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.

Acorda Issued Patent on MS Drug Following Days of Speculation

Hawthorne, NY-based Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACOR]]) announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent on the company’s 10 milligram, sustained-release version of dalfampridine (Ampyra) to treat multiple sclerosis. The patent is set to expire in 2026. Acorda saw its stock skyrocket April 14 on a report from RBC, which speculated that if the … Continue reading “Acorda Issued Patent on MS Drug Following Days of Speculation”

Kohort Raises $3 Million Seed Round for Social Media Startup

New York-based Kohort launched its social media site today, backed by $3 million in seed funding, according to VentureWire. The lead investor is IA Ventures, with additional funding from a large syndicate that includes High Peaks Venture Partners, Contour Venture Partners, and angel group Anduin Ventures. Kohort is still in stealth mode, though, so its … Continue reading “Kohort Raises $3 Million Seed Round for Social Media Startup”

Bamboom Labs Raises $4.5 Million Seed Round

Bamboom Labs is beta testing a new service in New York designed to let consumers watch their favorite broadcast TV shows on any Internet-connected device. The company has raised $4.5 million from the likes of FirstMark Capital, First Round Capital, Highland Capital Partners, High Line Venture Partners, and SV Angel, according to VentureWire. For $10 … Continue reading “Bamboom Labs Raises $4.5 Million Seed Round”

New Shopping Sites Combine Personalization And Social Media, But Experts Warn of a Bubble

Need a little fashion advice? Click onto WingTipIt, a Web site launching this week, and assemble your own virtual closet of clothes you covet—then seek feedback from friends via Facebook. Or if accessories are more your thing, click over to Send the Trend, fill out a quick survey, and you’ll receive a list of jewels, … Continue reading “New Shopping Sites Combine Personalization And Social Media, But Experts Warn of a Bubble”

Regeneron’s AMD Drug Gets Priority Review With FDA

The FDA has granted priority review status to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:REGN]]) experimental treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a press release. The drug, called VEGF Trap-Eye, is specifically designed to treat the neovascular form of the disease, which is commonly known as “wet AMD.” The target date for the FDA to hand over … Continue reading “Regeneron’s AMD Drug Gets Priority Review With FDA”

Pfizer Releases Top Line Data on Novel RA Drug

Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) announced that the 10 milligram dose of tofacitinib, its experimental JAK inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), met all primary endpoints in a phase 3 study. Patients taking the drug showed statistically significant changes in the signs and symptoms of the disease, as well as a slowing of structural damage of the joints, when compared … Continue reading “Pfizer Releases Top Line Data on Novel RA Drug”

AmEx Backs Payfone’s Mobile Check-Out System

American Express (NYSE: [[ticker:AXP]]) is teaming up with New York-based Payfone to create a mobile payment processing service, according to a press release. The two companies plan to combine Payfone’s mobile authorization system with AmEx’s new digital payments platform, called Serve. This will allow consumers to pay for online purchases using their cell phone numbers. Payfone also … Continue reading “AmEx Backs Payfone’s Mobile Check-Out System”

Acorda Stock Halted as Shares Skyrocket on Patent Speculation

Shares of Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACOR]]) skyrocketed nearly 27 percent on the NASDAQ exchange to $27.13 today—before being halted mid-afternoon—when RBC Capital Markets speculated in a report that the patent on the company’s multiple sclerosis (MS) drug, dalfampridine (Ampyra), might extend for longer than initially expected. RBC analysts noted that filings from the US Patent and … Continue reading “Acorda Stock Halted as Shares Skyrocket on Patent Speculation”

TechStars Inaugural New York Demo Day Spotlights NYC Web Startups Focused on Fashion, Real Estate, Classifieds, Education, & More

There was a long line outside of historic Webster Hall nightclub in New York this morning, where the marquis—quite appropriately—read “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained.” A mix of more than 700 startup investors, journalists, and other interested parties showed up to check out TechStars’ first New York Demo Day. TechStars is a mentorship program for startups … Continue reading “TechStars Inaugural New York Demo Day Spotlights NYC Web Startups Focused on Fashion, Real Estate, Classifieds, Education, & More”

New York’s New General Assembly Incubator Attracts Entrepreneurs With Camaraderie, Classes, and a College Feel

Brad Hargreaves, co-founder of New York City’s newest tech incubator, was just 19 years old when he learned some bitter lessons about starting companies. He was the chief operating officer of GXStudios, one of the first players in online social gaming. The venture-backed company’s flagship product was GoCrossCampus, a multiplayer, rivalry-themed game played by college kids … Continue reading “New York’s New General Assembly Incubator Attracts Entrepreneurs With Camaraderie, Classes, and a College Feel”

