Symic Biomedical
San Francisco, US · Founded 2012 · 7 known investors
Biotechnology company developing therapeutics that target the extracellular matrix in acute and chronic diseases.
Also known as Symic Bio · Symic Bio Inc · Symic Biomedical, Inc.
Founders & leadership
Symic Biomedical was founded in 2012 by KENNETH N. HORNE, ALYSSA PANITCH, and JOHN PADERI.
Investors · 7
Also in the syndicate · 3
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$1.4M disclosed across 1 of 3 rounds · 2013–2015
▶$1.4MraisedJan 2014 · 16 investors · BiotechnologyRule 506(b)
- KENNETH N. HORNEExecutive Officer, Director
- KATE STUARTExecutive Officer
- ALYSSA PANITCHDirector
- JOHN PADERIDirector
- Offering amount
- $1.5M
- Amount sold
- $1.4M
- First sale
- Nov 2013
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2012
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Symic Biomedical, Inc. (also known as Symic Bio) is a biotechnology company founded in 2012 that develops a class of compounds targeting the extracellular matrix — the non-cellular component of tissue — rather than cellular targets. Its therapeutics are described as inspired by naturally occurring macromolecules that play regulatory roles within the extracellular matrix, and the company has positioned the approach as applicable to a broad range of acute and chronic diseases and disorders.
Initial development focused on chronic wound treatment, hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction in end-stage kidney disease, and osteoarthritis. Two clinical candidates have been described: SB-030, initially targeting prevention of peripheral vein graft failure, and SB-061, directed at disease modification and pain management in osteoarthritis. Additional research applications listed include fibrosis, oncology and central nervous system diseases. The company is also described elsewhere as developing therapeutics for fibrotic diseases by targeting the extracellular matrix.
Business model
Therapeutics developer advancing proprietary drug candidates through preclinical and clinical development, funded by venture and corporate venture capital and non-dilutive federal SBIR/STTR awards, and supported by collaborative relationships with other companies.
Not disclosed beyond a reported revenue range of $2.5m-$5m; the company is privately held and venture-funded, with additional non-dilutive federal grant funding.
Traction
By 2015 the company had raised a $15m Series A to advance its lead programs into clinical trials, following seed financings in November 2013 and January 2014. It reported two clinical candidates, SB-030 and SB-061. It received five federal SBIR awards (four Phase I, one Phase II) between 2013 and 2016 totaling $2,345,335, and was profiled with an employee range of 25-49 and a revenue range of $2.5m-$5m, holding 5-9 intellectual property assets.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Positioned as developer of a new category of therapeutics addressing the extracellular matrix, an approach its lead investor described as distinct from other therapeutic modalities.
Targets the extracellular matrix — a fundamental, non-cellular component of human biology — which the company and its lead investor characterize as an approach not addressable by other therapeutic modalities.
Technology
The company's platform consists of compounds that bind and modulate the extracellular matrix, a structural and regulatory component of human tissue that the company states cannot be addressed by other therapeutic modalities. The molecules are described as proteoglycan mimics inspired by naturally occurring extracellular matrix macromolecules. Federally funded projects have covered a collagen wound dressing augmented with a proteoglycan mimic for chronic wounds, a resorbable luminal barrier for peripheral artery disease, a luminal vascular coating to prevent intimal hyperplasia following vascular access creation, and a proteoglycan mimic for interstitial cystitis.
Go-to-market
Advancing internal drug candidates into clinical trials while supporting collaborative relationships with other companies, as stated in connection with the use of Series A proceeds.
Patients and clinicians in indications including chronic wounds, hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction in end-stage kidney disease, peripheral vein graft failure, osteoarthritis, and, in earlier-stage research, fibrosis, oncology and CNS disease.
Geography
United States; offices listed at 5980 Horton Street, Suite 600, Emeryville, California. Investors include US, Danish and Japanese corporate and institutional backers.
History
Founded in 2012, the company received its first federal SBIR award in 2013 and its latest in 2016. It raised approximately $850,000 in November 2013 and nearly $1.4m in a January 2014 seed round according to regulatory filings, followed by a $15m Series A announced in January 2015 led by Lilly Ventures. It is an alumnus of JLabs (JLab MBC San Francisco). Mission BioCapital records an initial investment in 2014 and lists the company as an active holding.
Risks & controversies
The company's SBIR program status is listed as inactive, with its most recent recorded federal award in 2016.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsNIH Phase II SBIR award of $1,697,481 for a luminal vascular coating to prevent intimal hyperplasia following vascular access creation.
$1.7M source ↗
Symic Biomedical raised $15m in a Series A led by Lilly Ventures, with participation from Mitsui Global Investment, Den Danske Forskningsfond, Ally Bridge Group, InCube Ventures, Purdue Foundry Investment Fund, Mission Bay Capital, QB3 Partners and undisclosed individuals. Proceeds were designated to advance lead programs into clinical trials and support collaborations.
$15M source ↗
NIH Phase I SBIR award of $199,589 to explore the efficacy of a proteoglycan mimic for treatment of interstitial cystitis.
$199.6K source ↗
NSF Phase I SBIR award of $269,416 for a resorbable luminal barrier to treat peripheral artery disease.
$269.4K source ↗
NIH Phase I SBIR award of $178,849 for a collagen wound dressing augmented with a proteoglycan mimic to enhance chronic wound healing.
$178.8K source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- Eli Lilly leads $15m Symic series A -globalventuring.com · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Symic Biomedical do?
- Biotechnology company developing therapeutics that target the extracellular matrix in acute and chronic diseases.
- Who founded Symic Biomedical?
- Symic Biomedical was founded by KENNETH N. HORNE, ALYSSA PANITCH, JOHN PADERI in 2012.
- Who are Symic Biomedical's investors?
- Symic Biomedical's investors include Mitsui Global Investment, Ally Bridge Group, InCube Ventures, Lilly Ventures.
- How much funding has Symic Biomedical raised?
- Symic Biomedical has disclosed $1.4M raised across 1 of its 3 known rounds.
- Where is Symic Biomedical headquartered?
- Symic Biomedical is headquartered in San Francisco, US.