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Our mission is to help create the next generation of powerhouse biotech companies by providing entrepreneurs and innovative life-sciences startups with the space and resources they need to test out, challenge, and nurture early ideas. In order to create a fertile environment in which visionaries can thrive, we aim to:

• Foster a collaborative atmosphere that allows thought-sharing and creative exchange

• Offer best-in-class infrastructure to enable the unfettered practice of science

• Promote cost efficiencies through sharing of many services such as permitting, purchasing, maintenance, IT, and security

• Anticipate needs and roadblocks for entrepreneurs in order to provide the smoothest possible path to growth

• Create a bioinnovation ecosystem that fosters collegial interactions among industry, investors, government, and academia

Founded in 1852, The Mount Sinai Hospital is a 1,171-bed, tertiary-care teaching facility acclaimed internationally for excellence in clinical care.

U.S. News & World Report ranks The Mount Sinai Hospital among the top hospitals nationwide. Mount Sinai also ranks in several specialties and is top 10 in three of those: Geriatrics (#3), Cardiology and Heart Surgery (#7), and Gastroenterology (#8).

Novartis is a global healthcare company based in Switzerland that provides solutions to address the evolving needs of patients worldwide.

Boston Harbor Angels is a group of proven business leaders interested in investing a portion of our assets in high-growth, early-stage companies. Since 2004 we have made investments in companies in medical devices, IT, consumer products, business products, specialty materials, Internet, aviation, etc. We believe we contribute more than money to the companies we fund and welcome the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs who are open to taking advice, yet have the smarts and determination to make their company successful.

Our focus is on early-stage companies, usually looking to raise $250K to $1.5M, where we can fund a portion of the round and syndicate the deal with other angel groups or early-stage venture funds. The company should be close to the commercialization stage and have a clear and defensible competitive advantage. We are looking for capital-efficient businesses that can reach profitability with less than $5M of equity investment and provide at least a tenfold return on the investment within five years.

BHA does not invest as a fund—each of our members makes his or her individual investment decision—but we collaborate in due diligence. We are open to any opportunities that can make a strong business case and can take the position of a lead investor if one of us has strong expertise within our group.

BHA receives 20-30 business summaries each month, out of which we select eight companies to make a personal presentation to our screening committee. The screening committee consists of volunteers from the group. The presentations are 10 minutes long, followed by 30-minute interactive discussion on the business opportunity. We provide our feedback on the strategy, tactics, presentation style, etc. on the spot. Four of the companies are invited to present to the whole group, so as to get members interested. After that, we decide to undertake due diligence concerning the companies before making an investment.

Boston Harbor Angels was founded by Mic Williams (president) in February 2004. Day-to-day operations are managed by Boris Batchvarov (managing director).

Syndax is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing entinostat as a combination therapy in multiple cancer indications with an initial focus on tumors that have shown sensitivity to immunotherapy, including lung cancer, melanoma and triple negative breast cancer. Entinostat is an oral, small molecule drug candidate that has direct effects on both cancer cells and immune regulatory cells, potentially enhancing the body’s immune response to tumors. 

CARDIOVASCULAR

Dr. Mignatti's two NIH grants support the study of a novel mechanism that controls the growth of a number of cells including the cells of the blood vessels. These cells produce a protein referred to as Membrane Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP). MT1-MMP has the capacity of digesting structural proteins that surround the cells, an important function for new vessels to make their way into the tissues that need to be vascularized. Unlike proteins with similar functions, MT1-MMP is bound to the cell membrane, the sheath that surrounds the cell, a feature that makes it similar to other proteins - growth factor- or hormone- receptors. These proteins have the role of relaying signals from the outside to the inside of the cell when they bind their cognate growth factors or hormones. These signals regulate many cell functions, including the capacity to grow and form new vessels. MT1-MMP also binds an extracellular protein called tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2). Dr. Mignatti's group discovered that MT1-MMP binding of TIMP-2 activates signals inside the cell which stimulate cell growth and movement. The current work aims to understand the mechanisms by which MT1-MMP relays signals from the outside to the inside of the cell. For this purpose the research group uses both techniques of molecular and cellular biology, and animal models engineered in the laboratory. The results of these studies can afford the development of novel drugs to control the growth of a variety of cells including those that form blood vessel.

Anavex™ Life Sciences Corp. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s, CNS diseases and various types of cancer, which have significant unmet medical needs.

ANAVEX™ 2-73, the Company’s orally available drug candidate developed to treat Alzheimer’s through potential disease modification, has undergone an initial Phase 1 human clinical trial and was well tolerated in doses up to 55mg.  Results from pre-clinical studies indicate that ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrates anti-amnesic and neuroprotective properties.

A highly encouraging synergistic effect has also been observed between ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®).  The combined therapeutics, referred to as “ANAVEX™ PLUS,” produced up to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease models versus when the drugs were used individually.

ANAVEX PLUS is believed to be a compelling commercial opportunity.  The clinical trial risk is lower because donepezil (Aricept®) is already on the market, with global sales of $4-billion annually.  Donepezil (Aricept®) is now generic and a patent application has been filed for ANAVEX PLUS which, if granted, would provide protection until 2033.

Headquartered in New York, Anavex is an American publicly traded corporation quoted as AVXL.

Anavex™ Life Sciences Corp. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s, CNS diseases and various types of cancer, which have significant unmet medical needs.

ANAVEX™ 2-73, the Company’s orally available drug candidate developed to treat Alzheimer’s through potential disease modification, has undergone an initial Phase 1 human clinical trial and was well tolerated in doses up to 55mg.  Results from pre-clinical studies indicate that ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrates anti-amnesic and neuroprotective properties.

A highly encouraging synergistic effect has also been observed between ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®).  The combined therapeutics, referred to as “ANAVEX™ PLUS,” produced up to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease models versus when the drugs were used individually.

ANAVEX PLUS is believed to be a compelling commercial opportunity.  The clinical trial risk is lower because donepezil (Aricept®) is already on the market, with global sales of $4-billion annually.  Donepezil (Aricept®) is now generic and a patent application has been filed for ANAVEX PLUS which, if granted, would provide protection until 2033.

Headquartered in New York, Anavex is an American publicly traded corporation quoted as AVXL.