Atlas Venture

Diagonal Therapeutics Launches with $128 Million in Financing to Pioneer a New Approach to Discovering and Developing Agonist Antibodies to Tackle the Underlying Causes of Severely Debilitating Diseases

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, Telangiectasia, Biotechnology, Blood, Disease, Atlas, Patient, Lung, Stroke, Viking Global Investors, Death, Artery, Chiari malformation, Rupture, Intraparenchymal hemorrhage, Heart failure, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Therapy, TGF, Antibody, Bleeding, Heart, Pharmacology, Unified school district, HHT, PAH, Atlas Venture, Pulmonary hypertension, Pharmaceutical industry

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diagonal Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new approach to discovering and developing agonist antibodies, launched today with $128 million in financing. The Series A was co-led by BVF Partners and Atlas Venture, with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, RA Capital Management, Frazier Life Sciences, Viking Global Investors, Velosity Capital, and Checkpoint Capital. Diagonal was co-founded by Chief Executive Officer, Alex Lugovskoy, Ph.D., and Atlas and previously seeded by Atlas, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Velosity Capital. The financing will support further advancement of the company’s proprietary DIAGONAL platform and pipeline of novel therapeutics to value-creating milestones, including its lead program for the treatment of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a severely debilitating bleeding disorder with limited therapeutic options, through clinical proof-of-concept. Diagonal's agonist antibody activates a receptor complex in the TGF-β superfamily genetically impaired in HHT patients. In preclinical models of HHT, Diagonal's agonist antibodies prevent and reverse the formation of pathological vascular malformations.

Key Points: 
  • Diagonal was co-founded by Alex Lugovskoy, Ph.D., and Atlas and previously seeded by Atlas, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Velosity Capital.
  • CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diagonal Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new approach to discovering and developing agonist antibodies, launched today with $128 million in financing.
  • Diagonal was co-founded by Chief Executive Officer, Alex Lugovskoy, Ph.D., and Atlas and previously seeded by Atlas, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Velosity Capital.
  • In preclinical models of HHT, Diagonal's agonist antibodies prevent and reverse the formation of pathological vascular malformations.

Inventiva announces the nomination of Andre Turenne as Director

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Business, Kalamazoo College, Tuck School of Business, Business development, Therapy, Fatty liver disease, Euronext Paris, NASH, Match point, Atlas Venture, Management

Frédéric Cren, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and cofounder of Inventiva: “We are extremely pleased that our Board of Directors has proposed the appointment of Andre.

Key Points: 
  • Frédéric Cren, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and cofounder of Inventiva: “We are extremely pleased that our Board of Directors has proposed the appointment of Andre.
  • We look forward to welcoming Andre as the newest member of our Board of Directors.”
    Mr. Turenne has more than 20 years of global experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Prior to joining Matchpoint, Mr. Turenne served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Voyager Therapeutics.
  • Andre Turenne, non-executive director nominee: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the Board of Directors of Inventiva, which is at a pivotal stage in its clinical program in NASH.

Obsidian Therapeutics Announces Oversubscribed $160.5 Million Series C Financing to Drive OBX-115 Clinical Development

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Biotechnology, Health, Genetics, Clinical Trials, Oncology, Janus, Growth, Novo Holdings A/S, NSCLC, TIL, Patient, Wellington Management Company, Paradigm, Foresite Capital, Bristol Myers Squibb, Lung cancer, Doctor of Philosophy, Therapy, Melanoma, Investment, Atlas Venture, Pharmaceutical industry

Obsidian Therapeutics, Inc. , a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering engineered cell and gene therapies, today announced it has closed a significantly oversubscribed $160.5 million Series C financing with a top-tier syndicate of life science investors led by new investor, Wellington Management.

Key Points: 
  • Obsidian Therapeutics, Inc. , a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering engineered cell and gene therapies, today announced it has closed a significantly oversubscribed $160.5 million Series C financing with a top-tier syndicate of life science investors led by new investor, Wellington Management.
  • Proceeds from the financing will advance Obsidian’s lead engineered tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) program, OBX-115, in its ongoing trials for patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • The Company is focused on enrolling patients and reaching key clinical and regulatory milestones, as well as manufacturing scale-up ahead of pivotal trial readiness.
  • “This financing provides funding through key clinical readouts in melanoma and is the catalyst to continue expanding OBX-115 into NSCLC, where there is significant potential and high unmet need.”

