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Boehringer Ingelheim was founded in 1885 and is based in Ingelheim am Rhein Germany. The firm invests by means of in-licensing and acquisitions and is primarily focused on respiratory diseases cardiovascular diseases metabolic diseases oncology diseases of the central nervous system and immunology. Boehringer Ingelheim also invests in veterinary medicine.

Brace Pharmaceuticals is based in Rockville, MD, and is a strategic investment company formed by Brazil-based pharma company EMS S/A. Brace investment structure varies depending on a company’s development stage; for early-stage opportunities Brace typically makes equity investments and may syndicate with other investors, whereas for clinical-stage opportunities Brace is more likely to form strategic partnerships that involve rights to an asset. Brace is open to considering therapeutic opportunities globally, but only if the company is pursuing the US market.

Brace Pharmaceuticals invests in therapeutics; about 80% of the firm’s investments are in clinical-stage assets, with a preference for companies with some human proof-of-concept data; the remaining 20% of investments are made in preclinical opportunities. Drug-device combinations will also be considered, but Brace does not invest in diagnostics. The firm will invest in both small and large molecules, and has a strong preference for investing in orphan drugs and other niche disease areas. It is preferred that indications have validated clinical endpoints and can be studied using small trials. Indications that require large clinical trials, including as cardiovascular diseases and primary care indications (such as influenza) will not be considered.

Debra Miller co-founded CureDuchenne in 2003 with her husband, Paul, after their only son was diagnosed with Duchenne. Miller relies on her extensive background in sales and marketing to lead CureDuchenne. 

Her role includes overseeing all operations, research and financial resources as well as serving as the primary liaison to the Board of Directors. She is the decision maker, leader and manager in carrying out the mission of the organization. She also works closely with the Scientific Board of Advisors in designing and implementing the medical research strategic plan.

Miller is a member of the Department of Defense Duchenne Research review board and also a member of the TREAT-NMD international review board, TACT.  Miller has led CureDuchenne’s successful venture philanthropy programs and is the architect of CureDuchenne Ventures LLC, a new, for profit entity created to attract significant research funding to Duchenne research.

Prior to CureDuchenne, Miller had a career in publishing with positions at IDG Communications, Cahners Publishing, Ziff-Davis Publishing and Scholastic Publishing. She also worked in management at PC Magazine and was an independent stock trader.

Miller earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of California – Los Angeles. 

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) was founded in 1886 and is based in New Brunswick NJ with an Innovation Center in Cambridge MA. The firm invests in a variety of fields within the life science sector including medical devices. J&J?s medical device investments are highly varied in both size and structure, the structure may involve milestone payments or may be an equity investment. J&J is interested in early stage medical device companies located globally.