has a strong portfolio of intellectual property around its lead compound EMA01, follow on candidates and the use of AT2 receptor antagonists to treat both neuropathic & inflammatory pain and restore nerve conduction velocity deficits, including granted US, European, Japanese, Chinese, Australian and New Zealand patents.

Neurovance

Series A in 2014
Neurovance is a clinical-stage neuroscience company that discovered and developed centanafadine (CTN) to help adults and children with ADHD. Neurovance has been funded in a venture capital investment by Novartis Venture Fund, Venture Investors, Tekla Capital Management, GBS Venture Partners, State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), and Timothy J. Barberich. It was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ivantis

Series B in 2014
Ivantis, Inc. is a company focused on developing an innovative treatment for Glaucoma. It is their goal to develop a less invasive, more effective option for the 60+ million people worldwide suffering from Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. As they successfully address this initial goal, it is then there intention to focus on innovative development for the treatment of other debilitating diseases within ophthalmology.

AirXpanders

Series E in 2013
AirXpanders they designs and manufactures medical devices to improve breast reconstruction.

Hydrexia

Series B in 2013
Hydrexia is an Australian company that has successfully designed, built, and tested systems that stores hydrogen in solid form, based on a proprietary magnesium alloy.

Neurovance

Venture Round in 2012
Neurovance is a clinical-stage neuroscience company that discovered and developed centanafadine (CTN) to help adults and children with ADHD. Neurovance has been funded in a venture capital investment by Novartis Venture Fund, Venture Investors, Tekla Capital Management, GBS Venture Partners, State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), and Timothy J. Barberich. It was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Ocunexus Therapeutics

Series B in 2012
Ocunexus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops therapeutics for unmet clinical needs in ophthalmology. The company specializes in developing highly differentiated drug candidates based upon a novel mechanism of action called “Gap Junction Channel Modulation.” It has developed treatments for multiple front- and back-of-the-eye diseases and disorders that would potentially alter the standard of care. In addition, the company's technologies are expected to be transferable to other acute and chronic disease indications. Ocunexus is formerly known as CoDa Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of wound care therapeutics based on gap junction modulation. The company is based in San Diego, California.

Hatchtech

Venture Round in 2012
Hatchtech is an Australian company developing a locally developed proprietary technology platform that will enable the creation of a new generation of lowtoxicity pest control products. Specifically, the patented technology allows the complete blocking of pest species egg hatch through a novel mode of action. The technology has applicability for controlling ectoparasites and other egg laying pests of humans, animal, crops and the built environment.

AirXpanders

Series D in 2012
AirXpanders they designs and manufactures medical devices to improve breast reconstruction.

Uptake Medical

Series C in 2012
Uptake Medical develops innovative medical technologies for the treatment of lung diseases. Its first product, InterVapor™, is the first and only approach to endoscopic lung volume reduction for people with severe emphysema that uses the body’s natural healing process without leaving any foreign materials in the lung. In clinical studies, InterVapor has demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in breathing function, exercise capacity and quality of life.

Celladon

Venture Round in 2012
Celladon Corporation, a biotechnology company, develops and manufactures molecular therapies for the treatment of heart failure. Its products include SERCA2a, an enzyme that regulates calcium cycling and contractility in heart muscle cells; and MYDICAR, an enzyme replacement therapy for heart failure. Celladon was founded in 2000 and is based in La Jolla, California.

AirXpanders

Series D in 2012
AirXpanders they designs and manufactures medical devices to improve breast reconstruction.

