Rhamnopharma, Inc. United States

Year Founded
2010
Biotech Subsector
Biotech Phase of Development
Current Financing Needs
Initial
IP Status
Issued US patents
Recent Milestones
Identification of novel MOA
Management Team Highlights
Founder experienced in drug development
Anton Leighton
CEO 

RiverVest Venture Partners United States

RiverVest Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that was founded in 2000 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri with additional office in Cleveland, Ohio. The firm currently has managed over $208 million of total assets. RiverVest has raised two investment funds with total committed capital of $165 million since inception. The recent fund closed at $75 million. RiverVest typically makes equity investments into global companies, and has no specific geographic preferences. The firm will consider making investments at all the stages, and focuses on investments in seed, early-stage and select later-stage companies. The typical investment size is around $6 million, though the firm can invest more or less, depending on the opportunity. 

RiverVest is extremely opportunistic when it comes to investments in the life sciences space; with that being said RiverVests specified sectors and sub sectors of interest may or may not be an area in which RiverVest is currently looking to allocate capital to. The firm invests in companies in the biotech therapeutics and diagnostics, as well the medical technology space. 

Some of the firms investments have included companies developing biotech therapeutics and diagnostics targeting diseases of the blood and blood forming organs, neoplasms, cancer, and oncology, skin and subcutaneous tissue, cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the ear, and infectious diseases. The firm has also invested in companies developing anti-body based therapeutics. The firm has also invested in firms developing medical technologies such as therapeutic radiation devices, active implantable devices, non active implantable devices, hospital hardware, and imaging devices.

Year Founded
2000
Investor Type
Medtech Phase of Development
Capital Structure Preference
Investment Stage Preference
Karen Spilizewski
VP 

Roche / Genentech Switzerland

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. is a Swiss global health-care company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Roche is looking for first-in-class or best-in-class opportunities that address diseases of unmet medical need and have the potential to revolutionize the standard of care. Roche focuses on their main disease therapy areas – oncology and Immuno-oncology, ophthalmology, infectious diseases and neurosciences–as well as looking at opportunities in promising technologies and early-stage collaborations. Beyond the asset, Roche always look for the right partnership and cultural fit. Roche also seeks collaboration in diagnostics, specifically biomarkers.

Shafique Virani
Global Head Partnering (Neuro) 

Safeguard Scientifics

Safeguard Scientifics is a publicly traded capital deployment firm founded in 1953 and is based in Wayne PA. The firm makes deployments from an evergreen fund and is actively seeking new investments in the healthcare sector. Initial equity placements are typically of $5-1m with the potential for a total allocation of $2-25m over the life of an investment. The firm focuses on North America with a concentration in the Mid-Atlantic and San Francisco Bay Area regions. Deployments are made at a range of stages from early-stage to growth expansion and recapitalization. Safeguard Scientifics prefers to be a sizable minority investor.
Gary Kurtzman
Managing Director 

SAJE Pharma United States

Regulating Nitrosylation for Multi-Disease Therapies

SAJE Pharma’s S‑nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) inhibition technology regulates nitric oxide signal transduction pathways that are critical for multiple therapeutic benefits.  SAJE’s small molecule drugs regulate nitrosylation by inhibiting GSNOR.  Many biologists consider that “Nitrosylation is the new phosphorylation”, meaning that nitrosylation regulates cell pathways as directly as does phosphorylation.  The big advantage for SAJE is that there is only one human GSNOR to inhibit as compared to 100’s of phosphorylation targets, making it a much more “druggable” target with less possibility for off-target toxicity.  SAJE and its collaborators have discovered that GSNOR inhibition reduces: inflammation, oxidant damage, fibrosis, mucus accumulation, and bronchoconstriction.  Such multiple therapeutic efficacies by inhibiting only one enzyme with small molecules is unprecedented in pharmacology.  SAJE is focused on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and asthma as its first clinical applications, although there is animal data for efficacy in other diseases including cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory, liver, kidney, and other respiratory.  One GSNOR inhibitor has shown Clinical Proof of Concept for GSNOR as a target in a Phase IIa trial in asthma.

