What You Should Know:

– In a decisive move towards faster and more efficient drug development, QuantHealth, a leading AI-powered clinical trial design company, has secured a strategic investment of $17M.

– The new capital, fueled by Accenture Ventures alongside a prominent CRO and additional investors, bolsters QuantHealth’s total Series A funding and propels its mission to revolutionize clinical trials through AI simulations.

Saving Millions with 86% Predictive Accuracy

QuantHealth’s proprietary AI technology boasts an impressive 86% accuracy rate in predicting clinical trial outcomes on the binary endpoint metric. This remarkable feat is powered by a massive dataset of 350 million patients, vast biomedical knowledge graphs, and comprehensive clinical trial data. This potent combination allows QuantHealth’s platform to simulate thousands of protocol variations, uncovering the optimal design for success.

Reducing Risk, Expediting Development

The pharmaceutical industry faces a daunting reality: clinical trials are expensive and fraught with uncertainty. With a staggering cost exceeding $1 billion for a single new drug, failure rates hover around 90%, draining $50 billion annually. QuantHealth’s platform tackles this challenge head-on by enabling R&D teams to:

– Lower risks: By simulating trials at scale, QuantHealth identifies potential pitfalls before they arise, minimizing costly failures.

– Expedite development: Identifying the optimal trial design upfront streamlines the entire process, bringing life-saving treatments to patients faster.

– Optimize drug development: QuantHealth’s platform ensures the right drug reaches the right population through precise matching, maximizing success rates.

Orr Inbar, co-founder and CEO of QuantHealth, sees the Accenture Ventures partnership as a catalyst for global expansion: “Accenture’s expertise in data and AI will be invaluable as we scale our platform and reach pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide.” This global reach will ultimately translate to faster development of effective treatments for patients in need.

What You Should Know:

Niterra, a global leader in diverse industries, today announced its participation in a $10M convertible debt financing round for Imbed Biosciences, Inc. (Imbed), a rising star in the field of tissue engineering.

– This strategic investment marks Niterra’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions that improve patient quality of life and aligns perfectly with its transformation towards non-internal combustion engine businesses.

Revolutionizing Wound Care with Microlyte® Technology

Imbed has pioneered a revolutionary wound care technology called Microlyte®, the world’s first fully-synthetic and antimicrobial wound matrix. This FDA-cleared biocompatible polymer matrix creates a healing environment conducive to tissue growth while suppressing harmful microbes and biofilms. Clinical trials have demonstrated the matrix’s ability to jump-start healing in stagnant chronic wounds, leading to faster recovery with reduced infection risk and improved patient outcomes.

“People with slow-healing wounds face immense risks,” explains Ankit Agarwal, PhD, co-founder and chief scientific and quality officer at Imbed. “Our patented Microlyte® technology addresses this critical need by offering a safe and effective solution that has already helped over 100,000 patients in the past year. This investment from Niterra allows us to accelerate our commercial reach and develop new solutions to help even more people.”

Growth of Global Advanced Wound Care Market

The global advanced wound care market is projected to reach a staggering $18.7 billion by 2027, with chronic wounds impacting millions worldwide. Imbed’s innovative approach positions the company to capture a significant share of this market, further establishing itself as a leader in the field. The recent funding will be used to scale commercial operations, fuel research and development, and expand sales channels.

What You Should Know:

– Goldman Sachs Asset Management has announced the closing of its first-ever life sciences fund, West Street Life Sciences I, surpassing its target with $650 million in commitments.

– This marks a significant investment in the burgeoning life sciences sector, showcasing Goldman Sachs’ confidence in the field’s potential to revolutionize healthcare.

West Street Life Sciences Investment Thesis

The fund will focus on growth-oriented private equity investments in early to mid-stage life sciences companies. Therapeutically, it targets those with multi-asset portfolios, while also looking at tools and diagnostics firms. The aim is to not just invest in, but actively build the next generation of leaders in the field.

