apceth GmbH & Ko. KG Germany

apceth is a privately held German Biotech company focused on the development and clinical implementation of innovative biopharmaceuticals based on cell and gene therapy in the field of oncology.

Enabling platform technology for genetic modification of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to be used as drug shuttle to target tumors or other areas of interest.

Clinical development:

phase I with modified MSC in gastro-intestinal tumors completed (12/2014)

phase I/II with MSC for vascular disease completed

strong clinical pipeline based on genetic modification of MSC

Implementation of allogeneic cell bank system to accomodate off-the-shelf production of cell-based pharmaceuticals.

Strong network and IP,

interesting preclinical pipeline addressing oncology, lung disease, inflammation.

Secure financing by German Family Offic. Looking for partner/ cofinancing for ongoing clinical development (phase II/III)

Website:
www.apceth.com
Year Founded
2007
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Technology Overview
platform technology for genetic modification of mesenchymal cells
Alliance & Collaborations
strong network with industry and academic partners , national and international
Current Financing Needs
financing planned for 2016 for clinical development phase II
Current Timeline
phase II results oncology in 2016
Current Investors
family offices: Santo-holding and FCP, Munich, Germany
IP Status
more than 30 patents granted for cell and gene therapy/ gene delivery
Recent Milestones
phase I with genetically modified MSC in Oncology completed, First in man
Christine Günther
CEO 
Mr Helmut Jeggle
CFO 

Aperiomics United States

Aperiomics, Inc. is a next generation sequencing service company with a mission to detect virtually any pathogen from any clinical, agricultural, or environmental sample.  This service platform uses a combination of next-generation sequencing and advanced bioinformatic data analysis to identify pathogens in various samples.  Aperiomics’ proprietary service platform focuses on pathogens of public and animal health importance, satisfying the increasing need for more robust and more efficient next-generation sequencing data analysis.

The impact of Aperiomics’ technologies is broad due to our unique approach to pathogen detection. Instead of blindly probing for a proverbial ‘needle in a haystack’, Aperiomics’ approach analyzes the entire ‘haystack’ using next-generation sequencing and harnessing the power of bioinformatics to identify all ‘needles’. This approach is transformative compared to current pathogen detection methods. Aperiomics’ proprietary service, Absolute*NGS Pathogen Detection Platform, screens samples (clinical, environmental, etc.) for the presence of any microbe (fungal, viral, bacterial, eukaryotic parasite) – including pathogens that have never before been identified. This platform technology has broad application across diverse markets such as health care, agriculture, environmental, industrial, and veterinary testing.

Year Founded
2013
Biotech Subsector
Medtech Subsector
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Current Financing Needs
$5M Series A
Dr Crystal Icenhour
Dr Crystal Icenhour
LinkedIn logo CEO 
BIO

Crystal R. Icenhour, PhD received her PhD in Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine from the University of Cincinnati Medical School of Graduate Studies in 2002.  She conducted postdoctoral research in the Thoracic Diseases Research Unit at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine from 2002-2005 and in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Duke University Medical Center from 2005-2006.  Dr. Icenhour has been involved in local and national postdoctoral associations including the Mayo Research Fellows Association Executive Committee (President), the Duke University Postdoctoral Association (chair of membership committee), and the National Postdoctoral Association (2008 Chair).  Dr. Icenhour was President & Chief Science Officer for Phthisis Diagnostics, a biotechnology company located in Charlottesville, Virginia from 2007-2013.  In 2014 Dr. Icenhour was hired as CEO of Aperiomics in Ashburn, Virginia.  Aperiomics’ focus is to harness the power of next-generation sequencing to improve world health.

Apple Tree Partners United States

Apple Tree Partners is a private equity fund that was established in 1999 and based in New York, NY, with satellite offices in Princeton, NJ, Cambridge, MA and Brussels, Belgium. The firm controls up to $1.75 billion in assets under management and makes equity investments ranging from $100,000 for academic spinouts to $150 million dollar in later stage deals. The firm seeks to make investments around the globe with a focus on creating and building companies located within the US and Europe.

Year Founded
1999
Investor Type
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Capital Structure Preference
Investment Stage Preference
Sam Hall
Principal 
Aaron Kantoff
Vice President 

ArcScan United States

Did you know that 10-15% of LASIK patients are turned away due to inadequate eye measurement equipment?  This laser refractive eye surgery market has a crying need for the next generation measurement tool now to capture these additional patients and improve on existing procedures and outcomes.

