[Corrected 12/10/09, 1:05 am to show Anvita does not store or manage EMRs.] Ahmed F. Ghouri was frustrated. Too often, the anesthesiologist had seen seemingly preventable prescribing errors that threatened the lives of patients. So nine years ago, with angel backing from doctors who shared his same frustrations, Ghouri co-founded Anvita Health, a San Diego … Continue reading “San Diego’s Anvita Health Seeks to Prevent Medical Errors”
Author: Denise Gellene
Tools Company Nexus Biosystems Acquires Aurora Biotechnologies
Nexus Biosystems, a life sciences tools company located 20 miles north of San Diego in Poway, says it’s acquiring another tools company in the area, Aurora Biotechnologies. The price wasn’t disclosed. Both privately held companies develop technologies for the storage and management of biological samples used to study genetic traits and human disease, among other … Continue reading “Tools Company Nexus Biosystems Acquires Aurora Biotechnologies”
A Sapphire Energy Co-Founder Sees Solutions in Algae for Drugs as Well as Biofuels
The potential of algae as a clean energy source has been generating a lot of entrepreneurial excitement in San Diego. At last count, 10 local companies are busy working on technologies focused on transforming ordinary pond scum into “green crude” one day capable of powering aircraft, trucks, automobiles, and even utility plants—and easing the world’s … Continue reading “A Sapphire Energy Co-Founder Sees Solutions in Algae for Drugs as Well as Biofuels”
Isis Extends Timeline on Cholesterol-Lowering Drug, FDA Delays Review of Cadence Pain Reliever, Fate Therapeutics Raises $30 Million, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
Drug development programs got extended at two San Diego life sciences companies, while others had some good news on the fund-raising front. We wrap it all up for you here. —Fate Therapeutics, a startup working to supply “industrialized” stem cells for the pharmaceutical industry without using embryos, said it raised $30 million in venture capital. … Continue reading “Isis Extends Timeline on Cholesterol-Lowering Drug, FDA Delays Review of Cadence Pain Reliever, Fate Therapeutics Raises $30 Million, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Biotech Meets Cleantech: GenVault Aims to Deep Six the Laboratory Deep Freeze
GenVault wants to bring biological samples in from the cold. For decades, the biological samples used to diagnose or study disease have been stored in freezers, which use a lot of electricity. GenVault markets dry-storage technologies that allow scientists to store samples—such as DNA from a blood test—at room temperature. GenVault CEO David Wellis argues … Continue reading “Biotech Meets Cleantech: GenVault Aims to Deep Six the Laboratory Deep Freeze”
Trius Therapeutics Reveals Plans for IPO, SpectraScience Raises $4.3M, Sequenom Tightens its Belt, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
Some San Diego life sciences companies reported a burst of new financing, while embattled Sequenom told investors it’s trying to conserve its available cash. Here’s our rundown of the latest highlights: —San Diego’s Trius Therapeutics, a venture-backed biotech developing a new antibiotic for treating acute and life-threatening bacterial infections, disclosed plans to raise as much … Continue reading “Trius Therapeutics Reveals Plans for IPO, SpectraScience Raises $4.3M, Sequenom Tightens its Belt, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Sequenom Looks to Prolong Operations as Available Cash Runs Low
San Diego’s embattled Sequenom, which halted the debut of a new diagnostic product over mishandled data, is now considering steps to conserve cash. In an SEC document filed Monday, the life sciences tools company says it expects to end the year with $39 million in cash — too little to fund operations and capital expenditures … Continue reading “Sequenom Looks to Prolong Operations as Available Cash Runs Low”
Student Dissertation Launches San Diego Life Sciences Tools Company, Sirigen
The work leading to Brent Gaylord’s dissertation on using light-emitting polymers to detect bits of DNA was more far more than an academic exercise. His initial paper, and the intellectual property that was subsequently generated, directly lead to the creation of San Diego’s Sirigen. Gaylord co-founded Sirigen six years ago to enter a business plan … Continue reading “Student Dissertation Launches San Diego Life Sciences Tools Company, Sirigen”
