Zogenix Sets Timetable for New Painkiller Drug

San Diego-based Zogenix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGNX]]) has an update today on its development of an extended-release and acetaminophen-free formulation of the painkiller, hydrocodone bitartrate, which the company plans to market as Zohydro oral capsules. After agreeing on submission requirements for its reformulated drug in a series of meetings with regulators at the FDA, Zogenix says it … Continue reading “Zogenix Sets Timetable for New Painkiller Drug”

Under Generic Pressure, San Diego’s Somaxon Looks for New Options

Business hasn’t gotten any easier over the past six months for San Diego’s Somaxon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SOMX]]), which says it has hired the investment banking firm Stifel Nicolaus Weisel to help the company assess its strategic options. The company also laid off 60 percent of its employees who aren’t out in the field. The company … Continue reading “Under Generic Pressure, San Diego’s Somaxon Looks for New Options”

In Search of Next Killer App, SweetLabs Partners with Kabam on Games

SweetLabs co-founder Chester Ng tells me a new class of intense social network games are threatening to disrupt some of the established players in the desktop gaming business, such as Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft and Electronic Arts’ Star Wars franchise. Perhaps. Today, as EA releases its much-anticipated Star Wars: The Old Republic, San Diego-based … Continue reading “In Search of Next Killer App, SweetLabs Partners with Kabam on Games”

Tech Roundup of the Week: Ford Focus EV, Flud, Legend3D, Sotera

—Quest Software (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QSFT]]), the IT software provider on the border between San Diego and Orange Counties, said today it acquired BitKOO, a North Hollywood, CA-based specialist in identity and access management technology. Financial terms were not disclosed. Combined with the recent acquisitions of e-DMZ (privileged identity management), Völcker Informatik AG (provisioning), and Symlabs (virtual … Continue reading “Tech Roundup of the Week: Ford Focus EV, Flud, Legend3D, Sotera”

EnVerv Raises $12 Million to Advance Power Line Communications Chips

EnVerv, a chip design firm based in San Jose, CA, says this morning it has raised $12 million in a Series B round for its “system-on-a-chip” technology, which enables a utility to use its own power lines to serve as a smart grid communications network. Benchmark Capital led the new round, which was joined by … Continue reading “EnVerv Raises $12 Million to Advance Power Line Communications Chips”

San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: BeneChill, Sotera, Imthera, & More

—After naming former Boston Scientific executive Fred Colen as CEO last month, San Diego’s BeneChill raised nearly $15 million in a round that’s targeting a total of $25.6 million, according to a recent regulatory filing. BeneChill, founded in 2004, has been developing therapeutic hypothermia medical products. The company’s European headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland, and … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: BeneChill, Sotera, Imthera, & More”

Ford Plugs Focus Electric in SD Stop of Fuel-Efficiency Road Trip

There are about 25 million cars registered in California, and probably about 2 million of those are motoring around the roads of San Diego County. So it was statistically insignificant when I stepped out of the San Diego Automotive Museum today and counted at least six all-electric vehicles bathed in Southern California sunshine at the … Continue reading “Ford Plugs Focus Electric in SD Stop of Fuel-Efficiency Road Trip”

VMIX Extends Video Streaming Technology with Invitation-Only Service

San Diego-based VMIX has been revising its strategy, which was originally focused on providing a technology platform that enables TV stations and other media companies to stream online video. Earlier this year, VMIX began rolling out technology that allowed consumers to use the company’s video streaming technology on social media sites like Facebook. Now the … Continue reading “VMIX Extends Video Streaming Technology with Invitation-Only Service”

Xconomist of the Week: Stefan Savage on Computer Security

The evolution of computer security is not merely some dark mirror, passively reflecting advances in technology. While technology provides new opportunities for threats, these become true dangers only when there is a motivation to exploit them and a means to do so. Stefan Savage, writing in The New York Times, Dec. 5, 2011. By his … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Stefan Savage on Computer Security”

Anticipating FDA Clearance in 2012, Sotera Wireless Raises $12.2M

San Diego’s Sotera Wireless says it has raised $12.2 million in a Series D round of financing led by the Singapore-based global fund EDB Investments. Sotera says it also signed a commercial agreement with Cerner, the Kansas City, MO-based giant that provides complete health IT systems for hospitals and other medical organizations to integrate and … Continue reading “Anticipating FDA Clearance in 2012, Sotera Wireless Raises $12.2M”

