Author: Arlene Weintraub

Arlene is an award-winning journalist specializing in life sciences and technology. She was previously a senior health writer based out of the New York City headquarters of BusinessWeek, where she wrote hundreds of articles that explored both the science and business of health. Her freelance pieces have been published in USA Today, US News & World Report, Technology Review, and other media outlets. Arlene has won awards from the New York Press Club, the Association of Health Care Journalists, the Foundation for Biomedical Research, and the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Her book about the anti-aging industry, Selling the Fountain of Youth, was published by Basic Books in September 2010.

Curis and Genentech Unleash the Hedgehog to Fight a Deadly Skin Cancer

Curis was founded in Lexington, MA, in 2000 with the intention of exploiting a disease-causing mechanism curiously named the hedgehog signaling pathway. Three years later, the startup attracted the attention of biotech pioneer Genentech, whose scientists believed hedgehog might offer a brand new way to fight cancer. Now the development deal that the two companies … Continue reading “Curis and Genentech Unleash the Hedgehog to Fight a Deadly Skin Cancer”

Coursekit Draws $1 Million Seed Round

New York education-software startup Coursekit has raised $1 million in seed funding from Founder Collective, IA Ventures, Shasta Ventures, and a number of individuals, according to the company blog. Coursekit plans to roll out a set of tools for educators this fall that are designed to help them manage gradebooks, calendaring, videos, files, and interactive … Continue reading “Coursekit Draws $1 Million Seed Round”

Nimbus, Seeded by Bill Gates, Raises $24 Million For Computer-Aided Drug Discovery

Nimbus Discovery burst out of stealth mode in March with seed funding from none other than Microsoft chairman Bill Gates. Now Nimbus, a Cambridge, MA-based company that specializes in computer-aided drug discovery, is chalking up a second impressive milestone: It has raised a Series A funding round of $24 million, with money from Gates and … Continue reading “Nimbus, Seeded by Bill Gates, Raises $24 Million For Computer-Aided Drug Discovery”

The New York Venture Summit

More than 25 leading venture capitalists will speak at this two-day event, which also features pitches by technology, life sciences, and cleantech startups. Featured speakers and judges include Jon Edelson of Ascent Biomedical Ventures, Brad McManus of Panasonic Venture Group, and Jim Sledzik of Energy Ventures US. Register here.

Bristol Churns Out Diabetes Data

New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) and development partner AstraZeneca (NYSE: [[ticker:AZN]]) released data from several studies at the 71st American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Diego. In a Phase 3 extension study, the investigational compound dapagliflozin plus metformin produced sustained gylcemic control and weight reduction in patients with Type 2 diabetes. In a longer-term, … Continue reading “Bristol Churns Out Diabetes Data”

Foursquare Bags $50 Million

Location-based mobile giant Foursquare has raised a $50 million funding round, according to the company’s blog. Investors included Andreessen-Horowitz, Spark Capital, and previous investors O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, and Union Square Ventures. The company plans to add engineers to its current staff of 70, boost its merchant offerings, and expand internationally. Although buzz put the valuation … Continue reading “Foursquare Bags $50 Million”

The Auto Magnate and the Scientist: How Mass General is Working With Lee Iacocca to Find a Diabetes Cure

What happens when a guy who got wealthy selling cars hands millions of dollars to a scientist and tells her how to spend it? Folks attending the American Diabetes Association conference starting today in San Diego are getting a hint of the answer to that question. Denise Faustman, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) … Continue reading “The Auto Magnate and the Scientist: How Mass General is Working With Lee Iacocca to Find a Diabetes Cure”

Durect Plunges on FDA Ruling

Shares of Durect (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DRRX]]), a Cupertino-based developer of drug-delivery technologies, fell 30 percent in morning trading to $2.21 after the FDA handed a complete-response letter to licensing partner Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) on an extended-release version of the pain drug oxycodone. The product, called Remoxy, is being developed by New York-based Pfizer and Pain Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTIE]]) of … Continue reading “Durect Plunges on FDA Ruling”