Goldman Sachs identified key themes driving growth in the sector: precision medicine, gene editing, cell therapy, immunotherapy, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. These advancements offer exciting possibilities for diagnosing and treating diseases, making the timing of the fund launch particularly opportune.

Experienced Hands at the Helm

Leading the charge is Amit Sinha, head of Life Sciences Investing at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, backed by a team with extensive experience in the sector and a dedicated advisory board of experts. This combination of expertise and resources positions the fund to identify promising opportunities and guide portfolio companies towards success.

“We are in a golden-era of innovation in the life sciences,” says Sinha, “where technological breakthroughs are creating new approaches to diagnosing and treating disease. We believe the current environment provides an attractive opportunity for investing in the next generation of leading life sciences companies.”

Early Momentum

West Street Life Sciences I has already invested in five companies across precision medicine, immunotherapy, and AI, demonstrating its commitment to fostering innovation across various areas. These investments highlight the fund’s potential to shape the future of healthcare.

What You Should Know:

– Nabla, a Boston, MA-based ambient AI assistant for healthcare professionals, announced today the initial close of a $24M Series B funding round led by Cathay Innovation, with participation from ZEBOX Ventures.

– The latest round of funding brings Nabla’s total funding to over $43M and fuels its mission to revolutionize healthcare delivery by empowering clinicians and improving patient care.

Easing the Burden of EHRs:

Clinicians often cite managing the electronic health record (EHR) as their biggest stressor, adding hours of tedious documentation to their workload. Nabla tackles clinicians’ biggest pain point: the electronic health record (EHR). Clinical documentation takes up a staggering six hours per week, stealing valuable time from patient care. Nabla Copilot, powered by AI, tackles this challenge with:

• AI-powered note generation: Creates accurate and concise notes in real-time, reducing documentation time significantly.
• Medical coding recognition: Automatically identifies and codes diagnoses and procedures, streamlining billing and reimbursement.
• Seamless EHR integration: Works seamlessly with existing EHR platforms, minimizing disruption to workflows.

Nabla caters to both small practices and large health systems, partnering with EHR platforms for seamless integration and prioritizing privacy, accuracy, and speed. Their proprietary Large Language Models (LLMs) and Speech-to-Text (STT) technologies, developed by former Facebook AI Research engineers, ensure cutting-edge performance and security.

95% accuracy

Launched in March 2023, Nabla Copilot has experienced rapid growth with +20,000 providers who have already adopted the solution for its accessibility, accuracy, and speed, and have helped build Copilot to better serve the provider community’s needs. To date, more than 3 million consultations were conducted through Nabla Copilot annually. The solution boasts 95% accuracy in generated notes, requiring minimal edits and time savings of up to 50% in documentation tasks.

“This fundraise allows us to continue delivering on our vision to build the premier ambient AI assistant that will allow clinicians to experience the joy of practicing again,” says Alex Lebrun, Nabla’s co-founder and CEO. “Clinical documentation is just the beginning. Health systems are eager to leverage AI across the entire spectrum of healthcare, and we’re ready to be their partner.”

What You Should Know:

– Arbital Health, a rising star in the value-based care space, announced a significant double play today, acquiring leading actuarial firm Santa Barbara Actuaries and securing $10 million in Series A funding led by Transformation Capital.

– This strategic move positions Arbital Health as a major player in accelerating the healthcare industry’s transition to a more outcome-driven model.

Building the Infrastructure for Value-Based Care

Founded in November 2023 by healthcare veterans Travis May and Brian Overstreet, Arbital Health is building technology to facilitate outcome-based contracts, a cornerstone of value-based care. By serving as a neutral third-party adjudicator, the company ensures fair assessments of contract fulfillment, fostering trust and collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem.

Fueling Growth and Impact

Transformation Capital’s $10M investment, joined by other prominent healthcare investors, underscores the immense potential Arbital Health holds. “We believe Arbital Health has the right team, technology, and vision to revolutionize how healthcare value is measured and rewarded,” stated Scott Rosen, Partner at Transformation Capital.

