MRL Ventures Fund, established in 2015 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is an independent venture capital investment group affiliated with Merck Research Laboratories, the research and development division of Merck & Co., Inc. The fund focuses on creating and investing in seed and early-stage therapeutics companies that are grounded in translatable breakthrough science. MRL Ventures aims to support the development of innovative medicines that can significantly enhance human health.
ATB Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that provides novel therapeutic solutions and treatments for cancer patients.
Axonis Therapeutics
Series A in 2024
Axonis Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for neurological disorders by targeting KCC2, a key mediator of inhibition in the brain. The company utilizes a proprietary discovery engine centered on the neuron-specific K-Cl cotransporter (KCC2) to address various conditions, including epilepsy and pain, as well as other central nervous system pathologies. By harnessing breakthrough research from institutions such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard, and Laval University, Axonis aims to enhance the lives of individuals affected by these disorders through improved modulation of neuronal inhibition.
Aktis Oncology
Series B in 2024
Aktis Oncology is a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of various solid tumor cancers. The company has created proprietary platforms that generate tumor-targeting agents optimized for alpha radiotherapy. These agents are engineered to achieve high penetration into tumors and prolonged residence time, allowing for effective tumor elimination while reducing side effects associated with treatment. Additionally, Aktis Oncology's innovative approach enables clinicians to visualize and confirm target engagement before administering therapeutic radioisotopes, enhancing the precision of cancer treatment.
Insamo
Seed Round in 2024
Insamo is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of membrane-permeable and orally available cyclic peptides, which possess antibody-like binding affinity. Utilizing an automated platform that integrates molecular biology and parallel synthetic chemistry, Insamo aims to rapidly identify preclinical candidates with favorable pharmacological properties. This innovative approach enables the potential replacement of traditional injected or infused biologics with more accessible oral formulations, thereby enhancing patient care. The company's automated design, synthesis, and testing processes allow for unprecedented scalability in the discovery of these therapeutic compounds.
Eyebiotech
Series A in 2023
Eyebiotech is a vision treatment company that develops products to preserve, repair, and improve eyesight. The firm guards against sight-threatening eye disorders and developed the first anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medication for patients with age-related macular degeneration, allowing those with eye ailments to regain their eyesight.
Ray Therapeutics
Series A in 2023
Ray Therapeutics is a company focused on developing innovative optogenetic gene therapies aimed at treating patients with blinding diseases. By creating technology that enhances the understanding of rare retinal conditions, the company strives to empower healthcare professionals to effectively diagnose, cure, and manage inherited retinal diseases. Through its commitment to advancing optogenetics, Ray Therapeutics seeks to improve the quality of life for those affected by these debilitating conditions.
Anavo Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2023
Anavo Therapeutics is pioneering the systematic drugging of phosphatases, a target area that has long been deemed undruggable. The company focuses on developing first-in-class therapeutic programs, particularly in oncology, leveraging its expertise in phosphatase-driven disease biology and drug discovery. Anavo aims to create a diverse pipeline of therapeutics across various indications by fostering strategic partnerships and collaborations. Through this innovative approach, Anavo seeks to unlock the potential of phosphatase-targeted allosteric modulators, advancing the field of targeted therapies in medicine.
Therini Bio
Series A in 2023
Therini Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing fibrin-targeting therapies aimed at treating inflammatory neurological and retinal diseases. The company leverages insights from research that highlights the role of fibrin in driving chronic innate immune activation, which is implicated in various human diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Currently, Therini Bio is working on therapeutics that aim to protect the nervous system from damage associated with conditions such as multiple sclerosis. By developing specialized antibodies for neuroinflammatory diseases linked to vascular dysfunction, the company seeks to provide healthcare providers with effective treatment options that can improve patient outcomes.