Neurologix Forges Ahead on Gene Therapy Treatment for Parkinson’s

On June 8, Neurologix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NRGX]]) released positive data from a trial of its experimental gene therapy treatment in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. It was the latest in a string of impressive announcements from the Fort Lee, NJ-based company, which has been on a roll since March, when the journal Lancet Neurology published six-month results from … Continue reading “Neurologix Forges Ahead on Gene Therapy Treatment for Parkinson’s”

BioMarin Grabs Plant From Pfizer

BioMarin Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BMRN]]) of Novato, CA plans to buy a biotech manufacturing facility in Ireland that’s owned by New York-based Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]), according to a press release. BioMarin will purchase the plant for $48.5 million—roughly a fifth of what it would have paid to build a facility like it from scratch. BioMarin will use … Continue reading “BioMarin Grabs Plant From Pfizer”

Bristol and Pfizer Get Boost from Apixaban Data

The experimental drug apixaban (Eliquis), which is being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) and Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]), met key endpoints in a pivotal Phase 3 trial, according to a press release. The companies plan to apply for approval to market the drug in patients with atrial fibrillation, both in the U.S. and Europe, by the … Continue reading “Bristol and Pfizer Get Boost from Apixaban Data”

OneMedForum NY 2011

This two-day conference, sponsored by OneMedPlace, features presentations by over 70 emerging medical technology companies, as well as networking opportunities with venture capitalists, panel discussions, and a keynote addresses from Paul H. Keckley, PhD, executive director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. Register here.

Braemar Energy Ventures Finds Value in Energy Technology, Both Clean and Conventional

During a panel discussion with three cleantech investors at the Energy Infotech Forum in New York City yesterday, an audience member posed a provocative question: “What won’t you invest in?” he asked. Scott DePasquale, a partner at Braemar Energy Ventures, responded “consumer space travel.” DePasquale was only half kidding. Ever since Braemar was founded in … Continue reading “Braemar Energy Ventures Finds Value in Energy Technology, Both Clean and Conventional”

On Quirky’s Site, Anyone Can Invent a Hit Consumer Product

[Updated 6/21/09 3:30 p.m. See below.] On June 15, Jake Zien stood outside the Bed Bath & Beyond store on 6th Avenue in New York gazing at a giant poster of himself in a sprawling window display. The display features his product, Pivot Power, a flexible power strip that he invented with the help of Quirky—a … Continue reading “On Quirky’s Site, Anyone Can Invent a Hit Consumer Product”

Pfizer Wins Approval For Tamper-Proof Pain Drug

The FDA has approved a new form of the opioid oxycodone, which was developed by New York-based Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) and Palatine, IL-based Acura Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACUR]]), according to a press release. The product, branded as Oxeta, applies technology developed by Acura that is designed to discourage common methods of tampering associated with opioid abuse.

Energy Event Seeks to Create a Greener NYC By Uniting VCs and Cleantech Startups

Tomorrow the New York Academy of Sciences will be home to New York’s first ever Energy Infotech Forum—a full-day event for entrepreneurs who are developing cleantech applications and the investors who want to support them. The day will feature expert speakers, as well as presentations from nine New York-based cleantech startups. For the event’s host, … Continue reading “Energy Event Seeks to Create a Greener NYC By Uniting VCs and Cleantech Startups”

Concert Pharmaceuticals Hits $4 Million Milestone in GSK Alliance

Lexington, MA-based Concert Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has moved three novel drug candidates forward in its pipeline—one of which earned it a $4 million milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]). The European drug giant allied with Concert on an HIV program in 2009, and the molecule, called CTP-298, is now the lead compound in … Continue reading “Concert Pharmaceuticals Hits $4 Million Milestone in GSK Alliance”

Regeneron Shares Halted As FDA Weighs Eye Drug

Trading in shares of Tarrytown, NY-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:REGN]]) was halted today in advance of an FDA advisory panel meeting to discuss the company’s treatment for age-related macular degeneration, aflibercept (also known as VEGF Trap-Eye), according to a press release. On June 15, the FDA released documents ahead of the meeting that indicated the agency believes … Continue reading “Regeneron Shares Halted As FDA Weighs Eye Drug”

