Health officials say it’s crucial to uncover a flu outbreak early, and stories on Science magazine’s ScienceInsider blog and in the San Diego Union-Tribune reveal how technology developed in the San Diego area helped local officials do just that during the current swine flu outbreak. The Ibis T5000 biosensor system, which allows rapid identification and … Continue reading “Carlsbad Device Helped Detect Swine Flu”
Author: Juha-Pekka Tikka
Ardea Forms Partnership With Bayer to Develop Cancer Inhibitors
San Diego-based Ardea Biosciences (Nasdaq: [[ticker:RDEA]]) says it has reached a licensing and drug development agreement with German drug giant Bayer HealthCare for a class of small molecule cancer drugs known as MEK (mitogen-activated ERK kinase) inhibitors. Aredea says its lead MEK inhibitor, RDEA119, is believed to play an important role in cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis … Continue reading “Ardea Forms Partnership With Bayer to Develop Cancer Inhibitors”
Drug Maker Phenomix Lays Off 16 Employees
Phenomix, the privately held San Diego biotech that Luke profiled in February, has laid off 16 employees, according to a spokeswoman for the company. I contacted Phenomix after Xconomy received a tip concerning possible layoffs, and was referred by the company to Pam Lord of the San Diego office of Porter Novelli Life Sciences, who … Continue reading “Drug Maker Phenomix Lays Off 16 Employees”
Ethos Seeks to Patent Fuel Additive
San Diego-based Ethos Environmental said today it’s filed for patent protection of its Ethos FR+ fuel additive. Ethos says its fuel additive gives motorists increased fuel mileage, and at least a 30 percent reduction in emissions. The company says its additive was tested at the California Environmental Engineering lab, one of few labs certified by … Continue reading “Ethos Seeks to Patent Fuel Additive”
No Resolution in Amylin’s Talks With Dissident Investors Carl Icahn and Eastbourne Capital, Anadys Sees Promise in Treatment for Hepatitis C, Chumby Makes Moves into Europe, & Other San Diego BizTech News
We saw the proxy battle for control of San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals heat up last week, amid signs that wireless technology giant Qualcomm is in peace talks to settle a wide-ranging patent dispute with Broadcom, its Southern California chip-making rival. We also got some new insights into venture capital activity in San Diego, and in … Continue reading “No Resolution in Amylin’s Talks With Dissident Investors Carl Icahn and Eastbourne Capital, Anadys Sees Promise in Treatment for Hepatitis C, Chumby Makes Moves into Europe, & Other San Diego BizTech News”
Arena Lays Off 130 Employees After Weight Drug Disappointment
San Diego’s Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARNA]]) said in a regulatory filing today it’s laying off approximately 130 employees, or 31 percent of its U.S. workforce, over the next four weeks. Check Xconomy’s San Diego layoff tracker here to see our running tally of local tech sector layoffs. In its SEC filing, Arena says, “We believe it is … Continue reading “Arena Lays Off 130 Employees After Weight Drug Disappointment”
DivX Videos to LG TVs
San Diego-based video coding technology company DivX and consumer electronics giant LG have announced LG’s new line of digital TVs are capable of playing DivX high-definition videos from a PC or the Internet. The LG television enables consumers to easily play DivX videos through a USB slot. DivX says approximately two hours of high-quality DivX … Continue reading “DivX Videos to LG TVs”
No Peace Between Amylin and Icahn
San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals, which is embroiled in a proxy battle with billionaire investor Carl Icahn, disclosed today that settlement negotiations are being held. But the discussion could be summarized as, “Yes, we talked. No, there is no deal (and no cease-fire).” In its statement, which Amylin filed with the SEC, the company says talks … Continue reading “No Peace Between Amylin and Icahn”
NuVasive Acquires New Jersey Spine Disk Maker
San Diego medical device company NuVasive (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NUVA]]) said today it has purchased Rockaway, NJ-based Cervitech in a in cash and stock deal that could be worth as much as $80 million, if the FDA approves Cervitech’s cervical disc replacement device. NuVasive agreed to pay $47 million upfront and another $33 million depending on FDA … Continue reading “NuVasive Acquires New Jersey Spine Disk Maker”
Illumina Anticipates Purchasing Slowdown
San Diego-based Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]) CEO Jay Flatley told analysts and investors that some researchers “are beginning to wait a little while to do the next version of the genome-wide association study before the next-generation (equipment) ships.” The anticipated slowdown is expected to be temporary. Illumina makes sophisticated machines that enable scientists to do full … Continue reading “Illumina Anticipates Purchasing Slowdown”
Chumby The Clumsy Goes Global