Rapport Therapeutics Appoints Pioneering Industry Leader John Maraganore to Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Biotechnology, Neurology, Mental Health, Health, Pharmaceutical, Principal, RAPS, University, Science, Atlas, ARCH Venture Partners, Drug discovery, Patient, Biogen, Molecular biology, Senior advisor, Biochemistry, Therapy, DSM-IV codes, RNA interference, Atlas Venture, Multimedia, Third Rock Ventures, Takeda Oncology, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Pharmaceutical industry

Rapport Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging the science of receptor-associated proteins (RAPs) to advance precision neuromedicines, today announced the appointment of John Maraganore, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors.

Key Points: 
  • Rapport Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging the science of receptor-associated proteins (RAPs) to advance precision neuromedicines, today announced the appointment of John Maraganore, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240319245625/en/
    “As Rapport sets out to build a leading precision neuroscience company, we are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Maraganore join our board,” said Abraham Ceesay, Chief Executive Officer of Rapport.
  • “John is among a few visionary leaders who have guided a new modality from concept to a dynamic platform for drug discovery.
  • Dr. Maraganore served as founding CEO of Alnylam from 2002 to 2021, where he led the development of a novel class of medicines, referred to as RNAi therapeutics.

Comanche Biopharma Closes Oversubscribed $75 Million Series B Financing to Advance Mission to Develop and Make Globally Available the First Treatment Targeting a Root Cause of Preeclampsia

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Death, Commissioner, Woman, Placenta, Patient, Intensive care medicine, Pre-eclampsia, Incidence, GV, Health, LAV, Series, Seizure, Nobel, Survivor, Stroke, New Enterprise Associates, Atlas, Small RNA, Medicine, Infant, Atlas Venture, Place of birth, Risk, Food, Pregnancy, Disease, Safety, FDA, Therapy, Capital, GV (company), Venture round, Eli Lilly and Company, Population health, NEA, Diagnosis, Trial of the century, Physician, Growth, Dietary supplement

Preeclampsia is a prevalent and serious pregnancy complication that affects approximately 10 million women globally each year.

Key Points: 
  • Preeclampsia is a prevalent and serious pregnancy complication that affects approximately 10 million women globally each year.
  • It can lead to serious complications for both the mother and the baby, including multi-organ damage, seizures, and premature birth.
  • Currently, delivery of the baby, often very prematurely, is the only available option for stopping the progression of preeclampsia.
  • Scott Johnson, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at Comanche Biopharma, commented, “We are thrilled to have the support and validation of this top-tier investor syndicate.

Ginkgo Bioworks Announces Inaugural Members of New Biopharma Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 8, 2024
Commercial, Boehringer Ingelheim, DNA, Cancer, Investment, Novartis, SVP, Fermentation, Beam, Atlas, Kite Pharma, RNA interference, Sensible, Drug discovery, AbbVie, Invention, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Eli Lilly, MBA, HIV, Merck, Therapy, Creativity, Epidemiology, RNA, GSK plc, DARPA, Process, WARF, Johnson & Johnson, Movement, Ginkgo Bioworks, Novo Nordisk, AI, Atlas Venture, AAV, Patient, Medicine, Synthetic biology, Senior, M28, Acquisition, BIO, MD, Doctor of Philosophy, Eli Lilly and Company, Hematology, Growth, Avantor, Infection, Pharmaceutical industry

BOSTON, Jan. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced the formation of its new Biopharma Advisory Board.

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON, Jan. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced the formation of its new Biopharma Advisory Board.
  • "The discovery and development of new medicines is critically important and incredibly challenging," said Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks.
  • "I'm excited to welcome this incredible deep bench of wisdom and creativity to the Ginkgo family," said Jennifer Wipf, SVP & Head of Commercial at Ginkgo Bioworks.
  • Now more than ever, the speed of drug discovery and development is important," said Norbert Bischofberger, Ginkgo Biopharma Advisory Board member.

Scorpion Therapeutics Appoints Adam Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer and Expands Leadership Team

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Oncology, Health, General Health, Research, Science, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Atlas Venture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Atlas, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Food, Medicine, Princeton University, AstraZeneca, Drug development, Georgetown University, Marketing, Drug, Molecular biology, Black Majesty, Disease, Strategic management, Pediatrics, Therapy, Neoplasm, Senior, Stanford University, Brandeis University, Cancer, Business development, Doctor of Philosophy, Growth, Patient, Corporate development, Gilead Sciences, Boston, Harvard Medical School, Food and Drug Administration, Corporation, AbbVie, Pharmaceutical industry

In addition, the Company named Jeff Albers as Executive Chair and member of the Board of Directors.