With New Post-Production 3D Initiative, Legend3D Secures $19 Million

San Diego-based Legend3D, a private digital media and visual effects company, says it has closed on a $19 million Series E preferred stock offering. The company, which ranks as the largest studio providing 3D conversion services in the United States, says proceeds from the offering will be used to further research and development, and to … Continue reading “With New Post-Production 3D Initiative, Legend3D Secures $19 Million”

San Diego BizTech Roundup: News from Mingle, Qualcomm, & More

Some of San Diego’s biggest tech news last week came out of the mHealth Summit near Washington, D.C. But we’ve rounded up all the other tech news too. —San Diego-based Mingle, an Internet holding company operating Climber.com and several affiliated businesses, said it acquired Sunnyvale, CA-based Affinity Circles to expand its job hunting and recruiting … Continue reading “San Diego BizTech Roundup: News from Mingle, Qualcomm, & More”

Bill Walton Hails Spirit of Entrepreneurship at San Diego Awards

Connect, the non-profit group that supports innovation and entrepreneurship, named San Diego’s eight most-innovative products of 2011—and bestowed its highest honor on Gen-Probe (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GPRO]]) for its nucleic acid test for screening donated blood. Connect gave Gen-Probe its William W. Otterson Award for its Procleix test, which won FDA approval in 2002, saying Procleix has … Continue reading “Bill Walton Hails Spirit of Entrepreneurship at San Diego Awards”

SF’s Prescience Sharpens New Biotech Business Model in San Diego

[Updated 12/12/11 11:20 am to clarify terms for startups. See below.] After spending much of her career in the tech sector, Melinda Richter has been pondering a provocative question for the life sciences industry. “Billionaires are a dime a dozen in tech,” she says, “but it’s hard to find an entrepreneur in the life sciences … Continue reading “SF’s Prescience Sharpens New Biotech Business Model in San Diego”

Lpath Looks to Raise $10 Million Through Secondary Offering

San Diego’s Lpath (OTC: [[ticker:LPTN]]), a biotech developing specialized monoclonal antibodies for cancer and other diseases, intends to raise about $10 million through a secondary offering of stock and warrants, according to a recent regulatory filing. The company is working to advance two related drug candidates within an emerging field of medical science that targets … Continue reading “Lpath Looks to Raise $10 Million Through Secondary Offering”

Qualcomm Puts $100M into Life Fund, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

There seemed to be a paucity of news from San Diego’s life sciences sector over the past week, which makes our briefing especially brief. —San Diego-based Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) established a $100 million fund for investing in wireless health and related health IT startups. The fund will be managed by Qualcomm Ventures, which already has … Continue reading “Qualcomm Puts $100M into Life Fund, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

ViaSat’s High-Capacity Satellite Nears Start of Commercial Operations

A new kind of countdown has begun. Carlsbad, CA-based ViaSat (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VSAT]]) says it recently transmitted the first test data to ViaSat-1, the highest capacity communications satellite ever launched into space. The satellite, launched Oct. 19 from Russia’s Baikonour Cosmodrome, successfully relayed e-mail, streaming video, and Web browsing data to ViaSat’s WildBlue high-speed data network. … Continue reading “ViaSat’s High-Capacity Satellite Nears Start of Commercial Operations”

Affinity Circles Deal Gives Climber.com Access to More Recruiting Tools

Mingle, a San Diego Internet holding company founded in 2005, says it’s expanding its online recruiting business, Climber.com, with the acquisition of Affinity Circles, a Sunnyvale, CA-based startup built around alumni organizations and other social networks. While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Mingle CEO Michael O’Brien sized the deal for me, saying … Continue reading “Affinity Circles Deal Gives Climber.com Access to More Recruiting Tools”

Aptera Shuts Down, Nettle Starts Movie App, & More San Diego BizTech News

There wasn’t a lot of news out of San Diego’s high tech community last week. On the other hand, the news we had was big. Get your roundup here. —Aptera Motors, which raised an estimated $36 million in venture funding to develop a teardrop-shaped, three-wheel electric vehicle, shut down its operations Friday, according to an … Continue reading “Aptera Shuts Down, Nettle Starts Movie App, & More San Diego BizTech News”

New Qualcomm Life Subsidiary Rolls Out Wireless Health System

As the third annual mHealth Summit convenes today near Washington, D.C., San Diego-based Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) says it has formed a new subsidiary, Qualcomm Life, from its wireless health business unit. The wireless technology giant says it also has established a $100 million wireless health investment fund that will be managed by Qualcomm Ventures. Qualcomm … Continue reading “New Qualcomm Life Subsidiary Rolls Out Wireless Health System”