Chumby is a cute little digital device with a strange story. Duane Maxwell, Chumby’s co-founder and vice president of software development, laughs as he says it began a couple of years ago when Steve Tomlin, a managing member of San Diego’s Avalon Ventures, was staying in a hotel. “They always have an alarm clock on … Continue reading “Chumby The Clumsy Goes Global”
Are You Who You Say You Are? Prove It
Think about a database of 360 billion human identity attributes—names, addresses, dates of birth, credit behavior. That is what San Diego-based ID Analytics‘ has created with its enormous new ID Network. It’s a sophisticated computer technology built to analyze payments and applications for loans, cell phones, and credit cards; it looks for fabricated names and … Continue reading “Are You Who You Say You Are? Prove It”
H2O Audio Gets More Steelpoint VC Funding
San Diego-based H2O Audio has raised more than $1.7 million in venture funding. Among other things, the startup plans to use the capital to roll out a new product line of its waterproof housings and headsets for the Apple iPod and MP3 players. H2O Audio CEO Kristian Rauhala told me today that $1 million of … Continue reading “H2O Audio Gets More Steelpoint VC Funding”
San Diego’s First IPO of 2009, New Institute Plans to Transform Healthcare, Making Waves at Water Parks, & More San Diego Biz/Tech News
We saw several San Diego innovators making waves last week. Bridgepoint Education defied the recession by going public, Sapphire Energy upped its production estimates due to a technological breakthrough, and a wave war erupted among San Diego’s wave makers. So this is how things looked during the week: —San Diego’s Bridgepoint Education (NYSE: [[ticker:BPI]]) priced … Continue reading “San Diego’s First IPO of 2009, New Institute Plans to Transform Healthcare, Making Waves at Water Parks, & More San Diego Biz/Tech News”
Q&A With Gary West: Using Wireless Technology to Transform Healthcare
Less than three weeks ago, the Gary and Mary West foundation helped establish San Diego’s new West Wireless Health Institute, one of the first medical research organizations devoted to the development of new wireless healthcare technologies. As a result, in the not-too-distant-future, you could get a warning on your cell phone before you suffer a … Continue reading “Q&A With Gary West: Using Wireless Technology to Transform Healthcare”
Tapioca Gets the Message—and the Video—to Mobile Phone Masses
Tapioca Mobile wants to see your cellular phone play more videos, and the San Diego-based wireless media company has the know-how to do it—no matter what phone you use. Tapioca has created a unique video-transcoding process and has, according to co-founder and CTO Chas Wurster, “the largest footprint of addressable video mobile devices in the … Continue reading “Tapioca Gets the Message—and the Video—to Mobile Phone Masses”
Bridgepoint IPO Nets $142M
San Diego-based Bridgepoint Education has raised $142 million in its initial public offering, according to Bloomberg. The IPO was only the second this year by a U.S. company. Bridgepoint is a secondary education provider that offers nearly all of its classes online. Earlier this month, the company disclosed plans to raise between $190 million and … Continue reading “Bridgepoint IPO Nets $142M”
Calit2 to Collaborate With Darkstrand
Darkstrand, a Chicago firm that provides industry with access to an ultra high-speed fiber optic network, says it has reached a collaboration agreement with Calit2, the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, based at UCSD and UC Irvine. Under the collaboration agreement, Calit2 will become a provider of specialized expertise to Darkstrand’s business customers … Continue reading “Calit2 to Collaborate With Darkstrand”
Nirvanix Raises $5 Million
San Diego-based online data cloud storage provider Nirvanix has secured $5 million in capital out of a $6 million secondary round of venture funding, according to a filing today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company, which was previously known as Streamload, aims to compete with Amazon’s (Nasdaq: [[ticker:AMZN]]) S3 storage web service. Nirvanix … Continue reading “Nirvanix Raises $5 Million”
Navy Showcases R&D Lab to Business Community and High Tech Execs
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has referred to SPAWAR, the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, as one of the city’s best kept secrets, and I started to understand why during a presentation yesterday at San Diego’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. SPAWAR is a major Navy procurement agency, with a total budget of more … Continue reading “Navy Showcases R&D Lab to Business Community and High Tech Execs”
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Gets Delisting Notice
San Diego-based La Jolla Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LJPC]]) said today it received a Nasdaq delisting warning that says the company is not in compliance with the Nasdaq rule requiring at least $10 million in stockholders’ equity. La Jolla Pharmaceutical’s 2008 annual report also includes a “going concern” notice from its auditor that questions the company’s ability to … Continue reading “La Jolla Pharmaceutical Gets Delisting Notice”
