Portfolio

With RiverVest as a founder, Arch Oncology is focused on the discovery and development of best-in-class antibody therapies for the treatment of patients with solid-tumor and certain blood cancers. Arch Oncology’s next-generation anti-CD47 antibodies are highly differentiated compared to other agents in this class, with the potential to improve significantly upon safety and efficacy.

Archmont, a company co-founded by RiverVest, is developing bone-targeted gene therapy for patients with a rare lysosomal storage disorder known as Morquio A syndrome, leveraging lysosome expertise at Saint Louis University and other leading institutions. This disease leads to various profound developmental challenges including severe scoliosis, joint disorders, and compromised organ function. Archmont is currently performing preclinical proof-of-concept studies to validate the company’s novel therapy.

Avalyn is a biopharma company developing improved therapies for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other severe respiratory diseases. The lead asset is inhaled pirfenidone (Aerodone™) for the treatment of IPF. Avalyn is rapidly advancing this asset, as well as additional pipeline candidates for treating IPF and other severe respiratory diseases.

Biolinq is a medical device company developing a wearable biosensor platform that measures biomarkers important to the management of many clinical conditions including diabetes. The company’s first product is a needle-free, intelligent continuous glucose monitoring system.

Bluejay Therapeutics develops innovative cures for infectious diseases. The first target indication is chronic HBV infection (CHBV). Bluejay has in-licensed three promising assets from Novartis that use different mechanisms to contribute to a functional cure for CHBV. Lead programs will begin clinical trials in 2022. 

Cardialen is an early-stage medical device company dedicated to advancing implantable cardioversion and defibrillation therapy to restore normal heart rhythm using significantly lower energy than existing therapies. Cardialen’s MultiPulse™ Therapy (MPT) is currently being studied in FDA-approved early-feasibility clinical trials for both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

Good Therapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology company developing context-dependent protein drugs that sense biomarkers which trigger therapeutic activity. Good Therapeutics’ goal is to make safer, more effective drugs that act only when and where they are needed, limiting systemic toxicity without reducing therapeutic efficacy. Early applications of the company’s approach may include oncology.

Glycomine is developing orphan drugs for serious rare disorders of metabolism and protein misfolding for which no other therapeutic options exist. The company’s approach is to use replacement therapies – substrates, enzymes, or proteins – and to target those molecules to clinically relevant cellular compartments. The company is based in San Carlos, California, and supported by leading international life sciences investors.

InterVene’s mission is to provide the first effective and widely-utilized therapy for patients suffering from the painful and costly symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) due to deep vein reflux (DVR). InterVene, whose technology is a product of the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship program, is a former Company-In-Residence at the Fogarty Institute for Innovation.

OncoResponse is leveraging a proprietary human antibody platform to discover novel targets and identify fully-human monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, potentially extending cures to patients who otherwise would not respond to immunotherapy.

OxaluRx is a preclinical company developing a small molecule, oral therapy to treat primary hyperoxaluria, a rare orphan metabolic disease. This rare form of hyperoxaluria is due exclusively to a genetic defect that causes a loss of specific enzymatic activity and the formation of kidney stones, leading to kidney damage and potentially failure. RiverVest is a founder of OxaluRx.

Scout is focused on delivering a new generation of gene therapies for pets to significantly improve the standard-of-care for multiple conditions. The technology approach is to express an appropriate level of a therapeutic protein in pet patients using adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) technology, delivered through simple injection. The first target for the company is anemia in cats with chronic kidney disease.

SeQure Dx, Inc. is applying state-of-the-art genomics technologies for gene editor target profiling to advance discovery, clinical development, and diagnostic solutions. Their core technologies, GUIDE-seq and ONE-seq, enable identification of all potential off-target sites prior to initiating therapy, to allow comprehensive confirmation of actual edits. This information provides gene editing therapeutics developers, physicians, and patients with the confidence needed to ensure safe and effective gene therapies.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals was founded to spare patients the ravages of corticosteroids. Leveraging underappreciated scientific insights into steroid biology, the company is working to provide better treatment options for serious disorders of hypercortisolism, and to revolutionize the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Its lead product, SPI-62, is an oral, small molecule, novel therapeutic treatment designed to target the source of active intracellular corticosteroids in key tissues.