Arbital’s Initial Product Offerings

Arbital Health’s initial product offerings cater to diverse needs within the healthcare ecosystem:

Value Assessment for Point Solution Vendors: Quantify the economic value of healthcare interventions and optimize ROI through predictive analytics.

Value Analysis for Payers: Understand the true value employees and members are getting from deployed point solutions.

Actuarial Advisory: Leverage SBA’s expertise for a broad range of consulting services for risk-bearing organizations.

The acquisition of SBA brings a best-in-class actuarial team and established clientele to Arbital Health. “SBA’s expertise strengthens our mission to become the go-to utility for outcome-based contracts,” declared Brian Overstreet, CEO of Arbital Health. “Together, we’ll deliver unparalleled solutions for all stakeholders in the value-based care landscape.”

What You Should Know:

– Devoted Health, a leading provider of all-in-one healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries, has secured $175M in Series E funding, demonstrating continued investor confidence in its mission to revolutionize senior care.

– The round was led by a lead syndicate composed of The Space Between (TSB), Highbury Holdings, GIC, Stardust Equity, Maverick Ventures, and Fearless Ventures. Also participating in the funding round were Socium Ventures, Emerson Collective, Andreessen Horowitz, The Private Shares Fund and affiliated funds, F-Prime Capital Partners, General Catalyst, and GreatPoint Ventures.

A Model Built on Compassion and Technology

Founded in 2017 by the Park brothers, Devoted Health goes beyond traditional insurance, offering:

– Best-in-class Medicare Advantage plans: Providing comprehensive coverage to navigate the complexities of healthcare.

– Devoted Medical: A virtual-first and in-home medical group designed specifically for the needs of Medicare beneficiaries.

– Full-service Guides: Dedicated individuals who support every step of the healthcare journey.

– Orinoco: Their proprietary technology platform seamlessly integrates all aspects of care, ensuring right care, right place, right time.

– Family-centered culture: Every member is treated with the same care and attention as if they were family.

A Bright Future for Medicare Care:

With this new funding, Devoted Health plans to reach even more Americans, bringing their unique model of compassionate care and tech-driven efficiency to a healthcare system often characterized by inaccessibility and complexity. Devoted Health’s success not only benefits their members but also sets a valuable standard for the future of Medicare care.

“In a healthcare system that isn’t always accessible or easy to navigate, we at Devoted Health are profoundly honored to provide each member with the same quality of care and service we’d want for our own families,” said Ed Park, co-founder and CEO of Devoted Health. “It’s deeply gratifying to have so many others believe in the promise of our model, and we’re very excited to bring the love and world-class care that is Devoted to more and more Americans.”

What You Should Know:

– Unnatural Products, Inc. (UNP), a biotech company harnessing the power of AI and chemistry to design the next generation of targeted therapeutics, has secured $32M in Series A funding.

– Led by Merck Global Health Innovation Fund (MGHIF) and TechBio-focused ARTIS Ventures,  the funding will help propel UNP’s innovative platform and expand its reach beyond oncology, tackling a wider range of medical challenges.

Macrocycles: Nature’s Key to Untapped Drug Targets

Macrocycles, cyclic molecules with unique properties, offer immense potential for tackling previously undruggable targets. They combine the potency and selectivity of antibodies with the oral bioavailability of small molecules, making them ideal for targeting intracellular proteins.

UNP’s AI-Fueled Platform: Revolutionizing Macrocycle Drug Discovery

UNP leverages a unique platform that combines parallel chemistry with AI-driven target identification and optimization. This enables the rapid development of synthetic macrocycles with the desirable drug-like properties of their natural counterparts.

“This is a pivotal moment for UNP,” says CEO and Co-Founder, Cameron Pye. “With this funding, we will accelerate the development of our platform and expand beyond oncology into new therapeutic areas. Macrocycles have the potential to revolutionize drug development, just like antibodies did in the early 2000s.”

What You Should Know:

– KAID Health, the AI-powered healthcare solutions pioneer, has secured a significant $9 million in funding led by Activate Venture Partners, Martinson Ventures, Boston Millennia Partners, and Brandon Hull, alongside KAID Health’s Board of Directors.