Ethertronics Gets $4 Million
San Diego-based internal antenna developer Ethertronics raised an additional $4 million in a secondary round of venture funding, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. Details of the funding, which were first reported today by socaltech.com, were not disclosed in the filing, but a representative of Ridgewood Capital, a private equity firm with offices in Ridgewood, … Continue reading “Ethertronics Gets $4 Million”
Sony Electronics Restructuring its U.S. Headquarters
Sony Electronics, which moved its U.S. corporate headquarters from New Jersey to suburban San Diego five years ago, is restructuring its business here as part of a global overhaul the Japanese giant has been undergoing since January. Sony arrived in San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo neighborhood in 1972, becoming the first foreign company to establish a … Continue reading “Sony Electronics Restructuring its U.S. Headquarters”
Sweeney Appointed CEO of IntelliDOT
San Diego-based IntelliDOT has named James M. Sweeney as chairman and CEO. IntelliDOT provides wireless handheld barcode solutions to hospitals. In a statement, the company noted that Sweeney has founded eight healthcare service companies, including Caremark, a pioneer of in-home infusion therapy, and Cardionet (Nasdaq: [[ticker:BEAT]]), which provides wireless cardiac monitoring services.
Qualcomm May Slow Verizon’s LTE Rollout
Verizon’s schedule for deploying speedy fourth generation mobile phones may be subject to delay. Citing a Deutsche Bank research report issued this morning, GigaOM suggests Verizon won’t make its plan to have LTE (Long-Term Evolution) handsets available by the end of 2010. The holdup is due to the LTE chip production schedule at San Diego’s … Continue reading “Qualcomm May Slow Verizon’s LTE Rollout”
Traversa Gets $5M
San Diego-based Traversa Therapeutics today announced it has raised $5 million in a Series B financing round; Morningside Venture Investments led the deal, which was joined by Mesa Verde Venture Partners and existing investors. The company says the money will help it move its RNAi-based treatments for cancer into clinical trials. Founded in mid-2006, Traversa … Continue reading “Traversa Gets $5M”
The Jet Pilot Entrepreneur Behind Benchmark Software (and the Zoo’s PandaCam)
One of the difficulties in writing about Tyson McDowell is knowing where to begin. McDowell is the 27-year-old CEO and co-founder of Benchmark Revenue Management, a San Diego company that has developed financial management software designed to help hospitals handle billing and collection issues more efficiently. He has been an entrepreneur since he was 14, … Continue reading “The Jet Pilot Entrepreneur Behind Benchmark Software (and the Zoo’s PandaCam)”
Kyocera Consolidates Sanyo Wireless in San Diego
Japanese electronics giant Kyocera, which acquired Sanyo’s troubled phone service last year for $375 million, today announced the formation of Kyocera Communications Inc., or KCI, saying it will be based in San Diego, where Kyocera already has its North American headquarters. In a statement released today, Kyocera named Eiichi Toriyama as KCI’s president. He previously … Continue reading “Kyocera Consolidates Sanyo Wireless in San Diego”
And Then There Were 3 at TorreyPines Therapeutics
TorreyPines Therapeutics (Nasdaq: [[ticker:TPTX]]) says it has reduced its workforce to just three employees—the CEO, CFO, and Vice President/General Counsel. In September 2008 the company said it had 13 employees, which was down from more than 40 at the beginning of last year. The company, which was known as Neurogenetics until 2005, is focused on … Continue reading “And Then There Were 3 at TorreyPines Therapeutics”
Veoh Restructuring Includes Layoffs
[Editors Note: See update below] Veoh, the San Diego-based Internet video and TV program provider, is reportedly undergoing a “major restructuring” that includes significant cuts in its workforce and a change in strategy, according to VentureBeat. Another web site, NewTeevee, says the layoffs include some Veoh executives, and the number could be “more than 40 … Continue reading “Veoh Restructuring Includes Layoffs”
FloTV Expands to New Markets
Qualcomm’s (Nasdaq:[[ticker:QCOM]]) MediaFLO today announced it’s expansion into 19 new markets around the United States. The company says this extends the coverage for its FloTV mobile TV service to more than 10 million potential new viewers. Customers must use phones equipped to receive mobile TV programming and subscribe to the supplemental service, which is offered through AT&T and Verizon. FloTV … Continue reading “FloTV Expands to New Markets”
Ambrx Gets $10 Million in Venture Round
San Diego-based Ambrx Inc. just raised another $10 Million in new equity funding, according to documents that Ambrx filed with the SEC today. The privately held biotech’s mission is to develop breakthrough therapeutics with genetically-engineered drugs. The company was founded 2003, and as Luke reported last month, previously raised $96 million in venture capital.
