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GenVault Corporation is a Carlsbad, CA-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
NGM Bio is a research-driven, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a passion to improve the lives of those struggling with serious diseases. Our expertise in drug discovery and translational development, coupled with the significant resources from our partnership with Merck, is driving development of transformational medicines that dramatically improve human health. Our initial R&D focus has been to develop a portfolio of high-impact therapeutics for the underserved patient populations who suffer from cardio-metabolic and liver diseases. We believe that our research expertise – comprehensive and grounded in fundamental, interrelated mechanisms of human biology – is capable of driving the development of new therapies for a wide range of other disease areas as well, such as cancer. NGM Bio`s comprehensive approach to drug discovery focuses on elucidating the biology of hormones, cell receptors and associated ligands. As we investigate these novel biological mechanisms, we assemble a deep understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of proteins of interest. Coupled with our experience in protein and antibody engineering, our approach enables the efficient and targeted generation of potential first-in-class therapeutics with optimized pharmacologic profiles.
Second Genome is a clinical stage company with a mission to improve human health by unlocking the full potential of the microbiome. We offer the most robust approach to microbiome drug discovery and development through the deepest understanding of how the microbiome works in human health.
MEI Pharma (Nasdaq: MEIP) is a San Diego-based pharmaceutical company focused on leveraging its extensive development and oncology expertise to identify and advance new therapies for cancer. Our approach to building our pipeline is to license promising cancer agents and create value in programs through development and commercialization, or strategic partnerships, as appropriate. Our portfolio contains four clinical-stage drug candidates, including one candidate in an ongoing global registration trial and another candidate that is anticipated to advance into a registration trial this year. Our drug candidate pipeline includes: Pracinostat, an oral HDAC inhibitor that is in a Phase 3 pivotal study in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Pracinostat is also being evaluated in a clinical study in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Pracinostat is licensed to Helsinn Healthcare SA, a Swiss pharmaceutical corporation. ME-401, a selective oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (“PI3K”) delta. ME-401 is anticipated to progress into a single-agent registration study in 2018 for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. Voruciclib, an orally administered and selective cyclin-dependent kinase (“CDK”) inhibitor differentiated by its potent in vitro inhibition of CDK9 in addition to CDK6, 4 and 1. Initiation of a Phase I dose-escalation study in patients with relapsed and/or refractory B-cell malignancies after failure of prior standard therapies is scheduled to being in the second calendar quarter of 2018. ME-344, a novel and tumor selective, isoflavone-derived mitochondrial inhibitor drug candidate, has demonstrated evidence of single-agent activity against refractory solid tumors in a Phase I study. In preclinical studies, tumor cells treated with ME-344 resulted in a rapid loss of ATP and cancer cell death. It is currently being evaluated in an investigator-initiated study in combination with the VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab (marketed as Avastin®) in patients with HER2 negative breast cancer.
San Diego-based Biocept, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOC) develops and performs diagnostic assays that provide clinically actionable information to improve outcomes for patients with a variety of cancers. Biocept`s unique combination of cell-based and cell-free DNA analysis allows us to rapidly detect and monitor certain cancer biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Our patented Target Selector™ technology quantitatively analyzes tumor cells for tumor-associated biomarkers, offering high sensitivity and specificity compared with methods currently used by other laboratories. In addition to our broad portfolio of blood-based liquid biopsy tests, we offer the CNSide™ CSF assay, which addresses an unmet clinical need for patients with cancer that has metastasized to the central nervous system. Between 10% and 30% of patients with cancer will develop brain or spinal cord metastasis. Survival is often low, and few are diagnosed early enough for effective therapeutic intervention. CNSide answers three key questions: Is there a tumor? Is there a target for treatment? Is there a trend in treatment response? We offer diagnostic laboratory services for oncologists, pathologists, hospitals, cancer centers, universities, pharmaceutical and clinical researchers, and other healthcare providers. Our CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory combines a highly trained professional staff with innovative instrumentation for optimal test results and quality control. Biocept works with strategic industry leaders, as well as major cancer centers across the U.S., to further its mission of helping to improve outcomes for cancer patients. We also are utilizing our molecular diagnostic capabilities to offer nationwide RT-PCR-based COVID-19 testing and services to support public health efforts. Revenue from COVID-19 testing has supported further investment in our core oncology business, positioning the company for long-term success.