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Regenesis Biomedical is a Scottsdale, AZ-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
FirstLight Health Systems is a Mora, MN-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
SeraCare Life Sciences, Inc. is a Milford, MA-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, & Biotech sector.
CytoDyn is a biotechnology company focused on the clinical development and potential commercialization of humanized monoclonal antibodies for the treatment and prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. We have one of the leading monoclonal antibodies under development for HIV infection, PRO 140, which prevents viral entry into healthy T-cells by blocking the HIV co-receptor CCR5. The drug candidate is also being tested for other immunological conditions, and has been granted FDA orphan drug status for the treatment of Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who are undergoing bone marrow stem cell transplantation.
Kezar co-founder Christopher Kirk, Ph.D. began his work on the unique function of the immunoproteasome at Proteolix in 2005, while working on the compound that would become the successful multiple myeloma drug KYPROLIS™ (carfilzomib). As VP of Research at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, which acquired Proteolix in 2009, Christopher led the efforts to develop the first selective inhibitors of the immunoproteasome and designed multiple studies demonstrating their profound immunomodulatory effects. In parallel with this work, Christopher and Kezar co-founder Jack Taunton, Ph.D. collaborated on several research projects involving protein secretion. This collaboration inspired a belief in the strong synergies between protein degradation and protein secretion, two fertile areas for drug discovery with platform potential. In 2014, Christopher and Kezar co-founder John Fowler began developing the business plan for Kezar, acting on a longstanding desire to work together and build a world-class company. In 2015, John and Christopher raised $23M and negotiated a worldwide, exclusive license agreement with Amgen for the Onyx immunoproteasome inhibitor patent estate. Now underway, John and Christopher are excited to leverage their complementary skill sets to build Kezar into a leader in small molecule drug development.