Polaris Partners

Capstan Therapeutics Announces $175M Oversubscribed Series B Financing

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Science, Other Science, Biotechnology, Research, Pharmaceutical, Oncology, General Health, Health, Polaris Partners, Cell, General partnership, Venture round, RNA, Messenger, Bristol Myers Squibb, MBA, Bayer, Therapy, OrbiMed, Immune system, Eli Lilly and Company, Series, Investment, Blood, Vaccine

Capstan Therapeutics, Inc. (“Capstan”), a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing in vivo reprogramming of cells through RNA delivery using targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNP), today announced the successful closing of a $175M oversubscribed Series B financing.

Key Points: 
  • Capstan Therapeutics, Inc. (“Capstan”), a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing in vivo reprogramming of cells through RNA delivery using targeted lipid nanoparticles (tLNP), today announced the successful closing of a $175M oversubscribed Series B financing.
  • The Series B financing was led by RA Capital Management, with participation from new investors Forbion, Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC, Mubadala Capital, Perceptive Advisors, and Sofinnova Investments.
  • The proceeds from the Series B financing will be used to advance CPTX2309, Capstan’s lead in vivo chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) candidate, to early clinical proof-of-concept in autoimmune disorders, and to further develop Capstan’s tLNP pipeline.
  • “This Series B financing brings together an exceptional syndicate of investors that recognize the potential of Capstan’s in vivo CAR-T technology,” said Laura Shawver, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Capstan.

Paratus Sciences Appoints Theresa Heah, M.D., M.B.A. as Chief Executive Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Therapy, Ophthalmology, ESMT, Biotechnology, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inflammation, Management, Drug development, Bayer, Drug discovery, Polaris Partners, European School, University, Intergalactic, Disease, Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, AAV, Human, Pharmaceutical industry

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Heah assume the helm at Paratus,” said Amir Nashat, Executive Partner of Polaris Partners, chair of Paratus’s Board of Directors and the company’s founding CEO.

Key Points: 
  • “We are thrilled to have Dr. Heah assume the helm at Paratus,” said Amir Nashat, Executive Partner of Polaris Partners, chair of Paratus’s Board of Directors and the company’s founding CEO.
  • “Theresa brings a tremendous wealth of experience as a seasoned pharma and biotech executive, having spearheaded the development and commercialization of multiple innovative therapies.
  • She most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Intergalactic Therapeutics, a non-viral gene therapy platform company.
  • Under Amir’s leadership, Paratus has made important progress advancing this premise into a state-of-the-art R&D engine.

ByHeart Appoints Amy Schulman as Chair of the Board of Directors, Further Solidifying its Position as a Leader in the Infant Nutrition Category

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
International Advisory Council, Love, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Doctor of Philosophy, Food safety, MD, Health, Female, Polaris Partners, Parent, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mullane, Food, Entrepreneurship, Quality control, Action Against Hunger, Safety, Chairperson, Infant, Family, Biomedical sciences, Hunger, Science, Chair, Harvard Business School, Polaris, Target, Management

NEW YORK, March 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Today, ByHeart, the next-generation baby nutrition company, announced the appointment of Amy Schulman, managing partner at Polaris partners, as Chair of the Board. A stalwart supporter of ByHeart since its inception, Schulman's designation signifies a pivotal moment for the company as it experiences momentous growth and solidifies its position as an industry leader.

Key Points: 
  • "Amy's insights and passion for health innovation and social impact align with ByHeart's mission," said ByHeart Co-Founder and CEO Ron Belldegrun.
  • "We chose Amy as the Chair because of her extensive track record in life sciences and infant nutrition.
  • "I have been a staunch supporter of ByHeart from its early days, and I am honored to now chair their board," said Schulman.
  • ByHeart remains dedicated to advancing infant nutrition through science, innovation and a commitment to excellence.

Matter Neuroscience Secures $26M in Funding to Cure Unhappiness

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Neuroimaging, DEPT, Happiness, Diagnosis, Anxiety, Mental health, Interventional radiology, Emotion, Research, Biomedical engineering, Professor, Collaborative Fund, Capitalism, Polaris Partners, Capital, Imaging, Neurology, Risk, Trial of the century, Health, Human Brain Project, Medical imaging, Brain mapping, ARCH, Bayer, Bouchon, Maastricht University, Biological engineering, Psychiatry, Science, Magnetic resonance, ARCH Venture Partners, Good Worldwide, Addiction, Brain, Depression

NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Matter Neuroscience, the company working to unlock a deeper understanding of happiness and well-being by providing people with personalized insights into their brain chemistry emerges from stealth mode today. Matter announced it has received $26 million in funding, initial funding seeded by Polaris Partners and a more recent round co-led by ARCH Venture Partners, Polaris Partners, and Exor Ventures, and joined by Collaborative Fund and others. With this backing, Matter will bolster its efforts to pioneer solutions that address the unhappiness epidemic by transforming our understanding and management of mental well-being.