Did you know that ophthalmologists suffer significant measurement problems in accurately predicting the ELP (Effective Lens Position) in cataract surgery/Intra-Ocular Lens (IOL) procedures?

The ArcScan Artemis-3 system addresses both of these market needs and more.

ArcScan has already raised all funding needed ($3 million) to enter the laser refractive surgery market, with product introduction expected in 12 months.

The ArcScan Series A Preferred funding round of $3 million currently has $1 million available to investors from now through February, 2015, or until sold-out, whichever occurs first.

ArcScan is attending the RESI conference to raise the final $1,000,000 in Series A Preferred share subscriptions, which will allow us to accelerate entry into the large cataract surgery/IOL market and nearly double the size of the business.

Please request a meeting at RESI or contact ArcScan CEO Andy Levien for an executive summary and further investment details.

Website:
www.ArcScan.com
Year Founded
2007
Main Sector
Medtech Phase of Development
Technology Overview
Very high frequency ultrasound combined with precision control of scanner motion
Current Timeline
12 months to US product launch
IP Status
6 issued patents, 3 licensed (from Cornell), 12 applications
Mr Andy Levien
Mr Andy Levien
LinkedIn logo CEO & President 
BIO

Andy’s career in industrial and medical device instrumentation and automation and controls, spans companies from startup to Fortune 100. His diverse experience from shop floor to the C-Suite and as a leader in product and business development, global operations, supply chain and manufacturing operations, equips him with the skills that expertly guide leadership teams to breakthrough strategies and their implementation, delivering new pathways to customer value creation, revenue growth and operating profits.

A collaborative leadership style and keen technical, business, and emotional intelligence is underpinned by his passion to create a transparent, shared vision through a planning process encompassing lean management principles: accountability to clearly defined performance metrics, a detailed plan to execute, and effective communication of the plan to stakeholders at all levels in the organization.

Arcus Ventures United States

Arcus Ventures was founded in 2007 and is based in New York City. Arcus Ventures is currently investing from its second fund, which had a first close of $36m in 2014 and is targeting a raise of $100m. The firm typically invests $2-5 million. Arcus invests primarily in the USA but is also open to considering opportunities in Canada.

Myoung-Ok Kwon
Venture Partner 

Armune BioScience United States

Armune BioScience is a medical diagnostics company formed to develop and commercialize unique technology for diagnostic and prognostic tests for prostate, lung and breast cancers. The technology is unique because it utilizes autoantibodies created by the body’s own immune system to detect cancer at an early stage. When the immune system recognizes a cancer antigen it creates an autoantibody to the antigen which is replicated by the immune system. Armune’s technology can be used to detect these autoantibodies in serum.

Early detection and prognosis of cancer is critical not only in selecting appropriate treatment protocols, but also in increasing 5-year survival rates among cancer patients. Cancer detection in early stages is typically performed by detecting cancer-specific serum antigens. Unfortunately, cancer serum antigens are present at very low levels in early stage disease. Also, a single detectable cancer antigen may not be present in all patients due to heterogeneity of the disease and therefore multiple biomarkers are needed. Detection of serum autoantibody responses to tumor antigens provides more reliable serum marker(s) for cancer diagnosis. Serum autoantibodies are more stable than serum antigens and may be more abundant than antigens, especially at low tumor burdens characteristic of early stage cancer. The technology does not detect cancer per se, but looks for the immune response to cancer.

Armune’s initial focus is on a prostate cancer diagnostic test. The PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is currently used as a prostate cancer diagnostic test and it has good sensitivity (~86%), but very poor specificity (20 to 30%) resulting in high false positive rates (70 to 80%) and many unnecessary biopsies and costs.

