Mission BioCapital

D2B3 is a biotechnology startup focused on developing innovative drug delivery technologies for the brain and central nervous system. The company operates a pre-clinical platform that temporarily and selectively opens the blood-brain barrier, allowing for targeted and effective treatment of central nervous system diseases. Its proprietary technology is versatile and can be applied to various drugs and therapeutic classes, providing a plug-and-play approach.

SiteOne Therapeutics is a San Francisco-based company developing innovative therapeutics and diagnostics for acute and chronic pain. Their lead candidates are selective inhibitors of the Naᵥ1.7 ion channel, aiming to treat pain safely and effectively without relying on NSAIDs or opioids.

Nuvig Therapeutics focuses on developing innovative therapies aimed at restoring immune homeostasis and rebalancing immune function. The company is dedicated to creating a pipeline of novel immune therapeutics specifically targeting chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. By harnessing natural mechanisms to modulate immune responses, Nuvig seeks to enhance treatment options for patients, ultimately improving their health outcomes.

Bullseye Bio is a biotechnology company specializing in drug discovery services. It operates a therapeutics discovery platform designed to generate scalable data for machine learning, with a focus on unlocking the therapeutic potential of intracellular protein-protein interactions. The company's pipeline includes treatments for cardiometabolic, inflammation, and oncology indications, aiming to provide life-saving therapies for high-need conditions.

Babylon Biosciences is a biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing small-molecule therapeutics to treat Alzheimer's disease. Its proprietary platform facilitates the identification and advancement of these therapeutics, aiming to alleviate the burden of nerve and brain-related diseases.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Nocion Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies called 'nocions' that selectively target actively firing nociceptors to provide relief for serious conditions such as cough, itch, pain, and inflammation.

Aperture Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing novel therapies for age-related neurodegenerative diseases. It employs a distinctive drug discovery platform that leverages the genetic diversity of patients to identify new disease pathways and drug targets. Currently in the pre-clinical stage, the company operates from a lab incubator, integrating insights from neuroscience and immunology to advance its research. Aperture Therapeutics' approach centers on the significance of genetic diversity in the discovery process, aiming to create more effective treatments for neurodegeneration and neuroimmunology conditions.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Integrated Biosciences focuses on developing innovative therapeutics aimed at combating age-related diseases. Founded on research from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and UCSB, the company has made significant strides in the field, including the first AI-driven discovery of anti-aging drug candidates and the introduction of a novel structural class of antibiotics in six decades. By leveraging synthetic biology and machine learning, Integrated Biosciences seeks to control cellular stress responses, facilitating advancements in cellular rejuvenation and empowering medical professionals with next-generation treatment options.

Dren Bio is a biotechnology company that specializes in protein engineering technologies aimed at depleting pathogenic cells, protein aggregates, and other disease-causing agents. The company operates under a holding business model, developing a diverse portfolio of projects that function as stand-alone assets. Dren Bio's platform is designed to address a range of health conditions, including hematologic neoplasms, solid tumors, autoimmune disorders, and diseases associated with protein aggregation. By focusing on innovative protein-based technologies, Dren Bio enables healthcare professionals to manage and treat various serious diseases more effectively.

Nuvig Therapeutics focuses on developing innovative therapies aimed at restoring immune homeostasis and rebalancing immune function. The company is dedicated to creating a pipeline of novel immune therapeutics specifically targeting chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. By harnessing natural mechanisms to modulate immune responses, Nuvig seeks to enhance treatment options for patients, ultimately improving their health outcomes.

Arkuda Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative treatments for patients with neurological diseases. The company utilizes new insights into progranulin and lysosomal biology to create therapies that aim to correct progranulin deficiency and address lysosomal dysfunction, particularly in genetically-defined frontotemporal dementia associated with mutations in the GRN gene. By targeting these underlying biological mechanisms, Arkuda's lead compounds are designed to improve cellular health in the brain, potentially delaying the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and the onset of their symptoms.

Ambagon Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics for cancer treatment. The company specializes in research aimed at stabilizing the interactions of oncogenic proteins, which are often difficult to modulate with traditional methods. By selectively enhancing the activity of tumor-suppressing proteins associated with transcription factors and oncoproteins, Ambagon aims to provide new therapeutic options for addressing significant unmet clinical needs in oncology. Founded by Christian Ottmann, Lucas Brunsveld, and Michelle Arkin, the company is dedicated to advancing innovative solutions in cancer care.