Key Points: 
  • With this backing, Matter will bolster its efforts to pioneer solutions that address the unhappiness epidemic by transforming our understanding and management of mental well-being.
  • Together with its collaboration partners, Matter Neuroscience will initiate three more clinical studies in 2024.
  • Matter also offers users access to educational materials and a lecture series on the neuroscience of happiness.
  • Matter Neuroscience was co-founded in 2019 with Ben Goldhirsh of GOOD Worldwide and the Goldhirsh Foundation, and Chris Shiflett of Faculty and Brooklyn Beta.

Freenome Raises $254 Million in New Funding to Accelerate its Platform for Early Cancer Detection

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024
ARK, Pura, SAN, American Cancer Society, Biotechnology, Roche, Valerio Vallania, Cancer, Liquid biopsy, RWD, Polaris Partners, Lung, Computational biology, Quest Diagnostics, Patient, Section 32, MRD, Disease, Machine learning, DGX, Investment, Smoker, Medical imaging

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Freenome, a biotechnology company developing blood tests for early cancer detection, announced the addition of $254 million from new and existing investors. The funding enables Freenome to advance the pipeline of single-cancer and tailored multi-cancer early detection tests built on its multiomics platform.

Key Points: 
  • The funding enables Freenome to advance the pipeline of single-cancer and tailored multi-cancer early detection tests built on its multiomics platform.
  • Together, we share a commitment to addressing the pressing need for better cancer screening solutions as we drive to make early cancer detection more convenient, accessible and actionable for everyone," said Mike Nolan, chief executive officer of Freenome.
  • "With this financing, we are well positioned to realize the full potential of our platform in delivering tests for early cancer detection."
  • Enabling wider access to early cancer screening means helping patients receive timely information that can lead to better outcomes.

AVROBIO and Tectonic Therapeutic Announce Merger

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Genetics, Clinical Trials, Biotechnology, Other Health, Health, Pharmaceutical, General Health, Other Science, Science, Pulmonary hypertension, Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, Heart failure, Venture, Mergers and acquisitions, Patient, HHT, GPCR, Drug discovery, Concept, Biochemistry, Polaris Partners, Anemia, Harvard Medical School, Biophysics, Drug development, Disease, Bleeding, Fibrosis, Farallon Capital, Biology, G protein-coupled receptor, AVRO

AVROBIO, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVRO) and Tectonic Therapeutic, Inc. (“Tectonic”), a privately-held biotechnology company developing GPCR (G-protein coupled receptor)-targeted therapeutic proteins, co-founded by Timothy A. Springer and Andrew C. Kruse of Harvard Medical School, today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction (the “Merger”).

Key Points: 
  • AVROBIO, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVRO) and Tectonic Therapeutic, Inc. (“Tectonic”), a privately-held biotechnology company developing GPCR (G-protein coupled receptor)-targeted therapeutic proteins, co-founded by Timothy A. Springer and Andrew C. Kruse of Harvard Medical School, today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine in an all-stock transaction (the “Merger”).
  • Under the terms of the agreement, AVROBIO will acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Tectonic.
  • The private placement is expected to close in conjunction with the Merger in the second quarter of 2024.
  • “We are delighted to merge with AVROBIO at this important time for Tectonic.

Cohere Health Raises $50 Million in Equity to Meet Increased Demand for AI-Driven Transformation of Prior Authorization Process

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Traction, Growth, Medicare, AI, Patient, Polaris Partners, Health, Flare, Privacy, CMS, Prior authorization, Pharmaceutical industry

BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohere Health, a recognized leader in clinical intelligence and prior authorization automation, announced it has closed $50 million in additional equity funding. The funding was led by Deerfield Management, with participation from Define Ventures, Flare Capital Partners, Longitude Capital, and Polaris Partners, and brings the total raised by Cohere to $106 million. The latest round of funding will fuel the company's expansion to meet the increasing demand for Cohere's intelligent prior authorization platform.

