RiverVest News-June 2023

June 2023

RiverVest Year In Review

The RiverVest team reported on investment activity and portfolio company progress during our Annual Meeting held at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis on May 4, 2023. To view a snapshot of these activities, scroll to the end of this email or download the pdf here.

As always, our Annual Meeting offered an opportunity for limited partners, friends of the firm, and team members to discuss topics pertaining to the firm, our investments, and the macro climate.

Keynote speaker Joel Prakken, Ph.D., Chief Economist at S&P Global Markit Intelligence, and RiverVest Managing Director Tom Melzer shared insights regarding the current economic outlook. Leaders of portfolio companies Alleviant Medical, Bluejay Therapeutics, Bonum Therapeutics, and Sparrow Pharmaceuticals presented updates on the progress of, and prospects for, their innovative biopharma and medical device programs, each in various phases of development.

Bluejay Therapeutics CEO Keting Chu discusses the company’s portfolio of treatments and cures for viral and liver diseases during RiverVest’s Annual Meeting May 4, 2023. Bluejay’s monoclonal antibody, BJT-778, recently progressed to Phase 1b trials for treating chronic hepatitis B and D infections.

Expert Insight:

Orphan Drug Act of 1983: Big Impact on "Small" Disease Therapies

By: Niall O'Donnell, PhD

Real-life Orphan Drug Act supporters on the set of the television drama Quincy in 1982.

Although their diseases are rare, their numbers are mighty; more than 30 million Americans suffer from a rare (also known as orphan) disease. This equates to roughly one in 10 Americans whose medical needs are complex and, most likely, unmet. At RiverVest, we build and invest in companies that focus on addressing some of the 7,000+ orphan diseases that afflict them.

In this article, RiverVest Managing Director Niall O’Donnell, Ph.D. discusses the law that transformed orphan drug development and how one actor’s starring role in its passage helped spur 40 years of prolific, life-saving innovation that continues today.

Read it here

Portfolio News

For the latest news, be sure to visit the RiverVest website and follow us on LinkedIn.

Recent announcements include:

Wugen, Inc. Presents Initial Data from First-in-Human Phase 1/2 Trial of WU-CART-007 at he European Hematology Association (EHA) 2023 Congress - 6/9/2023

Bluejay Therapeutics Advances in Hepatitis B and D Trials: Successfully Completes BJT-778 Phase 1a Study and Begins Phase 1b Trial Enrollment - 6/1/2023

Xilio Therapeutics Announces Preliminary Clinical Data from Phase 1 Trial of XTX101, a Tumor-Activated, Fc-Enhanced Anti-CTLA-4, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors - 5/25/2023

OncoResponse Awarded $13 Million in Funding from CPRIT and Raises $14 Million in Added Funds from Investors to Advance Cancer Immunotherapy - 5/18/2023

Spruce Biosciences Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Provides Corporate updates - 5/15/2023

Reneo Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results - 5/11/2023

Wugen, Inc. Appoints Industry Leader Mark Alles as Chair of the Board of Directors - 5/10/2023

Allakos, Inc. Provides Business Update and Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results - 5/9/2023

Xilio Therapeutics Accounces Pipeline and Business Updates and First Quarter 2023 Financial Results - 5/9/2023

Mirum Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Provides Business Update - 5/4/2023

Avalyn Pharma Reports Data After One Year of Treatment in Ongoing AP01 Option-label Extension Trial in Adults with Pulmonary Fibrosis - 4/11/2023

Mirum Pharmaceuticals Industry Leader Tim Walbert Joins Mirum Pharmaceuticals' Board of Directors - 4/6/2023

Avalyn Pharma Publishes Phase 1b ATLAS Results Demonstrating Stabilization of Lung Function at 24 and 48 Weeks with AP01 and Favorable Safety Profile - 3/23/2023

STAY CONNECTED

RiverVest Venture Partners is a leading life science venture capital firm focused on improving the lives of patients, supporting entrepreneurs, and earning the trust of investors through science, strategy, and innovation.

Visit our website