Biotechnology Portfolio | Medical Technology Portfolio | Healthcare IT Portfolio

Selected Investments

Bayhill Therapeutics
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Bayhill Therapeutics is focused on the translation of research into therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

The company has established several therapeutic platforms targeted to autoimmune modulation. Based on technology in-licensed from Stanford University, the products from these platforms address the broad market opportunity of a variety of autoimmune diseases. The company’s initial focus is in multiple sclerosis, with its first product, the antigen specific immunomodulator BHT-3009, currently in Phase II studies. The second antigen specific therapy, BHT-3021 for Type 1 Diabetes, is in Phase I studies. The company is also utilizing its patentable array technology to better understand the role that specific self-antigens play in the initial and long term pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases.

Other investors include: CMEA Ventures, De Novo Ventures, Latterell Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Venture Partners, U.S. Venture Partners and Vertical Ventures.

Cabrellis Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pharmion Corporation)
Location: San Diego, CA

Cabrellis Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to the development of important therapies for the treatment of cancer. The Cabrellis development program centers on Calsed™, an exciting third generation synthetic anthracycline drug currently approved and commercialized for small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancers in Japan. Cabrellis holds the exclusive North American and European development and commercialization rights to this drug. Cabrellis intends to develop Calsed™ for small-cell lung cancer and to expand development in a variety of other solid tumors.

Other investors include: Domain Associates, Forward Ventures, Novo A/S, ProQuest Investments, RBC Capital Partners, RiverVest Venture Partners and S.R. One, Limited.

CGI Pharmaceuticals
Location: Branford, CT

CGI Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule kinase inhibitors for a broad range of oncology/angiogenesis and autoimmune/allergic/inflammatory disease indications. The Company’s fully integrated drug discovery infrastructure comprises proprietary discovery biology, chemistry, and informatics; extensive lead generation and optimization capabilities; and preclinical and clinical development expertise.

CGI’s unique approach specifically addresses the major challenges associated with kinase drug discovery and development, by integrating world-class kinase biology (through its proprietary ASKA technology) and proprietary chemistry expertise with efficient PK/ADME, pharmacology, and in vivo biology support strategies. CGI has successfully identified quality kinase inhibitor lead candidates in two promising drug development programs.

Other investors include: CHL Medical Partners, Coastview Capital, Connecticut Innovations Inc, Emerging Technology Partners, Flagship Ventures, MPM Capital, RiverVest Venture Partners, Vantage Point Venture Partners, and Vector Fund Management.

Conforma Therapeutics (acquired by Biogen Idec, BIIB: NASDAQ)
Location: San Diego, CA

Conforma Therapeutics is focused on the design and development of novel drugs for the selective treatment of cancer. Conforma is developing drugs that target the cellular HSP90 family of molecular "chaperones" that control protein shape or conformation, including that of key signaling molecules involved in the growth and survival of tumor cells. HSP90-directed drugs selectively induce the degradation of these cancer-promoting proteins, leading to tumor cell death.

Other investors include: Domain Associates, Forward Ventures, Inglewood Ventures, Novo A/S, ProQuest Investments, RBC Capital Partners, RiverVest Venture Partners and S.R. One, Limited.

Cylene Pharmaceuticals
Location: San Diego , CA

Cylene Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotech pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of targeted small-molecule drugs to treat life-threatening cancers. Using its proprietary Ribosomal RNA Biosynthesis Inhibition Technology (RABIT™) to design molecules that combat drug-resistant forms of cancer, Cylene has created multiple product candidates in different stages of development. Cylene’s technology targets a Protein-DNA interaction that is amplified during Pol I transcription of the rRNA genes of cancer cells. The Company’s lead product, CX-3543, is an rRNA Biogenesis Inhibitor (RBI) is in Phase 1 clinical development.

Other investors include: BioVentures Investors, Celgene Corporation, HBM BioVentures, Mitsui & Company Venture Partners, Novartis Venture Fund, Research Corporation Technologies and Sanderling Ventures.

GlobeImmune
Location: Louisville, CO

GlobeImmune is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery, development and manufacturing of targeted molecular immunotherapies called Tarmogens® for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.

Tarmogens (Targeted Molecular Immunogens) are whole, heat-killed recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast genetically modified to express one or more protein targets that stimulate the immune system against diseased cells. The whole heat-killed yeast, with the antigen expressed inside, is the product that is administered to the patient. Tarmogens program the cytotoxic T cells (a.k.a. killer T cells) in the patient's immune system to eliminate diseased cells containing the antigen(s). GlobeImmune's patented Tarmogen platform is believed to have a number of advantages over current approaches because Tarmogens generate a potent T cell response, are not neutralized by the host immune system upon repeated administration, do not require a custom vaccine approach and are simple to manufacture.