The Ups and Downs of Bitboys, Now Known As Qualcomm Finland
San Diego’s mobile-chip giant Qualcomm (NYSE: [[ticker:QCOM]]) said it wanted to enhance its capabilities in the mobile-graphics space when it acquired Advanced Micro Devices’s (NYSE: [[ticker:AMD]]) hand-held chip division in January. As part of the AMD deal, Qualcomm also acquired Bitboys, a small company in Finland that specializes in making mobile phone graphics look good … Continue reading “The Ups and Downs of Bitboys, Now Known As Qualcomm Finland”
Orexigen Names New CEO
San Diego-based Orexigen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OREX]]) today named Michael Narachi as President and CEO. Narachi, 50, has spent the past 24 years in the biopharmaceutical business, and previously served as CEO of Ren Pharmaceuticals in South San Francisco, CA. The company is developing a treatment for obesity. Orexigen reported in January that a late-stage clinical trial of a drug met its goal of helping patients … Continue reading “Orexigen Names New CEO”
Sweden’s Innovation Bridge Sets Up “Soft Landing” in San Diego
A Swedish networking organization that promotes innovation and university startup companies said today it is establishing a beachhead in San Diego to serve as a “soft landing” for Swedish technology companies looking for U.S. partners. It is the first move overseas for Sweden’s Innovationsbro, or “Innovation Bridge,” which is affiliated with Linköping University and is … Continue reading “Sweden’s Innovation Bridge Sets Up “Soft Landing” in San Diego”
Quidel Lays Off 10 Percent
San Diego-based Quidel (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QDEL]]) today cut 31 employees, or approximately 10 percent of its workforce, as part of a corporate restructuring that includes cost-cutting measures. Quidel is a developer of rapid diagnostic tests of infectious and reproductive health. The company launched its first products, dipstick-based pregnancy tests, in 1984. In a statement released this morning, Quidel … Continue reading “Quidel Lays Off 10 Percent”
West Wireless Health Institute Established With $45M Donation
A family foundation established by telemarketing entrepreneurs Gary and Mary West today committed $45 million to help establish one of the world’s first medical research organizations to use wireless healthcare technologies. The San Diego-based West Wireless Health Institute also is supported by Scripps Health as a founding health care affiliate and Qualcomm as a founding … Continue reading “West Wireless Health Institute Established With $45M Donation”
Somaxon Gets Delisting Notice
San Diego-based Somaxon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SOMX]]) says it has received a warning that its shares could be delisted by Nasdaq for failing to maintain a minimum total equity valuation of $10 million. Somaxon’s market valuation was less than $7 million today. In a statement, Somaxon says it has until April 13th to address the situation … Continue reading “Somaxon Gets Delisting Notice”
Carousel Acquires Daycom
Two private telecommunications providers that keep businesses talking and using the Internet are combining forces. Carousel Industries of Exeter, RI, said today it has acquired San Diego’s Daycom Systems. Daycom was founded 1992 by Richard Day, has approximately 50 employees, and annual revenue of approximately $20 million. “Through this acquisition, we are able to …offer … Continue reading “Carousel Acquires Daycom”
Entropic Exits Israel and France
San Diego-based home entertainment semiconductor manufacturer Entropic Communications (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ENTR]]) has cut approximately 55 employees, or 18 percent of its workforce. In a filing with the SEC today, Entropic says its board approved a restructuring plan that closes offices in Nice, France, and Kfar Saba, Israel, “to better position the Company to operate in current … Continue reading “Entropic Exits Israel and France”
Pure Bioscience Cuts Indian Distribution Deal
El Cajon, CA-based Pure Bioscience (NASDAQ:[[ticker:PURE]]) today said it has found an Indian distributor for its patented antimicrobial agent, silver dihydrogen citrate. Colorado-based Global Endeavor and its subsidiary Pure-Enviro Biotech in New Delhi have approval from Indian authorities to immediately begin marketing an SDC-based hard-surface disinfectant called Enviroguard in India. Pure CEO Michael Krall told … Continue reading “Pure Bioscience Cuts Indian Distribution Deal”
