2008

Avelas Biosciences was founded in collaboration with Roger Y. Tsien Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology and Professor of Chemistry and Biology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry.

2009

Avelas entered into an exclusive license with UCSD for intellectual property originating from Dr. Tsien’s laboratory around the development and use of activatable cell-penetrating peptides and nerve imaging agents.

2012

Avelas entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Quest Medical Imaging (Quest) to build a prototype instrument and conduct a proof-of-concept study of the intraoperative camera imaging system optimized for use with pegloprastide.

Avelas announced its Series A financing for a total proceeds of $7.5m.

2014

Avelas announced the first close of its Series B financing for an amount of $6.85m. Total proceeds from the Series B would later amount to $13.7m.

Avelas filed an IND with the FDA to advance the study of pegloprastide to human clinical trials.

2015

Avelas initiated a Phase Ib dose escalation and dose expansion proof-of-concept study.

2016

Avelas announced positive interim data from its Phase Ib dose escalation and dose expansion proof-of-concept study.

Avelas announced the closing of its Series C financing for an amount of $20m. Total proceeds from the Series C would later amount to $23.3m.

Avelas completed its Phase Ib dose escalation and dose expansion proof-of-concept study.

Top-line results from the dose escalation portion of the Phase Ib trial were presented at the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Avelas extended its collaboration with Quest with a Non-Clinical Instrument Agreement to further validate the performance of the intraoperative imaging system optimized for use with pegloprastide.

2017

Avelas further extended its collaboration with Quest with a Clinical Supply Agreement for the supply of intraoperative camera imaging systems optimized for use with pegloprastide.

Avelas initiated Period 1 of its Phase II study, which aimed to retrospectively examine the accuracy of pegloprastide imaging compared with histopathology, further demonstrate proof-of-concept of intraoperative fluorescent imaging, and further evaluate optimal imaging conditions.

Key preclinical data supporting ratiometric fluorescent imaging of pegloprastide were published in Theranostics.

Results from Avelas’ Phase Ib clinical trial were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.

2018

Avelas announced positive top-line results from Period 1 of its Phase II study. These findings from Period 1 were later presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Avelas initiated Period 2 of its Phase II study, which prospectively examined the accuracy of pegloprastide in detecting breast cancer margins.

2019

Avelas selected as a 2019 Showcase Company by MedTech Innovator.

2020

Avelas awarded Innovator of the Year at Field Service Medical 2020.

Avelas announced positive top-line results from Period 2 of its Phase II study.

Pegloprastide received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA for use during breast cancer surgery.

2021

Avelas presented top-line results from Period 2 of its Phase II study of pegloprastide at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Avelas further extended its collaboration with Quest with a Development and Supply Agreement for the supply of intraoperative camera imaging systems optimized for use with pegloprastide.