Novocell Gets $20 Million Award
San Diego’s Novocell has received a disease team award totaling $20 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to fund work on its cell therapy for type 2 diabetes. The team includes scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, which will receive $2.8 million. Novocell’s research involves transforming embryonic stem cells into … Continue reading “Novocell Gets $20 Million Award”
New York Biotech Sues Sequenom for Fraud
Xenomics, a New York-based developer of molecular diagnostic technologies, says it has filed a suit in New York state court alleging that San Diego’s Sequenom fraudulently misrepresented the status of its prenatal Down syndrome test. Xenomics alleges the fraud induced them to exclusively license valuable patent rights to Sequenom. According to a licensing agreement announced … Continue reading “New York Biotech Sues Sequenom for Fraud”
UK’s Enigma Looks to San Diego, Life Gets Sweeter for Senomyx, Arena Says Obesity Drug Is Not “Wimpy,” & More San Diego Life Sciences News
San Diego’s life sciences news picked up a bit last week amid fresh signs of the area’s growing prominence in the laboratory tools and diagnostics sectors. —Carlsbad, CA-based Helixis, a startup maker of genetic analysis technology from the Caltech labs of Nobel Laureate David Baltimore and Axel Scherer, raised $1.8 million from unidentified investors, according … Continue reading “UK’s Enigma Looks to San Diego, Life Gets Sweeter for Senomyx, Arena Says Obesity Drug Is Not “Wimpy,” & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Diabetes drug from San Diego’s Amylin caught up in Aussie Brouhaha
From Australia comes word that San Diego-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals’ biggest drug, exenatide (Byetta), has been caught up in a controversy over a diabetes report co-sponsored by Amylin’s marketing partner, Eli Lilly & Co. The study, compiled by researchers at the University of Canberra’s National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), warned that 1.6 million … Continue reading “Diabetes drug from San Diego’s Amylin caught up in Aussie Brouhaha”
Verdezyne and Cardium Therapeutics Get Funding, Illumina Fires New Volley in Patent War, a New Stem Cell Technology Surfaces, and Other San Diego Life Sciences News
Word that several San Diego companies successfully raised funds punctuated an otherwise light week for life sciences news here. A rundown of the highlights: —Synthetic biology company Verdezyne received a $1.7 million Small Business Technology Transfer grant to develop mutant gene libraries for its computational and bioinformatics programs. The Carlsbad, CA startup, previously named CODA … Continue reading “Verdezyne and Cardium Therapeutics Get Funding, Illumina Fires New Volley in Patent War, a New Stem Cell Technology Surfaces, and Other San Diego Life Sciences News”
San Diego’s Ardea Biosciences Sees Potential for Gout Drug in Combination Treatment
San Diego’s Ardea Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RDEA]]) appears to have stubbed a toe in its development of RDEA 594 as a first-line treatment for gout. Data presented at a medical meeting in Philadelphia today showed the Ardea drug was no better at controlling gout than existing medications, including allopurinol, a cheap generic. During a conference call … Continue reading “San Diego’s Ardea Biosciences Sees Potential for Gout Drug in Combination Treatment”
Fill’er up: San Diego’s Algae-Based Energy Sector Grows
In wake of last week’s Algae Biomass Summit, we thought now might be a good time to take stock of San Diego’s biofuels/biomass energy sector. After identifying a mini-cluster of eight algae technology companies last December, Bruce was surprised to discover that the nonprofit group Cleantech San Diego now counts 31 biomass and biofuel companies … Continue reading “Fill’er up: San Diego’s Algae-Based Energy Sector Grows”
Eastbourne Dumps Amylin Shares, Illumina Inks Licensing Deal, Avanir Releases Pseudobulbar Affect Data, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
A quiet epilogue to last spring’s heated Amylin proxy battle was the lead story in an otherwise slow week for San Diego life sciences news. —Eastbourne Capital, which won a partial victory in a proxy fight against Amylin Pharmaceuticals earlier this year, sold its entire stake in the San Diego diabetes company. The San Rafael, … Continue reading “Eastbourne Dumps Amylin Shares, Illumina Inks Licensing Deal, Avanir Releases Pseudobulbar Affect Data, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Illumina licenses Orchid Cellmark DNA technology