Pfizer Sheds Light on Drug for Rare Neurological Disorder

Pfizer’s (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) investigational compound, tafamidis, slowed the progression of a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease over 30 months, according to a press release. The disease, called Transthyretin Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP), affects about 8,000 people worldwide. The data came from a late-stage clinical trial of the drug and was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Academy … Continue reading “Pfizer Sheds Light on Drug for Rare Neurological Disorder”

Public Policy Institute on How to Boost Biotech in New York: More Jobs, Better Teamwork, Fewer Taxes

In a scintillating report released today, the Public Policy Institute (PPI) of New York blasts the state’s leaders for failing to support the local biotechnology industry. New York ranks fifth in the nation in biotech employment, for example, and sixth in total capital expenditures made by the industry. And despite churning out more college graduates … Continue reading “Public Policy Institute on How to Boost Biotech in New York: More Jobs, Better Teamwork, Fewer Taxes”

Webby Award Nominees Include New York, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle Internet Innovators

OK, so they’re not quite the Emmys. And this being New York, they’re not even the Tonys. But for the city’s legions of Web developers and interactive advertisers they might as well be the Oscars. That’s right, it’s time for the 15th Annual Webby Awards. The nominees were announced today in New York. The Webby … Continue reading “Webby Award Nominees Include New York, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle Internet Innovators”

SocialFlow Raises $7 Million and Secures Twitter Partnership

SocialFlow, a New York based developer of social-media optimization tools, pulled together $7 million in a Series A, according to a press release. Investors included Softbank, RRE, Betaworks, Highline Venture Partners, AOL Venture Partners, and SV Angel. SocialFlow’s product analyzes the Twitter topics that people are most engaged in and their likelihood of taking action … Continue reading “SocialFlow Raises $7 Million and Secures Twitter Partnership”

OrbiMed Raises $203 Million for Israel Biomed Fund

OrbiMed Advisors, a healthcare investment firm in New York, has brought in $203 million for its one-year-old OrbiMed Israel Partners fund—including $40 million from the Israeli government, according to VentureWire. OrbiMed will use the fund to back 15-20 Israeli startups, OrbiMed general partner Jonathan Silverstein told VentureWire. The fund’s first big move is a $10.5 million … Continue reading “OrbiMed Raises $203 Million for Israel Biomed Fund”

About.com Announces Expansion Plans

About.com is expanding its premium content, launching a Spanish-language channel, and doubling its video content, according to a press release. The site, which is part of the New York Times Company (NYSE:[[ticker:NYT]]), also plans to grow its collection of so-called Guide sites, which are run by independent experts and cover popular topics like food, health, … Continue reading “About.com Announces Expansion Plans”

Exclusively.In Launches Discount Asia Travel Offering

Online retailer Exclusively.In, which offers flash sales of discounted Indian clothing and jewelry to its members, has started a luxury travel division, according to a statement from the company. Exclusively.In launched last summer with $2.8 million in funding from Accel Partners India and Helion Venture Partners, and has offices in New Delhi and New York. … Continue reading “Exclusively.In Launches Discount Asia Travel Offering”

Legolas Media Raises $5 Million

Legolas Media, an advertising technology company based in New York City, raised $5 million in an equity-based funding round, an SEC filing shows. There were three investors, according to the document. Legolas’s website defines the company as “not really” an ad exchange, but rather a marketplace that connects advertisers with publishers in a manner that’s … Continue reading “Legolas Media Raises $5 Million”

Biotech in New York: Scientists and Entrepreneurs Gather to Banter About the City’s Challenges and Opportunities

The 20th annual meeting of the New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA) kicked off on April 6 with a panel called “The Global Struggle for the Biopharmaceutical Industry: New York Must Step Up Its Game!” Nathan Tinker, executive director of the NYBA and the panel’s moderator, joked to the gathering crowd at the Marriott Marquis in … Continue reading “Biotech in New York: Scientists and Entrepreneurs Gather to Banter About the City’s Challenges and Opportunities”

Artsicle Lets Indecisive New Yorkers Rent Art Before They Commit to Buying

Start browsing the artwork available for rent at Artsicle.com, and it won’t be long before a window pops up offering a real live curator to help you make your selection. The live-chat feature is a lot of work for Artsicle founders Alexis Tryon and Scott Carleton because, well, they’re Artiscle’s only full-time curators. That means … Continue reading “Artsicle Lets Indecisive New Yorkers Rent Art Before They Commit to Buying”

