Welcome to the latest edition of our Healthcare Newsletter, where we highlight some of the most significant milestones, breakthroughs, and achievements from F-Prime and our portfolio companies during the first half of 2026.

Healthcare innovation continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, creating new opportunities to transform patient outcomes and redefine what is possible in medicine. At F-Prime, we are proud to partner with visionary founders, scientists, and industry leaders who are pushing the boundaries of science and technology to address some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

Together with our portfolio companies and partners, we remain committed to accelerating the development of groundbreaking therapies, technologies, and care models that have the potential to improve and extend lives around the globe. We invite you to explore the highlights below and learn more about the exciting progress being made across our healthcare ecosystem. To join the F-Prime community, subscribe with this link.

In January, Tenpoint Therapeutics secured U.S. FDA approval for YUVEZZI, the first FDA-approved combination eye drop for presbyopia, an age-related loss of near vision. The approval was announced alongside an $85 million series B round.

In March, Denali Therapeutics secured U.S. FDA approval of AVLAYAH™, an enzyme replacement therapy indicated for the treatment of neurologic manifestations of Hunter syndrome. AVLAYAH™ is the first FDA-approved enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) to cross the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain in addition to the body.

In April, Avalyn Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company completed its IPO. The company began trading on NASDAQ under the ticker AVLN.

In March, J-Pharma Co., Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, completed its IPO. The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) Growth Market under the ticker code 520A.

We are thrilled to see our portfolio companies and their C-Suite being recognized as leaders in pursuit of many of the industry’s most demanding challenges. Here are some of the standout awards, recognitions, and spotlights earned by our most innovative portfolio companies.

We are grateful for the opportunity to unite some of the top international minds in the industry to collaborate, share knowledge, and address healthcare’s most pressing issues. Below you’ll find a roundup of some of our hosted industry events from 2026.

  • 2026 BioIndustry Association (BIA) Gala: In January, F-Prime sponsored the BioIndustry Association (BIA) Gala, hosting two tables following a reception with our UK life sciences ecosystem. It was wonderful to connect with both new and familiar faces — and to celebrate the extraordinary people driving the UK life sciences sector forward.
  • Science2Startup 2026: In May, F-Prime co-hosted Science2Startup (S2S) at The Engine, alongside 5AM Ventures, Atlas Venture, RA Capital Management, and Osage University Partners (OUP). S2S is a premier forum where top scientists from around the world present cutting-edge ideas and engage with leading investors and executives in the heart of Boston’s biotech ecosystem.
  • Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Workshop: In June, Stacie Weninger, PhD, Venture Partner at F-Prime, led an annual Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases Workshops in Kronberg, Germany—bringing together top healthcare leaders to discuss the latest advances in science and medicine.

Our Behind the Breakthrough series explores the journeys of portfolio company founders—their unique stories of how and why they started or stepped into leadership, and the lessons they’ve learned about entrepreneurship and leadership along the way. Below are our most recent features.

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Scott Bratman, Chief Innovation Officer of Adela is a leader who has spent more than a decade advancing the science of liquid biopsy and early cancer detection.

Scott’s journey began with first‑generation mutation‑based tests at Stanford, but it was his collaboration with Adela’s CSO, Daniel De Carvalho, PhD, that unlocked a breakthrough: the power of DNA methylation as a richer, more precise biomarker. Their work laid the foundation for Adela’s proprietary approach, which preserves DNA integrity and enables a new generation of high‑resolution, noninvasive cancer diagnostics.

In this article, Scott shares how this technology moved from bench to bedside—and how it’s helping usher in a new era for early cancer detection.

Chris Johnson, Founder and CEO of Bluebird Kids Health, is bringing value‑based care to one of healthcare’s most underserved populations: children.

After helping advance value‑based care for older adults as CEO of Landmark Health, Chris recognized a stark reality: nearly half of U.S. children rely on Medicaid or CHIP, yet many live in pediatric care deserts with limited access to primary care. That insight led to the creation of Bluebird, an integrated, tech‑enabled pediatric primary care platform designed to meet families where they are.

In this article, Chris shares the defining moments that shaped Bluebird, how combining physical, behavioral, and social care can close access gaps, and why investing in children’s health early is critical to long‑term equity and outcomes. 

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AJ Loiacono, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Judi Health, spent years auditing PBM contracts and uncovered a pattern: a system that often obscured costs rather than reduced them. He came to a clear conclusion—meaningful change would require rebuilding the model from the inside out. That realization led to the founding of Capital Rx in 2017, grounded in two principles that challenged industry norms: never profit from drug spend, and build technology efficient enough to eliminate hidden fees entirely.

Today, Judi Health supports more than 58 million lives and is redefining healthcare administration.

In this article, AJ shares the thinking behind Unified Claims Processing, how creating a single source of truth can streamline the healthcare system, and why modernizing core infrastructure is essential to lowering costs and improving outcomes.

We were honored to be recognized in some prestigious industry lists highlighting accomplishments in healthcare investing.

  • Endpoints: F-Prime was named the #7 in 2025 Top 100 Most Active Investors in Venture Rounds for Biopharma, Platforms, Medtech, and Diagnostics
  • Galen Growth: 2026 most active VC investors in Health Management Solutions F-Prime was listed as the #5

We are excited to welcome a cohort of Fellows to our Cambridge office this summer. It is our pleasure to introduce (from left to right):

  • Julie Nguyen – MBA candidate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
  • Carl Blumenfeld – PhD in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and currently an MBA candidate at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business
  • Yuanjin Zhang – Postdoctoral Scholar in Chemical Biology at the University of California, Berkeley

Our portfolio companies value visionaries and innovation. They are constantly expanding their teams to tackle today’s most critical healthcare challenges. Check out currently open roles on our jobs board today and see if any might be a fit.