San Diego’s Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker: ILMN]]) has licensed worldwide rights to commercially develop Orchid Cellmark’s proprietary single base nucleotide extension technology for forensics and diagnostics. Princeton, N.J.-based Orchid (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ORCH]]) is one of the largest providers of forensic DNA testing services used by the criminal justice system. Orchid says Illumina agreed to pay $850,000 upfront … Continue reading “Illumina licenses Orchid Cellmark DNA technology”
Justice Department Joins Sequenom Probe, Accumetrics Raises $16.5, Transdel’s Topical Pain Reliever Gets Mixed Results, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
The life sciences news was relatively light over the last week, except perhaps for Sequenom, the medical diagnostics company that has yet to publicly disclose much about its misconduct in handling clinical trial data. —Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]) disclosed that it met with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego in connection with … Continue reading “Justice Department Joins Sequenom Probe, Accumetrics Raises $16.5, Transdel’s Topical Pain Reliever Gets Mixed Results, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
As Algae Summit Begins, San Diego Yearns to Make Houston Green With Envy
The 2009 Algae Biomass Summit gets underway in San Diego today, offering the latest sign of the algae biofuels sector that has bloomed in San Diego in recent years. Cleantech San Diego president Lisa Bicker told reporters at a pre-summit news conference last night that more than 625 cleantech companies are now based in the … Continue reading “As Algae Summit Begins, San Diego Yearns to Make Houston Green With Envy”
San Diego Agri-Biotech Startup Moves to Challenge Monsanto on its Own Turf
San Diego’s little Cibus Global is preparing to one day take on Monsanto, the Fortune 500 agri-industry colossus and leading producer of genetically engineered seed. The bioscience company last month formed a joint partnership with an agricultural products company based in Tel Aviv to spur development of new strains of crops. High on Cibus’ to-do … Continue reading “San Diego Agri-Biotech Startup Moves to Challenge Monsanto on its Own Turf”
Neurocrine Cuts Office Costs
One-time biotech darling Neurocrine Biosciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NBIX]]) says it is vacating one of two buildings at its headquarters campus to save $27 million a year. The company paid an immediate $4 million release fee to the landlord, and agreed to make certain rent payments and rent differential payments. Neurocrine has been struggling to regain its … Continue reading “Neurocrine Cuts Office Costs”
Life Tech and Illumina, Two San Diego Biotech Giants, in Patent Dispute
In what is shaping up as the battle of San Diego’s biotechnology tools titans, Life Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LIFE]]) has filed a patent-infringement suit against rival Illumina, claiming that some of Illumina’s best-selling genetic-sequencing products violate Life Tech’s intellectual property. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Delaware, claims that certain Illumina products, including the … Continue reading “Life Tech and Illumina, Two San Diego Biotech Giants, in Patent Dispute”
Swine Flu Spurs Investor Interest in San Diego Biomedical Firms
San Diego’s Quidel, which signaled it would report better-than-expected quarterly results on Sept. 10, isn’t the only San Diego biomedical company to get a boost from worries about swine flu. At least four other companies with flu-related products or research programs also have seen their share prices surge since June 11, when World Health Organization … Continue reading “Swine Flu Spurs Investor Interest in San Diego Biomedical Firms”
Reality is Virtual at San Diego’s Tioga Pharmaceuticals
The chief medical officer of Tioga Pharmaceuticals, a start-up working on a drug for irritable bowel syndrome, is in North Carolina. The company’s regulatory team is in San Francisco. Its chief operating officer works from an office at San Diego’s Forward Ventures, the venture capital firm that formed Tioga. He also happens to be the … Continue reading “Reality is Virtual at San Diego’s Tioga Pharmaceuticals”