Standard Bariatrics is committed to creating superior surgical products for sleeve gastrectomy bariatric surgery. The company is commercializing its FDA-cleared STANDARD CLAMP™ and is developing a full-length stapler that would enable surgeons to create consistent sleeve anatomy every time.

VentureMed develops and markets innovative medical devices for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PAD) and stenosis of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas and grafts, serious conditions leading to reduced blood flow and many complications. The FLEX Vessel PrepTM System optimizes treatment of long, complex vascular lesions by safely creating microincisions in the vessel wall for more effective revascularization when combined with other therapies.

Wugen is developing a novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) therapy platform for T-cell malignancies. Wugen’s state-of-the-art gene editing and CAR-T cell technology enable “off-the-shelf” therapies that would avoid rejection by the recipient. Wugen was co-founded by RiverVest based on technology licensed from Washington University in St. Louis.

Allakos is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapeutic antibodies targeting a broad range of allergic, inflammatory, and proliferative diseases. The Company’s lead antibody, AK002, targets Siglec-8, an inhibitory receptor on human mast cells and eosinophils.

IPO July 2018 (NASDAQ: ALLK)

Amplyx is focused on developing innovative therapies for debilitating and life-threatening systemic fungal and viral infections in patients with compromised immune systems. Amplyx is advancing programs with the potential to protect these vulnerable patients, including those with cancer and transplants, and the critically ill.

Acquired by Pfizer in April 2021

Cabrellis developed Calsed™, a third-generation synthetic anthracycline drug for small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancers.

Acquired by Pharmion (now part of Celgene) in November 2011.

Cameron Health developed the world’s first commercially-available subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator, called the S-ICD System. No leads are placed in or on the heart, leaving the heart and blood vessels untouched and offering patients an alternative to conventional transvenous ICDs.

Acquired by Boston Scientific in June 2012.

Healthcare Services

Curzion Pharmaceuticals is developing a late-stage small molecule to treat fibrotic conditions, where significant unmet needs exist. The safety and efficacy of its in-licensed lead development candidate have been demonstrated in prior mid-stage clinical studies. RiverVest was a founder of Curzion.

Acquired by Horizon Therapeutics in April 2020.

Neuros Medical is focused on the development of proprietary electrical stimulation therapies for the treatment of chronic pain. The Company’s patented platform technology, Electrical Nerve Block, aims to treat a variety of indications, including post-amputation pain and chronic post-surgical pain.

Otonomy works to bring new treatment options to patients with hearing and balance disorders. Otonomy’s technology enables drugs to reach targets effectively and safely within the protected inner ear. The company is developing multiple novel therapeutics to treat tinnitus, Ménière’s disease, and hearing loss.

IPO August 2014 (NASDAQ: OTIC)

Reneo, a RiverVest-founded company, is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for patients with genetic mitochondrial diseases. Many of these diseases are associated with deficits in cellular metabolism and energy production. Reneo’s goal is to improve daily function and quality of life of patients suffering from these diseases.

IPO April 2021 (NASDAQ: RPHM)

Spruce is developing novel therapies for rare endocrine diseases. The company’s lead product candidate for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is intended to correct hormone imbalances, giving patients a therapeutic option that treats their underlying disease while reducing their steroid burden.

IPO October 2020 (NASDAQ: SPRB)

Xilio is an oncology company developing highly-potent, tumor-selective immunotherapies to improve patient outcomes. With an anti-CTLA4 antibody as validation, the company’s technology is also being applied to cytokines, which currently have limited or no clinical utility due to toxicities. By tailoring pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties in parallel, Xilio aims to design molecules with potential best-in-class potency and selectivity.

IPO October 2021 (NASDAQ: XLO)