Buyouts, Quantified Health, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

In the news since the Thanksgiving holiday, we’ve had a fascinating bit of biomedical research from Internet guru Larry Smarr, a criminal conviction, and an extended Q&A with Eli Lilly CEO John Lechleiter. Your life sciences briefing begins now. —Under fierce competition in the market for gene expression microarray tests, Santa Clara-based Affymetrix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AFFX]]) … Continue reading “Buyouts, Quantified Health, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Xconomist of the Week: 5 Questions with Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle

November was a big month for news in the algae-based biofuels sector. On November 7, roughly four months after renewable fuels were approved for use in commercial aviation, United Airlines flew passengers from Houston to Chicago aboard a Boeing 737-800 powered by a mixture of algae-based jet fuel and conventional, petroleum-based fuel. Two days later, … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: 5 Questions with Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle”

Verdezyne Claims Milestone in Renewable Replacement of Petrochemical

When Verdezyne said last year it had made adipic acid in the laboratory, the Carlsbad, CA, industrial biotech said its eco-friendly fermentation process could make the valuable chemical for 20 percent less than it would cost a conventional petrochemical plant. Today, Verdezyne says it is now operating a pilot plant in Carlsbad that can make … Continue reading “Verdezyne Claims Milestone in Renewable Replacement of Petrochemical”

Fresh Off Amira Success, Versant’s Bolzon and San Diego’s Prasit Begin Anew with Inception

Last year’s blockbuster film “Inception,” was about a dream within a dream within a dream, which made it a little hard to follow. Likewise with “Inception,” the San Diego life sciences startup that was founded earlier this year by Versant Ventures’ Brad Bolzon and Peppi Prasit, the former co-founder and chief scientific officer at San … Continue reading “Fresh Off Amira Success, Versant’s Bolzon and San Diego’s Prasit Begin Anew with Inception”

Ruling Ends Core Patent Dispute Between Cross-Town Rivals, SkinMedica and Histogen

A federal court ruling issued before the Thanksgiving holiday appears likely to end nearly three years of patent litigation between Histogen, a San Diego regenerative medicine startup, and Carlsbad, CA-based SkinMedica, which provides cosmetics and skin-care products. “We are happy to now have this matter officially behind us,” Histogen founder and CEO Gail Naughton says … Continue reading “Ruling Ends Core Patent Dispute Between Cross-Town Rivals, SkinMedica and Histogen”

Mellmo Expands, Larry Smarr Talks Health, & More San Diego BizTech News

Contrary to what you might expect, the pace of tech news out of San Diego didn’t slow down much before the Thanksgiving Holiday. We still managed to round it all up, though, and our briefing begins here. —As director of the UC system’s California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (CalIT2), Larry Smarr is an … Continue reading “Mellmo Expands, Larry Smarr Talks Health, & More San Diego BizTech News”

With $30M Venture Round, Mellmo Adds Global Offices, New Publishing Capability

Mellmo began life on the move. Now the Solana Beach, CA-based startup is going global. Mellmo, as we’ve explained before, provides business intelligence for mobile users. Its flagship product, Roambi Analytics, is a Web-based service that converts mind-numbing business data from spreadsheets and databases into simple-but-compelling graphic displays—pie charts, bar charts, list views, card index … Continue reading “With $30M Venture Round, Mellmo Adds Global Offices, New Publishing Capability”

Jury Convicts Financial Advisor in Murder of Life Sciences Investor

Here at Xconomy, it’s unusual for us to shift far from our focus on the business of innovation—especially to cover something off the local police blotter. But the 2010 murder of retired biotech CEO and angel investor John G. Watson hit close to home for San Diego’s innovation community, especially among local life sciences investors … Continue reading “Jury Convicts Financial Advisor in Murder of Life Sciences Investor”

Xconomist of the Week: Larry Smarr’s Quest for ‘Quantified Health’

A couple of months ago, the publisher and CEO of the weekly Strategic News Service Newsletter introduced an article by San Diego Xconomist Larry Smarr, saying, “This issue may be the most important Special Letter we have ever published.” Smarr’s 23-page article, which takes up the newsletter’s entire Sept. 26 issue, is part scientific paper … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Larry Smarr’s Quest for ‘Quantified Health’”