San Diego Inventor’s Drug Discovery is Nothing to Laugh (or Cry) About
[Corrected 9/4/09, 12:25 am. See below.] Avanir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVNR]]) announcement last month that its drug DMQ reduced involuntary fits of laughter and crying in neurological patients came as welcome news to San Diego scientist Richard A. Smith. It was Smith who made the serendipitous discovery more than a decade ago that DMQ—a combination of … Continue reading “San Diego Inventor’s Drug Discovery is Nothing to Laugh (or Cry) About”
Biotechs Go Back to the Future by Re-Innovating Old Drugs
Biotechnology start-ups have long been seen as fearless innovators, embracing experimental technologies, like gene therapy, that big pharmaceutical companies won’t touch. But the news flow from San Diego this summer suggests the industry may have become a bit more cautious. More and more companies, it seems, are focused on reviving or repurposing older drugs – … Continue reading “Biotechs Go Back to the Future by Re-Innovating Old Drugs”
Sequenom Maintains Tight Lid on “Mishandled Data” of Key Diagnostic Test
Three months ago, San Diego’s Sequenom disclosed that the launch of a new prenatal test for Down syndrome would be delayed because scientific data had been mishandled. So what have we learned since that bombshell announcement? Not much. The company’s recent quarterly filing with the SEC suggests Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]) must start the process of … Continue reading “Sequenom Maintains Tight Lid on “Mishandled Data” of Key Diagnostic Test”
Acadia Files Shelf Registration
San Diego’s Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACAD]]) has filed a shelf registration to sell up to 7 million shares at a maximum share price of $4.17. The company, which is working on a drug to treat psychotic symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients, anticipates that the proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. … Continue reading “Acadia Files Shelf Registration”
Wanted at TorreyPines Therapeutics: Shareholders Who Vote
TorreyPines Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TPTX]]) has found a new solution to its cash woes: a merger with Novato, CA-based Raptor Pharmaceuticals. To pull off the deal, however, TorreyPines must overcome an old problem: getting its shareholders to vote. Few biotechs come to an end as embarrassingly as San Diego’s TorreyPines Therapeutics. When its board of directors … Continue reading “Wanted at TorreyPines Therapeutics: Shareholders Who Vote”
Inovio raises $30 million
Inovio Biomedical (AMEX: [[ticker:INO]]), a San Diego company developing DNA-based vaccines against cervical cancer and other diseases, has raised $30 million from the direct sale of 11.1 million shares and 2.8 million warrants to institutional investors. Proceeds to the company will total $28.5 million after fees and other expenses.
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Plans Liquidation
San Diego’s La Jolla Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:[[ticker:LJPC]]) plans to ask shareholders to approve a liquidation plan at a not-yet-scheduled special shareholders meeting, according to a recent SEC filing. The company says it has discharged substantially all of its obligations to creditors and is working to satisfy those that remain. Separately last week, the company disclosed that … Continue reading “La Jolla Pharmaceutical Plans Liquidation”
San Diego’s Cytori Gains Cash; Loses a Patent
Cytori Therapeutics, (NASDAQ:[[ticker:CYTX]]) a San Diego company developing therapies from fat, is bulking up its cash position. Since March, the regenerative medicine has company raised more than $15 million through private equity sales. The latest deal—inked with Seaside 88 of Florida in June—gives Cytori an infusion of many thousands of dollars every two weeks for … Continue reading “San Diego’s Cytori Gains Cash; Loses a Patent”
Histogen Reports Hair-Raising Study Results
San Diego’s Histogen announced final results from a clinical trial of its baldness treatment over the weekend. Nearly 85 percent of 24 men with male pattern baldness had more hair at the end of three months, and experienced an increase in hair thickness and density, according to a press release. Results came after a single … Continue reading “Histogen Reports Hair-Raising Study Results”
