Based on this platform, our team creates a full spectrum of precisely calibrated small-molecule opioids that are tunable for desired therapeutic outcomes—from full inhibitors to full agonists.
We are focusing our platform first on two of the greatest unmet medical needs of our time: Safer and more effective pain relief and more effective treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) with reduced risk of addiction and respiratory depression.
Management Team
Douglas Crawford, Ph.D.
CEO
Don Gehlert, Ph.D.
Head of Biology
Douglas Crawford’s goal is to help entrepreneurial scientists create successful startups. To this end, Doug and his colleagues have systematically lowered the barriers between great ideas and successful companies. For instance, Doug created and manages MBC BioLabs. This state-of-the-art co-working laboratory program in San Francisco allows entrepreneurs to rapidly generate data without getting bogged down in facility management. Rather than spending months getting a facility up and running, MBC BioLabs startups can generate important data in their first week.
In the first 4 years, this program has helped launch 104 companies that have raised over 1.76B. This incubator program reflects Doug’s passion for startups and his eagerness to help entrepreneurs overcome challenges.
Doug is also the Managing Director of Mission Bay Capital and has overseen the investment in 45 companies, 9 of which have already enjoyed successful exits (Alector, Atreca, Calithera, Cell Design Labs, iPierian, Principia, Redwood Biosciences, True North, and Zephyrus). He is a board member of Avexegen, Epiodyne, Graphwear, Invenio, Magnamosis, Magnap, Mitokinin, SiteOne (observer), and Tangible Sciences.
Doug received his PhD in biochemistry from UCSF.
Don currently serves as Epiodyne’s head of biology and oversees preclinical and IND-enabling work. Don brings to the team extensive experience in drug discovery and development. His expertise is in exploratory development and disease biology, with primary focus in psychiatry and metabolic disorders. During his career at Lilly, Don led or participated on preclinical teams that introduced 19 molecules into the Lilly pipeline, including both small molecules and biologics. He also participated on Phase I and Phase II clinical development teams that designed and delivered translational proof of concept studies in the areas of ADHD, obesity, AUD, depression, pain and migraine. Three of these molecules resulted in marketed therapies and several are currently in late stage clinical development. Don has also been an advisor to several venture-backed biotechcompanies, including Cerecor and Spruce, on drug discovery, due diligence on clinical molecules and licensing strategies. He is a co-author on 181 publications and a co-inventor on 15 issued and pending patents. He did his post-doctoral studies at the NIH and received his Ph.D. at the University of Utah.
Neil Schwartz, Ph.D.
VP of Research
Douglas Crawford’s goal is to help entrepreneurial scientists create successful startups. To this end, Doug and his colleagues have systematically lowered the barriers between great ideas and successful companies. For instance, Doug created and manages MBC BioLabs. This state-of-the-art co-working laboratory program in San Francisco allows entrepreneurs to rapidly generate data without getting bogged down in facility management. Rather than spending months getting a facility up and running, MBC BioLabs startups can generate important data in their first week.
In the first 4 years, this program has helped launch 104 companies that have raised over 1.76B. This incubator program reflects Doug’s passion for startups and his eagerness to help entrepreneurs overcome challenges.
Doug is also the Managing Director of Mission Bay Capital and has overseen the investment in 45 companies, 9 of which have already enjoyed successful exits (Alector, Atreca, Calithera, Cell Design Labs, iPierian, Principia, Redwood Biosciences, True North, and Zephyrus). He is a board member of Avexegen, Epiodyne, Graphwear, Invenio, Magnamosis, Magnap, Mitokinin, SiteOne (observer), and Tangible Sciences.
Doug received his PhD in biochemistry from UCSF.
Don currently serves as Epiodyne’s head of biology and oversees preclinical and IND-enabling work. Don brings to the team extensive experience in drug discovery and development. His expertise is in exploratory development and disease biology, with primary focus in psychiatry and metabolic disorders. During his career at Lilly, Don led or participated on preclinical teams that introduced 19 molecules into the Lilly pipeline, including both small molecules and biologics. He also participated on Phase I and Phase II clinical development teams that designed and delivered translational proof of concept studies in the areas of ADHD, obesity, AUD, depression, pain and migraine. Three of these molecules resulted in marketed therapies and several are currently in late stage clinical development. Don has also been an advisor to several venture-backed biotechcompanies, including Cerecor and Spruce, on drug discovery, due diligence on clinical molecules and licensing strategies. He is a co-author on 181 publications and a co-inventor on 15 issued and pending patents. He did his post-doctoral studies at the NIH and received his Ph.D. at the University of Utah.
Board of Directors
Mike Taylor
Executive Chair
Brook Byers
Waycross Capital
Douglas Crawford, Ph.D.
Mission Bay Capital
Terry Rosen, Ph.D.
Arcus Biosciences
Brian Shoichet, Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Greg Yap
Menlo Ventures
Scientific Advisory Board
William Schmidt, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Catalina Pharma
Peter Schmidt, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
Stanford Medicine
AJ Rastogi, M.D.
Co-founder & CEO
North American Spine & Pain
Investors