Carisma Therapeutics
Series C in 2022
Carisma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer and other serious diseases through its proprietary chimeric antigen receptor macrophage technology. The company focuses on engineering macrophages and monocytes, which are specialized white blood cells, to enhance their ability to infiltrate solid tumors and deliver potent cellular immunotherapy. By leveraging advanced cell engineering techniques, Carisma aims to provide effective treatments that enable patients with solid tumors to benefit from targeted and robust cancer therapies.
Photys Therapeutics
Series A in 2022
Photys Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing bifunctional small molecules that provide precise control over protein post-translational modifications. This innovative platform allows for the restoration of protein function, repair of cellular signaling pathways, and enhancement of the body's natural disease-fighting abilities. Co-founded by prominent chemist Amit Choudhary from the Broad Institute and the Longwood Fund, Photys is supported by a scientific advisory board that includes renowned experts from institutions such as MIT, Salk Institute, and Berkeley. The company's unique approach aims to advance therapeutic options in the healthcare industry, particularly by targeting kinases and potentially phosphatases, to address various diseases effectively.
Aktis Oncology
Series A in 2022
Aktis Oncology is a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of various solid tumor cancers. The company has created proprietary platforms that generate tumor-targeting agents optimized for alpha radiotherapy. These agents are engineered to achieve high penetration into tumors and prolonged residence time, allowing for effective tumor elimination while reducing side effects associated with treatment. Additionally, Aktis Oncology's innovative approach enables clinicians to visualize and confirm target engagement before administering therapeutic radioisotopes, enhancing the precision of cancer treatment.
LifeMine Therapeutics
Series C in 2022
LifeMine Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering new drug modalities from eukaryotic microbes, particularly fungi. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an additional office in New York, the company employs an integrated platform that combines genomics, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology. This innovative Avatar-Rx platform utilizes high-throughput microbiology, data science, machine learning, genome engineering, and automation to explore the fungal biosphere for novel genetically encoded molecules with specific biological functions. By integrating chemoinformatic-assisted drug optimization and advanced chemical synthesis with biotransformation, LifeMine Therapeutics aims to advance a pipeline of new medicines into development.
Eyebiotech
Series A in 2022
Eyebiotech is a vision treatment company that develops products to preserve, repair, and improve eyesight. The firm guards against sight-threatening eye disorders and developed the first anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medication for patients with age-related macular degeneration, allowing those with eye ailments to regain their eyesight.
Ambagon Therapeutics
Series A in 2022
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, thereby enhancing the activity of tumor-suppressing proteins. By targeting these proteins, AmbAgon Therapeutics seeks to address significant unmet clinical needs in oncology that conventional treatment methods have struggled to meet. Founded by Christian Ottmann, Lucas Brunsveld, and Michelle Arkin, the company aims to provide innovative solutions in cancer care through its unique approach to drug development.
Mozart Therapeutics
Series A in 2021
Mozart Therapeutics is a biotechnology startup dedicated to developing disease-modifying therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company focuses on a novel regulatory CD8 T cell network to create innovative CD8 Treg modulators aimed at treating a range of autoimmune conditions. By targeting a specific subset of T-lymphocytes, Mozart aims to restore long-term immune balance and prevent the progression of damage caused by autoreactive immune responses. Its pipeline includes first-in-class CD8 Treg modulators designed to delay the onset of autoimmune diseases and improve patient outcomes through advanced treatment options.
PAQ Therapeutics
Series A in 2021
PAQ Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on restoring health and curing diseases by harnessing autophagy, the body's natural process for cellular degradation. The company develops a novel class of small-molecule degraders using autophagosome-tethering compound technology. This innovative approach allows these compounds to bind a diverse array of substrates to the autophagy pathway, enabling healthcare providers to create effective treatments for serious diseases where traditional therapeutic options are often limited. Through its research and development efforts, PAQ Therapeutics aims to provide new solutions for patients in need of advanced medical therapies.