In New York Ad Technology is All the Rage

New York City is home to many famed industries, from finance to theater. It’s also the longtime hub of the advertising industry, which for many years called Madison Avenue home. It’s no surprise, then, that NYC has sprouted dozens of advertising technology startups—companies that are developing new ways for advertisers to find their target audiences … Continue reading “In New York Ad Technology is All the Rage”

Constellation Pharma Raises More Money and Further Defines Pipeline

When Xconomy last checked in on Cambridge, MA, epigenetics startup Constellation Pharmaceuticals, in the fall of 2009, CEO Mark Goldsmith declined to disclose details about the company’s pipeline. These days, he’s willing to be a little more forthcoming. On June 6, during the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, Constellation announced it had … Continue reading “Constellation Pharma Raises More Money and Further Defines Pipeline”

Tapad Nabs $1.8 Million for Ad Technology

New York-based Tapad has raised $1.8 million to develop a technology that allows advertisers to target consumers on mobile devices, according to VentureWire. The company serves “retarget” ads—those that have been viewed on previously visited sites—via mobile browsers and aps. Investors include Firstmark Capital, Lerer Ventures, Metamorphic Ventures, and several individuals such as former DoubleClick … Continue reading “Tapad Nabs $1.8 Million for Ad Technology”

Bristol-Myers Squibb Gets Thumbs-Up on Transplant Drug

The FDA approved belatacept (Nulojix), a new drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) to prevent the rejection of transplanted kidneys, according to a press release. The drug was approved to be given by infusion, along with other anti-rejection agents such as corticosteroids. It is the first new drug in a decade for kidney-transplant patients—likely a factor in … Continue reading “Bristol-Myers Squibb Gets Thumbs-Up on Transplant Drug”

Peer39 Wins Support From Venture Community for Non-Cookie-Based Ad Platform

Privacy advocates have long been up in arms about cookies—those data packets that store information about you in your browser, and that have become the basis of some technologies that allow companies to market directly to you. So a couple of years back, the venture community began looking for technology developers who had new approaches … Continue reading “Peer39 Wins Support From Venture Community for Non-Cookie-Based Ad Platform”

Somnus Seeks Buyer For Insomnia Drug that Treats Midnight Awakenings

When Somnus Therapeutics was started up in Bedminster, NJ, in 2007, its founders had an unusual business model. They planned to develop just one drug—SKP-1041 for insomnia—through Phase 2 clinical trials, and then sell the company to a deep-pocketed investor that would fund the final pivotal Phase 3 trials required for FDA approval. Ask CEO … Continue reading “Somnus Seeks Buyer For Insomnia Drug that Treats Midnight Awakenings”

ConsumerBell Aims to Make Product Recalls Less Painful for Manufacturers and Consumers

After Ellie Chachette’s father was infected with HIV from a product that he was taking in the 1980s to treat his hemophilia, he joined a class-action lawsuit that took 10 years for his lawyers to fight. They ultimately won, but “the lawyers got most of the money,” Cachette recalls. “That always bothered me.” So in May … Continue reading “ConsumerBell Aims to Make Product Recalls Less Painful for Manufacturers and Consumers”

Pacira Pain Drug Faces FDA Delay

The FDA has delayed its decision on Parsippany, NJ-based Pacira Pharmaceuticals’ drug—a long-acting version of the pain drug bupivacaine called Exparel—according to a press release. Pacira, which also has operations in San Diego, went public in February, and investors pushed the company’s stock up more than 47 percent in anticipation of a July decision from … Continue reading “Pacira Pain Drug Faces FDA Delay”

PureTech Ventures Launches Tal Medical To Develop Magnetic-Field Treatment for Depression

Today a company called Tal Medical is starting up in Boston with the goal of developing an entirely new approach to treating depression, inspired by a specific type of magnetic field found in some MRI imaging machines. The research is still very early, but the treatment—developed at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA—was promising enough to … Continue reading “PureTech Ventures Launches Tal Medical To Develop Magnetic-Field Treatment for Depression”

OrganizedWisdom’s Jerry Levin to Chair New Health Entrepreneurship Program

In April, OrganizedWisdom co-founder Unity Stoakes told Xconomy that his New York-based Web company was on a mission to improve access to health and wellness information online. Former Time Warner CEO Jerry Levin had just invested in OrganizedWisdom and joined its board. Now Levin and OrganizedWisdom are making good on their promise with a new … Continue reading “OrganizedWisdom’s Jerry Levin to Chair New Health Entrepreneurship Program”

SeamlessWeb Scores $50 Million From Spectrum

Spectrum Equity Investors is paying $50 million for a minority stake in online food-ordering service SeamlessWeb, according to VentureWire. The New York-based site, which includes 7,000 restaurants in 27 cities, will be spun off from Aramark Holdings. SeamlessWeb’s CEO Jonathan Zabusky told VentureWire the company plans to expand its mobile offerings.

