GVP and Georgia Biosciences Seed Fund Portfolio Companies

GVP and Georgia Biosciences Seed Fund Portfolio Companies
Georgia Venture Partners has invested in a diverse collection of early-stage Georgia companies who share the common thread of proprietary technology, unmet clinical and market needs, and the leadership of a driven entrepreneur. While many are based on technologies within Georgia's research universities, we also invest in the nation's leading inventions that could come to fruition in early-stage Georgia companies. For more information on these companies, please click on the links below.

	Abeome Corporation www.abeomecorp.com Abeome Corporation is a privately-held biotechnology company leveraging its proprietary technology to optimize the discovery of therapeutic and diagnostic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Abeome's DiSH (Direct Selection of Hybridomas) technology--pioneered by Dr. Richard Meagher at the University of Georgia-- offers an improved process for rapidly selecting and cloning desired hybridomas that produce antibodies with optimal binding characteristics. Abeome has built a strong team of directors and advisors and formed a number of commercial affiliations with large biotech companies. The company has also rapidly advanced the use of the technology to discover a large number of potential therapeutic or diagnostic mAbs for ovarian cancer and is currently collaborating with the renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center to screen these mAbs on tissue micro arrays from human patients. GVP has invested alongside the State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center). For more information contact CEO Michael Wanner at mike.wanner@abeomecorp.com.
	AerovectRx Corporation www.aerovectrx.com GVP Partner, Tom Callaway, leads AerovectRx, an early stage venture developing an inhaled drug delivery platform based on technology originally developed at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with support from the U.S. government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. AerovectRx is developing vibrating mesh nebulizers to deliver drugs and vaccines. AerovectRx's nebulizers have the unique property of a disposable mesh and medication cartridge, offering the competitive advantage of meshes that don't clog, especially when macromolecules are used. One of AerovectRx's nebulizers has 510k approval from the FDA. GVP has invested alongside the Emergent Growth Fund and the ATDC Seed Capital Fund. For more information contact CEO Tom Callaway, M.D., MBA at tcallaway@aerovectrx.com.
	Altiris Therapeutics www.altiristherapeutics.com Founded as Metastatix by Dennis Liotta at Emory University, Altiris is developing compounds that inhibit CXCR4, a receptor on cells for SDF-1 (stromal cell derived factor 1), which if blocked has therapeutic potential as an enhancement for stem cell mobility and a therapeutic for metastatic cancers and HIV infection. The company is led by experienced, early stage biotech CEO Doug Gooding., has IND approval for MSX-122 for Phase I clinical studies in the US and has developed a portfolio of structurally unique molecules. GVP has invested alongside CM Capital, The Aurora Funds, Centrosome LLC and the State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center). Past coinvestors include H.I.G. Ventures, Frazier Healthcare Ventures, SR One, and MedImmune Ventures For more information contact CEO Doug Gooding at dgooding@altiristherapeutics.com.
	Arterain Medical www.arterain.com Arterain Medical is an early stage medical device company focused on the development of a novel catheter based system to treat large vessel acute ischemic strokes. Arterain Medical was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georga. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center) has invested alongside a number of high-net worth individuals. For more information contact CEO Ken Holloway at ken@arterain.com.
	Aruna Biomedical Inc www.arunabiomedical.com ArunA Biomedical, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology corporation dedicated to the discovery, manufacturing and commercialization of emerging new technologies in human stem cell research for use in drug discovery and basic research. ArunA is the first company to commercialize products derived from human embryonic stem cells and sees its proprietary technology as a catalyst leading to the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds, tests for neurotoxicity and breakthroughs in understanding human development and diseases. Cellular technology developed at University of Georgia make it practical for Aruna to reliably deliver neural progenitors and motor neurons to researchers as single layers. Additionally, ArunA created optimized media specifically designed for the proliferation and differentiation of neural cell types. Their expertise in stem cells coupled with their media formulation capabilities allowed ArunA to produce the first user-friendly, turn-key tools for neuroscience researchers. These innovative kits contain cryopreserved neural progenitors, optimized cell-specific media and the reagents needed to propagate and differentiate neural progenitors into primary cultures of neural cells. ArunA has since released other neural pathway products, including further differentiated human neural cultures; additional neural pathway products are now under development. The company also provides comprehensive testing and assay services based on their expertise and unique human stem cell derived research tools. The company was founded by serial entrepreneur Jim Stice and UGA Professor Steve Stice Ph.D, and is led by CEO Bud Ingalls, former CFO of Serologicals Corporation. GVP has invested alongside The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center) and a number of high-net worth individuals. For more information contact CEO Bud Ingalls at bingalls@arunabiomedical.com.
