Clarus Ventures

Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN)

Achillion is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel, small molecule inhibitors targeting infectious disease. Pipeline programs include a first-in-class HCV replicase inhibitor partnered with Gilead and an HCV protease inhibitor. Additional drug candidates target treatment of HIV and bacterial infections.

Achillion Website

• 02.16.2012 Virology Profile Following Treatment With ACH-1625 Discussed in Oral Presentation at 2012 Asian Pacific Liver Conference
• 02.03.2012 Achillion Announces Executive Promotion
• 01.08.2012 Achillion Reports Clinical Data on Portfolio of Protease Inhibitor
• 10.13.2011 Achillion Announces Nomination of Second Generation NS5A Inhibitor for the Treatment of Hepatitis C
• 10.03.2011 Achillion to Present Updated Clinical and Preclinical Data at AASLD
• 09.22.2011 Achillion to Present at the JMP Healthcare Conference

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Aerie Pharmaceuticals is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel treatments for glaucoma. Aerie’s internal research and development engine has generated an innovative glaucoma pipeline. In addition to AR-12286, the Company’s Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, the pipeline includes AR-13165, a novel product candidate with a dual mechanism of action that represents the first of a new proprietary class of glaucoma drugs. AR-13165 is currently in preclinical, IND-enabling studies.

Aerie Website

Aerovance, Inc.

Aerovance, Inc. is focused on the development and commercialization of biologics for respiratory and inflammatory diseases. The company has several clinical development programs in progress around two novel compounds, an IL4/13 receptor antagonist and a serine protease inhibitor. In May 2006 Aerovance secured $60 million in a financing led by Clarus Ventures.

Aerovance Website

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNR)

Avanir Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:AVNR) is focused on developing, acquiring and commercializing novel therapeutic products for the treatment of chronic diseases. Avanir’s products and product candidates address therapeutic markets that include central nervous system disorders, inflammation, and infectious disease. Zenvia™ is Avanir's lead product candidate for the treatment of pseudobulbar affect (PBA), also known as involuntary emotional expression disorder (IEED).

Avanir Website

Biolex Therapeutics, Inc.

Biolex is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops hard-to-make therapeutic proteins and optimizes monoclonal antibodies in a proprietary plant-based expression system. The company’s product candidates target superior efficacy/tolerability profiles and address large, proven pharmaceutical markets. Biolex’s lead product candidate, Locteron®, a once-every-two-week controlled release formulation of interferon alpha, is in Phase 2 clinical testing for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Biolex Website

• 11.18.2011 Biolex presents Phase 2B results at EASL showing Reduced rates of Depression in HCV Patients treated with Locteron

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Catabasis is an early stage biopharmaceutical company led by experienced entrepreneurs that is developing NCEs that incorporate, and amplify the beneficial effects of, OMEGA-3 fatty acids. It is advancing multiple proprietary small molecule candidates for the treatment of metabolic disease and inflammation.

Catabasis Website

• 12.13.2011 Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Announces $8 Million Series A Extension Financing
• 11.18.2011 Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Promotes Michael Curtis, Ph.D., to Senior Vice President, Product Development and Regulatory Affairs
• 10.05.2011 Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Lead Compound CAT-1004

Cleave Biosciences

Cleave Biosciences is an early stage oncology therapeutics company focused on novel targets in cellular protein homeostasis pathways. Controlled largely by two distinct systems – the ubiquitin proteasome system and the autophagy system, these pathways are utilized by cancer cells for their growth and survival. 

The company secured a $42M Series A investment in October 2011.

Cleave Website

• 11.15.2011 Cleave Biosciences Raises Additional $2 Million in Series A Financing

CoMentis, Inc.

CoMentis, Inc. is engaged in the discovery and development of small-molecule drugs to treat neurovascular disease indications, such as Alzheimer’s disease, AMD and cognitive disorders.  The company has two fundamental technology platforms:  (i) beta-secretase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease; and (ii) nACh receptor agonists and antagonists for the treatment of angiogenesis mediated diseases and cognitive disorders.