– With this new funding, KAID Health plans to expand its reach to more providers and their payer partners and develop new service offerings.

Unlocking the Power of Whole Chart Analysis

KAID Health’s flagship platform, Whole Chart Analysis, leverages cutting-edge natural language processing (NLP) to unlock the true potential of electronic medical records (EMRs). Unlike traditional NLP solutions that focus on specific data points, KAID Health goes beyond, analyzing every available piece of information within a patient’s chart, including notes, conditions, medications, and lab results. This comprehensive approach enables:

• Improved coding accuracy and capture: KAID Health demonstrably boosts coding accuracy, ensuring providers receive proper financial compensation while improving data-driven decision-making.
• Streamlined quality reporting: Effortlessly fulfilling complex quality reporting requirements, freeing up valuable time for clinicians.
• Enhanced care management: KAID Health identifies key patient needs, facilitating proactive care interventions and optimizing clinical outcomes.

Real-World Impact, Proven Results

KAID Health’s impact extends beyond theoretical promises. To date, the platform has already:

• Revolutionized Medicare Advantage coding for large provider groups nationwide.
• Simplified chart review for prior authorization and clinical trial enrollment.
• Outperformed physicians in identifying surgical risks at a major medical center.

“KAID Health continues to deploy technology that makes clinicians more efficient, translates that efficiency into more cost-effective care, and grows revenues,” explained Kevin Agatstein, CEO of KAID Health. “By combining best-in-class, scalable, flexible, secure technology with deep clinical workflow and market expertise, we can partner with each customer to meet their informatics needs while alleviating chronic staff shortages.”

What You Should Know:

– Biorithm, a global women’s health medtech company, has secured $3.5M in Series A funding to fuel its mission of improving maternal health outcomes and reducing preventable pregnancy complications.

– This investment, co-led by Adaptive Capital Partners and SEEDS Capital, will support Biorithm’s expansion in key markets like Southeast Asia and the United States, as well as the advancement of its flagship Femom technology.

Combating Preventable Complications

Tragically, childbirth complications claim the lives of 800 women every day. Biorithm tackles this head-on by pioneering new standards of protocol-based remote monitoring. Their flagship solution, Femom, empowers clinicians to identify early signs of complications through patient-friendly technology, personalized guidance, and predictive analytics.

Femom: Empowering Proactive and Connected Care for Expectant Mothers

Biorithm’s Femom platform aims to transform maternity care by offering a comprehensive remote monitoring solution. This patient-friendly technology facilitates:

– Continuous monitoring of maternal and fetal biometrics

– Personalized guidance and support for expectant mothers

– Predictive analytics to identify early signs of potential complications

– Seamless integration with healthcare providers for timely interventions

“We are truly heartened to have the support of our new and existing investors. We feel a deep commitment to improving the health of expectant mothers and putting an end to preventable complications. There is a collapse of maternal care driven by socio-economic factors and limitation of current monitoring technologies in many regions across the world, and we are hard at work to solve this problem in partnership with others. The investment we have received is a testament to our mission at Biorithm, and a future where every expectant mother has access to healthcare that is not only proactive but profoundly connected to her unique journey,” Amrish Nair, Founder and CEO, Biorithm.

What You Should Know:

– ARTIS Ventures, a pioneer in this “TechBio” revolution, announces the closing of its second fund, TechBio II, with $200M focused on healthcare and biology innovation.

– The fund aims to support early-stage companies to transform human health and well-being by leveraging growing data sets, advanced analytics, and insights.

TechBio II Investment Thesis

Diseases once deemed incurable now have hope, personalized therapies are becoming a reality, and the human body is being understood with unprecedented precision. This convergence of technology and medicine is TechBio, and ARTIS is committed to its growth. ARTIS’s new $200M TechBio II fund seeks to empower early-stage companies with the potential to not only create immense value but also deliver significant societal impact.

Their investment philosophy is guided by six key principles:

– Think Global: Platforms with global reach hold the key to driving the most meaningful change.