No More Tears: Avanir Investors Await Trial Results on Emotional Outburst Drug
Avanir Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVNR]]) has been working for so long on a drug for an odd neurological syndrome that triggers involuntary laughter and tears, it’s almost enough to make some investors cry. Soon they will learn if the wait has been worth it. In the next few weeks, the onetime San Diego biotech now just over … Continue reading “No More Tears: Avanir Investors Await Trial Results on Emotional Outburst Drug”
Canceled Buyout Snatches Victory From Victory Pharma’s Investors
Victory is not yet in sight for San Diego’s Victory Pharma, a specialty drug company focused on pain relievers. A Japanese drug marketer backed out of a $150-million deal to acquire Victory this week, leaving the San Diego pain specialist in need of solace and a new game plan. Sciele Pharma said in a press release that … Continue reading “Canceled Buyout Snatches Victory From Victory Pharma’s Investors”
Vical Encouraged by CMV Study
Vical (NASDAQ:[[ticker:VICL]]) says early results from a mid-stage trial of its cytomegalovirus vaccine look promising. The San Diego-based company says that at four months, 30 percent of treated patients had infections compared to 50 percent in the untreated group. Viral load measurements and other data all favor the vaccinated group, according to Vical, which did … Continue reading “Vical Encouraged by CMV Study”
Lpath Replaces Its Outside Auditor
Five days after its June 24 annual meeting, San Diego’s Lpath (OTC:[[ticker:LPTN]]) dismissed the accounting firm LevitZacks for undisclosed reasons, according to a recent SEC filing. The biotech had recommended retaining the accounting firm to shareholders. In its SEC filing, Lpath noted that LevitZacks had expressed uncertainty about Lpath’s ability to continue as a going … Continue reading “Lpath Replaces Its Outside Auditor”
Amira Pharmaceuticals’ Experimental Lung Disease Drug May Have Legs
The story around Amira Pharmaceuticals’ experimental drug AP2966 is beginning to get interesting. Yesterday the San Diego-based respiratory drug company said its experimental drug reduced lung scarring in mice, offering promise that the oral medication might one day be approved to treat pulmonary fibrosis. But it turns out there may be a lot more to this … Continue reading “Amira Pharmaceuticals’ Experimental Lung Disease Drug May Have Legs”
Amira Pharmaceuticals Can Breathe Easier After Mouse Study
The people at San Diego’s Amira Pharmaceuticals are certainly breathing easier today. The respiratory drug development company is reporting that an experimental drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis reduced lung scarring in mice, bringing Amira closer to its goal of beginning human tests of the oral medication during the first half of next year. In results presented this … Continue reading “Amira Pharmaceuticals Can Breathe Easier After Mouse Study”
Vical on Fast Pace With Animal Tests of Prototype Swine Flu Vaccine
An experimental swine flu vaccine from San Diego’s Vical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VICL]]) produced “robust immune responses” in animal tests, the company reports. Vical says it can proceed to large-scale manufacturing and human tests if it receives funding. Getting regulatory approval of the prototype vaccine is another matter. Nevertheless, the company’s shares surged 50 cents, or more … Continue reading “Vical on Fast Pace With Animal Tests of Prototype Swine Flu Vaccine”
Documents Shed Light on Cam Garner’s Stealth Venture
The mystery surrounding San Diego’s Evoke Pharma is beginning to clear. The specialty drug company co-founded by serial entrepreneur Cam Garner has been operating in stealth mode and has said little about the experimental drug it is developing for gastroparesis, a digestive disorder that affects diabetics. But a recent quarterly filing from a third party, … Continue reading “Documents Shed Light on Cam Garner’s Stealth Venture”
After the Breakup: BioMarin Says Ex-Partner La Jolla Pharmaceutical Dragging its Feet on Stock Registration
