Our Portfolio
Apjohn Group partners assist entrepreneurs with unique technology in numerous ways such as assisting the innovator evaluate in evaluating the opportunity and then developing a plan to achieve key early-stage milestones to enhance value and attract investors.
Allergenis, LLC
Allergenis specializes in the detection and management of life-threatening food allergies. Based on machine learning and data-driven precision diagnostics, Allergenis helps healthcare providers safely assess and monitor patients with food allergies and has introduced the first blood test capable of predicting clinical reactions due to peanut allergy. Allergenis has amassed the world’s largest database of phenotypic patient data derived from epitope mapping, clinical history, and patient-reported outcomes. Allergenis was founded via a collaboration with Dr. Hugh Sampson, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Allergenis owns and operates a CLIA-certified laboratory in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. While the Apjohn Group was not involved with founding Allergenis, members of the group have participated in three rounds of funding and continue to advise the company’s leadership.
Armune BioScience, Inc.
Armune BioScience, Inc. was formed by the Apjohn Group in 2008 to develop and commercialize blood tests that leverage the warning signals produced by the body’s immune system in response to the onset of cancer. Armune was purchased by Madison, WI based Exact Sciences in early 2018.
Iaso Therapeutics, Inc.
Iaso Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology startup company dedicated to developing next generation vaccines to enhance human health and prevent diseases. The company was founded in 2018 by Dr. Xuefei Huang, a Michigan State University Foundation Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biomedical Engineering who is also a member of the newly formed Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering. With over 25 years of experience, his research program is focused on developing novel technologies for next-generation vaccines, including vaccines targeting both cancer and infectious diseases. Members of the Apjohn Group participated in the seed financing round and have representation on the board of directors. For more information please visit iasotherapeutics.com.
Sierra Oncology, Inc.
Sierra Oncology, Inc. is a clinical stage drug development company advancing next generation DNA Damage Response (DDR) for the treatment of patients with cancer. Sierra Oncology was established as ProNAi Therapeutics, Inc. by Apjohn Group in 2004 and went public July 16, 2015. The name was changed to Sierra Oncology effective January 9, 2017 (NASDAQ: SRRA). In mid-2022 the company was acquired by GSK plc. For more information please visit sierraoncology.com/.
Tetra Therapeutics, Inc.
Tetra Therapeutics is developing a platform of drug products to treat cognitive impairment. The Apjohn Group was not involved with founding Tetra, but advised in the formation of a special purpose investment entity to co-lead a $5 million Series A round of financing with the Grand Angels. Included in the full Series A investor list are Dolby Family Ventures, The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, and other private investors. In 2020, Tetra was acquired by Shionogi & Co. LTD., a Japanese pharmaceutical company, for $500 million. Shionogi recently launched a Phase 2b/3 trial of BPN14770 for Fragile X. For more information please visit shionogi.com.
Afmedica, Inc.
Afmedica, Inc. was founded to develop a sirolimus-impregnated polymer vascular ‘wrap’ to prevent the excess scarring that can occur inside blood vessels following vascular surgery and adhesions after other surgical procedures. Afmedica was sold to Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Vancouver, BC, Canada.