SAJE Pharma’s executive team consists of experienced drug development scientists and serial entrepreneurs whose backgrounds include FDA, large pharma, start-up companies, and the CRO industry.

SAJE has licensed one patent app that is nearing issuance in the EU and the US.  It protects SPL-334, SAJE’s lead molecule, and other related molecules.  In addition, SAJE is close to filing 3 more patent apps on its novel compositions that inhibit GSNOR.  A clear advantage for our drugs compared to many novel therapies  is the cost of goods.  Our drugs will cost pennies per dose.

SAJE would like to raise $15 MM to take SPL-334 through a Phase IIa trial in IPF.  The drug is ready for IND-enabling studies.  The company’s exit strategy is to out-license each of its drugs and their accompanying data set, one at a time, for different diseases in different categories.

Year Founded
2011
Biotech Subsector
Biotech Phase of Development
Technology Overview
Regulating Nitrosylation for Multi-Disease Therapies SAJE Pharma’s S nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) inhibition technology regulates nitric oxide signal transduction pathways that are critical for multiple therapeutic benefits. SAJE’s small molecule drugs regulate nitrosylation by inhibiting GSNOR. Many biologists consider that “Nitrosylation is the new phosphorylation”, meaning that nitrosylation regulates cell pathways as directly as does phosphorylation. The big advantage for SAJE is that there is only one human GSNOR to inhibit as compared to 100’s of phosphorylation targets, making it a much more “druggable” target with less possibility for off-target toxicity. SAJE and its collaborators have discovered that GSNOR inhibition reduces: inflammation, oxidant damage, fibrosis, mucus accumulation, and bronchoconstriction. Such multiple therapeutic efficacies by inhibiting only one enzyme with small molecules is unprecedented in pharmacology. SAJE is focused on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and asthma as its first clinical applications, although there is animal data for efficacy in other diseases including cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory, liver, kidney, and other respiratory. One GSNOR inhibitor has shown Clinical Proof of Concept for GSNOR as a target in a Phase IIa trial in asthma.
Alliance & Collaborations
Eight universities, NIH, CROs
Supporting Metrics or Evidence
Ferrini ME, Simons BJ, Bassett DJP, Bradley MO, Roberts K, et al. (2013) S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase Inhibition Regulates Allergen-Induced Lung Inflammation and Airway Hyperreactivity. PLoS ONE 8(7): e70351. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070351. Kinetic and Cellular Characterization of Novel Inhibitors of S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase. Paresh C. Sanghani, Wilhelmina I. Davis, Sharry L. Fears, Scheri-Lyn Green, Lanmin Zhai, Yaoping Tang, Emil Martin, Nathan S. Bryan, and Sonal P. Sanghani. THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY VOL. 284, NO. 36, pp. 24354–24362, September 4, 2009.
Current Financing Needs
$15 MM
Current Timeline
One drug ready for IND-enabling studies, other drugs in research for various diseases
Current Investors
Private, Grants
IP Status
One patent application nearing issuance in US and EU. Three more apps nearing submission on novel compositions of GSNOR inhibitors
Recent Milestones
Michael J. Fox grant, private financing, new collaborations, Positive IPF and metabolic data
Management Team Highlights
Licensed technology, invented new technology, many grants including Michael J, Fox, private financing, IND ready project
Matthews Bradley
Founder President Chairman & CTO 

Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures

Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures (SGBV) is the corporate venture arm of Sanofi based in Cambridge Massachusetts USA. Originally established in 21 as Genzyme Ventures SGBV is mandated to invest directly in private early-stage life science companies with promising new products that may be future Sanofi pipeline candidates. The firm seeks to invest across the more expansive business footprint of Sanofi. The firm has a global mandate and is currently seeking new equity investment opportunities.
Jason Hafler
Director of Investments 

