Author: Frank Vinluan

Xconomy Editor Frank Vinluan is a business journalist with experience covering technology and life sciences. Based in Raleigh, he was a staff writer at the Triangle Business Journal covering technology, biotechnology and energy before joining MedCityNews.com as North Carolina bureau chief. Prior to moving to North Carolina’s Research Triangle in 2007 he held business reporting positions at The Des Moines Register and The Seattle Times.

With FDA Approval, Genentech Drug Becomes First For Severe MS Cases

The FDA has approved a new Genentech multiple sclerosis drug, ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), that will become the first ever marketed therapy for the most severe form of the disease. Multiple sclerosis comes in different forms characterized by the severity and progression of the disease. While many drugs are available to treat MS, up until now, none … Continue reading “With FDA Approval, Genentech Drug Becomes First For Severe MS Cases”

Biogen’s Olivier Danos Joins Regenxbio as Chief Scientific Officer

Olivier Danos is joining Regenxbio (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RGNX]]) to become the company’s chief scientific officer. Danos comes to the Rockville, MD, gene therapy biotech from Cambridge, MA-based Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), where he was the senior vice president of cell and gene therapy. Before joining Biogen, Danos was the senior vice president of molecular medicine, synthetic biology, … Continue reading “Biogen’s Olivier Danos Joins Regenxbio as Chief Scientific Officer”

Boston Biomedical Promotes Patricia Andrews to CEO

Patricia Andrews has been appointed CEO of Boston Biomedical. Andrews will succeed Chiang Li, who has led the company since he founded the Cambridge, MA-based cancer drug developer in 2007. Andrews came to Boston Biomedical in 2013 from Wilmington, DE-based Incyte (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INCY]]), where she was chief commercial officer. Boston Biomedical promoted her to chief … Continue reading “Boston Biomedical Promotes Patricia Andrews to CEO”

Tesaro’s Ovarian Cancer Drug Gets FDA Nod, No Diagnostic Needed

An ovarian cancer drug from Tesaro has won FDA approval ahead of schedule, adding a third treatment to a new group of therapies that work by blocking a process that tumors use to repair themselves. Waltham, MA-based Tesaro (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TSRO]]) says the FDA approved its drug niraparib (Zejula) drug as a maintenance therapy for women … Continue reading “Tesaro’s Ovarian Cancer Drug Gets FDA Nod, No Diagnostic Needed”

Ionis Pharma Spins Out Lipid Disorder Unit Akcea with Plans for IPO

Akcea Therapeutics, an Ionis Pharmaceuticals subsidiary focused on rare lipid disorders, is spinning out of its parent with plans for an initial public stock offering as it prepares to file for FDA approval for its lead drug. The Akcea stock offering could reach as much as $100 million, according to paperwork filed with securities regulators. … Continue reading “Ionis Pharma Spins Out Lipid Disorder Unit Akcea with Plans for IPO”

Eli Lilly Reveals $850M Capital Spending Plan for Indiana and Beyond

Eli Lilly plans to pour more than more than $850 million into its research laboratories and manufacturing facilities across the country—a capital investment spree that includes a multi-million dollar expansion of a site that makes the delivery device for a top-selling diabetes drug. Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]) unveiled the plans with government officials this … Continue reading “Eli Lilly Reveals $850M Capital Spending Plan for Indiana and Beyond”

Rebooted and Refocused, Startup Cool Planet Eyes the Soil Market

When Cool Planet found a lukewarm market for its renewable fuel, the startup needed to change course. Now focused on agriculture, Greenwood, CO-based Cool Planet is aiming for the market again—this time with a soils supplement backed by $19.3 million in new capital. The Series A round was led by Agustín Coppel, a member of … Continue reading “Rebooted and Refocused, Startup Cool Planet Eyes the Soil Market”

Regenerative Med Firm Biostage Promotes La Francesca to President

Saveiro La Francesca, chief medical officer of biotech company Biostage (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BSTG]]), has been promoted to president. La Francesca had served as chief medical officer of the Holliston, MA-based company since 2014. The cardiothoracic surgeon oversaw Biostage’s development and preclinical testing of a technology that uses stem cells to bioengineer organ implants. In his new … Continue reading “Regenerative Med Firm Biostage Promotes La Francesca to President”

IRX Therapeutics Names Mark Leuchtenberger President and CEO

Cancer immunotherapy developer IRX Therapeutics has appointed Mark Leuchtenberger president and CEO. John Hadden, founder and prior CEO of New York-based IRX, will remain a director of the company. Leuchtenberger’s experience includes executive and senior management positions at Chiasma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CHMA]]), Acusphere, Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Therion Biologics, and Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]). IRX also named Monil Shah … Continue reading “IRX Therapeutics Names Mark Leuchtenberger President and CEO”