	AxoTect Inc. AxoTect is an emerging biotech company focused on developing drugs evolving out of groundbreaking research from Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology into the process of axonal degeneration, which led to the discovery of a fundamentally new approach to treating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)—a devastating side effect produced by many cancer treatments—and ultimately other neurological disorders. AxoTect is pursuing the development of its lead compound, AK295, a ketoamide calpain protease inhibitor that shows promise against CIPN and additional compounds that have been identified that are as potent as AK295. There are currently no treatments for preventing peripheral neuropathy due to axonal degeneration, and prevention of CIPN is a major unmet medical need. GVP founded AxoTect in 2005 with inventors Jonathan Glass M.D. and James Powers Ph.D and has invested alongside the State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center). For more information contact Tom Callaway, at tom@georgiavc.com.
	Biofisica www.biofisica.com Biofisica is developing and selling POSiFECT, essentially a bandage that incorporates electrostimulation to augment wound healing. The Company has encouraging data from treating human subjects who had stage 3 and stage 4 ulcers. Biofisica's POSiFECT is currently being sold in the UK and is approved in the EU and Canada. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center) has invested alongside the Physic Ventures, the Novartis Venture Fund, and a number of high-net worth individuals. For more information contact CEO Rafael Andino at rafael.andino@biofisica.com.
	CytoDome Cytodome is developing an implantable local drug delivery device based on a novel technological approach that will regulate drug uptake by ailing brain tissue. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Development Technology Center) has invested alongside Veritas Venture Partners and high-net worth individuals.
	ICON Interventional, Inc. www.icon-us.com ICON Interventional, Inc., led by CEO Jack Merritt, is a cardiovascular medical device company developing bare-naked and drug eluting stents based on a proprietary stent material, Nuloy(TM). The Nuloy(TM) material has inherent properties which allow for manufacture of stents with extremely thin struts, increased strength, radiopacity and deliverability, and decreased elastic recoil compared with that in existing stent materials. ICON is also developing a bioabsorbable stent platform based on its Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) technology for use in peripheral vessels. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Development Technology Center) has invested alongside high-net worth individuals from the medical device industry. For more information contact CEO Jack Merritt at jackm@icon-us.com.
	Iconic Therapeutics, Inc. www.iconictherapeutics.com/ Iconic is a development-stage company, incorporated in December 2002 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Company is focused on the development and commercialization of novel immunoconjugate proteins called “I-cons™” that trigger the immune system to target and destroy unwanted cells in the body. The Company’s first prototype,hI-con1™, uniquely targets pathological blood vessels (PBV) and is being developed to provide effective therapy for the “wet” form of adult macular degeneration. Iconic has an exclusive, worldwide license with Yale University for the technology, and plans to conduct a phase I clinical trial soon. and the I-con™ technology. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Development Technology Center) has invested alongside New Haven, Conn-based Elm Street Ventures and high-net worth individuals. For more information contact CEO Kirk Fornbush at Iconic Therapeutics.
	InsectiGen www.insectigen.com InsectiGen, Inc., founded in 2003, is a leading US-based independent research, development, and licensing company focused on discovering technologies to greatly improve current environmentally-friendly pesticide products and commercialize new ones. Its product suite is based on a platform technology called BtBooster (“BtB”), which is a patented protein discovered and developed by research led by Mike Adang at the University of Georgia that easily can be added to the industry standard biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis, or “Bt.” InsectiGen has assembled a team of scientific experts, advisors, executives, and Board of Directors that includes several of the world’s most recognized and experienced pioneers in the rapidly growing field of biopesticide technologies. The company has non-exclusive licensing and product evaluation agreements with several of the largest agribusinesses in the world, including Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., a subsidiary of DuPont (“DuPont-Pioneer”), two additional market-share leading seed and crop traits companies, and an international leader in the biopesticide product sector. Additional investors include The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center) and high net-worth individuals from the AgBiotech industry. For more information contact CEO Cliff Baile, PhD at cbaile@insectiGen.com.
