Portfolio
Fund II
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Position
Co-investorBoard
MemberDalCor is developing precision treatments for cardiovascular disease by genetically targeting patients that will derive clinical benefits. The company’s first development program, dalcetrapib, is intended to reduce cardiovascular events in a genetically distinct subset of patients.
A pharmacogenomics analysis which was performed on 5,749 of the 17,000-patient dal-Outcomes study showed that patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) having an AA polymorphism at the rs1967309 location in the ADCY9 gene had significantly fewer cardiovascular events when treated with dalcetrapib, a CETP inhibitor, than with placebo. DalCor has secured a world-wide exclusive license from Roche for dalcetrapib together with rights to the ADCY9 genetic marker.
DalCor will sponsor the dal-GenE study, which is planned to include 5,000 patients to prospectively confirm the cardiovascular outcomes improvement seen in the genetic subpopulation of the dal-Outcomes study. The study will commence in the first half of 2016 and will be performed in over 30 countries.
In addition to the dal-GenE study, DalCor will sponsor additional research to investigate expanding the indications for which dalcetrapib could have clinical utility.
DalCor Pharmaceuticals has offices in Montreal, San Mateo, U.S.A., Zug, Switzerland and Stockport, U.K. -
Position
LeadBoard
PresidentFind Therapeutics is based on a set of novel technologies that capitalize on deciphering disease-modifying GPCR pharmacology: modulation by transmembrane peptides, precise ligand signalling, disease-contextual cellular systems and advanced molecular design. The company’s initial focus is inflammatory and fibrotic diseases of the airways, liver and gastrointestinal systems. CTI Life Sciences Fund, adMare BioInnovations and Domain Therapeutics launched Find Therapeutics in May 2020.
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Position
Co-InvestorBoard
Member & Interim CEOExit
Acquired by Odan Laboratories Ltd. in December 2020Ilkos Therapeutic Inc., is a Laval - based biopharmaceutical company incepted by CTI Life Sciences Fund II in collaboration with Laboratoires Servier (France) and FSTQ. Ilkos obtained a worldwide and exclusive licence from Laboratoires Servier for its novel clinical stage compound, S42909, indicated for the oral treatment of venous lower limb ulcers. The company was acquired by Odan Laboratories Ltd. in December 2020.
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Position
Co-InvestorBoard
MemberIMV Inc. (IMV), formerly Immunovaccine Inc., develops cancer immunotherapies and infectious disease vaccines based on the Company’s DepoVax(TM) platform, a patented formulation that provides controlled and prolonged exposure of antigens and adjuvant to the immune system. Immunovaccine has advanced two T cell activation therapies for cancer through Phase 1 human clinical trials and is currently conducting a Phase 2 study with its lead cancer vaccine therapy, DPX-Survivac, in recurrent lymphoma. DPX-Survivac is expected to enter additional Phase 2 clinical studies in ovarian cancer and glioblastoma (brain cancer). The Company is also advancing an infectious disease pipeline including innovative vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and anthrax.
This impressive collection of assets positions Immunovaccine with an advantageous growth strategy that leverages the unique attributes of DepoVax™ through the development of high-value internal vaccine candidates balanced with the upside of collaborative program advancement. -
Position
Co-Lead InvestorBoard
MemberPHEMI is an Innovative, ground-breaking data privacy solution that enables full data lifecycle management safely and securely. The PHEMI system is enabled by attribute-based access controls that ensure healthcare companies can utilize big data analytics without comprising the privacy and security of their data repositories. The company has a recurring revenue model with a high level of stickiness running on Microsoft Azure. PHEMI is led by industry thought leaders with more than 200 years of collective experience at disruptive software companies. The company is at inflection point for fast growth solving a compelling multi-billion-dollar data privacy problem across uses cases including data commons, precision medicine, & privacy enabled analytics.
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Position
Lead InvestorBoard
MemberPhenomic AI leverages computer vision and high-content screening to develop therapeutic antibodies against cancer and fibrosis. The company screens and develops their own therapeutic antibodies against these disease models with the goal of bringing ground-breaking drugs to the clinic for diseases like colorectal cancer. CTI Life Sciences Fund led the financing round for Phenomic AI in June 2020.