BioClin Gets $30M to Back More Bladder Cancer Drug Trials

BioClin Therapeutics has raised $30 million in funding to move forward with more tests of its experimental treatment for bladder cancer. New investors Sofinnova Ventures and Ysios Capital led the Series B round of financing for San Ramon, CA-based BioClin. Earlier investors HealthCap, Life Sciences Partners, and Tekla Capital Management also participated in the investment. … Continue reading “BioClin Gets $30M to Back More Bladder Cancer Drug Trials”

SutroVax Lands $64M From Roche, Others to Back Vaccine Studies

Vaccines may be available for pneumococcal infections, but none of them, including the widely used Prevnar 13, can cover all strains. SutroVax is one of the startups trying to solve that problem, and today raised $64 million to test its approach in humans. New investors Frazier Healthcare Partners and Pivotal bioVenture Partners led the Series … Continue reading “SutroVax Lands $64M From Roche, Others to Back Vaccine Studies”

Biogen Appoints Ghosh Senior VP for Research & Early Development

Anirvan Ghosh will become Biogen’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) new senior vice president for research and early development. Ghosh joins Cambridge, MA-based Biogen from E-Scape Bio, where he was the San Francisco biotech’s chief scientific officer. His experience also includes a senior position at Roche, as well as academic posts at Johns Hopkins University and the University … Continue reading “Biogen Appoints Ghosh Senior VP for Research & Early Development”

United Neuroscience Names Ajay Verma Chief Medical Officer

Alzheimer’s disease drug developer United Neuroscience has named Ajay Verma the company’s new chief medical officer. Verma comes to New York-based United Neuroscience from Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), where his work included overseeing early clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease drug candidates. Before Biogen, Verma held positions at Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) and Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]). Verma’s appointment … Continue reading “United Neuroscience Names Ajay Verma Chief Medical Officer”

No Pain, No High: Nektar’s Opioid Drug Hits Trial Goals, Lifts Shares

An experimental opioid drug from Nektar Therapeutics now has clinical trial results showing that it can relieve pain without causing a high. The news may offer a potential alternative to the addictive qualities of prescription painkillers that are fueling a nationwide opioid epidemic. Nektar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NKTR]]) released the Phase 3 clinical trial results today and … Continue reading “No Pain, No High: Nektar’s Opioid Drug Hits Trial Goals, Lifts Shares”

Aetion’s Medical Evidence Software Scores $11M in Funding

As healthcare payment models change in ways that link the reimbursement of care to patient outcome, clinicians, drug companies, and medical device makers are all looking for ways to quantify those outcomes. Health IT startup Aetion has developed software that it says can provide this insight, and the company now has $11 million in capital … Continue reading “Aetion’s Medical Evidence Software Scores $11M in Funding”

For $140M, PTC Gets Duchenne Drug and a Pricing Controversy from Marathon

PTC Therapeutics has acquired a controversial Marathon Pharmaceuticals drug for the rare disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy for approximately $140 million, potentially placing the South Plainfield, NJ, company squarely in the crosshairs of the national drug pricing debate. PTC (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTCT]]), whose own Duchenne drug is conditionally approved in the Europe but not in the U.S., … Continue reading “For $140M, PTC Gets Duchenne Drug and a Pricing Controversy from Marathon”

Proteon Therapeutics Plans Path Forward for Blood Vessel Drug

Three months ago, Proteon Therapeutics’ experimental blood vessel drug for people with failing kidneys flunked a Phase 3 clinical trial. The company now hopes that a larger study with a modified goal can produce different results. The Proteon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PRTO]]) drug, vonapanitase, treats people whose chronic kidney disease has progressed to the point that they … Continue reading “Proteon Therapeutics Plans Path Forward for Blood Vessel Drug”

With FDA’s Blessing, Seres Preps New “Pivotal” Microbiome Drug Trial

Seres Therapeutics wants to become the first company to bring to market a drug that targets the microbiome, the delicate balance of microbes colonizing the human body. The failure of its lead drug in a clinical trial last year put those aspirations in doubt. Now the Cambridge, MA, drug developer is getting another shot. Seres … Continue reading “With FDA’s Blessing, Seres Preps New “Pivotal” Microbiome Drug Trial”

Relypsa Appoints Garland President, CEO Orwin to Step Away in June

Gastrointestinal drugs developer Relypsa has promoted Scott Garland to the position of president. Garland had previously served as senior vice president and chief commercial officer of the Redwood City, Calif-based company. Before joining Relypsa, Garland was vice president and chief commercial officer of South San Francisco-based Exelixis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXEL]]). His career also includes posts at … Continue reading “Relypsa Appoints Garland President, CEO Orwin to Step Away in June”

Cook Medical Promotes Umesh Patel to Subsidiary’s Top Spot

Umesh Patel has been promoted to president of Cook Biotech, the West Lafayette, IN-based regenerative medicine subsidiary of medical device company Cook Medical. Patel has served in various positions at Cook Biotech, most recently as vice president and general manager. He joined the firm in 1995 when it spun out of Purdue University.