CoMentis Website

Delenex Therapeutics

Delenex Therapeutics AG is a Swiss biotech company developing antibody fragments for local/topical treatment of chronic and systemic treatment of acute diseases. Delenex was spun-off from ESBATech before its acquisition by Alcon in September 2009

Delenex Website

• 09.01.2011 Delenex completes its Management

Edev

Edev is a special purpose vehicle that has entered into an R&D project financing relationship with an undisclosed pharma company to finance multiple Phase 3 clinical trials for additional indications of an already-approved drug.

ESBATech AG aquired by Alcon in September 2009

Privately-held ESBATech AG is a Zurich, Switzerland based drug discovery and development company focused on advancing antibody fragments for therapeutic applications.

ESBATech Website

FerroKin Biosciences, Inc.

FerroKin Biosciences Inc., a San Carlos, Calif.-based company, is developing an iron chelator for the treatment of iron-overload in patients with transfusion-dependent hereditary and acquired refractory anemias. Clarus Ventures has co-invested with Burrill & Co. and Celgene Inc.

Ferrokin Website

Globus Medical, Inc.

Globus Medical, Inc. is focused on the development of products that enable spine surgeons to employ both fusion and non-fusion solutions to promote healing in patients with spinal disorders. Today Globus is one of the fastest growing spinal implant companies in the world and a recognized leader in the development of motion sparing technology.

Globus Website

• 12.16.2011 Globus Medical Strengthens Executive Team
• 10.28.2011 Globus Medical to Highlight New MIS and Deformity Products at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting
• 10.20.2011 Globus Medical and SMISS Announce New Patient Outcomes Registry

Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd.

Heptares is a drug discovery company focused on the discovery of novel small-molecule drugs targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The Company is deploying its proprietary StaR™ technology principally against highly validated but currently difficult or intractable GPCR targets in several disease areas.

Heptares Website

• 01.25.2012 Heptares Scientists Report First use of Structure Based Drug Design
• 01.25.2012 Heptares' Patents Covering Stabilised Receptor (Star) Technology
• 11.08.2011 Heptares Strengthens Executive Management Team with Appointment of Daniel Grau as President

Link Medicine, Inc.

Link Medicine is advancing disease-modifying technologies targeted at Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases where current symptomatic therapies are limited in efficacy or duration, and at orphan indications which lack any meaningful symptomatic treatments.

Link Website

Lycera Corporation

Lycera is an early stage biotechnology company developing first in class small molecule drugs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.  Lycera’s pipeline includes proprietary small molecules against two novel targets, a mitochondrial molecule that  is central to lymphocyte bioenergetics and a nuclear hormone receptor that modulates the Th17 pathway.  Lycera’s small molecule drugs have the potential for best in class oral efficacy without the adverse effects of current immunosuppressive agents.

Lycera Website

• 02.15.2012 Lycera Announces Key Appointments to Board of Directors
• 01.31.2012 Lycera Management to Present at Upcoming Conferences
• 12.22.2011 Lycera Achieves First Milestone in Merck Research Collaboration

Medasys Technologies, Inc.

Medasys Inc. is focused on developing better treatment options for the 75 million Americans in chronic pain, more than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined.  Our first product for delivery of intrathecal medication, the Prometra® programmable implantable pump, is undergoing clinical trials.  InSet is headquartered in Mount Olive, NJ.

Medasys Website

• 02.13.2012 Medasys Inc. Announces FDA Approval

NanoString Technologies, Inc.

Nanostring is a commercial stage company and an emerging leader in the expression profiling market. Its lead product is the only system capable of highly multiplexed direct quantification of individual mRNAs in a biological sample without the use of enzymes or amplification. With sensitivity below a single copy of mRNA per cell, high accuracy, robust output, and simplified workflow, the Nanostring platform offers investigators the benefits of the accuracy of PCR with the ability to interrogate more genes (up to a thousand) that would traditionally not be possible with PCR . Unlike PCR or microarrays, the Nanostring technology affords digital results by directly imaging and counting mRNAs on solid support.

NanoString Website

• 12.08.2011 NanoString Technologies Announces Positive Results from First Validation Study of PAM50-based Breast Cancer Assay
• 10.12.2011 NanoString Announces Launch of Second Generation nCounter Analysis System

Neomend, Inc.