– Leave No One Behind: ARTIS prioritizes funding solutions for neglected diseases and aims for universal benefit.

– Transform Systems: From hospitals to homes, they seek innovations that revolutionize care delivery across the spectrum.

– Embrace Diversity: A belief that diverse perspectives fuel breakthrough solutions drives their commitment to a diverse portfolio.

– Persist with Grit: Transforming entrenched systems requires unwavering perseverance, and ARTIS supports founders with the tenacity to overcome challenges.

– Stay Focused: Navigating complex healthcare and biology landscapes demands specialized expertise and strategic vision.

“The age of TechBio brings with it tremendous hope and possibility. United by our common humanity and shared desire for health and well-being, we now have innovations at our fingertips that can alleviate suffering for millions. The future looks brighter than ever, and the only limit to progress is our imagination. If we dream it, we can achieve it,” said Stuart Peterson & Vasudev Bailey, Managing Partners, ARTIS Ventures in the announcement.

What You Should Know:

• Cytovale®, a commercial-stage medical diagnostics company focused on advancing early detection technologies to diagnose fast-moving and immune-mediated diseases, today announced it has raised $84 million in Series C funding led by Norwest Venture Partners with participation by additional new investors Sands Capital and Global Health Investment Corporation (GHIC).
• The financing included participation from other new and existing investors, as well as the conversion of bridge notes. Cytovale will use the proceeds to bring its recently FDA-cleared rapid sepsis diagnosis test – IntelliSep® – to more hospital emergency departments (ED) and health systems in the United States, addressing historical diagnosis lag time that makes sepsis the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals.

Bringing Rapid Sepsis Diagnosis Test to Health Systems in the US

Sepsis, responsible for over one-third of in-hospital deaths in the U.S., poses a significant challenge in emergency departments (EDs). Approximately 80% of sepsis cases are presented in the ED, where distinguishing it from regular infections or similar conditions is challenging. ED providers must make crucial triage decisions in a resource-constrained environment, leading to potential underdiagnosis or overdiagnosis of sepsis. This can result in rapid deterioration, organ damage, readmissions, increased costs, and unnecessary resource utilization. Sepsis, costing an estimated $62 billion annually, surpasses heart attacks and strokes combined in prevalence. The absence of a standardized care pathway for sepsis evaluation in EDs, coupled with non-specific tests, contributes to errors and delays. Given that the risk of death from sepsis rises by 8% for each untreated hour, there is an urgent need for a timely and accurate tool to aid providers in recognizing this medical emergency.

IntelliSep is a revolutionary diagnostic tool for Emergency Department (ED) personnel, providing rapid infection assessments within 10 minutes using standard blood draws. It analyzes the immune response by studying white blood cell morphology and mechanics, distinguishing between septic and non-septic patients with advanced machine learning. The test produces a numerical score indicating a patient’s sepsis probability within three days, aiding healthcare providers in making confident and timely treatment decisions. Cytovale’s collaboration with early access hospitals, such as Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, has shown significant benefits, reducing ED alerts by 80% compared to previous sepsis detection methods.

“Sepsis is a dangerous, fast-moving condition that can result in death if not identified and treated quickly,” said Cytovale CEO Ajay Shah. “Our flagship diagnostic tool, IntelliSep, with a blood-to-answer time frame of under 10 minutes, helps healthcare providers recognize sepsis early and make critical, time-sensitive clinical decisions. With the support of our investors, we are now able to expand efforts to get our tool in the hands of more providers so they can address the potential deadly outcomes patients currently face.”

What You Should Know:

– Intuitive Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to reimagining minimally invasive care, announced the close of its second fund at $150M.

– The funding signifies their unwavering commitment to supporting visionary founders who are transforming healthcare through precision diagnostics, secure digital ecosystems, and improved access to coordinated care.