Website:
www.armune.com
Year Founded
2008
Medtech Subsector
Biotech Phase of Development
Medtech Phase of Development
Technology Overview
The technology is unique because it utilizes autoantibodies created by the body’s own immune system to detect cancer at an early stage. When the immune system recognizes a cancer antigen it creates an autoantibody to the antigen which is replicated by the immune system.
Current Financing Needs
Completing a Series A syndicate of $2.5 million.
Current Timeline
Launching the prostate cancer diagnostic assay as a LDT (Laboratory Developed Test) under the CLIA guidelines beginning Q1 '15.
Current Investors
Angels, MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Corporation), BRCC (Bioscience Research Commercialization Center) and grants.
IP Status
3 patents issues and 6 pending
Recent Milestones
We have developed and validated the prostate cancer diagnostic assay.
Management Team Highlights
Extensive life science experience in both large companies as well as start-ups.
Eli Thomssen
President & CEO 

Artery Therapeutics Inc. United States

Artery Therapeutics is a San Francisco Bay Area based translational biotechnology company with worldwide collaborations. Artery's novel peptide library derived from Apolipoprotein E shows promising results in various animal studies for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes mellitus, and Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Website:
www.arterytx.com
Year Founded
2004
Biotech Subsector
Biotech Phase of Development
Technology Overview

Licensed peptide technologies from University of California, Berkeley, i.e. ApoE Derived ABCA1 Agonists with athero-protective, anti-diabetic actions and effects on ApoE4 associated Alzheimer’s Disease. The lead ABCA1 agonists are non-toxic, drugable candidate drugs ready to enter into IND enabling studies for phase 1 and proof of concept testing in man.

Alliance & Collaborations
Currently no Alliances or Corporate Collaborations. ARTERY has entered into several material transfer agreements with BigPharma potentially leading to collaboration deals or other deals.
Supporting Metrics or Evidence

Cogpep for Alzheimer’s Disease and Traumatic Brain Injury 90% reduction of P-Tau, 55% reduction in Amyloidb42, Increase Vglut1, apoER2, short term and long term cognition. Dipep shows antidiabetic actions (glucose reducing and insulin sensitizing) and anti-atherosclerosis effects without creating hypoglycemia. Stabilization and regression of atherosclerosis (25-40%) Weight neutral & preservation of β-cell function Lowers HbA1C

Current Financing Needs

Artery is seeking a committed pharma partner to move technology to market and beyond. Or $16M to move technology into IND enabling studies for phase 1 and proof of concept testing in man.

Current Timeline

Both Cogpep and Dipep are candidate drugs and can be in the clinic within 12 months

Current Investors

F&F

IP Status

7 cases, 37 patents, 5 issued,

Recent Milestones

Animal proof of concept studies in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, Has secured multiple MTA with Big Pharma Additional composition of matter patents has been filed

Management Team Highlights

Jan Johansson MD, PhD is a serial Biotech entrepreneur and has as founder and/or corporate officer helped take 3 companies’ public and raised more than $400M in private and public markets. Jan is trained as a basic scientist, practiced cardiovascular medicine for 18 years and has translational and development background with particular reference to cardiovascular technologies. Jan has lead basic research groups and lead clinical phase 1-3 programs. Jan is the inventor of more than 40 patents

Mr Jonas Johansson
Mr Jonas Johansson
Co-Founder 

Artiman Ventures

Artiman is a venture capital company founded in 2 and based in Palo Alto California. The firm is currently making investments out of its fourth $2 million fund. The firm makes seed and venture investments into firms ranging from a few hundred thousand to $5 million depending on the stage and financial requirements of the company. The firm has a preference for companies based in Silicon Valley but will consider opportunities globally and looks to make around 5 investments per year.
Akhil Saklecha
Managing Director 

Ascendia Pharmaceuticals, LLC

Ascendia is a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing enhanced formulations of existing drug products, and enabling formulations for pre-clinical and clinical stage drug candidates. We use our nano-particle technologies and expertise to improve the bioavailability of poorly water soluble compounds.

At Ascendia, our core business is to develop proprietary product formulations for poorly water soluble drugs in order to bring value to our pharmaceutical company partners.  We provide practical, customized formulation solutions that enable advancement of compounds from discovery to clinical testing.  We offer rapid and cost-effective formulation technology screening services for poorly water soluble drugs through the utilization of our multiple nano-particle technologies.  We provide trial formulations suitable for initial animal studies, toxicology studies and Phase I clinical trials using nano-emulsion, amorphous solid dispersion, and particle size reduction approaches.  We conduct development program support for novel life-cycle management products based on these technology platforms.

Year Founded
2012
Service Provider Type
Louis Scotti
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