Xenome

Venture Round in 2011
Xenome is a progressive Australian biotechnology company with a promising and distinctive technology platform targeting pain and inflammation. Xen2174, the Company's lead drug candidate is currently completing a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for cancer pain with evidence to date providing strong support that the trial endpoints will be successfully met. More substantive clinical trials for expanded indications are planned for 2008. In addition, the drug discovery platform from which Xen2174 emerged has inherent value due to its ability to repeatedly identify new lead medicinal compounds on the basis of its unique construction around Australian biodiversity. Specifically, Xenome has generated a unique expertise in peptide chemistry to translate the evolutionary advantages inherent in venom peptides into highly bioactive libraries of molecules that are of interest to global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Spinifex Pharmaceuticals

Series B in 2011
Spinifex is backed by a syndicate of experienced life science investors including Novo Ventures, Canaan Partners, GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed and UniQuest. Founded in 2005, Spinifex raised an initial AU$3.25 million in Series A fundraising and a total of AU$23.08 in Series B funding support the further development of EMA401. Spinifex raised a US$45 million in a Series C round led by Novo Ventures and including additional new investor Canaan Partners in 2014. Spinifex has a strong portfolio of intellectual property around its lead compound EMA01, follow on candidates and the use of AT2 receptor antagonists to treat both neuropathic & inflammatory pain and restore nerve conduction velocity deficits, including granted US, European, Japanese, Chinese, Australian and New Zealand patents.

Pathway Therapeutics

Series A in 2011
Pathway Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of best in class isoform selective inhibitors of PI3-kinase (PI3K) for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases in targeted patient populations most likely to benefit.

Ocunexus Therapeutics

Series B in 2011
Ocunexus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops therapeutics for unmet clinical needs in ophthalmology. The company specializes in developing highly differentiated drug candidates based upon a novel mechanism of action called “Gap Junction Channel Modulation.” It has developed treatments for multiple front- and back-of-the-eye diseases and disorders that would potentially alter the standard of care. In addition, the company's technologies are expected to be transferable to other acute and chronic disease indications. Ocunexus is formerly known as CoDa Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of wound care therapeutics based on gap junction modulation. The company is based in San Diego, California.

Euthymics Bioscience

Series A in 2011
Euthymics Bioscience, Inc. is a neuroscience-focused clinical-stage company developing next-generation treatments for depression. Euthymics’ initial focus is on patients who do not respond adequately to SSRIs. EB-1010 for depression is expected to improve efficacy and reduce the leading side effects associated with poor adherence to standard antidepressants including weight gain, sexual dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Euthymics is a private Delaware corporation with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Euthymics is developing products for central nervous system disorders of significant unmet medical need, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and, under a collaboration with the government, alcohol use disorder (AUD). According to the National Institutes of Health, MDD affects over 15 million American adults. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), approximately 18 million Americans have alcohol use disorder (either alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse).

AirXpanders

Series C in 2011
AirXpanders they designs and manufactures medical devices to improve breast reconstruction.

Hatchtech

Venture Round in 2010
Hatchtech is an Australian company developing a locally developed proprietary technology platform that will enable the creation of a new generation of lowtoxicity pest control products. Specifically, the patented technology allows the complete blocking of pest species egg hatch through a novel mode of action. The technology has applicability for controlling ectoparasites and other egg laying pests of humans, animal, crops and the built environment.

AIMEDICS

Venture Round in 2010
Aidmedics is a medical devices company that develops a device that identifies night-time hypoglycaemia to alert patients & care takers. It offers The HypoMon, an alarm system that identifies night-time hypos in children and young adults aged between 10 and 25 years with type 1 diabetes. It serves care takers, clients, and health professionals in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. AIMEDICS Pty Ltd was founded in 2001 and is based in Eveleigh, Australia with an additional office in Warwick, United Kingdom.

NeuroVista

Venture Round in 2010
NeuroVista Corporation is a medical device company pioneering new technologies for the management and treatment of epilepsy, a condition that affects roughly 3 million people in the United States. The defining characteristic of epilepsy is recurrent seizures that strike without warning. Symptoms may range from brief suspension of awareness, to loss of consciousness, to violent convulsions. Unlike other neurological conditions, such as stroke or Alzheimer's disease which tend to develop later in life, epilepsy often affects people in the prime of their lives, with the majority between 15 and 64 years of age.

Nuon Therapeutics

Venture Round in 2010
Nuon Therapeutics is focused on the development and commercialization of new therapies in inflammation and neurological diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuropathic pain.

Pathway Therapeutics

Series A in 2010
Pathway Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of best in class isoform selective inhibitors of PI3-kinase (PI3K) for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases in targeted patient populations most likely to benefit.