Taykey’s Ad Tech Wins $9 Million in Funding

New York-based Taykey, an online advertising platform that predicts where Web surfers are going next, raised a $9 million Series B and launched its service today, according to a press release. The company, which was founded by three former intelligence officers from the Israeli Defense Ministry, uses a proprietary algorithm to tell advertisers where their … Continue reading “Taykey’s Ad Tech Wins $9 Million in Funding”

Bob Langer’s Selecta Wins Support From Diabetes Foundation for Research Collaboration

Ever since 2004, when the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) started a program called Industry Discovery and Development Partnership, it has awarded $75 million to 32 companies that are developing entirely new approaches to combating Type 1 diabetes. Today, the New York-based foundation announced the newest recipient of funding and research support under that program: … Continue reading “Bob Langer’s Selecta Wins Support From Diabetes Foundation for Research Collaboration”

Stemline Makes Headway Against Cancer Stem Cells And Proves Value of Virtual Model

On June 6, at the meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a University of Pittsburgh scientist working with New York-based Stemline Therapeutics revealed that two patients in an early trial of the company’s drug had recovered from advanced malignant glioma—a deadly form of brain cancer. Another patient, a 10-year-old girl in a … Continue reading “Stemline Makes Headway Against Cancer Stem Cells And Proves Value of Virtual Model”

Ariad and Merck Say Sarcoma Drug Improves Survival

Whitehouse Station, NJ-based Merck and Cambridge-based Ariad announced positive results from a Phase 3 study of their sarcoma drug, ridaforolimus, at the conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today. Ridaforolimus blocks the mTOR protein, a master biological switch that allows tumors to grow and thrive. The study showed a 28 percent reduction in … Continue reading “Ariad and Merck Say Sarcoma Drug Improves Survival”

New York Senator Chuck Schumer Tells Local Entrepreneurs the City Can Surpass Silicon Valley as the High-Tech Capital of America

Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer, the publicity-loving Democrat from New York, has his share of critics—but none seemed to be in attendance this morning at Internet Week New York, where he gave the kickoff keynote speech. The audience of journalists and Internet entrepreneurs ate up Schumer’s message: New York, he said, can and should surpass Silicon … Continue reading “New York Senator Chuck Schumer Tells Local Entrepreneurs the City Can Surpass Silicon Valley as the High-Tech Capital of America”

Fourth Annual Internet Week a Panoply of Learning, Networking, and Celebrating for NYC’s Web Entrepreneurs

Internet Week New York kicks off June 6 with a menu of 200 events that chairman David-Michel Davies promises will be “incredibly diverse and all curated by the Internet community in NYC.” Internet Week was founded in 2008 as a public/private partnership by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and the City of … Continue reading “Fourth Annual Internet Week a Panoply of Learning, Networking, and Celebrating for NYC’s Web Entrepreneurs”

NeuroHealing Repurposes Drugs, Resulting in Potential New Remedies For CNS Disorders

NeuroHealing Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2004 with an unusual mission and out-of-the-box business model. It scours the vast world of approved drugs for molecules that can be reformulated and then repositioned as therapies to treat diseases of the central nervous system. And it does so with only four full-time employees, because NeuroHealing is a “virtual” … Continue reading “NeuroHealing Repurposes Drugs, Resulting in Potential New Remedies For CNS Disorders”

New York Area Companies Head to ASCO With High Hopes For Future Cancer Blockbusters

[Corrected 6/3/11, 7 a.m. See below.] This weekend, the pharmaceutical industry will descend on Chicago for the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The show provides an opportunity for drug companies to impress physicians and investors with data on cancer drugs they’re developing, as well as those that are already on the … Continue reading “New York Area Companies Head to ASCO With High Hopes For Future Cancer Blockbusters”

