News

Sivan Weitzman Joins RiverVest Venture Partners as CFO

ST. LOUIS, MO (Jan. 22, 2019) – Life sciences venture capital firm RiverVest Venture Partners today announced that Sivan Weitzman has joined the firm as Chief Financial Officer. Weitzman brings with her experience as CFO at an Israeli investment firm where, during her 13 years there, assets under management grew from $250 million to $14 billion.

RiverVest Venture Partners Closes on Oversubscribed $184.4 Million Life Sciences Fund

ST. LOUIS, MO (Dec. 18, 2018) – Life sciences venture capital firm RiverVest Venture Partners today announced the final closing of RiverVest Venture Fund IV, L.P., reaching $184.4 million in capital commitments in an oversubscribed fundraise. RiverVest Fund IV marks the firm’s fourth dedicated life sciences fund, bringing its total assets under management as of Sept. 30 to $753 million.

Mirum Pharmaceuticals Secures $120 Million in Series A Financing to Develop Phase 3-Ready Maralixibat for Rare Liver Diseases

Maralixibat Phase 2b study interim analysis suggests proof of concept in Alagille Synrdome

Combined leadership from former Lumena and Tobira teams to pursue registration in Alagille Syndrome, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis and other liver diseases

SAN DIEGO – Nov. 7, 2018– Mirum Pharmaceuticals today announced that the company has secured $120 million in Series A financing, the proceeds of which will support development of maralixibat for rare cholestatic liver diseases.

Standard Bariatrics Receives FDA Indication for #1 Bariatric Surgical Procedure

Innovative laparoscopic bariatric device manufacturer announces FDA 510(k) clearance for Sleeve Gastrectomy

Cincinnati, Ohio – October 22, 2018 – Standard Bariatrics, an innovator of surgical devices, has received a sleeve gastrectomy indication from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the STANDARD CLAMP^®.¹

Cardialen Closes $17 Million Series B Financing for Heart Rhythm Therapy

Cardialen is developing a low-energy implantable defibrillation therapy designed to more gently restore normal heart rhythm

Minneapolis, Oct. 10, 2018 – Cardialen, Inc., a medical device company developing a low-energy implantable defibrillation therapy designed to more gently restore normal heart rhythm, announced today the closing of a $17 million Series B investment led by RiverVest Venture Partners, along with Qiming Venture Partners, HBM Healthcare Investments and Cultivation Capital. The financing will be used to advance Cardialen’s clinical program with further human testing of its unpinning termination (UPT) therapy and begin development of an implantable device.

OncoResponse Raises $40 Million in Series B Financing

— Adds RiverVest Venture Partners, Qatar Investment Authority and Redmile Group to List of Financial Backers
— Proceeds Will Advance Growing Portfolio of Therapeutic Candidates for Various Cancers

SEATTLE, Washington – September 11, 2018 – OncoResponse, an immunotherapy company developing a portfolio of novel antibodies to high-value targets for the treatment of cancer, today announced the completion of a $40 million series B equity financing. Participants in the round, which was led by RiverVest Venture Partners, included new investors Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Redmile Group, and existing investors Alexandria Venture Investments, ARCH Venture Partners, HT Family Office, Canaan Partners, Helsinn Investment Fund and William Marsh Rice University.

Allakos Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering and Full Exercise of Underwriters’ Option to Purchase Additional Shares

SAN CARLOS, Calif., July 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allakos Inc. (NASDAQ:ALLK), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of antibodies for the treatment of various eosinophil and mast cell related diseases, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 8,203,332 shares of its common stock, sold by the Company at a public offering price of $18.00 per share.

Allakos Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

SAN CARLOS, Calif., July 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Allakos Inc., (Nasdaq:ALLK), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of antibodies for the treatment of various eosinophil and mast cell related diseases, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 7,133,333 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $18.00 per share, for total gross proceeds of approximately $128.4 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.

Standard Bariatrics Closes Series A Round of Financing

(Cincinnati, OH– April 18, 2018) Standard Bariatrics, Inc., an innovator of bariatric surgical devices, has raised a Series A round of financing.

RiverVest Venture Partners’ Portfolio Company Securus Sold to Boston Scientific

Represents 9th Exit from RiverVest Venture Fund II

ST. LOUIS and CLEVELAND (April 3, 2018) – RiverVest Venture Partners today announced portfolio company Securus Medical Group, Inc., has been sold to Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX). Boston Scientific has been an investor in Securus since 2016, and the transaction price for the remaining stake not already owned consists of $40 million in cash up-front, as well as up to $10 million in contingent payments based on regulatory achievements and commercial milestones.

Boston Scientific Announces Acquisition of Securus Medical Group, Inc.

Acquisition strengthens electrophysiology cardiac ablation portfolio with thermal monitor

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the acquisition of Securus Medical Group, Inc., a privately-held company that has developed a thermal monitoring system for the continuous measurement of esophageal temperature. Boston Scientific has been an investor in Securus since 2016, and the transaction price for the remaining stake not already owned consists of $40 million in cash up-front, as well as up to $10 million in contingent payments based on regulatory achievements and commercial milestones.

LYRIC COMPLETES ENROLLMENT IN PHASE 2 PROMOTE STUDY OF LP101 (ULIMORELIN) IN ENTERAL FEEDING INTOLERANCE

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, March 5, 2018 — Lyric Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Lyric), a biopharmaceutical company, today announced the completion of enrollment of PROMOTE, an international, multicenter, randomized, controlled Phase 2 study of LP101 (ulimorelin) for the treatment of enteral feeding intolerance (EFI) in critically ill patients.