Euthymics Bioscience

Series A in 2010
Euthymics Bioscience, Inc. is a neuroscience-focused clinical-stage company developing next-generation treatments for depression. Euthymics’ initial focus is on patients who do not respond adequately to SSRIs. EB-1010 for depression is expected to improve efficacy and reduce the leading side effects associated with poor adherence to standard antidepressants including weight gain, sexual dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Euthymics is a private Delaware corporation with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Euthymics is developing products for central nervous system disorders of significant unmet medical need, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and, under a collaboration with the government, alcohol use disorder (AUD). According to the National Institutes of Health, MDD affects over 15 million American adults. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), approximately 18 million Americans have alcohol use disorder (either alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse).

Uptake Medical

Series B in 2010
Uptake Medical develops innovative medical technologies for the treatment of lung diseases. Its first product, InterVapor™, is the first and only approach to endoscopic lung volume reduction for people with severe emphysema that uses the body’s natural healing process without leaving any foreign materials in the lung. In clinical studies, InterVapor has demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in breathing function, exercise capacity and quality of life.

Viveve

Venture Round in 2010
Viveve is a women's sexual health company that develops non-surgical treatment for women's sexual health. It focuses on developing a Viveve procedure, a non-surgical treatment for women who have experienced vaginal looseness and loss of physical sensation that is common to women after vaginal childbirth. The company’s Viveve System is a radiofrequency device that uses low levels of energy to restore collagen fibers overstretched and damaged during vaginal childbirth. Viveve, Inc. was formerly known as TiVaMed, Inc. and changed its name to Viveve, Inc. in November 2009. The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Palo Alto, California.

AirXpanders

Series C in 2010
AirXpanders they designs and manufactures medical devices to improve breast reconstruction.

Xenome

Venture Round in 2010
Xenome is a progressive Australian biotechnology company with a promising and distinctive technology platform targeting pain and inflammation. Xen2174, the Company's lead drug candidate is currently completing a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for cancer pain with evidence to date providing strong support that the trial endpoints will be successfully met. More substantive clinical trials for expanded indications are planned for 2008. In addition, the drug discovery platform from which Xen2174 emerged has inherent value due to its ability to repeatedly identify new lead medicinal compounds on the basis of its unique construction around Australian biodiversity. Specifically, Xenome has generated a unique expertise in peptide chemistry to translate the evolutionary advantages inherent in venom peptides into highly bioactive libraries of molecules that are of interest to global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Nuon Therapeutics

Venture Round in 2010
Nuon Therapeutics is focused on the development and commercialization of new therapies in inflammation and neurological diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuropathic pain.

Nuwellis

Venture Round in 2010
Nuwellis is a medical device firm committed to improving the lives of individuals suffering from fluid overload via science, collaboration, and invention. The Nuwellis Aquadex SmartFlow System gently eliminates fluid from adult and children patients weighing.

Pathway Therapeutics

Series A in 2009
Pathway Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of best in class isoform selective inhibitors of PI3-kinase (PI3K) for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases in targeted patient populations most likely to benefit.

Applied Physiology

Series B in 2009
Founded in 2004, Applied Physiology develops and commercializes treatment guidance systems intended to transform the care of critically-ill patients. The company's main focus is on real-time circulation management with its Navigator™ product. Applied Physiology has offices in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Verva Pharmaceuticals

Venture Round in 2009
Verva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (“Verva”) was formed in December, 2007 by consolidation of key diabetes assets, discovery technologies and targets resident in Autogen Research Ltd. (formerly the diabetes-focused subsidiary of ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals) with those of obesity drug development company Adipogen Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd. The combined product portfolio, technologies and expertise provide a substantial opportunity for rapid clinical progress and growth in high-value markets with a significant unmet medical need. Verva operates in a completely virtual mode, managed by a CEO and Directors with extensive international product development and partnering experience. Verva’s founding research was undertaken at the Metabolic Research Unit of Deakin University in Geelong, Australia; a state-of-the-art facility providing access to key in vitro and in vivo models and capabilities. Verva has subsequently engaged expert scientists, clinicians, technical advisers and contract research organisations worldwide to implement the Company’s research and development strategy.

