Dr. Tudor Oprea and Dr. Ruben Abagyan presented at “Artificial Intelligence for Early Drug Discovery” Conference in San Diego

Dr. Ruben Abagyan presented at the event with a discussion on “Giga-Screening for Preclinical Candidates with a Defined Multi-Target Profile”, where he explored the challenges of rapid identification of first-in-class or best-in-class preclinical drug candidates, illustrating the topic with examples of Eilean Therapeutics’ program for “tough” targets such as FLT3 and BCL2.

i2020 Accelerator Announces the Launch of Gwynant Therapeutics and Celyn Therapeutics to Develop Novel Small Molecules for Oncology Targets

i2020, an accelerator program backed by the San Diego-based venture company Torrey Pines Investment, has announced two new start-up investments together with OrbiMed Advisors. The start-up proceeds will finance new oncology-focused companies: Gwynant Therapeutics and Celyn Therapeutics. The companies will use the proceeds to bring proprietary small molecule products to the clinic targeting cancer. With this new financing, the partners continue to build a robust innovative asset pipeline focused on breakthrough drug targets. The new investment from i2020 and OrbiMed brings the total funding for 9 companies in the Loch platform to over $68.5 million. The Loch platform aims to rationally design and develop novel targeted treatments for cancer, immunological and neurodegenerative diseases.

In connection with the financing, Carl Gordon and Iain Dukes from OrbiMed, Nikolay Savchuk from Torrey Pines Investment and Augustine Lawlor from Health Care Ventures have joined the Boards of Gwynant and Celyn Therapeutics.

The Loch platform and its programs are supported by the AI and computer aided drug design of Molsoft LLC and ChemDiv Inc., San Diego, CA, as well as other research partners from i2020 Accelerator's global network.

About OrbiMed

OrbiMed has been investing globally for over 20 years across the healthcare industry: from early-stage private companies to large multinational corporations. Our team of over 100 distinguished scientific, medical, investment and other professionals manages over $19 billion across public and private company investments worldwide. From biopharmaceuticals to medical devices, diagnostics, and healthcare services, OrbiMed is scouting the globe for innovations that will help ensure humanity lives healthier, longer and more productive lives.

About i2020 Accelerator

i2020 Accelerator strives to accelerate early-stage drug discovery platforms towards advanced lead and clinical candidates within a two-year framework to rapidly de-risk novel science and enrich partner pipelines with first or best-in-class molecules. i2020's scientific and global resources network tailored specifically to the needs of early programs allows to accelerate development in multiple high value therapeutic areas, from immunology to inflammation and from oncology and CNS to infectious diseases and beyond. The i2020 accelerator program inaugurated by Torrey Pines Investment in 2017 is now co-creating, growing and graduating breakthrough drug discovery programs towards future medicines.

i2020 Accelerator Announces New Investments in Cancer-, Inflammation- and Neurology-focused Therapeutics

i2020, an accelerator program backed by the San Diego-based venture company Torrey Pines Investment, has announced multiple start-up and follow-on investment rounds together with OrbiMed and a start-up investment in a European science-based venture, together with OrbiMed and BioGeneration Ventures (BGV). The proceeds of the follow-ons will be used to further support the three previously funded, oncology-focused companies - Lomond Therapeutics, Eil Therapeutics and Ness Therapeutics and the start-up proceeds will finance three new oncology-focused companies: Bala Therapeutics, Tegid Therapeutics, Padarn Therapeutics as well as an inflammation-focused company, Vyrnwy Therapeutics. The European science-based venture will be known as Brenig Therapeutics and will focus on neurology targets. With this additional financing, the partners continue establishing an oncology, inflammation and neurology Loch group of startup companies whilst building a robust innovative pipeline focused on breakthrough drug targets. The new investment from i2020, and OrbiMed brings the total funding for the 7 companies to $52 million, of which approximately half has been invested in startup and follow-on investment rounds in 2020-2021, whilst the funding for Brenig Therapeutics amounts to $8m, of which approximately half has been invested to date. The Loch platform aims to rationally design and develop novel targeted treatments for cancer, immunological and neurodegenerative diseases.