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Position
Co-investorBoard
MemberPreciThera, Inc. is a biotechnology company committed to the development of therapies for rare bone diseases using the combined application of computational technology and a deep understanding of disease pathology. The company focuses on heterogeneous genetic disorders that primarily manifest in bone dysfunction. Understanding of novel biology will allow PreciThera’s targeted strategies to meaningfully impact both the skeletal symptoms as well as the extraskeletal issues found in these patients.
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Position
Co-InvestorBoard
NoneThe Profound team is committed to the effort to achieve a new therapeutic standard in prostate cancer. For the millions of men currently living with prostate cancer, and the thousands more who are diagnosed with it every year, current treatment options often mean having to make difficult choices based on potential side effects that can significantly impact quality of life. The Company’s mission is to profoundly change the standard of care by creating a tomorrow where clinicians can confidently ablate cancerous prostate tissue with precision, while actively protecting critical anatomy from potential side effects; a tomorrow where patients have access to a safe, fast and effective treatment option, so they can quickly return to their daily lives.
Established in 2008, Profound is commercializing a novel technology, TULSA-PRO™, which combines real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging with transurethral, robotically-driven therapeutic ultrasound and closed-loop thermal feedback control that is designed to provide precise ablation of the prostate while simultaneously protecting critical surrounding anatomy from potential side effects. TULSA-PRO™ is CE Marked and FDA approved. -
Position
Co-InvestorBoard
AucunExit
IPO (Nasdaq) in June 2020Vaxcyte, Inc. (Vaxcyte) formerly SutroVax, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing vaccines for infectious disease targets with an initial emphasis on best-in-class conjugate vaccines and protein-based vaccines. Vaxcyte is an independent company that was spun out of Sutro Biopharma with an exclusive license to Sutro Biopharma’s Xpress CF™ platforms for cell free protein synthesis and site-specific conjugation. In addition to CTI Life Sciences Fund II, Vaxcyte is backed by leading investors including Abingworth, Longitude Capital, and Roche Venture Fund.
The company did an IPO (Nasdaq) in June 2020. -
Position
Co-InvestorBoard
ObserverVectivBio AG is a late clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on rare conditions with a well-defined biology that can be targeted with transformational therapeutics. VectivBio was formed in 2019 as a spinout from Therachon, a biotechnology company acquired by Pfizer for its program in achondroplasia. The company is drawing on the expertise of its founders as it continues building a portfolio of rare disease medicines while advancing its lead program for Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) with Apraglutide which has the potential to be a best-in-class treatment.
Apraglutide program was part of GlyPharma Therapeutic Inc. (a Fund I portfolio company) acquired by Therachon in October 2018. -
Specialty
Infectious DiseaseStage
Early stagePosition
Co-InvestorBoard
BOD Observer until August 2018Exit
Acquired by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in August 2018Visterra was a clinical stage biotechnology company committed to developing innovative antibody-based therapies for the treatment of patients with kidney diseases and other hard-to-treat diseases. Visterra’s Hierotope platform, comprised of novel computational and experimental technologies, enables the design and engineering of precision antibody-based therapies that specifically bind to, and modulate, disease targets that are not adequately addressed by current technologies in antibody therapeutics. Visterra also used its novel Hierotope™ platform to identify unique disease targets and to design and engineer innovative antibody-based therapies intended to be effective as a single-dose administration. Visterra’s technology enabled the design and engineering of product candidates which target a specific region of an antigen, or Hierotope. Visterra’s pipeline includes programs targeting IgA nephropathy and other kidney diseases, cancer, chronic pain and infectious diseases with its lead product candidate, VIS410, was a human monoclonal antibody being developed for the treatment of hospitalized patients with influenza A, regardless of viral strain. The company was acquired by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in August 2018.
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Position
Lead InvestorBoard
BOD Member until April 2017Exit
IPO (NYSE) in May 2017Zymeworks is a computational biotechnology company researching and developing next-generation protein therapeutics. Zymeworks leverages proprietary insight into structure-function relationships generated by its platforms to optimize the efficacy and potency of protein therapeutics. Zymeworks is focused on developing a biotherapeutics pipeline through strategic collaborations and internal research programs. The company did an IPO (NYSE) in May 2017.