Humanigen

Series D in 2008
Humanigen is a biopharmaceutical company that uses its biologic capabilities and its proprietary platform technology to develop first-in-class human antibody therapeutics. It focuses on preventing the serious and potentially life-threatening side-effects associated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Its pipeline includes programs such as Lenzilumab, Ifabotuzumab, and HGen005.

Humanigen

Series D in 2008
Humanigen is a biopharmaceutical company that uses its biologic capabilities and its proprietary platform technology to develop first-in-class human antibody therapeutics. It focuses on preventing the serious and potentially life-threatening side-effects associated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Its pipeline includes programs such as Lenzilumab, Ifabotuzumab, and HGen005.

Peplin

Private Equity Round in 2008
Peplin is a development-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on advancing and commercializing medical dermatology products. The Company is developing PEP005 (ingenol mebutate) (PEP005), which is derived from Euphorbia peplus (E. peplus), a plant referred to as petty spurge or radium weed. Peplin’s lead product candidate, which is in Phase III clinical trials, is a patient-applied topical gel containing PEP005, a compound used for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK). Peplin’s other product candidate is a physician-applied topical gel for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma (superficial BCC), PEP005 Gel for BCC. The active compound in each product is a small molecule extracted and purified from the sap of E. peplus. On October 16, 2008, the Company acquired Neosil, Inc., a dermatology-focused company. Later on, Peplin, Inc. was acquired by LEO Pharma A/S.

Xenome

Venture Round in 2008
Xenome is a progressive Australian biotechnology company with a promising and distinctive technology platform targeting pain and inflammation. Xen2174, the Company's lead drug candidate is currently completing a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for cancer pain with evidence to date providing strong support that the trial endpoints will be successfully met. More substantive clinical trials for expanded indications are planned for 2008. In addition, the drug discovery platform from which Xen2174 emerged has inherent value due to its ability to repeatedly identify new lead medicinal compounds on the basis of its unique construction around Australian biodiversity. Specifically, Xenome has generated a unique expertise in peptide chemistry to translate the evolutionary advantages inherent in venom peptides into highly bioactive libraries of molecules that are of interest to global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Pathway Therapeutics

Series A in 2008
Pathway Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of best in class isoform selective inhibitors of PI3-kinase (PI3K) for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases in targeted patient populations most likely to benefit.

NovaSys

Venture Round in 2008
At NovaSys Health they value your participation as a contracted provider. Roughly 11,000 providers in this region and over 4,300 providers in Arkansas have contracted with NovaSys Health making it one of the largest health plans in Arkansas. They take pride in the relationships that they have cultivated with providers.

NOVASYS MEDICAL

Series D in 2008
$25 million in Series C preferred stock financing. The financing will be used to ramp up operations and prepare for sales and marketing in anticipation of the company commercializing its first product, the Novasys Micro-remodeling™ System. The system, which is designed to treat female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), has received the CE Mark for use in the European Union and is pending FDA marketing clearance for sale in the United States. Novasys Medical Inc is testing a new, non-incisional, transurethral treatment which requires no visualization of the treatment site (neither cystoscopy nor fluoroscopy), being guided by familiar balloon palpation (similar to a Foley catheter). In addition, the Novasys Micro-remodeling™ System incorporates numerous, automatic safety features making the treatment process very easy to learn and use. The treatment does not require general anesthesia and is performed in the outpatient or office setting. Not only is the treatment rapid (less than 10 minutes), but patients immediately return to virtually all activities. As there are no incisions, no wound care or dressing changes are required.

Nuon Therapeutics

Series A in 2007
Nuon Therapeutics is focused on the development and commercialization of new therapies in inflammation and neurological diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuropathic pain.