Key Points: 
  • In addition, the Company named Jeff Albers as Executive Chair and member of the Board of Directors.
  • Mr. Albers currently serves as board chairman at Blueprint Medicines and board director at Kymera Therapeutics and Spyre Therapeutics.
  • Mark Chao, M.D., Ph.D., has been named Chief Medical Officer and Erica Jackson, Ph.D., has been promoted to Chief Discovery Officer.
  • Dr. Chao joins Scorpion from TenSixteen Bio, a precision therapeutics company where he served as Co-Founder and CEO.

Deka Biosciences Adds Industry Veterans to its Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Atlas Venture, Therapeutic index, Atlas, Yale University, Cytokine, Science, Drug discovery, Medical school, Sutro Biopharma, Research, Chemistry, BeiGene, Tislelizumab, Acquisition, EGFR, File, Inflammation, Physician, Juno Therapeutics, MBA, College, Blinatumomab, Therapy, Columbia University, Lisocabtagene maraleucel, Cancer, University, Head, Feinberg School of Medicine, BMS, Harvard College, Surgeon, Medicine, Biogen, FACP, Pharmaceutical industry

GERMANTOWN, Md., Dec. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deka Biosciences ("Deka") today announced the appointments of Stanley Frankel, M.D., FACP, as senior clinical advisor, interim chief medical officer and scientific advisory board member, and Stuart Chaffee, Ph.D. as an independent director and chairman of the Board. Deka is a privately held biotech company developing next-generation cytokine therapies to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases based on a patient's individual immune response. Deka's lead asset, DK210 (EGFR), is currently being evaluated for the treatment of multiple solid tumors in a Phase 1 clinical trial.

Key Points: 
  • Deka is a privately held biotech company developing next-generation cytokine therapies to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases based on a patient's individual immune response.
  • Dr. Frankel joins Deka as a hematologist-oncologist with over 20 years of industry experience, including the research, clinical development, and commercialization of immuno-oncology and cellular therapies.
  • He is a non-executive director at Precision Biosciences and a member of the board of directors at Myeloid Therapeutics.
  • Earlier in his career, Dr. Chaffee served in several roles at Biogen across finance, business development, program leadership, and corporate strategy.

Aiolos Bio Strengthens and Expands Leadership Team with Key Appointments

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Health, Other Science, Clinical Trials, Research, Science, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, COPD, Atlas Venture, Entrepreneurship, DBV Technologies, Rockefeller University, Investment, PD, Respiratory system, Patient, Strategic planning, Element, Doctor of Philosophy, M&A, Galvani Bioelectronics, GSK, MedImmune, Caregiver, Atopic dermatitis, R, Publishing, Atlas, McKinsey & Company, Asthma, Pharmaceutical industry, Neuroscience, Aeolus, Genentech

“We are delighted to welcome René and Tapan as key members of our leadership team at this exciting time for the Company as we prepare to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial for our lead drug candidate, AIO-001, in moderate-to-severe asthma patients,” said Khurem Farooq, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aiolos Bio.

Key Points: 
  • “We are delighted to welcome René and Tapan as key members of our leadership team at this exciting time for the Company as we prepare to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial for our lead drug candidate, AIO-001, in moderate-to-severe asthma patients,” said Khurem Farooq, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aiolos Bio.
  • “I’m thrilled to be joining the talented team at Aiolos Bio,” said Dr. Van der Merwe.
  • We look forward to presenting and publishing data in 2024.” Dr. Van der Merwe will join Aiolos Bio effective January 2,2024.
  • He joins Aiolos Bio from Bain Capital Life Sciences where he led and managed investments across therapeutic areas.

Inductive Bio Emerges from Stealth, Unveiling an ML Platform to Accelerate Compound Optimization in Drug Discovery

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Meetup, Character, Lux Capital, ADMET, Therapy, QSAR, Data, Patient, Algorithm, Atlas Venture, Machine learning, Absorption, Flatiron, Drug discovery, Hand, Roche, Pain, ADME, Atlas, Metabolism, SVP, Genentech, Pharmaceutical industry, Induction, Venture, Toxicity

NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Inductive Bio, a technology company developing a machine learning (ML) platform designed to dramatically accelerate the compound optimization process, emerged from stealth today with $4.3M in funding.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Inductive Bio, a technology company developing a machine learning (ML) platform designed to dramatically accelerate the compound optimization process, emerged from stealth today with $4.3M in funding.
  • Their seed round was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Bio + Health and Lux Capital, with participation from Character, Bessemer Venture Partners, Alleycorp, and others.
  • Inductive Bio was co-founded by Josh Haimson and Ben Birnbaum who had previously built out the ML organization at Flatiron Health, which was acquired by Roche in 2018.
  • Denali has integrated custom ADME models from Inductive into their small molecule drug design platform to support rapid, data-driven decision making.