Cyclacel Looks to ASCO as Showcase for Potent Cancer-Fighting Cocktail

For most Big Pharma companies, the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is one of dozens of important venues for spotlighting data on experimental drugs. But for tiny Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CYCC]])—which is focused on developing cancer treatments—the confab of oncologists, cancer researchers, and drugmakers is the make-or-break event of the … Continue reading “Cyclacel Looks to ASCO as Showcase for Potent Cancer-Fighting Cocktail”

Aveo Forms $15 Million Cancer Deal With J&J Unit

Cambridge-based Aveo Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVEO]]) has entered into a licensing deal with Centocor Ortho Biotech, a unit of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: [[ticker:JNJ]]), according to a press release. The two companies will work together on Aveo’s antibodies targeting the RON (Recepteur d’Origine Nantais) receptor, which may be involved in regulation of tumor growth, cancer survival and … Continue reading “Aveo Forms $15 Million Cancer Deal With J&J Unit”

Alnylam Looks to ASCO as First “Bell-Ringing” for RNAi Resurgence

When Cambridge, MA-based Alnylam (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]) made its debut last year at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference, it only had a pittance of safety data on its drug, which is designed to treat advanced solid tumors that have spread to the liver. At this year’s conference, which starts June 3 in Chicago, … Continue reading “Alnylam Looks to ASCO as First “Bell-Ringing” for RNAi Resurgence”

NYC Scientists Score $250,000 Awards in Annual BioAccelerate Competition

Five New York-based scientists—developing technologies ranging from replacement bones to prosthetic eyes—were named today as the winners of the 2011 BioAccelerate competition. Each will receive $250,000 from the New York City Investment Fund, which they will use to transform their technologies into commercial companies. BioAccelerate was launched two years ago to fill a gaping funding … Continue reading “NYC Scientists Score $250,000 Awards in Annual BioAccelerate Competition”

Vizibility Lets You Dictate How Google Presents You to the World

Ever since the invention of search engines, entrepreneur James Alexander has been frustrated. “I could never find myself on the Internet,” says Alexander, who gets lost on the Web because of his common name, or as he puts it, his “two first names.” So in 2009, he started playing around with the “advanced search” option … Continue reading “Vizibility Lets You Dictate How Google Presents You to the World”

Radius Raises $91 Million to Advance Osteoporosis Drug, Makes Strides Towards Public Listing

Today marks a major milestone in Cambridge, MA-based Radius Health’s long quest to enter the multibillion-dollar osteoporosis market. The company announced that it has raised $91 million in a third financing round, which includes $66 million in equity. What’s more, upon the closing of the financing, Radius merged with an unlisted shell company (“MAC”), so … Continue reading “Radius Raises $91 Million to Advance Osteoporosis Drug, Makes Strides Towards Public Listing”

New York Angels Step Up to Fund Local Biotech and Medtech Startups

Shortly after Milena Adamian joined the San Francisco office of Easton Capital in 2007, she got involved in two local angel groups, Life Science Angels and Health Tech Capital. Adamian, who is a cardiologist by training, was drawn to the opportunity to support fledgling entrepreneurs—some of whom were developing new drugs and devices that she … Continue reading “New York Angels Step Up to Fund Local Biotech and Medtech Startups”

Acorda Stock Soars on European Surprise

The European Medicine Agency (EMA) recommended conditional marketing authorization of Acorda Therapeutics’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACOR]]) prolonged-release multiple sclerosis drug, fampridine (Fampyra), for the improvement of walking in adult patients, according to a press release. Surprised investors pushed Acorda’s stock up 13% in morning trading to $30.22. The reversal of opinion was unexpected because even though the drug was … Continue reading “Acorda Stock Soars on European Surprise”

Pfizer and BMS Score Approval for Orthopedic Drug

The European Commission has approved apixaban (Eliquis), developed by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb, for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in adult patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery, according to a press release. The two New York companies have an alliance to develop the drug, which is a new oral direct … Continue reading “Pfizer and BMS Score Approval for Orthopedic Drug”