Phenomix

Series C in 2007
As of October 2010, Phenomix closed down as it was unable to find a partner to pay for is clinical trial bills after Forest Laboratories walked away. Phenomix is a drug discovery and development company building a portfolio of novel therapeutics for the treatment of major human diseases. Phenomix' lead clinical candidate, PHX1149, is a DPP4 inhibitor in phase 2 testing as a once daily oral treatment for type 2 diabetes. Phenomix' second program is directed at the treatment of hepatitis C through inhibition of the NS3/4A viral protease. Phenomix is based in San Diego, California.

Chemgenex Pharmaceuticals

Series A in 2007
ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Ltd, an integrated biopharmaceutical development company, engages in the discovery and the development of oncology drugs. The company's product candidates include omacetaxine mepesuccinate, an investigational small molecule agent that is in Phase 2/3 clinical trial for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, and is also in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome; and Quinamed, which is in Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer. It was formerly known as AGT Biosciences Limited and changed its name to ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Ltd in June 2004. The company was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Geelong, Australia.

Proacta

Series B in 2007
Proacta Inc. is a private, clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California. They are focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of cancer with the development of hypoxia-activated prodrugs that target cancer cells. Proacta was founded on intellectual property generated in New Zealand at the University of Auckland and in the United States at Stanford University. Proacta's patent family covers a series of hypoxia-activated prodrugs designed to treat cancer. Expansion of this portfolio is supported by ongoing research at The University of Auckland. PR610 is the lead compound from their pipeline of pro-drugs based on hypoxia-activated tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. These pro-drugs selectively release active tyrosine-kinase inhibitors within the low-oxygen (hypoxic) environment found in many solid tumors. By shifting the release of active drug away from normal tissues and into cancer tissues, these drugs are predicted to be more effective and less toxic than currently available therapies. To date, Proacta has raised $43 million in two private financings. Investors include Alta Partners, Clarus Ventures, Delphi Ventures, Endeavour Capital (New Zealand), GBS Venture Partners (Australia), Genentech, No 8 Ventures (New Zealand) and Roche.

Ocunexus Therapeutics

Series A in 2006
Ocunexus Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops therapeutics for unmet clinical needs in ophthalmology. The company specializes in developing highly differentiated drug candidates based upon a novel mechanism of action called “Gap Junction Channel Modulation.” It has developed treatments for multiple front- and back-of-the-eye diseases and disorders that would potentially alter the standard of care. In addition, the company's technologies are expected to be transferable to other acute and chronic disease indications. Ocunexus is formerly known as CoDa Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of wound care therapeutics based on gap junction modulation. The company is based in San Diego, California.

Proacta

Series A in 2006
Proacta Inc. is a private, clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California. They are focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of cancer with the development of hypoxia-activated prodrugs that target cancer cells. Proacta was founded on intellectual property generated in New Zealand at the University of Auckland and in the United States at Stanford University. Proacta's patent family covers a series of hypoxia-activated prodrugs designed to treat cancer. Expansion of this portfolio is supported by ongoing research at The University of Auckland. PR610 is the lead compound from their pipeline of pro-drugs based on hypoxia-activated tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. These pro-drugs selectively release active tyrosine-kinase inhibitors within the low-oxygen (hypoxic) environment found in many solid tumors. By shifting the release of active drug away from normal tissues and into cancer tissues, these drugs are predicted to be more effective and less toxic than currently available therapies. To date, Proacta has raised $43 million in two private financings. Investors include Alta Partners, Clarus Ventures, Delphi Ventures, Endeavour Capital (New Zealand), GBS Venture Partners (Australia), Genentech, No 8 Ventures (New Zealand) and Roche.

Uptake Medical

Series A in 2006
Uptake Medical develops innovative medical technologies for the treatment of lung diseases. Its first product, InterVapor™, is the first and only approach to endoscopic lung volume reduction for people with severe emphysema that uses the body’s natural healing process without leaving any foreign materials in the lung. In clinical studies, InterVapor has demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in breathing function, exercise capacity and quality of life.

OPAL Therapeutics

Series A in 2005
OPAL Therapeutics Pty Limited operates as an immunotherapy development company in Australia. It develops therapies for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis C, and chronic infection. OPAL Therapeutics Pty Limited was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Melbourne, Australia.

