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Excel Venture Management is a venture capital firm that was founded in 2008 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm has managed one fund with committed capital of $125 million, and the firm is currently raising the second fund. Excel Venture Management seeks to make equity investments into life science companies from early to late stages. The typical investment size ranges from $3 million to $ 5million. The firm plans to invest in 4-5 companies over the next 6-9 months and prefers to invest in companies based in US.

BioTherapeutics Inc. (BTI) is a pre-clinical stage company developing novel small-molecule drugs to treat inflammation associated with autoimmune related disorders and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We have identified an orally-active, first-in-class top lead compound that targets a unique and novel MoA: the LANCL2 pathway. Our top lead compound has demonstrated extremely positive efficacy in mouse models of both IBD and T2D and our preliminary toxicology data has confirmed that is safe at a very high dose and as a multiple dose for 14 days.

We just closed a very well funded seed round (NIH, CIT Gap Funds, other investments) and we are now looking to raise from $3 to $5M to generate IND enabling data and start human trials.

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), is a trade association that leads the effort to advance medical technology in order to achieve healthier lives and healthier economies around the world. AdvaMed represents 80 percent of medical technology firms in the United States and acts as the common voice for companies producing medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems. AdvaMed members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States and more than 40 percent purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed's member companies range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies.

AdvaMed 2015 - October 5-7, San Diego - is the leading MedTech Conference in North America, bringing more than 1,000 companies together in a uniquely multifaceted environment for business development, capital formation, innovative technology showcasing, world-class educational opportunities and networking. An event rich in international flavor and featuring a deep, diverse attendee list that includes influential policy-makers, business executives and media, AdvaMed 2015 seeks to advance industry discussion from key perspectives through detailed panel sessions, executive forums and more. It is a “must-attend” event for any MedTech company.

MyeloRx is a northern California based biotechnology company. Our lead compound, MRx102, is a small molecule inhibitor of RNA polymerase II. Molecules related to MRx102 have shown clinical efficacy in AML patients in Europe and China.  MRx102 is covered by issued composition of matter patents in the U.S., E.U., China and Japan.  While AML is the initial indication, MRx102 has also been found active in stringent models of pancreatic and lung cancer. Our collaborators include clinical oncologists from MD Anderson Cancer Center, JHU School of Medicine and City of Hope Medical Center. R&D activities have been funded primarily by a $2M NCI SBIR contract. Our strong scientific and management team is lead by Dr. John Musser; it has brought multiple products to market. We are seeking funding to complete an IND which is projected to take less than a year based on the extensive studies completed to date (manufacturing, formulation, toxicology/ PK in rats and dogs etc.)  and a Phase 1 clinical trial in AML patients.

EIP Pharma, LLC is a private company based in Cambridge, MA.  The company has licensed-in and is developing a phase 2 clinical-stage oral small molecule that targets neuroinflammation and dysfunction of microglia, the major immune-cell in the brain.

Human genetic and other biologic data strongly indicate inflammation & microglial dysfunction are one of the major drivers of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and likely the major driver in patients with symptomatic disease.

VX-745 (the licensed compound) specifically inhibits intra-cellular enzyme p38 mitogen activated protein kinase alpha (MAPKa).  In the brain, p38 MAPKa is a major regulator of inflammation through effects on microglia. P38 MAPKa is also expressed in neurons, where it is directly involved in memory formation and synaptic plasticity. 

VX-745 readily enters the brain, with brain concentrations in pre-clinical studies being approximately two-fold higher than in peripheral blood.  VX-745 had previously been clinically evaluated in non-CNS disorders, where already has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in patients. The combination of blood-brain-barrier penetration and previous clinical experience with demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity uniquely positions VX-745 to target inflammation to treat Alzheimer’s and other CNS disorders in which inflammation plays a role.

EIP Pharma licensed VX-745 from the originator company, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and conducted animal studies to re-position the compound towards disease of the brain, including AD.  Vertex had previously completed a full chronic toxicology program and had demonstrated significant clinical and anti-inflammatory activity in a phase 2a 12-week treatment study of VX-745 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  An Investigational New Drug (IND) application remains open at FDA.

The animal studies conducted by EIP Pharma have demonstrated pro-cognitive effects, anti-inflammatory and other pharmacologic effects of VX-745 in the brain.  These data combined with dose response data in prior animal and clinical studies, have been utilized to identify doses that are highly likely to have positive activity in human brain.  The predicted doses are 2- to 5- fold lower than the dose that demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity and was well tolerated in RA, consistent with VX-745 preferentially distributing to the brain in animals.  Importantly, these dose levels should minimize risks of systemic toxicity that otherwise have hampered development of p38 MAPK inhibitors for peripheral disorders.  The animal studies have also generated new intellectual property (IP), including issuance of a US patent on 15 April 2014 (#8,697,627) for the use of VX-745 to lower brain amyloid plaque load.  This IP, along with additional IP that has been filed will support commercially the development of VX-745 beyond the primary composition of matter patent expiring in 2017.

Start-up activities (IRB submissions, CRO contracting, etc.) are underway for two phase 2a clinical studies in patients with AD; both studies are anticipated to be underway in early 2015.  Combined, the studies are designed to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and microglial modulatory activity in the brain.  Once demonstrated, VX-745 should have ability to demonstrate clinical proof-of-concept in AD and/or other disease indications in which neuroinflammation plays a role in disease pathogenesis.

Company was founded and is led by experienced biotech/pharma R&D executive (John Alam; former head of Alzheimer’s R&D at Sanofi, ex-Chief Medical Officer at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, led clinical development of AvonexÒ for Multiple Sclerosis) with extensive translational and drug development experience & expertise in both inflammation and CNS disorders.