Therini Bio
Seed Round in 2021
Therini Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing fibrin-targeting therapies aimed at treating inflammatory neurological and retinal diseases. The company leverages insights from research that highlights the role of fibrin in driving chronic innate immune activation, which is implicated in various human diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Currently, Therini Bio is working on therapeutics that aim to protect the nervous system from damage associated with conditions such as multiple sclerosis. By developing specialized antibodies for neuroinflammatory diseases linked to vascular dysfunction, the company seeks to provide healthcare providers with effective treatment options that can improve patient outcomes.
Entrada Therapeutics
Series B in 2021
Entrada Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on treating diseases through the intracellular delivery of biologics. Founded in 2016, the company has developed innovative technologies that facilitate the efficient delivery of proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids, targeting intracellular sites that have traditionally been difficult to access. Entrada's approach includes Intracellular Enzyme Replacement Therapy (IC-ERT) and Endosomal Escape Vehicle (EEV) therapeutics, which aim to improve the therapeutic index by enabling the delivery of a wide range of therapeutics across various organs and tissues. The company's pipeline addresses conditions related to neuromuscular diseases and expands into additional therapeutic areas, positioning Entrada at the forefront of advancing treatment options for patients with devastating illnesses.
Carisma Therapeutics
Series B in 2021
Carisma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer and other serious diseases through its proprietary chimeric antigen receptor macrophage technology. The company focuses on engineering macrophages and monocytes, which are specialized white blood cells, to enhance their ability to infiltrate solid tumors and deliver potent cellular immunotherapy. By leveraging advanced cell engineering techniques, Carisma aims to provide effective treatments that enable patients with solid tumors to benefit from targeted and robust cancer therapies.
Xilio Therapeutics
Series C in 2021
Xilio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative immunotherapies to enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer. The company specializes in tumor-selective immunotherapies that leverage its proprietary technology to maximize the effectiveness of existing immuno-oncology treatments while minimizing side effects outside the tumor. Its lead product, XTX201, is designed to induce immune activity specifically within tumors, demonstrating improved antitumor efficacy. Xilio Therapeutics aims to deliver significant improvements in patient outcomes by utilizing its platform to create a pipeline of novel therapies, including tumor-activated cytokines, antibodies, and immune cell engagers, all targeted to optimize therapeutic effects within the tumor microenvironment. Founded in 2015 and based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company was previously known as Akrevia Therapeutics before rebranding in March 2020.
Carisma Therapeutics
Series B in 2021
Carisma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer and other serious diseases through its proprietary chimeric antigen receptor macrophage technology. The company focuses on engineering macrophages and monocytes, which are specialized white blood cells, to enhance their ability to infiltrate solid tumors and deliver potent cellular immunotherapy. By leveraging advanced cell engineering techniques, Carisma aims to provide effective treatments that enable patients with solid tumors to benefit from targeted and robust cancer therapies.
LifeMine Therapeutics
Series B in 2021
LifeMine Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering new drug modalities from eukaryotic microbes, particularly fungi. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an additional office in New York, the company employs an integrated platform that combines genomics, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology. This innovative Avatar-Rx platform utilizes high-throughput microbiology, data science, machine learning, genome engineering, and automation to explore the fungal biosphere for novel genetically encoded molecules with specific biological functions. By integrating chemoinformatic-assisted drug optimization and advanced chemical synthesis with biotransformation, LifeMine Therapeutics aims to advance a pipeline of new medicines into development.
Tallac Therapeutics
Series A in 2020
Tallac Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Burlingame, California, focused on developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer patients. Established in 2018, the company specializes in creating conjugates of antibodies combined with potent toll-like receptor agonists. This approach aims to activate the immune system in a targeted manner, enhancing both innate and adaptive immunity to effectively combat various solid tumor malignancies. By providing advanced treatment options, Tallac Therapeutics seeks to improve patient outcomes in the fight against cancer.
Imago BioSciences
Series C in 2020
Imago BioSciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Redwood City, California, that specializes in developing innovative medicines for hematologic diseases. Founded in 2012, the company focuses on therapeutics that target genetic and epigenetic factors, specifically through the inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), an enzyme crucial in blood cell production. Imago BioSciences aims to address significant medical challenges associated with conditions such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and other bone marrow disorders. Its lead product candidate, Bomedemstat, is an orally available small molecule designed to treat certain myeloproliferative neoplasms, with the goal of altering disease progression and improving the quality and longevity of patients' lives.
Lava Therapeutics
Series C in 2020
Lava Therapeutics B.V. is a biotechnology company based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, founded in 2016. The company specializes in developing proprietary bispecific antibodies aimed at engaging gamma-delta T cells for the treatment of both hematological and solid cancers. Its innovative platform, known as the Gammabody platform, is designed to create next-generation bispecific antibodies that activate the immune system to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. By harnessing the potential of γδ T cells, Lava Therapeutics aims to produce potent, safe, and cost-effective biopharmaceuticals that enhance the body's ability to combat cancer, thereby transforming the landscape of cancer treatment.
HotSpot Therapeutics
Series B in 2020
HotSpot Therapeutics is a biotechnology startup based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 2017. The company specializes in the development of allosteric therapies that target regulatory sites on proteins. Its innovative therapeutic platform is designed to identify hotspots and locate pathway treatments for cancer, metabolic disorders, and rare diseases. By leveraging a comprehensive database of hotspot structures and utilizing data science, HotSpot Therapeutics employs a multidisciplinary approach to drug discovery. This approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of treatments and improve patient outcomes across a range of conditions.
Xilio Therapeutics
Series B in 2020
Xilio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative immunotherapies to enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer. The company specializes in tumor-selective immunotherapies that leverage its proprietary technology to maximize the effectiveness of existing immuno-oncology treatments while minimizing side effects outside the tumor. Its lead product, XTX201, is designed to induce immune activity specifically within tumors, demonstrating improved antitumor efficacy. Xilio Therapeutics aims to deliver significant improvements in patient outcomes by utilizing its platform to create a pipeline of novel therapies, including tumor-activated cytokines, antibodies, and immune cell engagers, all targeted to optimize therapeutic effects within the tumor microenvironment. Founded in 2015 and based in Waltham, Massachusetts, the company was previously known as Akrevia Therapeutics before rebranding in March 2020.
Caraway Therapeutics
Venture Round in 2020
Caraway Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases through the modulation of mitophagy and autophagy. By targeting genetically defined pathways, the company aims to create small molecules that restore cellular balance and address the underlying mechanisms of diseases such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Caraway Therapeutics seeks to improve the lives of patients affected by these debilitating conditions by leveraging its expertise in cellular degradation processes. The company was previously known as Rheostat Therapeutics, Inc. before rebranding in October 2019.
LabCentral
Corporate Round in 2019
LabCentral is a provider of business incubation and acceleration services aimed at supporting startup entrepreneurs in the life sciences sector. It offers essential resources such as mentorship, coaching, and collaborative workspaces to facilitate the growth of emerging companies. Additionally, LabCentral organizes promotional events that connect entrepreneurs with potential investors, fostering opportunities for funding and business development. The facility has attracted companies like Conkwest, Inc., which focuses on developing novel cell-based treatments for cancer and viral infections. Through its comprehensive support system, LabCentral plays a vital role in nurturing innovation and advancing research in the biotech field.
Imago BioSciences
Series B in 2019
Imago BioSciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Redwood City, California, that specializes in developing innovative medicines for hematologic diseases. Founded in 2012, the company focuses on therapeutics that target genetic and epigenetic factors, specifically through the inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), an enzyme crucial in blood cell production. Imago BioSciences aims to address significant medical challenges associated with conditions such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and other bone marrow disorders. Its lead product candidate, Bomedemstat, is an orally available small molecule designed to treat certain myeloproliferative neoplasms, with the goal of altering disease progression and improving the quality and longevity of patients' lives.
Entrada Therapeutics
Series A in 2018
Entrada Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on treating diseases through the intracellular delivery of biologics. Founded in 2016, the company has developed innovative technologies that facilitate the efficient delivery of proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids, targeting intracellular sites that have traditionally been difficult to access. Entrada's approach includes Intracellular Enzyme Replacement Therapy (IC-ERT) and Endosomal Escape Vehicle (EEV) therapeutics, which aim to improve the therapeutic index by enabling the delivery of a wide range of therapeutics across various organs and tissues. The company's pipeline addresses conditions related to neuromuscular diseases and expands into additional therapeutic areas, positioning Entrada at the forefront of advancing treatment options for patients with devastating illnesses.
Caraway Therapeutics
Series A in 2018
Caraway Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases through the modulation of mitophagy and autophagy. By targeting genetically defined pathways, the company aims to create small molecules that restore cellular balance and address the underlying mechanisms of diseases such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Founded in 2018 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Caraway Therapeutics seeks to improve the lives of patients affected by these debilitating conditions by leveraging its expertise in cellular degradation processes. The company was previously known as Rheostat Therapeutics, Inc. before rebranding in October 2019.
Kymera Therapeutics
Series B in 2018
Kymera Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Watertown, Massachusetts, that specializes in the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics aimed at selectively degrading disease-causing proteins. The company utilizes a proprietary platform for targeted protein degradation, leveraging the body’s natural protein recycling system. Kymera is developing several programs, including the IRAK4 program for immunology-inflammation diseases such as hidradenitis suppurativa and rheumatoid arthritis, the IRAKIMiD program to address MYD88-mutated diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and the STAT3 program targeting hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, and autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2015, Kymera Therapeutics is pioneering new approaches to treat diseases that have previously been considered untreatable, focusing on previously inaccessible therapeutic targets.
Alector
Series E in 2018
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.
Carisma Therapeutics
Series A in 2018
Carisma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer and other serious diseases through its proprietary chimeric antigen receptor macrophage technology. The company focuses on engineering macrophages and monocytes, which are specialized white blood cells, to enhance their ability to infiltrate solid tumors and deliver potent cellular immunotherapy. By leveraging advanced cell engineering techniques, Carisma aims to provide effective treatments that enable patients with solid tumors to benefit from targeted and robust cancer therapies.
Visterra
Series C in 2017
Visterra, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing precision antibody-based treatments for difficult-to-treat diseases, particularly infectious diseases. Utilizing its Hierotope platform, Visterra designs monoclonal antibodies such as VIS410, aimed at treating hospitalized patients with influenza A, and VIS513 for Dengue fever. The company is also advancing VIS705, an antibody-drug conjugate for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, and VIS649, which targets Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN). Founded in 2007 and based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Visterra was previously known as Parasol Therapeutics, Inc. The company operates as a subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc. and emphasizes innovative therapeutic solutions to address significant unmet medical needs.
LifeMine Therapeutics
Series A in 2017
LifeMine Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on discovering new drug modalities from eukaryotic microbes, particularly fungi. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with an additional office in New York, the company employs an integrated platform that combines genomics, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology. This innovative Avatar-Rx platform utilizes high-throughput microbiology, data science, machine learning, genome engineering, and automation to explore the fungal biosphere for novel genetically encoded molecules with specific biological functions. By integrating chemoinformatic-assisted drug optimization and advanced chemical synthesis with biotransformation, LifeMine Therapeutics aims to advance a pipeline of new medicines into development.
Spero Therapeutics
Series C in 2017
Spero Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to developing innovative treatments for multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and rare diseases. Founded in 2013, the company is advancing several product candidates, including tebipenem pivoxil hydrobromide, an oral carbapenem-class antibiotic aimed at treating MDR gram-negative infections in adults. Additionally, Spero is developing SPR206, an intravenous agent for MDR gram-negative infections in hospital settings, and SPR720, an oral antibiotic targeting pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease. The company collaborates with various partners, including Meiji Seika Pharma to support tebipenem HBr's development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute for SPR720. Spero Therapeutics employs a focused approach to drug development, emphasizing novel mechanisms to address the urgent need for effective therapeutics against serious bacterial infections.