Science Futures

Science Futures Management is an investment firm based in California USA. In the Life Sciences the firm focuses on biotech therapeutics and diagnostics. The firm typically provides series A financing (equity) in the range of $25K to $5K. The firm is geographically agnostic but generally invests in companies based in the USA and Europe. The firm has no current mandate for the number of allocations it plans to make and will evaluate relevant opportunities as they surface.
Nola Masterson
Managing Director 

Seroba Kernel Life Sciences Ireland

Seroba Kernel is a venture capital firm based in Dublin, Ireland, with representatives in the United Kingdom. The firm has approximately €100M AUM and focuses solely on the life sciences. The firm has 2 funds and plans to raise a third fund in the near future. The firm typically allocates between €5-7M of equity over the life of the investment. The firm primarily invests in companies that are based in Ireland and Europe. Exceptional opportunities in North America will also be considered. The firm is actively seeking new investment opportunities.

Year Founded
2001
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Capital Structure Preference
Investment Stage Preference
Daniel O'Mahony
Partner 

Shire

Shire is an Irish-headquartered global specialty biopharmaceutical company. Originating in the United Kingdom with a large operational base in the United States, its brands and products include Vyvanse, Adderall XR, Intuniv, Lialda, Pentasa, Fosrenol, Replagal, Elaprase, VPRIV, Firazyr and Dermagraft. 

Shire is currently interested in several therapeutic areas for business development opportunities. The company is most interested in the following products: rare disease therapeutics, pre-clinical to on the market; neuroscience therapeutics, on the market; gastrointestinal, on the market; ophthalmology, post proof-of-concept; and hematology; post proof-of-concept.

Jane Daun-Tremblay

Siragen Pharmaceuticals, LLC United States

Siragen Pharmaceuticals is a drug discovery and development company, focused on novel approaches to treat Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Siragen is developing a group of small lead molecules that tackles Alzheimer’s Disease and aging neurons by novel strategy different from current unsuccessful approaches.   Siragen Pharmaceuticals, based in San Diego, California, was incorporated in May 2014, and is a spin off of Neurogeneration Inc. Siragen's products will be for the brain what cholesterol agents are for the heart.

Website:
www.siragen.com
Year Founded
2014
Biotech Subsector
Medtech Subsector
Biotech Phase of Development
Technology Overview

Sira-9 targets a specific pathway of the stress response due to oligomer toxicity. Siragen has identified targets within this pathway that prevents the synapse loss induced by synaptic dysfunction and synaptotoxicity. Siragen has also identified another target, which alleviates age-associated phenotypes and extends the life span of neurons by reducing inflammation. These small molecules are specific and can be easily delivered as a pro-drug.

Alliance & Collaborations
UCSD, Duke University, UCLA, Salk Institute
Current Financing Needs

$5M

Current Timeline

Siragen’s development programs are focused on 1) target identification 2) target validation 3) hit to lead identification and optimization 4) in vivo studies and 5) begin clinical trials on identified compounds. The Company aims to develop its pipeline of novel molecules to clinical proof of concept and partner with industry leaders for late stage development and commercialization

Current Investors

Private

IP Status

•  expanding IP portfolio

Recent Milestones

• Target identified and validated for drug discovery in Alzheimer’s disease • Successful assay development for hits • Lead candidate Sira-9 currently in development for Alzheimer’s disease

Management Team Highlights

The team consists of CEO and Founder: Michel Levesque, MD, entrepreneur and neuroscientist, CSO and Co-Founder: Mohamedi Kagalwala, neurochemist and neurobiologist. Scientific advisory board consists of prominent scientist Dr. Eliezer Masliah (neuropathologist and neurodegenerative disorders expert, UCSD), Dr. Kalpana Merchant (Ex CSO, Translation Science at Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals) and Dr. Anthony Means (pharmacologist, Baylor College of Medicine)

Dr Michel Levesque
Founder