Navy Draws Heavy Media Coverage for Biggest Biofuel Sea Trial

It seems doubtful that the U.S. Navy has ever gotten as much media attention for offshore cruising between San Diego and Port Hueneme as the decommissioned destroyer Paul H. Foster received last week. The Spruance-class destroyer, which has been refitted to serve in various ways as an ocean-going test platform, arrived at the naval base … Continue reading “Navy Draws Heavy Media Coverage for Biggest Biofuel Sea Trial”

DriveCam Raises $85M, SwoopThat Wins PitchFest, & More San Diego BizTech News

Last week was the storm before the calm, as a warm front of high-tech news moved through the San Diego region before the Thanksgiving holiday. We’ve got the details here. —San Diego-based DriveCam said it raised $85 million through a private placement that will be used mostly for its acquisition of RAIR Technologies. As I … Continue reading “DriveCam Raises $85M, SwoopThat Wins PitchFest, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Martino Joins Ambit, Nordhoff Leaves Gen-Probe, Swarmology Raises $1.2M, and More San Diego Life Sciences News

It was a week of beginnings and endings—and fundings—in San Diego’s life sciences sector. There’s a beginning to our roundup as well, and you are there now. —San Diego’s Ambit Biosciences named Michael Martino as CEO. Martino spent the previous 30 years overseeing new product launches, drug development, funding, and other business activities at CareFusion, … Continue reading “Martino Joins Ambit, Nordhoff Leaves Gen-Probe, Swarmology Raises $1.2M, and More San Diego Life Sciences News”

A Shortcut in Engine Design: Specialized Software Models Soot Formation

In Fairbanks, AK (where I spent a year after I graduated from college), winter temperatures can plunge to minus 40 degrees (F) for weeks at a time, creating ideal conditions for a local phenomenon called “ice fog.” When temperatures get that cold, the air can’t hold much water vapor. Automotive engine exhaust is mostly water … Continue reading “A Shortcut in Engine Design: Specialized Software Models Soot Formation”

FDA Clears Portable Insulin Pump from San Diego’s Tandem Diabetes

The FDA has cleared the first commercial product from San Diego’s Tandem Diabetes Care, a wearable insulin pump, according to a statement today from the medical device startup. Tandem Diabetes says its “t:slim” insulin pump represents an advance in terms of practicality and ease of use for managing type 1 diabetes—particularly for people who manage their … Continue reading “FDA Clears Portable Insulin Pump from San Diego’s Tandem Diabetes”

Into the Swarm: San Diego’s Swarmology Mines Online Conversations for Health Data

Swarmology, a San Diego provider of social media analytics for healthcare clients, is stepping into the light today, disclosing initial funding of $1.2 million and the debut of its website. The company, founded last December by pharmaceutical and health IT executive Malcolm Bohm, provides targeted, Web-based marketing services for its customers by analyzing online conversations … Continue reading “Into the Swarm: San Diego’s Swarmology Mines Online Conversations for Health Data”

Big Solar Project Advances, Perminova Raises $7M, Qualcomm Buys Charging Technology, & More San Diego BizTech News

A 48-percent uptick in new company formations, a funding deal, and two acquisitions made for an encouraging week in San Diego’s innovation economy. This is our roundup of tech sector news. —The California Public Utilities Commission approved five power purchase agreements that Soitec, the photovoltaic chip maker based Bernin, France, negotiated with San Diego Gas … Continue reading “Big Solar Project Advances, Perminova Raises $7M, Qualcomm Buys Charging Technology, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Qualcomm Plans Wireless EV Charging Trial in London

San Diego’s Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) says it’s rolling out the first wireless electric vehicle charging trials next year in London—just two days after the mobile giant said it acquired HaloIPT, a London startup developing the wireless charging technology. In a statement today, Qualcomm says it is collaborating with the UK government, as well as the … Continue reading “Qualcomm Plans Wireless EV Charging Trial in London”

Active Network Opens Trail to Online Ski Reservations with Colorado Deal

In financial results for the quarter ending Sept. 30, San Diego’s Active Network (NYSE: [[ticker:ACTV]]) said it paid $21.5 million in cash to acquire RTP, an Avon, CO-based IT company that provides online registration services for Vail and other ski resorts. While the deal is consistent with the Active Network’s basic strategy, it is the … Continue reading “Active Network Opens Trail to Online Ski Reservations with Colorado Deal”

Rempex Raises $67.5M, Vertex Shares Tumble, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

The price of shares at San Diego’s Gen-Probe, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, and Optimer were clipped for various reasons over the past week, but several local startups successfully raised capital. Our good news, bad news briefing begins here. —Rempex Pharmaceuticals, a San Diego biopharmaceutical startup developing a new approach to antibiotics resistance, said it raised $67.5 million … Continue reading “Rempex Raises $67.5M, Vertex Shares Tumble, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Seven Innovation Policy Ideas to Spark an Economic Recovery in the U.S.

