Out Of The Blocks, January 2013
Executive Summary
Brief profiles of these recently formed companies: Guided Interventions, NeRRE Therapeutics, Silicon Valley Biosystems, Solstice Biologics, StemPar Sciences, and Stimwave Technologies.
[Guided Interventions LLC]
c/o GLIDE
151 Innovation Drive
Suite 210
Elyria, OH 44035
Phone: (440) 366-4310
Guided Interventions aims to help cardiologists better assess the physiological impact of coronary artery blockages. Its novel fractional flow reserve guidewire is designed to provide an easier, more effective and more affordable way to obtain FFR measurements during coronary catheterization procedures. Cardiologist and device industry veteran Matthew Pollman, MD, is CEO. JumpStart Inc. recently invested $250,000 in the start-up.
c/o Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst
Gunnels Wood Road
Stevenage, Herts SG1 2FX, UK
Phone: +39 348 2690238
NeRRe Therapeutics has been launched by former researchers at GlaxoSmithKline’s discontinued neurosciences discovery unit. It has acquired a portfolio of neurokinin receptor antagonists from GSK and will develop them for undisclosed indications, with Phase II trials of its lead candidate slated for this year. Emiliangelo Ratti, PhD, is CEO and Mike Trower, PhD, is CSO of the start-up, which raised a £11.5 million Series A from GSK, Novo AS, and Advent Venture Partners.
950 Tower Lane
11th Floor
Foster City, CA 94404
Phone 650-265-6909
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.svbio.com
Silicon Valley Biosystems aims to provide rapid and accurate clinical interpretation of comprehensive genomics data at the point of care. Its genomics translation platform is designed to distill biological data into clinical reports to guide physicians’ decisions. Sequoia Capital is backing the start-up, which was founded and is led by Dietrich A. Stephan, PhD, who previously founded Navigenics and more recently was the executive director of the Gene Partnership at Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston.
1700 Owens Street
Suite 595
San Diego, CA 94158
Phone: (415) 800-0800
Solstice Biologics is focused on solving the delivery problems of nucleic acid therapeutics, with small, cell-permeable pro-drug technology that enables RNA molecules to cross membranes of multiple cell type. The start-up’s platform comes from Steven Dowdy, PhD, at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Solstice raised an $18 million Series A from venBio and Aeris Capital.
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: (415)264-6223
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.stempar.com
StemPar will develop quinone-based compounds that induce programmed necrosis in cancerous cells. Its lead program comprises a novel therapeutic agent that targets an enzyme frequently expressed at high levels by tumors, and impacts tumor cell metabolism by what the company describes as a well-understood and unique mechanism of action. President and CEO Barry Sherman, MD, was Genentech’s first CMO; most recently he was EVP Development and a co-founder of BiPar Sciences. Troika Venture Capital is backing the start-up.
9375 East Shea Boulevard
Suite 147
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Phone: (480) 371-7991
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.stimwave.com
Stimwave is developing wirelessly powered microimplantable stimulators to provide pain relief. The company’s first neuromodulation device is designed for patients suffering from chronic back and leg pain. Laura Tyler Perryman founded the company and is its CEO. Angel and individual investors provided Stimwave’s $1.75 million Series A round.