Neomend, Inc. based in Irvine, CA has developed advanced surgical sealant, adhesion barrier, and applicator technologies based on its proprietary protein and polymer based hydrogel platform. Targeted surgical procedures include thoracic, spine, gynecology and general surgery. The company's initial product, ProGELTM Pleural Air Leak Sealant, has received FDA PMA approval and is the only indicated surgical sealant in the U.S. for sealing lung air leaks in thoracic surgery. ProGEL showed statistically significant reductions in intra-operative air leaks and length of hospital stay days in the PMA trial.

Neomend Website

• 01.09.2012 Progel® Extended Tip Receives FDA Approval
• 01.08.2012 Progel® Adhesion Barrier Sealant Receives CE Mark

Ophthotech Corporation

Ophthotech Corporation is a privately-held, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for both wet and dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Three new molecular entities are currently in clinical development: E10030, an anti-platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) pegylated aptamer; ARC1905, a pegylated aptamer targeting the C5 component of the complement cascade; and Volociximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the transmembrane receptor α5β1 integrin. All three Ophthotech drug products are currently in a phase 1 clinical trial for combination treatment with anti-VEGF therapy (Lucentis®). The most advanced product, E10030, has completed a Phase 1 trial.

Ophthotech Website

• 01.03.2012 Ophthotech to Present at 30th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Oxford Immunotec, Ltd.

Oxford Immunotec Ltd develops and sells clinical diagnostic products based on its patented, regulatory approved T-SPOT® technology. T-SPOT is a novel platform technology that opens up new ways of diagnosing and monitoring infections by providing a simple and extremely accurate method of studying a person’s cellular immune response to an infection. Oxford Immunotec’s first product T-SPOT®.TB, is a revolutionary new blood test for diagnosing Tuberculosis infection, offering unmatched sensitivity.

Oxford Website

• 02.13.2012 Oxford Announces Appointment of CFO

Pearl Therapeutics, Inc.

Pearl Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately-held company focused on improving the treatment and prevention of widely prevalent respiratory disorders.  Pearl has licensed a suite of particle technologies from Nektar Therapeutics, Inc. to rapidly advance their product candidates through development.

Pearl Website

• 01.06.2012 Pearl Therapeutics Announces Successful Completion of Phase 2b Safety and Efficacy Studies of COPD Combination, PT003
• 12.07.2011 Pearl Therapeutics Reports Positive Phase 2b Results of PT001 in patients with COPD

Pelikan Technologies, Inc.

Pelikan Technologies is dedicated to the development of innovative hand-held diagnostic and monitoring devices capable of significantly improving the screening and management of a variety of medical conditions. In addition to diabetes, the company's versatile technology platform has applications across a range of other medical conditions that involve blood screening and monitoring. Point-of-care testing and diagnostic panel test systems also represent markets that can benefit from Pelikan's novel technology.

Pelikan Website

Proacta, Inc.

Proacta is a private, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing a new generation of hypoxia-activated prodrug compounds to treat cancer. These compounds are designed to improve outcomes of current cancer treatment regimens with a broader tumor killing effect. Proacta’s lead compound is selectively activated in hypoxic regions of solid tumors and can diffuse locally within the tumor to kill non-hypoxic cells. In January 2007, Proacta secured a $35 million Series B financing led by Clarus Ventures.

Proacta Website

Restoration Robotics, Inc.

Restoration Robotics, Inc., a privately held medical device company, is dedicated to revolutionizing the field of hair transplantation by developing and commercializing a state-of-the-art image-guided system (ARTAS™ System) that enables follicular unit extraction.

Restoration Robotics Website

• 02.21.2012 Bishara Cosmetic Surgery & Hair Restoration Brings New Revolutionary ARTAS system to patients in Texas.
• 10.17.2011 Ziering Medical is Second Pratice to offer ARTAS system

SARcode, Inc.

SARcode is a private, San Francisco based company focused on the development of small molecule LFA-1 inhibitors to treat inflammatory diseases. In December, 2006 SARcode secured $25 million in a financing co-led by Clarus Ventures and Alta Partners.