Spinifex Pharmaceuticals

Series A in 2005
Spinifex is backed by a syndicate of experienced life science investors including Novo Ventures, Canaan Partners, GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed and UniQuest. Founded in 2005, Spinifex raised an initial AU$3.25 million in Series A fundraising and a total of AU$23.08 in Series B funding support the further development of EMA401. Spinifex raised a US$45 million in a Series C round led by Novo Ventures and including additional new investor Canaan Partners in 2014. Spinifex has a strong portfolio of intellectual property around its lead compound EMA01, follow on candidates and the use of AT2 receptor antagonists to treat both neuropathic & inflammatory pain and restore nerve conduction velocity deficits, including granted US, European, Japanese, Chinese, Australian and New Zealand patents.

Hatchtech

Venture Round in 2005
Hatchtech is an Australian company developing a locally developed proprietary technology platform that will enable the creation of a new generation of lowtoxicity pest control products. Specifically, the patented technology allows the complete blocking of pest species egg hatch through a novel mode of action. The technology has applicability for controlling ectoparasites and other egg laying pests of humans, animal, crops and the built environment.

Humanigen

Series B in 2005
Humanigen is a biopharmaceutical company that uses its biologic capabilities and its proprietary platform technology to develop first-in-class human antibody therapeutics. It focuses on preventing the serious and potentially life-threatening side-effects associated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Its pipeline includes programs such as Lenzilumab, Ifabotuzumab, and HGen005.

Proacta

Series A in 2004
Proacta Inc. is a private, clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California. They are focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of cancer with the development of hypoxia-activated prodrugs that target cancer cells. Proacta was founded on intellectual property generated in New Zealand at the University of Auckland and in the United States at Stanford University. Proacta's patent family covers a series of hypoxia-activated prodrugs designed to treat cancer. Expansion of this portfolio is supported by ongoing research at The University of Auckland. PR610 is the lead compound from their pipeline of pro-drugs based on hypoxia-activated tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. These pro-drugs selectively release active tyrosine-kinase inhibitors within the low-oxygen (hypoxic) environment found in many solid tumors. By shifting the release of active drug away from normal tissues and into cancer tissues, these drugs are predicted to be more effective and less toxic than currently available therapies. To date, Proacta has raised $43 million in two private financings. Investors include Alta Partners, Clarus Ventures, Delphi Ventures, Endeavour Capital (New Zealand), GBS Venture Partners (Australia), Genentech, No 8 Ventures (New Zealand) and Roche.

NOVASYS MEDICAL

Series C in 2004
$25 million in Series C preferred stock financing. The financing will be used to ramp up operations and prepare for sales and marketing in anticipation of the company commercializing its first product, the Novasys Micro-remodeling™ System. The system, which is designed to treat female stress urinary incontinence (SUI), has received the CE Mark for use in the European Union and is pending FDA marketing clearance for sale in the United States. Novasys Medical Inc is testing a new, non-incisional, transurethral treatment which requires no visualization of the treatment site (neither cystoscopy nor fluoroscopy), being guided by familiar balloon palpation (similar to a Foley catheter). In addition, the Novasys Micro-remodeling™ System incorporates numerous, automatic safety features making the treatment process very easy to learn and use. The treatment does not require general anesthesia and is performed in the outpatient or office setting. Not only is the treatment rapid (less than 10 minutes), but patients immediately return to virtually all activities. As there are no incisions, no wound care or dressing changes are required.

Phenomix

Series A in 2003
As of October 2010, Phenomix closed down as it was unable to find a partner to pay for is clinical trial bills after Forest Laboratories walked away. Phenomix is a drug discovery and development company building a portfolio of novel therapeutics for the treatment of major human diseases. Phenomix' lead clinical candidate, PHX1149, is a DPP4 inhibitor in phase 2 testing as a once daily oral treatment for type 2 diabetes. Phenomix' second program is directed at the treatment of hepatitis C through inhibition of the NS3/4A viral protease. Phenomix is based in San Diego, California.
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