Foundation Venture Capital Group, a New Jersey Health Foundation affiliate that invests exclusively in research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) by funding new life science companies, has backed MentiNova, which is exploring an oral medication that could reduce side-effects to treatments to Parkinson’s disease.
Foundation has committed up to $500,000 to advance this research and development.
In addition to MentiNova, other Foundation portfolio companies include:
Actinobac Biomed, developing a therapeutic agent targeting blood cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies;
Affineti Biologics, advancing research in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic products based on new discoveries in oral biology and dental medicine;
CellXplore, engaged in the development of biomarker-based in vitro diagnostic assays for cancer;
Celvive, working to develop technology to treat patients with chronic spinal cord injuries with their own adult stem cells;
Durin Technologies, working to develop a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease;
GeneAssess, a company developing a diagnostic tool for more accurate breast cancer staging;
Longevica Pharmaceuticals, developing a chemoprotective agent that may keep normal cells healthy during cancer treatments (FVCG’s equity interest in Longevica was sold to Rostock International, a subsidiary of a Moscow (Russia) based global investment firm); and
Snowdon Pharmaceuticals, a drug discovery company focused on several major therapeutic areas.