San Diego’s Cleantech Cluster: The A to Z List of Clean-Technology and Alternative-Energy Innovation
Who’s Who in San Diego cleantech innovation? At Xconomy San Diego, we wanted to answer that question as completely as possible, so we put together an accounting of all the local companies that are creating new ways to make biofuels, clean the environment, and improve the energy efficiency of our vehicles, homes, and businesses. In … Continue reading “San Diego’s Cleantech Cluster: The A to Z List of Clean-Technology and Alternative-Energy Innovation”
ViaSat Unveils Faster Satellite Broadband Technology
Satellite-based Internet service targeting rural communities and motorists is starting to get up to speed. Carlsbad, CA-based ViaSat (Nasdaq: [[ticker:VSAT]]) says it demonstrated its next-generation ViaSat-1 satellite net services at a conference today in Washington D.C. ViaSat, which specializes in satellite-based communications technologies, plans to have 2-10 Mbps download speeds available in 22 months. The … Continue reading “ViaSat Unveils Faster Satellite Broadband Technology”
New UCSD Program Trains Next Generation of Technology Leaders
A $2.5 million gift to UC San Diego’s Jacobs School of Engineering is intended to train the next generation of technology leaders. UCSD says the donation from Bernard and Sophia Gordon will enable 30 undergraduate and graduate engineering students to participate in leadership-focused classes and seminars.
Zeebo Debuts New Game Console for Emerging Market
Zeebo, a San Diego video-game company backed by Qualcomm, today launched the “world’s fourth console” for video games. The company’s strategy, outlined by Zeebo CEO John Rizzo at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, is focused on the video-game market in emerging countries. Zeebo is entering an industry dominated by the big three of game consoles: the … Continue reading “Zeebo Debuts New Game Console for Emerging Market”
SAIC Gets $41M Counter-IED Contract
Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: [[ticker:SAI]]) said today it recently got a contract to help the U.S. Army counter booby traps known as improvised explosive devices, or IEDs. Under the contract, which could be worth as much as $41 million, SAIC will provide information and analysis used to help counter IEDs in war zones.
Pure Bioscience Sets A Silver Standard for Germ-Killing Products
Pure Bioscience founder and CEO Michael Krall smiled knowingly when he met me recently at the company’s El Cajon, CA, headquarters. “You chose a great time to write this story,” he told me. “We are now starting to enjoy the fruits of our labor. There’s gold in silver, oh yes.” Silver is the key ingredient … Continue reading “Pure Bioscience Sets A Silver Standard for Germ-Killing Products”
Overland Avoids Delisting
San Diego’s Overland Storage (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OVRL]]) reported some good news today, saying Nasdaq has withdrawn a delisting notice that was issued last year when the company’s stock slipped below Nasdaq’s minimum share price requirement of $1 a share. According to Overland, Nasdaq now says Overland now meets “alternative” standards. Shares of Overland, which specializes in … Continue reading “Overland Avoids Delisting”
March Madness on Mobile TV
March Madness is in the air, and beginning today Qualcomm’s MediaFLO plans to broadcast all 63 games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament to AT&T—but AT&T customers must have a mobile TV-enabled cell phone to watch the games. This is the first time AT&T has carried every game from the college basketball tournament for its … Continue reading “March Madness on Mobile TV”
UCSD Starts Digital Media Center
UC San Diego says it has established a center for next-generation digital media with a gift from IBM (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]])—a high-performance IBM System z mainframe computer. In a statement, UCSD says IBM made the center possible through a shared university research award that includes the z mainframe, valued at about $2.2 million. The center, which … Continue reading “UCSD Starts Digital Media Center”