Translate Bio
Series C in 2017
Translate Bio, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics aimed at addressing diseases linked to protein or gene dysfunction. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, the company is advancing its lead candidates, MRT5005 and MRT5201. MRT5005 is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, while MRT5201 is being developed for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. Translate Bio was previously known as RaNA Therapeutics, Inc. before rebranding in June 2017. The company specializes in innovative therapies for rare diseases, leveraging the potential of RNA-based medicine.
Spero Therapeutics
Series B in 2016
Spero Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to developing innovative treatments for multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and rare diseases. Founded in 2013, the company is advancing several product candidates, including tebipenem pivoxil hydrobromide, an oral carbapenem-class antibiotic aimed at treating MDR gram-negative infections in adults. Additionally, Spero is developing SPR206, an intravenous agent for MDR gram-negative infections in hospital settings, and SPR720, an oral antibiotic targeting pulmonary non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease. The company collaborates with various partners, including Meiji Seika Pharma to support tebipenem HBr's development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute for SPR720. Spero Therapeutics employs a focused approach to drug development, emphasizing novel mechanisms to address the urgent need for effective therapeutics against serious bacterial infections.
Alector
Series D in 2016
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.
Viridian Therapeutics
Series C in 2015
Viridian Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative treatments for patients with diseases that lack effective therapies. The company focuses on addressing conditions such as thyroid eye disease, a debilitating orphan disease characterized by inflammation and swelling of the eye muscles. One of its key product candidates, VRDN-001, is an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor monoclonal antibody designed to potentially treat this condition. Viridian Therapeutics aims to provide new options for patients suffering from these underserved medical needs through its advanced research and development initiatives.
Alector
Series C in 2015
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.
Translate Bio
Series B in 2015
Translate Bio, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics aimed at addressing diseases linked to protein or gene dysfunction. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, the company is advancing its lead candidates, MRT5005 and MRT5201. MRT5005 is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, while MRT5201 is being developed for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. Translate Bio was previously known as RaNA Therapeutics, Inc. before rebranding in June 2017. The company specializes in innovative therapies for rare diseases, leveraging the potential of RNA-based medicine.
Imago BioSciences
Series A in 2014
Imago BioSciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Redwood City, California, that specializes in developing innovative medicines for hematologic diseases. Founded in 2012, the company focuses on therapeutics that target genetic and epigenetic factors, specifically through the inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), an enzyme crucial in blood cell production. Imago BioSciences aims to address significant medical challenges associated with conditions such as leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and other bone marrow disorders. Its lead product candidate, Bomedemstat, is an orally available small molecule designed to treat certain myeloproliferative neoplasms, with the goal of altering disease progression and improving the quality and longevity of patients' lives.
PAQ Therapeutics
PAQ Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on restoring health and curing diseases by harnessing autophagy, the body's natural process for cellular degradation. The company develops a novel class of small-molecule degraders using autophagosome-tethering compound technology. This innovative approach allows these compounds to bind a diverse array of substrates to the autophagy pathway, enabling healthcare providers to create effective treatments for serious diseases where traditional therapeutic options are often limited. Through its research and development efforts, PAQ Therapeutics aims to provide new solutions for patients in need of advanced medical therapies.
Therini Bio
Therini Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing fibrin-targeting therapies aimed at treating inflammatory neurological and retinal diseases. The company leverages insights from research that highlights the role of fibrin in driving chronic innate immune activation, which is implicated in various human diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Currently, Therini Bio is working on therapeutics that aim to protect the nervous system from damage associated with conditions such as multiple sclerosis. By developing specialized antibodies for neuroinflammatory diseases linked to vascular dysfunction, the company seeks to provide healthcare providers with effective treatment options that can improve patient outcomes.
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