Tocagen Plans IPO to Finance Trials of Gene Therapy in Brain Cancer

[Corrected 3/10/17, 3:27 pm. See below] Gene therapy developer Tocagen is preparing an initial public stock offering to finance clinical trials of its experimental treatment for a form of brain cancer. The San Diego-based biotech filed the paperwork Thursday for an IPO that could raise up to $86 million—a figure likely to change as the … Continue reading “Tocagen Plans IPO to Finance Trials of Gene Therapy in Brain Cancer”

Backed by $37M, Virta Tries Tech Approach to “Reverse” Diabetes

Diabetes treatment typically involves a combination of diet, exercise, and drugs. Patients can also choose gastric bypass surgery, which can cure diabetes in some cases. But new health IT startup Virta Health aims to bring data to the equation with an approach that it says can achieve the same outcomes as surgery, but in a … Continue reading “Backed by $37M, Virta Tries Tech Approach to “Reverse” Diabetes”

Google’s Venture Arm Leads $51.7M Investment in Spero Therapeutics

Despite the growing problem of drug-resistant bacteria, few new antibiotics have been developed in recent decades. Spero Therapeutics is trying to fill that gap by assembling a pipeline of antibiotic candidates, and it now has $51.7 million in new capital to finance clinical trials on some of them. GV, the venture arm of Google, led … Continue reading “Google’s Venture Arm Leads $51.7M Investment in Spero Therapeutics”

Seattle Genetics to Resume Leukemia Drug Trials After FDA Lifts Hold

An experimental leukemia drug from Seattle Genetics can resume clinical testing, work that had ground to a halt three months ago following the deaths of four patients. The FDA in December placed clinical holds or partial holds on three early stage trials SeaGen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) has been running to study the leukemia drug vadastuximab. The … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics to Resume Leukemia Drug Trials After FDA Lifts Hold”

How Boragen Banked $10M to Develop New Boron-Based Fungicides

No matter what pharmaceutical companies throw at bacteria and fungi, the microorganisms find ways to get ahead. Their ability to mutate and reproduce quickly gives rise to new generations resistant to anti-infective drugs. Fungal resistance also troubles farmers, but they’ve had few new crop treatments to choose from, in part because agricultural technology investment has … Continue reading “How Boragen Banked $10M to Develop New Boron-Based Fungicides”

VenBio-Backed Directors Wrest Control of Immunomedics Board

Activist investors challenging the management of Immunomedics have reportedly won control of a majority of the seats on the drug developer’s board of directors, putting another hurdle in front of a deal to license the company’s lead drug to Seattle Genetics. Biotech investment fund venBio—Immunomedics’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IMMU]]) largest shareholder, with a 9.9 percent stake in … Continue reading “VenBio-Backed Directors Wrest Control of Immunomedics Board”

Join Xconomy in June for ‘What’s Hot In Cancer Immunotherapy 2017’

Our bodies fight cancer every day, repairing DNA and cleaning out suspicious cells. But sometimes our powerful immune systems need help. That’s the concept of immunotherapy. Three years ago, the ideas long dreamed of by cancer researchers were quickly taking shape, and Xconomy convened scientists, investors, entrepreneurs, and others in Seattle to take stock of … Continue reading “Join Xconomy in June for ‘What’s Hot In Cancer Immunotherapy 2017’”

Former FDA Commissioners Califf, McClellan Talk Healthcare’s Future

The top spot at the FDA remains vacant, and the change in presidential power has some healthcare observers wondering about possible changes for the regulator. One month removed from serving as FDA commissioner, Robert Califf says the agency can be improved through a combination of precedent, experience, and evidence. Califf, who served less than one … Continue reading “Former FDA Commissioners Califf, McClellan Talk Healthcare’s Future”

Achaogen Promotes Blake Wise to President, & More Executive Moves

Antibacterial drug developer Achaogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAO]]) has promoted Blake Wise to the position of president and chief operating officer, an expansion of his current role. Wise joined the South San Francisco-based company in 2015 as chief operating officer. Before joining Achaogen, Wise had held various posts at Genentech. In other moves, Achaogen promoted Lee Swem … Continue reading “Achaogen Promotes Blake Wise to President, & More Executive Moves”

Blood Pressure Drug Trial Results Lift La Jolla Pharma Shares

La Jolla Pharmaceutical’s experimental drug to treat a deadly blood pressure condition hit its main goal in a Phase 3 clinical trial, boosting the company’s stock price by more than 75 percent on Monday morning. San Diego-based La Jolla (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LJPC]]) is studying its drug LJPC-501 in patients who have dangerously low blood pressure, which can … Continue reading “Blood Pressure Drug Trial Results Lift La Jolla Pharma Shares”

Advaxis Inks Deal with Sellas to Develop New Cancer Immunotherapy

Advaxis and Sellas Life Sciences Group, two companies that have pursued different ways of prompting the body’s immune system to fight cancer, are now hoping that combining their efforts will lead to a more precise treatment. The agreement between the companies calls for Princeton, NJ-based Advaxis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADXS]]) to license to Sellas its technology for … Continue reading “Advaxis Inks Deal with Sellas to Develop New Cancer Immunotherapy”

Cempra Soars on Drug’s Potential to Treat MRSA, Other Infections

Two months after the FDA rejected Cempra’s lead drug, a different antibiotic from the drug developer is now showing promise as a potential treatment for aggressive skin infections such as MRSA. Chapel Hill, NC-based Cempra (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CEMP]]) said that early data from a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating its fusidic acid pills showed that the … Continue reading “Cempra Soars on Drug’s Potential to Treat MRSA, Other Infections”

H3 Biomedicine Promotes Peter Smith to Chief Scientific Officer

Peter Smith has been named chief scientific officer of H3 Biomedicine. Smith is currently vice president, Drug Discovery Biology, for the Cambridge, MA-based precision medicine oncology company. Before joining H3 Biomedicine in 2011, Smith held various roles in oncology discovery for Millennium Pharmaceuticals/Takeda Oncology. He starts in his new role at H3 Biomedicine on March … Continue reading “H3 Biomedicine Promotes Peter Smith to Chief Scientific Officer”

Bowery Bags $7.5M to Break Into Fast-Growing Indoor Farming Market

[Updated 2/23/2017 11:21 am] City real estate comes with premium prices, so the best way for developers to get the most out of limited space is by building skyward. The same approach holds true in urban agriculture. As vertical farms catch on in more cities, new agtech startup Bowery is entering the market backed by … Continue reading “Bowery Bags $7.5M to Break Into Fast-Growing Indoor Farming Market”

Argos Shares Crater on Futility Finding for Kidney Cancer Therapy

An Argos Therapeutics therapy that uses the immune system to fight kidney cancer has hit a wall after an analysis of the latest clinical trial data found that the experimental treatment was unlikely to work. Following the planned interim analysis of Argos’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARGS]]) Phase 3 clinical trial, the independent data monitoring committee recommended stopping … Continue reading “Argos Shares Crater on Futility Finding for Kidney Cancer Therapy”

Cidara Antifungal Flunks in Phase 2 Clinical Trial, Sinking Shares

Cidara Therapeutics is halting work on an experimental topical antifungal drug designed to treat vaginal yeast infections after the compound wasn’t better than the current standard of care in a Phase 2 clinical trial. San Diego-based Cidara (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CDTX]]) said in a statement on Tuesday it will now shift its resources to other compounds in … Continue reading “Cidara Antifungal Flunks in Phase 2 Clinical Trial, Sinking Shares”

Regenerative Med Firm Surrozen Unveils $33M to Tackle Tissue Repair

Regenerative medicine technologies aim to tap into the body’s innate healing abilities to grow and repair tissue. But the triggers that activate these healing powers have been a mystery to scientists for years. New startup Surrozen believes it has a solution and has raised $33 million in funding to test its approach. The Column Group … Continue reading “Regenerative Med Firm Surrozen Unveils $33M to Tackle Tissue Repair”

With $20M, UCSD Spinout Jecure To Press New Attack On NASH

[Updated 2/15/17, 8:10 pm ET. See below.] Liver disease is challenging for doctors because it can develop without symptoms, making diagnosis difficult without removing cells for examination. For these reasons, fatty liver disease is often called a “silent disease,” says Ariel Feldstein, a gastroenterologist at the University of California San Diego. Feldstein has been studying the … Continue reading “With $20M, UCSD Spinout Jecure To Press New Attack On NASH”