Building on a Strong Foundation

In 2020, Intuitive Ventures launched its inaugural fund of $100M, igniting a spark in the minimally invasive care landscape. Since then, the team has strategically invested in over 10 promising startups, fostering innovation and driving positive change across the care continuum. Fund II builds upon this success, doubling the available capital and amplifying the impact of Intuitive Ventures’ mission.

Investing in Three Key Pillars

Fund II will focus on three core areas that hold immense potential for revolutionizing healthcare:

– Improving access and coordination: Making efficient, cost-effective, and accessible care a reality for all.

– Precision diagnostics and interventions: Leveraging the convergence of MedTech, life sciences, and therapeutics for more precise diagnoses and targeted interventions.

– Secure, enriched digital ecosystems: Unlocking the power of healthcare data to enhance minimally invasive care through secure and insightful platforms.

Experienced Leadership for the Future

Leading the charge into this next chapter is Murielle Thinard McLane, a seasoned operator and executive with over two decades of experience building and scaling successful ventures. McLane takes over the reins from Oliver Keown MD, who will transition into a Venture Partner role to continue supporting existing and future investments while pursuing his own entrepreneurial aspirations.

“It’s an honor to lead Intuitive Ventures during this exciting phase of growth,” says Thinard McLane. “We are passionate about providing value-add partnerships, strategic insights, and unwavering support to our portfolio companies. With Fund II, we will amplify our impact and further accelerate the creation of innovative solutions that pave the way for a future of exceptional minimally invasive care.”

Intuitive Ventures: More Than Just Capital

Beyond financial backing, Intuitive Ventures offers its portfolio companies a unique advantage: direct access to the vast network and expertise of Intuitive Surgical. This invaluable connection opens doors to technical resources, commercialization opportunities, and unparalleled industry knowledge. It’s this combination of capital, strategic guidance, and industry immersion that empowers their portfolio companies to reach their full potential and revolutionize patient care.

What You Should Know:

– Sunnyside, an app and program that helps people build healthier habits around drinking alcohol, today announced $11.5M in Series A funding and the hire of Steve Lloyd as Chief Product and Technology Officer.

– The funding round was led by Motley Fool Ventures with major participation from Will Ventures, bringing the company’s total funding to $14.6M to date. Additional Series A investors include Uncork Capital, Offline Ventures, Joyance Partners, Wisdom Ventures, Eudemian Ventures, Adjacent, Scribble Ventures, Cooley LLP, and Michael Lee, founder of MyFitnessPal. Lloyd previously served as Chief Product and Technology Officer for Strava, a leading fitness and exercise tracking app serving more than 100 million athletes. 

A New Approach to Alcohol Management

Sunnyside is pioneering a new approach to alcohol management, moving away from the traditional all-or-nothing, sobriety-focused programs that have dominated the space. Based on research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) validating non-abstinence-based approaches to alcohol use treatment, Sunnyside focuses on moderation and balance, without pressuring users to quit entirely. This approach is resonating with a large segment of the population, as two-thirds of U.S. adults drink alcohol, and of this population, 48% report wanting to cut back.

Sunnyside’s Personalized Program

Sunnyside’s personalized program helps individuals gradually decrease their alcohol intake and maintain healthier levels for the long term. The program features weekly goal setting, daily SMS-based nudges, access to a vibrant member community, and 1:1 peer coaching and support. The app uses a baseline assessment to develop an attainable program that supports members in achieving their goals. On average, Sunnyside members reduce their drinking by 32%, cut out 1,500 calories, and save over $50 in their first 30 days.

With the new funding, Sunnyside plans to:

– Further develop its product experience to expand social connections among the member community

– Introduce “Sunny,” the first-of-its-kind AI mindful drinking coach

– Advance its mission to make proactive alcohol management as common and socially accepted as managing diet, exercise, and mindfulness.

What You Should Know:

• Pepper Bio, the “Google Maps for drug discovery,” today announced an oversubscribed $6.5 million seed round led by NFX with participation from Silverton Partners, Merck Digital Sciences Studio, Mana Ventures, Tensility Ventures, VSC Ventures, and more.
• Pepper Bio is the world’s first transomics company, which maps data across all the -omics layers and translates it into the fastest route for discovering new drugs, finding new uses for existing therapeutics, and rescuing drugs that may otherwise fail. 