SARcode Website

• 09.15.2011 First Patient Enrolled in SARcode Bioscience’s Pivotal Dry Eye Study of SAR 1118 Ophthalmic Solution

SFJ Phamaceuticals, Inc.

SFJ Pharmaceuticals (SanFrancisco/Japan) serves as a clinical development specialty pharma company with a focus on obtaining product approval in Japan. Targeted candidates for development in Japan are low risk compounds that are already approved or have a high likelihood of approval in the US with projected Japan annual sales in excess of $100M. To date, SFJ has entered definitive agreements with two major global pharma companies to fund Phase 3 trials for oncology assets. Pre-determined milestone payments to SFJ shall be received on approval of the asset in pre-specified countries.

SFJ Pharmaceuticals Website

• 01.09.2012 SFJ Phamaceuticals, Inc. Announces Agreement with Pfizer

Sientra, Inc.

Sientra is a private medical device company focused on developing and marketing a broad portfolio of products within the rapidly growing plastic surgery and aesthetics market. In April 2007, Sientra secured $85 million in a Series B financing co-led by Clarus Ventures.

Sientra Website

Taligen acquired by Alexion (ALXN) in January 2011

Taligen is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing inhibitors of the complement system for a variety of therapeutic indications.

Taligen Website

• 01.31.2011 Alexion Acquires Taligen Therapeutics

TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals is a privately held biopharmaceutical company founded on a mechanism that has the potential to promote apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells. Cancer cells are often resistant to apoptosis and Tetralogic’s lead molecule, a Smac-mimetic, may abrogate that resistance. The Smac-mimetic is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer.

TetraLogic Website

• 12.11.2011 TetraLogic Announces Presentation on Smac Mimetic TL32711 at American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting
• 11.13.2011 TetraLogic Announces Presentation of Data on Smac Mimetic

TyRx, Inc.

TyRx develops and commercializes proprietary, polymer-based, antibiotic-eluting medical products that prevent infection and capsular scar formation, two common morbidities associated with medical device implants.It currently has 3 FDA approved products including AIGIS CRMD, an antibiotic-eluting mesh envelope to prevent infections associated with the implantation of cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMDs) such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators. The company launched AIGIS CRMD in the US in Q3 2008 with its own specialty sales force.

TyRx Website

• 12.27.2011 TYRX Announces Ron Salsbury as VP of Quality
• 10.20.2011 Cardiac Device Infections Cost Money and Lives

VBI Vaccines

VBI is dedicated to the innovative formulation,development and delivery of safe and effective vaccines that expand and enhance vaccine protection in both established and emerging markets. VBI’s innovative approach to vaccine development and growing pipeline address clear market opportunities and are designed to answer critical unmet medical needs

VBI is aprivately held company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with research facilities in Ottawa, Canada.

VBI Website

• 09.15.2011 VBI Announces Acquisition of Epixis and its Innovative eVLP Vaccine Platform

Virdante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. assets acquired by Momenta December 2011

Virdante Pharmaceuticals is developing safer and more effective drugs for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Our products incorporate a proprietary “sialic switch” technology to improve the anti-inflammatory properties of antibodies.

Virdante Website

• 12.05.2011 Momenta Pharmaceuticals Acquires Assets From Virdante

Zogenix, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGNX)

Zogenix, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of medicines to treat CNS disorders and pain. Zogenix’ initial focus is the late-stage development and commercialization of Intraject® sumatriptan -- a needle-free, single-use, disposable, subcutaneous delivery system that will compete in the $2.5 billion triptan segment of the migraine market.  In August, 2006, Zogenix secured $60 million in a financing co-led by Clarus Ventures.

Zogenix Website

• 01.25.2012 Zogenix and Battelle To Collaborate on Advanced Drug Delivery Technology
• 12.21.2011 Zogenix and Astellas Agree to End Co-Promotion for SUMAVEL DosePro
• 12.21.2011 Zogenix Reviews Positive Sales Trends and 2012 Commercial Initiatives
• 12.20.2011 Zogenix Completes Zohydro™ Pre-NDA Meetings