Asher Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California, founded in 2019. The company specializes in the development of immunotherapy drugs aimed at effectively treating cancer. Its innovative therapies are designed to enhance the immune system's ability to target and eliminate cancer cells while minimizing side effects. This focus allows healthcare providers to deliver effective treatments to patients in a shorter timeframe, aiming to improve overall outcomes in cancer care.

Glycomine, Inc. is a biotech company based in San Carlos, California, focused on developing nanomedicines for rare genetic disorders, particularly those related to protein and lipid glycosylation. Founded in 2014, the company addresses the significant unmet medical needs of patients suffering from rare diseases, of which approximately 7,000 exist globally, with a majority lacking FDA-approved treatments. Glycomine specializes in creating replacement therapies that combine substrates, enzymes, and proteins with advanced bio-nano materials. These therapeutics are designed to facilitate the targeted delivery of treatment to clinically relevant organs, thereby enhancing the efficacy of care for conditions characterized by metabolic disorders and protein misfolding.

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.

Dren Bio is a biotechnology company that specializes in protein engineering technologies aimed at depleting pathogenic cells, protein aggregates, and other disease-causing agents. The company operates under a holding business model, developing a diverse portfolio of projects that function as stand-alone assets. Dren Bio's platform is designed to address a range of health conditions, including hematologic neoplasms, solid tumors, autoimmune disorders, and diseases associated with protein aggregation. By focusing on innovative protein-based technologies, Dren Bio enables healthcare professionals to manage and treat various serious diseases more effectively.

Totient Inc. is an AI-driven biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 2016. The company specializes in using advanced machine learning and immunoinformatics to analyze complex datasets in the field of drug discovery and development. It focuses on identifying novel tissue-specific antigens and reconstructing high-affinity antibody therapeutics from tissues impacted by cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infections. By leveraging its platform's unique capabilities, Totient aims to quickly and accurately identify potent antibody candidates suitable for a variety of therapeutic applications, including cell therapies and bispecific antibodies. This innovative approach positions the company to address significant medical challenges in multiple areas of healthcare.

Pandion Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Watertown, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative therapeutics for patients with autoimmune diseases. The company’s lead product candidate, PT101, is an engineered interleukin-2 variant currently undergoing Phase 1a clinical trials for various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, including moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition to PT101, Pandion's pipeline includes PT627, a systemic PD-1 agonist in preclinical studies, and two bifunctional molecules, PT001 and PT002, designed to provide tissue-selective immunomodulation by targeting specific adhesion molecules in the gastrointestinal tract. Pandion employs a network-based approach to immune system conceptualization through its TALON drug design platform and collaborates with Astellas Pharma to develop locally acting immunomodulators for pancreatic autoimmune diseases. The company aims to create a new generation of therapeutics that offer enhanced efficacy and safety for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Arkuda Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing innovative treatments for patients with neurological diseases. The company utilizes new insights into progranulin and lysosomal biology to create therapies that aim to correct progranulin deficiency and address lysosomal dysfunction, particularly in genetically-defined frontotemporal dementia associated with mutations in the GRN gene. By targeting these underlying biological mechanisms, Arkuda's lead compounds are designed to improve cellular health in the brain, potentially delaying the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and the onset of their symptoms.

Glycomine, Inc. is a biotech company based in San Carlos, California, focused on developing nanomedicines for rare genetic disorders, particularly those related to protein and lipid glycosylation. Founded in 2014, the company addresses the significant unmet medical needs of patients suffering from rare diseases, of which approximately 7,000 exist globally, with a majority lacking FDA-approved treatments. Glycomine specializes in creating replacement therapies that combine substrates, enzymes, and proteins with advanced bio-nano materials. These therapeutics are designed to facilitate the targeted delivery of treatment to clinically relevant organs, thereby enhancing the efficacy of care for conditions characterized by metabolic disorders and protein misfolding.

Vaxess Technologies is a biotechnology company focused on silk biomaterial platforms for vaccine and therapeutic delivery. It develops the MIMIX microneedle patch for transdermal, sustained-release delivery of vaccines and therapies, designed to improve stability and ease of use, including formulations that do not require cold chain storage. The MATRIX formulation and drying platform supports thermostable vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic products. The company aims to enable long-term immune responses and easier distribution, including in low-resource settings. Its technology supports oncology and infectious disease applications, including therapies that promote durable anti-tumor immunity and improved treatment outcomes. Founded in 2011 and based in Boston, the company positions its platforms to enable stable, targeted delivery and potentially reduce treatment burden for patients.

