Israel Biotech Fund

Vensica Medical develops an ultrasound-based drug delivery system for treating urinary bladder cancer. Its device improves drug uptake and penetration into the bladder wall, aiming to enhance treatment efficiency and reduce recurrence rates.

Nectin Therapeutics Ltd. is a biotechnology company founded in 2017 and based in Jerusalem, Israel. The company specializes in the development of novel monoclonal antibodies that target members of the Nectin family of receptors and ligands, which play significant roles in immune checkpoint mechanisms relevant to cancer immunotherapy. Nectin Therapeutics focuses on creating therapies for both solid and hematological malignancies by designing antibodies that can bypass the inhibitory pathways used by tumors, thereby enhancing the ability of immune cells to effectively eliminate cancer cells. Through its innovative approach, the company aims to improve patient outcomes in the fight against cancer.

MediWound Ltd. is an integrated biopharmaceutical company based in Yavne, Israel, that specializes in developing, manufacturing, and commercializing innovative therapeutic products for severe burns and chronic wounds. Founded in 2000, the company is known for its flagship product, NexoBrid, which is an FDA-approved biopharmaceutical designed for the removal of eschar in adults with deep partial- and full-thickness thermal burns, offering a less invasive alternative to surgical interventions. MediWound also advances other product candidates, including EscharEx, which has completed Phase II clinical trials for the debridement of chronic and hard-to-heal wounds, and MWPC003 for connective tissue disorders. The company aims to address significant unmet medical needs in these areas and improve patient outcomes.

Vensica Medical develops an ultrasound-based drug delivery system for treating urinary bladder cancer. Its device improves drug uptake and penetration into the bladder wall, aiming to enhance treatment efficiency and reduce recurrence rates.

Splisense is develops antisense oligonucleotide based therapies to target genetic diseases caused by splicing mutations. The company has developed a compound to cure the lung disease in cystic fibrosis patients carrying a specific splicing mutation. It is also developing a targeted modulation approach to correct the splicing pattern of CFTR transcripts according to the specific mutation carried.

BioSight Ltd., established in 1999 and headquartered in Lod, Israel, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative cancer-targeted pro-drugs. It focuses on creating non-toxic conjugates like its cytarabine-asparagine conjugate for treating acute myeloid leukemia patients worldwide. BioSight's proprietary technology, S2DOT™, enables targeted drug release inside cancer cells, minimizing systemic toxicity compared to conventional chemotherapy treatments.

BioSight Ltd., established in 1999 and headquartered in Lod, Israel, is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative cancer-targeted pro-drugs. It focuses on creating non-toxic conjugates like its cytarabine-asparagine conjugate for treating acute myeloid leukemia patients worldwide. BioSight's proprietary technology, S2DOT™, enables targeted drug release inside cancer cells, minimizing systemic toxicity compared to conventional chemotherapy treatments.

Ayala Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics for patients with rare and aggressive cancers, using a bioinformatics platform and next-generation sequencing to identify tumorigenic drivers and guide targeted therapies. The company is developing AL101, an intravenous gamma secretase inhibitor for Notch-activating tumors such as adenoid cystic carcinoma, which is in Phase II, and AL102, an oral gamma secretase inhibitor for desmoid tumors, in Phase I. Ayala has a collaboration with Novartis to advance AL102 for multiple myeloma. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Rehovot, Israel.

Biond Biologics Ltd is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Misgav, Israel, specializing in drug discovery and development for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2016, Biond is focused on creating innovative therapies that address significant unmet medical needs. The company engages in extensive research to uncover immunoregulatory pathways and investigates immune checkpoints and immune-evasion mechanisms. Biond has developed a novel platform that targets intracellular immune factors, enabling the delivery of therapies for conditions previously considered undruggable. Through its commitment to high-quality science and innovation, Biond aims to advance the field of cancer immunotherapy and improve treatment options for patients.

Ayala Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics for patients with rare and aggressive cancers, using a bioinformatics platform and next-generation sequencing to identify tumorigenic drivers and guide targeted therapies. The company is developing AL101, an intravenous gamma secretase inhibitor for Notch-activating tumors such as adenoid cystic carcinoma, which is in Phase II, and AL102, an oral gamma secretase inhibitor for desmoid tumors, in Phase I. Ayala has a collaboration with Novartis to advance AL102 for multiple myeloma. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Rehovot, Israel.

Gamida Cell Ltd., established in 1998 and headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing advanced cell therapies to treat blood cancers and serious blood diseases. The company's lead product candidate, omidubicel, is an expanded hematopoietic stem cell therapy derived from umbilical cord blood, currently in Phase 3 studies for patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies and severe aplastic anemia. Additionally, Gamida Cell is developing GDA-201, a natural killer cell-based cancer immunotherapy, which is in Phase 1/2 trials for relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Both candidates leverage the company's proprietary expansion platform based on nicotinamide to enhance cell properties and therapeutic potential.

Pharma Two B develops clinically differentiated pharmaceutical products based on approved drugs. It specializes in fixed-dose combinations of two or more drugs, focusing on Parkinson's disease and cancer treatments. The company aims to enhance current treatment options by providing high clinical value and shorter regulatory pathways.

Vidac Pharma Ltd. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Jerusalem, Israel, focused on developing innovative therapies for oncologic and dermatologic diseases. The company is dedicated to discovering first-in-class medicines that address significant unmet medical needs, particularly in the areas of skin cancer and solid tumors. Vidac's lead product, VDA-1102, is an ointment currently in clinical development for treating actinic keratosis and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Additionally, the company is developing a second molecule, VDA-1275, which may have applications across various solid tumors. Vidac Pharma's unique approach targets the VDAC/HK2 system, which is specific to malignant cells, facilitating selective apoptosis of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, thus aiming to deliver effective and well-tolerated treatments.