In connection with the financing, Carl Gordon and Iain Dukes from OrbiMed, Nikolay Savchuk from Torrey Pines Investment and Augustine Lawlor from Health Care Ventures have joined the Boards of Lomond, Eil, Ness, Bala, Tegid, Padarn and Vyrnwy, and together with Edward van Wezel of BGV form the Board of Directors of Brenig Therapeutics.

The Loch platform and its programs are supported by the AI and computer aided drug design of Molsoft LLC and ChemDiv Inc., San Diego, CA, and other research partners from i2020 Accelerator’s global network.

About OrbiMed

OrbiMed is a leading healthcare investment firm, with over $13 billion in assets under management. OrbiMed invests globally across the healthcare industry, from start-ups to large multinational corporations, utilizing a range of private equity funds, public equity funds, and royalty/credit funds. OrbiMed maintains offices in New York City, San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Herzliya. OrbiMed seeks to be a capital provider of choice, providing tailored financing solutions and extensive global team resources to help build world-class healthcare companies.

About BioGeneration Ventures (BGV)

BioGeneration Ventures (BGV) is a venture capital company, with a focus on early-stage European biotech companies. With a strong track record of significant financial returns through its investments in healthcare innovations and providing the expertise to build world-class companies, BGV manages over EUR 250 million of funds and invests in areas where true scientific innovations, unmet medical needs, and the potential to demonstrate a significant proof of concept all converge. BGV strives to work with founding teams to progress science and build successful companies and uses its experience to guide progress into clinical trials, leading to successful drug development and value realization for its investors. BGV applies its expertise in a rigorous process to select the most compelling opportunities with the best prospects for exit. The Company is based in Naarden, The Netherlands. For more information, please visit:  http://www.biogenerationventures.com.

About i2020 Accelerator

i2020 Accelerator strives to accelerate early-stage drug discovery platforms towards advanced lead and clinical candidates within a two-year framework to rapidly de-risk novel science and enrich partner pipelines with first or best-in-class molecules. i2020's scientific and global resources network tailored specifically to the needs of early programs allows to accelerate development in multiple high value therapeutic areas, from immunology to inflammation and from oncology and CNS to infectious diseases and beyond. The i2020 accelerator program inaugurated by Torrey Pines Investment in 2017 is now co-creating, growing and graduating breakthrough drug discovery programs towards future medicines.

i2020 Accelerator of Torrey Pines Investment in Breakthrough Cancer Programs together with OrbiMed

i2020, an accelerator program backed by the San Diego-based venture company Torrey Pines Investment, announces an up to $28.5M seed investment together with OrbiMed in four companies: Loch Lomond Therapeutics, Loch Eil Therapeutics, Loch Ness Therapeutics and Llyn Bala Therapeutics. Each of the four companies is engaged in innovative oncology discovery programs comprising breakthrough discovery-stage assets and drug targets.

Meet Torrey Pines Investment and i2020 Accelerator at the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 10, 2019 -- Meet Torrey Pines Investment and i2020 Accelerator at the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, on January 13-16 2020 in San Francisco, California.

The annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is the largest and most informative healthcare investment symposium in the industry, bringing together industry leaders, emerging fast-growth companies, innovative technology creators, and members of the investment community.

In order to set up a meeting, email Rouslan Michtchenko at rm@i2020accelerator.com

i2020 Accelerator Invests in Developing Novel Highly-Specific Approaches to Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases Based on Previously Unrecognized Protein-Protein Interactions

i2020 Accelerator announced today its plans to invest in a cutting-edge research program based out of the University of Turku (UTU), Finland. The program studies previously unrecognized protein-protein interactions that disrupt The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) signaling pathways, the hyperactivity of which plays a pivotal role in many neuro-degenerative conditions and neuropathic pain. Under the terms of the collaboration, i2020 will provide funds, through its parent life-science investment firm - Torrey Pines Investment, as well as scientific expertise of ChemDiv as a recognized global leader in drug discovery solutions and a part of its global network of partners. This concerted effort is aimed at helping UTU accelerate the development of novel neuroprotectants and non-addictive pain treatments with high specificity based on its cutting-edge research and in-vivo study results.