	Neurop www.neuropinc.com NeurOp is a preclinical stage pharmaceutical company developing proprietary disease activated drugs for central nervous system diseases, such as neuropathic pain, ischemia, and neurodegenerative disease. NeurOp’s most advanced compounds demonstrate in vivo efficacy in animal models of neuropathic pain and ischemia with no apparent toxicity at therapeutic doses. NeurOp was founded by Emory University faculty Drs. Raymond Dingledine and Stephen Traynelis and Duke University faculty member Dr. James McNamara, and has offices and laboratory facilities in Emtech Bio, a life sciences incubator located on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Development Technology Center) has invested alongside Bluegrass Angel Network, Ariel Savannah Angel partners, and accredited independent investors. For more information contact CEO Vincent La Terza at vlaterza@neuropinc.com.
	PhysioStream, Inc. Physiostream, Inc. was founded to develop products around its core physiological monitoring and diagnostics platform comprised of novel, ultra low powered transmission devices and a data visualization and analysis system that was developed at MIT. Its electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG) analytics products have the potential to serve multiple industries. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Development Technology Center) has invested alongside a high-net worth individual. For more information contact Tom Callaway at tom@georgiavc.com.
	Scientific Compliance www.scicomply.com Scientific Compliance, a spin-out from Scientific Compliance also led by CEO William H. Longley, has developed the SMART Retainer, an orthodontal retainer with an embedded microsensor to gather and store information on patient retainer use. When the patient returns to the orthodontist, the SMART retainer is placed on a special reader-- a SMART reader-- that uploads the retainer use data and provides an accurate record that enables the orthodontist to assess retainer wear frequency and duration. The SMART Reader utilizes a wireless communication link to add new information to data stored from the last assessment, and the accompanying software produces simple charts for evaluation and discussion with the patient. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center) has invested alongside a number of high-net worth individuals. For more information contact CEO William H. Longley at wlongley@scicomply.com.
	Scientific Intake www.scientificintake.com Founded in 2003 by CEO William H. Longley, Scientific Intake is developing an oral insert, called the Sensor Monitored Alimentary Restriction Therapy (SMART™) bariatric device, that mimics torus palatinus in humans-- in essence an obstruction in the mouth that slows one's food intake so that the satiety response can catch up with one's food intake. The intended result is that fewer calories are consumed, and subsequently weight is lost. The device is intended to treat people who are overweight and have Class I (mild) obesity (BMI 27-35). Scientific Intake is ISO 13485 certified and the SMART Weight Loss device has Class I medical device status in Canada, Europe and Australia. Scientific Intake recently began selling the SMART™ device in Canada and will be launched in the EU pending receipt of a CE Mark. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center) has invested alongside a number of high-net worth individuals. For more information contact CEO William H. Longley at wlongley@scientificintake.com.
	Stheno www.spectra-analysis.com Stheno was developing the Magneto-Optical Phase Enantiomeric Detector (MOPED) for detection of chiral molecule impurities in racemic mixtures found in small molecule drug development. The technology, licensed from Georgia Tech, is an online chiral detection system that is inexpensive, is robust enough for manufacturing lines, and has the sensitivity required for quality control. MOPED's more sensitive detection limits would allow the FDA to mandate higher levels of purity from pharmaceutical manufacturers and could be a disruptive technology that potentially redefines FDA-mandated limits for chiral impurities. Stheno was acquired in 2008 by Spectra-Analysis, Inc. in a private stock acquisition. Spectra-Analysis is a supplier of molecular spectroscopy systems and applications to classify and characterize chemical components, polymers, etc. The company currently sells the DiscovIR-LC, an automated infra-red detection system, and plans to develop and launch MOPED as a follow-on product. GVP invested in Stheno alongside New England Partners Capital, L.P., Healthcare Capital Partners, Acorn, LLC, and the State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Technology Development Center). For more information contact Georgia Giasanti at giasantig@spectra-analysis.com .
	Visioneering Technologies, Inc. Visioneering Technologies Inc. (VTI), is a privately held medical device company developing contact lenses and other on eye/in eye applications (LASIK, intraocular lenses and corneal inlays) for correcting presbyopia--a condition where the eye exhibits progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects with age VTI’s patented approach to vision correction utilizes induced aperture optics to improve the optical efficiency of the eye’s vision system. The company was founded in 2004 by Dr. Richard A. Griffin, an optometrist, optical engineer and aerospace engineer who spent 20 years developing VTI’s unique technology; and has raised nearly $5 million to date, led by optics industry veteran Joe DeLapp. The State of Georgia (Seed Capital Fund administered by the Advanced Development Technology Center) has invested in a $5M Series B round of financing led by MB Ventures. Other investors include Charter Life Sciences, Life Science Angels, and accredited independent investors. For more information contact CEO Joe Delapp at jkdcld@aol.com.