Comet Therapeutics, established in 2018 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializes in developing novel small-molecule treatments for various diseases, with a focus on orphan neurological disorders. The company's core technology is its CoEnzyme metabolism platform, which aims to restore dysregulated CoEnzyme A metabolism, thereby addressing significant unmet medical needs in these areas.

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.

Nocion Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies called 'nocions' that selectively target actively firing nociceptors to provide relief for serious conditions such as cough, itch, pain, and inflammation.

Telo Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative cancer therapeutics aimed at reversing cancer cell immortality. The company employs a precision medicine approach to target telomerase, an enzyme that cancer cells utilize during the immortalization process. By inhibiting this enzyme, Telo Therapeutics seeks to leave healthy cells unscathed while improving treatment outcomes for patients who have exhausted other options. Through its unique platform, the company aspires to enhance survival and well-being in cancer patients, ultimately contributing to more effective treatment strategies and potential cures for various forms of cancer.

Founded in 2008, Photoswitch Biosciences develops innovative tools for drug discovery and safety pharmacology. The company specializes in creating assay systems that enable precise control over ion channel function, facilitating the identification and testing of new drug candidates.

Principia Biopharma Inc. is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in South San Francisco, California, focused on developing innovative therapies for immune-mediated diseases. The company's lead product, rilzabrutinib, is an inhibitor undergoing Phase III clinical trials for pemphigus and pemphigus foliaceus, as well as Phase 1/2 trials for immune thrombocytopenia and Phase 2 trials for IgG4-related disease. Additionally, Principia is developing PRN2246/SAR442168, which is in Phase II for multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system conditions, alongside PRN473, a drug candidate in Phase I trials for immune-mediated diseases. Principia Biopharma maintains a collaboration agreement with Genzyme Corporation for the development of treatments for MS and other CNS diseases. Originally incorporated in 2008, the company is dedicated to addressing significant unmet medical needs in immunology and oncology through its innovative drug development platform.

Alector, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company utilizes advanced antibody technology and insights from neuroimmunology and human genetics to create innovative treatments. Alector’s pipeline includes several candidates, such as AL001, which is undergoing phase II clinical trials for frontotemporal dementia, and AL101, currently in phase I trials for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Additionally, AL002 and AL003 are in phase 1b trials for Alzheimer’s disease. The company is actively engaged in research and development, with a total of ten programs at various stages. Alector has formed a strategic collaboration with Adimab, LLC to enhance its antibody research and development capabilities, aiming to efficiently generate and validate antibody drugs that target key disease-related mechanisms.

Cereius, Inc. is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company based in Durham, North Carolina, focused on developing innovative small-molecule therapies for brain metastasis, particularly in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Incorporated in 2017, the company specializes in novel radiolabeling chemistries that enhance the uptake and retention of radionuclides in targeted tumors while reducing the absorption in healthy tissues. This approach significantly improves both the therapeutic index and the diagnostic contrast of targeting agents, enabling medical practitioners to more effectively treat solid tumor brain metastasis and potentially improve patient survival rates.

ViewPoint Therapeutics, founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, specializes in developing treatments for diseases caused by protein misfolding. Its primary focus is on age-related cataracts, a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The company's innovative approach involves creating crystallin stabilizers, including a small molecule active in preclinical models of cataracts. These stabilizers aim to prevent or reverse protein misfolding, which underlies various common disorders associated with aging. ViewPoint Therapeutics is committed to advancing its pipeline to deliver effective therapies for these conditions.

Avexegen Therapeutics Inc. is a development stage biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, founded in 2014. The company specializes in creating innovative therapies aimed at healing damaged and inflamed gut tissue in patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorders, particularly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, Avexegen focuses on addressing needs in premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis. By employing a novel approach to treatment, Avexegen aims to improve the long-term health outcomes of patients with these serious conditions.

True North Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California, founded in 2013 as a spin-out of iPierian. The company focuses on developing therapies that target the classical pathway of the immune system's complement system to address rare diseases with high unmet clinical needs. Its lead product, TNT009, is a monoclonal antibody designed to selectively inhibit the classical complement pathway, aiming to treat conditions such as cold agglutinin disease, warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, antibody-mediated rejection, bullous pemphigoid, and other rare diseases in hematologic, kidney transplant, dermatology, and neurological spaces. True North Therapeutics was acquired by Bioverativ Inc.