WeWork Labs Gives New York Entrepreneurs a Home Before They’re Ready For an Office

New York City’s incubator scene has been exploding of late, with Polaris-backed Dogpatch Labs opening in early 2010, and General Assembly setting up in January of this year with help from a $200,000 city grant. Now it’s time to add a new name to that list: WeWork Labs, which opened in SoHo on April 1. … Continue reading “WeWork Labs Gives New York Entrepreneurs a Home Before They’re Ready For an Office”

Xconomy’s New Frontier of Innovation: New York

You know what they say about New York City: If you can make it here….But let’s skip the clichés and old song lines and get straight to the big news. Welcome to Xconomy New York, the sixth outpost in our rapidly expanding network of local news sites about innovation. So, all you Big Apple entrepreneurs, … Continue reading “Xconomy’s New Frontier of Innovation: New York”

Columbia University’s Tech Transfer Guru, Orin Herskowitz, on Turning IT, Biotech, and Cleantech Ideas Into Businesses

Orin Herskowitz, executive director of Columbia Technology Ventures, is sipping gourmet coffee at a bistro across the street from the Manhattan Mall, but he hardly needs the caffeine to amplify his excitement about the innovation scene at his college. Columbia Technology Ventures—the Ivy League university’s main technology-transfer initiative—has chalked up an impressive list of accomplishments … Continue reading “Columbia University’s Tech Transfer Guru, Orin Herskowitz, on Turning IT, Biotech, and Cleantech Ideas Into Businesses”

Tobira Pegs Nodality Vet Andrew Hindman as CEO

Tobira Therapeutics, a Manalapan, NJ-based developer of therapies to treat HIV, has named Andrew Hindman president and CEO, according to a news release. Hindman was most recently senior v.p. of development at Nodality, a San Francisco-based developer of molecular diagnostic tools. Tobira is in phase 2b testing of Cenicriviroc, a drug that targets two co-receptors—one … Continue reading “Tobira Pegs Nodality Vet Andrew Hindman as CEO”

Pfizer Sells Drug-Delivery Innovator to KKR

Global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (NYSE: [[ticker:KKR]]) will purchase Pfizer’s Capsugel unit for $2.375 billion in cash, according to a statement from Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]). Capsugel, which manufactures hard capsules and other drug-delivery systems, generated $750 million in sales last year, making it the world’s leading capsule maker, Pfizer says. The Peapack, NJ-based … Continue reading “Pfizer Sells Drug-Delivery Innovator to KKR”

BMW to Set Up Incubator in NYC

BMW i Ventures, the automaker’s new $100 million investment fund, announced plans to set up an incubator in New York City. The incubator will further BMW’s mission to foster the development of mobile connectivity solutions and location-based services in heavily populated urban areas. Edward Robinson, a 32-year BMW veteran, was named president of BMW i … Continue reading “BMW to Set Up Incubator in NYC”

NPS Earns Seven-Figure Milestone Payment

NPS Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NPSP]]) of Bedminster, NJ, announced that its Swiss-based development partner Nycomed has filed for European clearance to market teduglutide (Revestive) for the treatment of short bowel syndrome. The submission triggers a milestone payment to NPS that the company says is in the mid-seven digits. NPS expects to file for approval to market teduglutide … Continue reading “NPS Earns Seven-Figure Milestone Payment”

Voxel Nabs $5.5 Million for Cloud Hosting Services

Voxel dot Net, a New York-based provider of hybrid cloud hosting and managed services, announced that it has completed a Series A venture capital round, led by private equity firm Seaport Capital. The company intends to use the $5.5 million raised to deploy virtual servers, private cloud solutions, and other infrastructure services to customers in … Continue reading “Voxel Nabs $5.5 Million for Cloud Hosting Services”

Columbia Teams With Sanofi on Diabetes Research

France’s Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE:[[ticker:SNY]]) is tapping into the diabetes expertise at Columbia University Medical Center, signing a three-year deal with the college to investigate new diabetes treatments. According to a statement from Sanofi, the partnership will focus on a hormone called osteocalcin, which influences blood sugar and fat deposition. Columbia professor Gerard Karsenty, who chairs Columbia’s … Continue reading “Columbia Teams With Sanofi on Diabetes Research”

Caxton Advantage to Raise $150 Million

New York-based Caxton Advantage Life Sciences Fund plans to raise $150 million for a second fund later this year, according to a Dow Jones VentureWire report. The company’s first fund, formed in 2006 by Lehman Bros. veterans Eric Roberts and A. Rachel Leheny, has invested $150 million in a collection of private and public companies … Continue reading “Caxton Advantage to Raise $150 Million”