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ChemDiv is a San Diego, CA-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
TruSpine is a medical device company focused on entering the $10.2 billion (US) per annum spinal device market. The Company is developing uniquely disruptive technologies to revolutionise the spinal stabilisation market, commencing with three flagship pioneering, spinal devices. The Cervi-LOK™ (for the cervical and upper thoracic spine), GRASP Laminoplasty (a treatment for decompression of the spinal cord) & Faci-LOK™ (for the lumbar and lower thoracic spine). These unique devices represent a paradigm shift in spinal fixation, by providing exceptional stabilization while not altering the bony anatomy such as screws, staples or other devices which currently dominate the spinal market. The TruSpine philosophy and mantra is one of preserving nature`s design, and as such, the devices have been designed to be safer, faster and easier to implant. The potential cost savings to patients, insurers and surgeons can be significant. The technology is minimally intrusive, minimally invasive and reversable. The first product to market will be Cervi-LOK™, and will be the first posterior cervical stabilisation device in the world which fully preserves the boney anatomy of the spine. TruSpine has a phased product development strategy, and is planning to commence initial product marketing between late 2020 to early 2021. The overall aim is to establish the TruSpine products as the go-to solutions for the spinal stabilisation market. In addition to the three flagship platform products currently under development, the company also has a pipeline of additional and complementary spinal products.
Evolve BioSystems is a spin-out from the Foods For Health Institute (FFHI) at the University of California, Davis. The company builds on more than a decade of research into the infant gut microbiome and its unique interaction with breast milk components, established by the founding scientists including Bruce German, David Mills, Carlito Lebrilla, Daniela Barile and Samara Freeman. Their fundamental research and translational clinical trials have been enabled by more than $15 million in federal and private grants since 2004. Under the leadership of CEO Dr. David Kyle, Evolve completed a $1 million seed funding round in mid-2014, a $9 million Series A round in August 2015 and most recently a $20 million Series B capital raise in 2017. Evolve has now successfully completed a milestone proof-of-concept study to demonstrate the efficacy of its initial proprietary offering, with a series of upcoming trials scheduled across both human and animal health applications. With a strong portfolio of intellectual property developed at UC Davis, a world-class management team plus blue-chip investors, and an unwavering dedication to allowing science to direct our product development, Evolve continues to expand it`s pipeline of next generation microbiome-based solutions to establish, restore, and maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
Kezar co-founder Christopher Kirk, Ph.D. began his work on the unique function of the immunoproteasome at Proteolix in 2005, while working on the compound that would become the successful multiple myeloma drug KYPROLIS™ (carfilzomib). As VP of Research at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, which acquired Proteolix in 2009, Christopher led the efforts to develop the first selective inhibitors of the immunoproteasome and designed multiple studies demonstrating their profound immunomodulatory effects. In parallel with this work, Christopher and Kezar co-founder Jack Taunton, Ph.D. collaborated on several research projects involving protein secretion. This collaboration inspired a belief in the strong synergies between protein degradation and protein secretion, two fertile areas for drug discovery with platform potential. In 2014, Christopher and Kezar co-founder John Fowler began developing the business plan for Kezar, acting on a longstanding desire to work together and build a world-class company. In 2015, John and Christopher raised $23M and negotiated a worldwide, exclusive license agreement with Amgen for the Onyx immunoproteasome inhibitor patent estate. Now underway, John and Christopher are excited to leverage their complementary skill sets to build Kezar into a leader in small molecule drug development.
Thrasos is a private, clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on delivering new solutions to individuals affected by kidney disease. The company's lead compound, THR-184 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical study for the prevention of AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Thrasos is also developing compounds for diabetic nephropathy, a major cause of chronic kidney disease