Revolutionizing Drug Discovery: Pepper Bio’s COMPASS Platform Unveils Real-Time Protein Function for Faster and More Effective Treatment Development

Similar to how Google Maps integrates various layers of data such as traffic, weather, and road closures to assist drivers in finding the quickest and safest route, Pepper’s COMPASS platform decodes layers of biological maps—genomics (genes), transcriptomics (RNA), proteomics (proteins), and phosphoproteomics (protein function)—providing researchers with a comprehensive understanding of how diseases affect biology.

What distinguishes Pepper is its unparalleled capability to examine the real-time function of proteins within a biological system, going beyond the conventional methods that solely measure the presence, type, and quantity of proteins. COMPASS by Pepper unveils the intricate functions of these proteins, significantly influencing how we approach the development of drugs. This transomic analysis aids researchers in identifying potential treatments early in the drug discovery process, thereby reducing the time it takes to transition from research to clinical trials.

This is crucial given the current inefficiencies in drug discovery, where there is an average 3% probability of success for any given drug, and it takes over 10 years to bring new treatments to market. This prolonged timeline leaves individuals with untreated diseases waiting for solutions that may not be available in time. Researchers require more effective tools to swiftly identify challenges, save both money and time, and redirect incentives towards investing in research and development for rare, complex, and ‘untreatable’ diseases.

Since emerging from stealth mode in 2021, Pepper Bio has concentrated on research and collaborations with pharmaceutical companies in oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory diseases. In the current year, Pepper Bio has secured agreements with a leading pharmaceutical company in the US, a prominent international pharmaceutical company, and has actively participated in the inaugural Merck Digital Sciences Studio (MDSS) cohort, dedicated to supporting innovative drug discovery and development technologies. Furthermore, the company has applied its technology in an ongoing collaboration with Stanford’s Felsher Lab to pinpoint and validate novel therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma and lymphoma.

“Today marks a significant milestone for us at Pepper Bio. Drug discovery faces historically low success—leaving so many individuals grappling with untreated diseases and uncertainty,” said Jon Hu, co-founder and CEO of Pepper Bio. “This funding will enable us to expand our platform capabilities, further support our current pharma partnerships, and build out our internal pipeline.”

What You Should Know:

• Culmination Bio, a company building the largest disease-agnostic patient data intelligence platform, today announced a $10 million investment from Merck Global Health Innovation Fund (Merck GHI) and Amgen Ventures.
• As a spinoff from Intermountain Health, Culmination Bio maintains exclusive rights to a physical library and cloud-based data lake covering over 40 years of de-identified patient electronic health records and biospecimen data.

Data Driven Insights Enabled by Merck and Amgen Fundings

As the most extensive repository of its kind, this data lake empowers biopharmaceutical companies by providing crucial insights necessary for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic development. The recent funding secured by Culmination Bio will enable the further enhancement of its exclusive Intelligence Platform and the expansion of its commercial growth.

Presently, there is no streamlined method for bringing a drug or diagnostic to market, with the process often extending over a decade and incurring billions of dollars in costs for regulatory approval. The challenge originates from the time-consuming task of acquiring longitudinal biological and clinical patient data, a process that takes life sciences and biotech companies months to complete.

Culmination Bio addresses this hurdle by offering a continually expanding library of over five million de-identified patient samples and clinical data spanning several decades. Biotech and life sciences companies collaborate with Culmination Bio to swiftly access retrospective patient data and efficiently reach thousands of prospective patients for their studies.

“With support from our investors, Culmination Bio is raising the bar for healthcare innovation,” said Lincoln Nadauld, MD, Ph.D., president and CEO of Culmination Bio. “On top of our existing longitudinal patient data, we are adding over 300,000 biospecimens to our data lake each year. Because of this, we have the ability to quickly identify unique patient cohorts from our vast data lake that can speed up critical research, leading to novel discoveries..”