The Company's lead product, GI-5005, Tarmogen for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection, has completed a placebo-controlled, dose-escalation Phase Ib clinical trial and is currently undergoing a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II trial in combination with standard of care. GI-4000, a Tarmogen for the treatment of various mutated RAS-mediated cancers, is in a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase II trial for the treatment of patients wih resectable pancreatic cancer in combination with adjuvant Gemzar® and is in an open label Phase IIa trial for the consolidation treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with RAS mutations.

Other investors include: Adams Street Partners, Biogen-Idec, Boston Life Science Venture, Celgene, Eminent Venture Capital, Genentech, HealthCare Ventures, Medica Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Venture Partners, Sequel Venture Partners, Wexford Capital, WRF Capital, and Yasuda.

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals
Location: Boston, MA

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing orally-active small molecule therapeutics to treat serious blood disorders including hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell anemia and thalassemia), other anemias, and neutropenia. The company's lead compound, HQK-1001, is currently in Phase I development.

Hydra Biosciences
Location: Cambridge, MA

Hydra Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, develops novel drugs to treat pain, inflammation, cardiovascular and other diseases using its expertise in novel ion channels. Hydra's prioprietary high throughput screening platforms enable the company to identify and develop drug candidates that address significant unmet medical needs.

Hydra's ion channel drug discovery program is currently focused on channels implicated in pain, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Hydra's intellectual property portfolio, significant ion channel expertise, and flexible screening systems set it apart from other biopharmaceutical companies. Unlike classical sodium, calcium or potassium voltage-gated channels, Hydra's novel ion channels provide the potential to develop selective and safer ion channel drugs.

Other investors include: Abingworth, Advanced Technology Ventures, Biogen Idec, BioVentures Investors, Boston Medical Investors, New Enterprise Associates and Polaris Ventures.

Protagonist Therapeutics
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Protagonist is a biotechnology company developing novel therapeutics for inflammatory and metabolic conditions. Protagonist is focused on discovering small molecules and constrained peptides that mimic or inhibit interactions between proteins. The company’s discovery platform is a combination of innovative drug design and synthetic chemistry and is the source of its novel and proprietary pipeline of potential medicines. Protagonist’s research and development program is focused on addressing some of the world’s most critical health care needs, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, gastro-intestinal disorders and diabetes-related conditions.

Serenex (acquired by Pfizer, Inc., PFE:NYSE)
Location: Durham, NC

Serenex is an integrated oncology-focused drug discovery and development company whose mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by developing proprietary therapeutic and supportive care products. The Serenex pipeline includes SNX-5542 orally available small molecule inhibitor of Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90). Hsp90 is an important chaperone protein that regulates the folding and degradation of client proteins that play key roles in oncology, inflammatory diseases, fungal infection resistance, viruses and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Serenex uses its proprietary chemo-proteomics platform to build its internal development pipeline.

Other investors include: Intersouth Partners, Mediphase Venture Partners, MC Life Science Ventures, Pack-Link Bio Venture Capital, Pearl Street Ventures, Ritchie Capital Management, Seaflower Ventures and Takeda Research Investment.

Trinity Biosystems is developing a unique technology platform licensed from the NIH/NCI that is capable of transporting proteins, peptides and other macromolecules across intact mucosal barriers using endogenous epithelial cell pathways. The technology involves the production of recombinant protein chimeras comprised of a “vehicle” for targeted delivery, a non-toxic form of Pseudomonas exotoxin A, and the “payload”, the desired protein or peptide.

Other investors include: Amgen Ventures, Life Science Partners, Sanderling Ventures, S.R. One, Limited and Tenex Greenhouse Ventures.

XenoPort is a biopharmaceutical company focused on harnessing the body's intrinsic transport systems to improve the oral absorption, distribution and pharmacokinetics of drugs. XenoPort is developing internally discovered product candidates for central nervous disorders and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The company applies an integrated technology platform, consisting of transporter genomics, assay technology, and proprietary chemistries, to engineer drug molecules for active transport.

Other investors include: Arch Venture Partners, CMEA Ventures, Frazier & Co.,
HBM BioVentures, The Invus Group, Lotus BioScience Ventures, Lombard Odier & Cie, Novartis BioVentures Ltd., OrbiMed Advisors, Skyline Ventures and Venrock Associates.