Epiodyne, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California, focused on developing innovative drugs derived from novel chemical matter and targeting delta opioid receptors. Founded in 2016, the company employs quantitative pharmacological and behavioral methodologies to translate its research insights into new therapeutic options. Epiodyne specializes in creating analgesics aimed at addressing neurobehavioral symptoms associated with brain disorders. By targeting the brain's opioid peptide system, Epiodyne seeks to restore the function of the brain's reward system, providing effective treatments for conditions such as compulsivity, self-injury, and addiction.

Mitokinin, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in New York, focused on developing small molecule therapeutics aimed at treating neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease. The company specializes in medicinal chemistry to create kinetin analogs that optimize the activation of PINK1, a protein involved in cellular health. Mitokinin's compounds are designed to enhance the activity of active-form PINK1 without interfering with its natural regulation. Founded in 2017, the company comprises a team of neuroscientists, chemists, and pharmacologists dedicated to advancing disease-modifying therapies in the healthcare sector.

Atreca is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops antibody-based immunotherapeutics for various solid tumor types. Its lead product candidate, ATRC-101, is a monoclonal antibody with a novel mechanism of action and target derived from its proprietary discovery platform.

eFFECTOR Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, that specializes in the development of selective translation regulators for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. Founded in 2012, the company is pioneering a new class of oncology drugs known as selective translation regulator inhibitors (STRIs). These drug candidates specifically target the eIF4F complex and its associated kinase, MNK 1/2, which play critical roles in protein synthesis and are linked to prominent cancer signaling pathways such as PI3K-AKT and RAS-MEK. eFFECTOR's products aim to inhibit pathways that drive tumor growth, survival, and immune evasion by regulating the expression of oncoproteins and immunosuppressive proteins. The lead candidate, tomivosertib, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b trial for non-small cell lung cancer in combination with pembrolizumab. Additionally, zotatifin, an inhibitor of eIF4A, is undergoing dose-escalation in a Phase 1/2 trial, with further expansion cohorts anticipated. The company also collaborates with Pfizer to advance inhibitors targeting eIF4E.

Founded in 2014, Vivace Therapeutics is a biotechnology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It focuses on discovering and developing cancer therapeutics by targeting novel pathways, with a particular emphasis on the Hippo pathway which controls tissue regeneration and organ size.

Redwood Bioscience is a biotechnology company focused on precision protein-chemical engineering to develop optimized biotherapeutics. Established in 2008 and based in Emeryville, California, the company specializes in site-specific modification technology, which addresses the challenges of conjugating biologics with synthetic molecules. This innovative approach enables the creation of homogeneous hybrid biotherapeutics, enhancing the effectiveness of treatments. Redwood Bioscience's methods for optimizing drug conjugates leverage the binding specificity and extended half-life of biologic carriers while incorporating the potency advantages of small molecules and synthetic peptides, positioning the company at the forefront of advancements in antibody-drug conjugates and semi-synthetic biotherapeutics.

Symic Biomedical is a biotechnology company based in San Francisco, California, focusing on developing matrix regulator therapeutics. These therapeutics are designed to target and bind to specific sites within the body's extracellular matrix that have been damaged due to injury or disease. By inhibiting pathological inflammatory responses, Symic Biomedical aims to address conditions such as fibrosis, oncology, and diseases of the central nervous system. The company was incorporated in 2012 and operates as a subsidiary of Symic Holdings, LLC.

Circle Pharma, Inc. is an early-stage biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California, founded in 2012 by Matt Jacobson and Scott Lokey. The company specializes in developing cell-permeable macrocyclic peptide therapeutics aimed at critical clinical targets. It employs proprietary computational design algorithms and innovative synthetic chemistry to create first-in-class macrocycle therapies that can be administered through various routes, including oral delivery. Circle Pharma's platform utilizes structure-based rational drug design and an iterative process to generate large virtual libraries of diverse macrocycle scaffolds, which are selected for their permeability. This approach enables the company to address challenging targets, particularly in the context of intracellular protein-protein interactions that play a significant role in cancer, thereby fulfilling unmet clinical needs. The company is led by David J. Earp.

SiteOne Therapeutics is a San Francisco-based company developing innovative therapeutics and diagnostics for acute and chronic pain. Their lead candidates are selective inhibitors of the Naᵥ1.7 ion channel, aiming to treat pain safely and effectively without relying on NSAIDs or opioids.