Hard times can make for hard feelings between former drug development partners, which seems to be what’s happening between Novato, CA-based BioMarin (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BMRN]]) and San Diego’s ailing La Jolla Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LJPC]]). Once the love was gone, BioMarin just couldn’t get rid of the La Jolla Pharmaceutical shares it owned fast enough. So it … Continue reading “After the Breakup: BioMarin Says Ex-Partner La Jolla Pharmaceutical Dragging its Feet on Stock Registration”
Lpath, a Developer of Lipid-Targeting Drugs, Nears a Fork in the Road
Is San Diego’s Lpath (OTC: [[ticker:LPTN]]) on the right path? The answer will emerge over the next several weeks as the biotechnology company wraps up a key clinical test of its experimental cancer drug. A successful outcome will position the cash-starved company to receive $39 million from development partner Merck Serono of Switzerland, enabling Lpath … Continue reading “Lpath, a Developer of Lipid-Targeting Drugs, Nears a Fork in the Road”
Accelrys Names New CEO
San Diego-based Accelrys, which develops software for computer-aided design and modeling, today named Scipio Carnecchia as president and chief executive. Carnecchia previously was president of Interwoven, a provider of content management software that was acquired by Autonomy earlier this year. Carnecchia, who also is joining the board at Accelrys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACCL]]), replaces Mark Emkjer, who resigned as CEO in … Continue reading “Accelrys Names New CEO”
After Years of Red Ink, Vical Says DNA-Based Vaccines ‘Ready for Prime Time.’
For a lesson in surviving tough times, look no further than San Diego’s Vical. (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VICL]]) The vaccine developer has endured two decades of red ink and by any sort of business logic should have folded its tent long ago. Instead, Vical is slowly but steadily advancing its “naked DNA” technology for use as a … Continue reading “After Years of Red Ink, Vical Says DNA-Based Vaccines ‘Ready for Prime Time.’”
Experimental Gene Therapy for Blindness Will Proceed Even if Targeted Genetics Goes Dark
[Editors note: corrects times in previous version for third patient through maze ] Among the more impressive presentations at the annual meeting of the American Society for Gene Therapy in San Diego last week was this video provided by researchers at University College London. It shows a man with a form of hereditary blindness navigating a maze before and … Continue reading “Experimental Gene Therapy for Blindness Will Proceed Even if Targeted Genetics Goes Dark”
Celladon CEO Upbeat on Gene Therapy for Heart
Krisztina M. Zsebo, CEO of San Diego’s Celladon, went to the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy to bust some scientific myths about the experimental technology. The conference is meeting this week in San Diego, and when I caught up with her before her talk yesterday, she wasted no time busting myths … Continue reading “Celladon CEO Upbeat on Gene Therapy for Heart”
David M. Bodine Q&A: Making Progress on Gene Therapy, Despite Targeted Genetics’ Woes
The 2,000 members of the American Society of Gene Therapy meet in San Diego this week at an auspicious moment. Scientists from around the globe will present encouraging research on the use of gene therapy for a broad range of illnesses, including a rare hereditary blindness and cancer. But to the north in Seattle, as … Continue reading “David M. Bodine Q&A: Making Progress on Gene Therapy, Despite Targeted Genetics’ Woes”
San Diego’s Acadia Awaits Parkinson’s Trial Results (and a Chance to Prove Naysayers Wrong)
One thing is clear to Uli Hacksell, chief executive of San Diego’s Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACAD]]): the market just doesn’t understand his company. Just a couple of weeks ago, the life sciences startup got a strong vote of confidence from Canada’s Biovail, which paid $30 million upfront as part of a deal to develop a promising drug … Continue reading “San Diego’s Acadia Awaits Parkinson’s Trial Results (and a Chance to Prove Naysayers Wrong)”
Reva Medical Regaining Ground in Development of Next-Generation Stent
In the race to develop a fully dissolvable cardiac stent, San Diego’s Reva Medical is clearly second. And to CEO Robert Shultz, that’s a good place to be, especially for a startup that had to restart development of its stent technology. The cost of establishing a big new market, Shultz says, is better left to … Continue reading “Reva Medical Regaining Ground in Development of Next-Generation Stent”