Hologic Expands Into Medical Aesthetics With $1.4B Cynosure Deal

[Updated 2/14/17, 1:07 pm. See below.] Women’s health company Hologic has been looking for ways to enter the fast-growing medical aesthetics market, and the company has now found a way in with a deal to acquire Cynosure for $1.44 billion. It’s the second billion-dollar acquisition to be announced this week in the medical aesthetics industry. … Continue reading “Hologic Expands Into Medical Aesthetics With $1.4B Cynosure Deal”

Allergan to Acquire Fat-Busting Medical Tech Firm Zeltiq for $2.4B

Botox-maker Allergan is filling out its medical aesthetics portfolio with a $2.4 billion agreement to acquire Zeltiq Aesthetics, a company that has commercialized a medical device that gets rid of unwanted fat. Under the cash deal, Dublin, Ireland-based Allergan (NYSE: [[ticker:AGN]]) will pay $56.50 per share to buy Zeltiq (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZLTQ]]), which is based in … Continue reading “Allergan to Acquire Fat-Busting Medical Tech Firm Zeltiq for $2.4B”

Seattle Genetics Puts Up $250M for Immunomedics Cancer Drug Rights

Seattle Genetics has agreed to pay $250 million up front for global rights to an Immunomedics cancer drug that it says complements the company’s pipeline of experimental antibody cancer therapies. If SeaGen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) is able to bring the drug to market, the Bothell, WA-based company would be on the hook for up to $1.7 … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Puts Up $250M for Immunomedics Cancer Drug Rights”

Senate Confirms Price for HHS, But Stock Deals Still Raise Questions

The Senate confirmed Tom Price as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services early Friday morning by a 52-47 vote that, as expected, fell largely on party lines. Price is an orthopedic surgeon by training who has been a member of Georgia’s congressional delegation since 2004. He will now oversee a department that … Continue reading “Senate Confirms Price for HHS, But Stock Deals Still Raise Questions”

BlackThorn Therapeutics Appoints Gregory Vontz CEO

Neurobehavioral drug developer BlackThorn Therapeutics has named Gregory Vontz its CEO. Vontz comes to the South San Francisco-based company from Topica Pharmaceuticals, where he was president and CEO. His experience also includes positions at Connetics, Genentech, and Merck. Last October, BlackThorn raised $40 million in a Series A round that the company planned to apply … Continue reading “BlackThorn Therapeutics Appoints Gregory Vontz CEO”

Bayer Enlists Trana Discovery to Find New Fungicides for Field Crops

When disease decimated Ireland’s potatoes in 1845, farmers were at a loss to explain what caused their staple crop to rot in the fields. The blight continued in successive growing seasons and by 1851, more than one million deaths were attributed to what came to be known as the “Great Famine.” Fungicides can now prevent … Continue reading “Bayer Enlists Trana Discovery to Find New Fungicides for Field Crops”

MyoKardia Hires Chief Operating Officer, and VP of Medical Affairs

June Lee is joining MyoKardia (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MYOK]]) to become the South San Francisco-based heart drug developer’s chief operating officer. Lee comes to MyoKardia from the faculty of the University of California, San Francisco. Before joining UCSF, Lee worked in clinical development at Genentech. MyoKardia also named Radhika Tripuraneni the company’s vice president of medical affairs. … Continue reading “MyoKardia Hires Chief Operating Officer, and VP of Medical Affairs”

Nohla Therapeutics Names Kathleen Fanning President & CEO

Nohla Therapeutics has appointed Kathleen Fanning its new president and chief executive. Before joining Seattle-based Nohla, Fanning served as chief operating officer at VentiRx Pharmaceuticals. She has also held various posts at Cell Therapeutics, CellPro, and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca). Nohla is developing therapies from umbilical cord blood to treat blood disorders.

Synthetic Genomics Exec Joins Agenovir as Chief Scientific Officer

Bolyn Hubby is joining antiviral drug developer Agenovir to become the company’s chief scientific officer. Hubby comes to South San Francisco-based Agenovir from Synthetic Genomics, where she was vice president of vaccines and antimicrobials research and development. Her experience also includes posts at Liquidia Technologies and AlphaVax. Last year, Agenovir raised $10.6 million to apply … Continue reading “Synthetic Genomics Exec Joins Agenovir as Chief Scientific Officer”

Tarveda Nabs $30M More as Versant Helps Fund Cancer Drug Push

A year after rebranding around a new clinical strategy, Tarveda Therapeutics has raised $30 million in help push its experimental cancer drugs through early clinical testing. New investor Versant Ventures led the Series D round, which included earlier investors New Enterprise Associates, Novo A/S, NanoDimension, and Flagship Pioneering. The new capital for Watertown, MA-based Tarveda … Continue reading “Tarveda Nabs $30M More as Versant Helps Fund Cancer Drug Push”