Snap Bio and i2020 Accelerator (Torrey Pines Investment) Reach Lead Compounds Milestone for Pediatric Oncology and Advanced Liver Cancer Programs

Snap Bio, Inc. and Torrey Pines Investment (TPI) announced today that their joint early drug discovery program within the framework of the i2020 Accelerator has resulted in achieving the projected milestone in developing several small molecule lead candidates for treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and Hepatoblastoma. The milestone is marked with an outstanding selectivity profile and promising overall animal data in rodents for the lead candidates.

Torrey Pines Investment's i2020 Accelerator to Advance Snap Bio's Selective Kinase Inhibitor Platform for Treatment of Endodermal Cancers and Autoimmune Diseases

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2018 -- Torrey Pines Investment announced today that Snap Bio, Inc. has joined its early drug discovery ecosystem through its i2020 Accelerator specialty investment framework, which includes a three-way partnership with ChemDiv, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Snap Bio will leverage ChemDiv's unique integrated discovery platform, while Torrey Pines Investment will deploy its financial and BD&L capabilities to help Snap Bio advance their highly potent and selective kinase inhibitors for treating endodermal cancers and autoimmune diseases.

i2020 to Accelerate Stelvio Therapeutics First-in-Class Epigenetic Platform for Glioblastoma

SAN DIEGO, March 27, 2018 – i2020 Accelerator announced today that Stelvio Therapeutics has joined its early drug discovery ecosystem. i2020 aims to accelerate research programs with differentiated biology and established development paradigms towards advanced leads and clinical candidates. The i2020 Accelerator deploys a world-wide network of well-established R&D resources, financial and BD&L capabilities to help Stelvio Therapeutics advance its proprietary epigenetic platform for glioblastoma therapies.

i2020 received a startup funding commitment of $30 million from the specialty life science investor, Torrey Pines Investment. “With the risk of taking on projects at early development stages being very significant, i2020 has to be reasonably selective with the programs it supports,” comments Nikolay Savchuk, Managing Director at Torrey Pines. “Stelvio Therapeutics’ AI-driven epigenetic signature-based platform, which identifies compounds that trigger differentiation of cancer stem cells into benign cell types, matches i2020’s target profile well. It is a first-in-class project with strong clinical hypothesis, a well-defined product profile and clear development milestones.”

“i2020 aligns well with our overall goals, since it provides a robust network of relevant R&D, business strategy and scientific resources, together with an agile business model and flexible partnering options,” comments Attila Hajdu, CEO at Stelvio Therapeutics. “This exciting partnership is a tremendous step towards our shared mission of delivering innovative medicines of value to the patients that need them. With our combined technology and resources, the traditional approaches of chemo and radiotherapy would be toppled and we could see a cure for glioblastoma within our lifetime.”  

About i2020
By rapidly de-risking novel science and enriching partner pipelines with best-in-class molecules, i2020 helps accelerate early stage drug discovery platforms towards advanced lead and clinical candidate level within a two-year framework. i2020's vast scientific and global resource network tailored specifically to the needs of early drug development programs allows it to take on projects in a wide array of therapeutic areas, from immunology to infectious diseases and beyond. By successfully leveraging agile development principles and flexible partnering business models, i2020 plans to co-create 15 diverse drug discovery programs in 2018.
[www.i2020accelerator.com]

About Stelvio Therapeutics

Stelvio Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that focuses on developing a pipeline of alternative treatments for malignant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and lethal brain tumor. Instead of trying to kill tumor cells, Stelvio Therapeutics is developing treatments that will induce differentiation of tumor propagating cells into non-tumorigenic cells - a potent new strategy to fight GBM that could ultimately lead to more viable alternatives for patients.
[www.stelvio-oncology.com]

Torrey Pines Launches i2020 Accelerator for Early Therapeutics

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Torrey Pines Investment announced today the launch and initial funding of its i2020 Accelerator initiative. With Torrey Pines funding of up to US$30 million, i2020 implements agile development principles to accelerate small molecules with clearly established development paradigms and paths towards clear differentiation and competitive edge as advanced leads and clinical candidates.