Key Points: 
  • New funding propels Cohere's expansion of intelligent prior authorization platform to drive better payer-provider collaboration, following CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule
    BOSTON, Feb. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cohere Health , a recognized leader in clinical intelligence and prior authorization automation, announced it has closed $50 million in additional equity funding.
  • The latest round of funding will fuel the company's expansion to meet the increasing demand for Cohere's intelligent prior authorization platform.
  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Interoperability and Prior Authorization rule , finalized this January, will require health plan investment in advanced technology to ensure compliance with federal prior authorization requirements.
  • Currently, Cohere serves five health plans, processing 5.5 million intelligent prior authorizations annually for more than 15 million health plan members and 420,000 healthcare providers nationally.

Fairview Capital Promotes Alan Mattamana and Aakar Vachhani to Managing Partner

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Finance, Foundation, Other Philanthropy, Professional Services, Philanthropy, SVKM's NMIMS, Research, Bentley University, B.S.E, Multimedia, McKinsey & Company, Partnership, Princeton University, Consultant, Partner, Software, MBA, Kellogg School, Cambridge Associates, Partner (business rank), Harvard Business School, NASA, Goldman Sachs, Capital, Polaris Partners, Telecommunications, Lead, Entrepreneurship, Chemical engineering, Growth, Security (finance)

Fairview Capital today proudly announces the promotion of Alan Mattamana and Aakar Vachhani to Managing Partner, effective January 1, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • Fairview Capital today proudly announces the promotion of Alan Mattamana and Aakar Vachhani to Managing Partner, effective January 1, 2024.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117408373/en/
    Fairview Capital Promotes Alan Mattamana to Managing Partner.
  • The firm has built on its rich legacy and has been consistent in its dedication to outperformance, diversity, innovation, and excellence," said Alan Mattamana, Managing Partner of Fairview Capital.
  • This promotion is a testament to the open, collaborative and forward-thinking culture at Fairview,” said Aakar Vachhani, Managing Partner of Fairview Capital.

UpDoc Debuts the World's First AI Assistant That Manages Medication Prescriptions and Chronic Conditions

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 5, 2024
Cloud, Patient, Azure, Google Cloud, Stanford University, Doctor of Pharmacy, Microsoft, RPI, UCSF Medical Center, Health care, American Heart Association, Physician, Research, Health literacy, Microsoft Band, Conditional sentence, Diabetes, Health, MD, Prescription, Medicine, Health equity, Polaris Partners, Standard of care, Eli Lilly and Company, Remote patient monitoring, RPM, Perception, Mayo Clinic, JAMA Network Open, Stanford University Medical Center, Organization, Corporation, Medical device

UpDoc aims to deliver a clinician-directed AI provider to every patient's home through accessible technology that improves access to high quality, affordable care.

Key Points: 
  • UpDoc aims to deliver a clinician-directed AI provider to every patient's home through accessible technology that improves access to high quality, affordable care.
  • All care delivered through the AI is prescribed by physicians or clinical pharmacists who oversee the platform.
  • By scaling provider reach, the AI assistant is also designed to improve efficiency and reduce clinical burnout.
  • We are eager to see what opportunities AI can offer in helping patients make sense of their medications and better manage their health."

Harvey J. Berger, M.D. Joins Kojin Therapeutics as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Oncology, Health, Genetics, General Health, Clinical Trials, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Ferroptosis, Immunology, Cameron Boyce, Broad Institute, Drug discovery, Autoimmune disease, Science, Virology, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Research, Chemical biology, MIT, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Apoptosis, Conditional sentence, Yale School of Medicine, Bayer, Yang, Therapy, Cancer, Investment, Polaris Partners, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Medicine, Harvard University, Yale New Haven Hospital, Scripps Research, Patient, Cardiovascular disease, Colgate University, Harvard Medical School, Organization, Yale school, Wolf Prize, Pharmaceutical industry

Kojin Therapeutics, Inc., a pioneer in cell-state and ferroptosis biology and cutting-edge drug discovery, today announced the appointment of Harvey J. Berger, M.D.

Key Points: 
  • Kojin Therapeutics, Inc., a pioneer in cell-state and ferroptosis biology and cutting-edge drug discovery, today announced the appointment of Harvey J. Berger, M.D.
  • as its new chairman, president, and chief executive officer.
  • He founded ARIAD Pharmaceuticals and led the company from a start-up to a fully integrated global oncology company.
  • Kojin co-founder Professor Stuart Schreiber stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Berger, a long-time colleague and collaborator, as Kojin’s new chief executive.