In San Diego, Connect is the non-profit organization that reaches into most corners of the local innovation community. Connect likes to say that it has assisted in the formation of more than 3,000 technology and life sciences companies in the area, and more than 50 cities around the world have emulated its programs for mentoring … Continue reading “Seven Innovation Policy Ideas to Spark an Economic Recovery in the U.S.”

Report Shows San Diego’s Innovation Economy Gaining Strength Through June

A comprehensive snapshot of San Diego’s innovation economy shows that 76 technology startups were formed during the three months that ended June 30, a nearly 20 percent increase over the 64 startups established during the same quarter last year. Counting the 70 new tech companies formed during the first quarter, a total of 146 startups … Continue reading “Report Shows San Diego’s Innovation Economy Gaining Strength Through June”

Qualcomm Buys HaloIPT (and Patents) for Wireless Charging Technology

Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]), the San Diego wireless technology giant, turned in a new direction today with its acquisition of HaloIPT, a startup founded last year by Auckland University’s UniServices and Arup, the engineering design giant, to develop technology that can transmit electricity without wires. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. With technology from … Continue reading “Qualcomm Buys HaloIPT (and Patents) for Wireless Charging Technology”

Perminova Raises $7M to Expand Development of Health IT as a Service

Perminova, a San Diego startup developing Web-based software for use in cardiology centers, says today it has raised $7 million in a combination of equity and credit financing. The company says it is pioneering healthcare’s move from outdated client-server technology to secure cloud-based computing. The company was founded several years ago by Gregory Feld, a … Continue reading “Perminova Raises $7M to Expand Development of Health IT as a Service”

Amylin and Eli Lilly Part Ways on Diabetes Drug; Alkermes Deal Intact

San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMLN]])) and Eli Lilly today called a cease-fire to litigation that began earlier this year, and outlined an agreement to end the alliance they formed in 2002 to commercialize exenatide (Byetta), Amylin’s diabetes drug. A replay of Amylin’s conference call with analysts about the deal is available here. Amylin sued … Continue reading “Amylin and Eli Lilly Part Ways on Diabetes Drug; Alkermes Deal Intact”

San Diego BizTech Roundup: Battelle, QuickPlay Come to Town, Qualcomm Growth Continues

There were some interesting portents of things to come in San Diego’s emerging cleantech sector last week. Here is our Monday morning roundup of the news you need to know. —Battelle’s Bhima Vijayendran told me he’s on the lookout for new business opportunities with local San Diego companies, as both an R&D partner and as … Continue reading “San Diego BizTech Roundup: Battelle, QuickPlay Come to Town, Qualcomm Growth Continues”

QuickPlay Media Takes Over Network Control Center from Qualcomm’s Flo TV

[Clarification 11/5/11, 11:10 am. See below.] Toronto’s QuickPlay Media says its goal is to stream video to any IP-connected device on behalf of any media network or wireless carrier. To accomplish this, the Canadian startup founded almost eight years ago has raised about $42 million in venture capital, and established several offices in the United … Continue reading “QuickPlay Media Takes Over Network Control Center from Qualcomm’s Flo TV”

Tablets, the Next Big Thing

We are at the beginning of the tablet revolution. Tablet computers are redefining the “mobile computing” space and taking the world of consumer electronics by storm. Four factors have come into play at an opportune time: physical design, functionality, broadband wireless, and the convenient availability of compelling apps through app stores. Such features have enabled … Continue reading “Tablets, the Next Big Thing”

TEDMED Walking, FDA Clears Pacira Drug, Zogenix Close to NDA, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

Drug approvals and advances in new cancer therapies were the prevailing themes in San Diego’s life sciences news over the past week. Our briefing begins now. —TEDMED, the exclusive medical and healthcare symposium that died in 2004 and was resurrected in 2009, is now the walking TEDMED. The entertaining show with a mix of big … Continue reading “TEDMED Walking, FDA Clears Pacira Drug, Zogenix Close to NDA, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Sanford-Burnham Joins Fold at Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation

San Diego’s Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute says today it’s joining the Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI), a global network that New York-based Pfizer established a year ago to foster collaborations between basic research and clinical applications. The Pfizer network of drug discovery innovation centers includes academic medical centers in San Francisco, Boston, New York, and … Continue reading “Sanford-Burnham Joins Fold at Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation”