The Mayo Clinic, the highly regarded hospital based in Rochester, MN, has agreed to offer patients an electronic medical records program based on Microsoft’s HealthVault platform. The program will allow patients to store medical information electronically, and receive individual guidance based on it from Mayo Clinic physicians and healthcare staff. Microsoft doesn’t say how many … Continue reading “Mayo Clinic Adopts MS HealthVault”
Author: Luke Timmerman
Luke is an award-winning journalist specializing in life sciences. He has served as national biotechnology editor for Xconomy and national biotechnology reporter for Bloomberg News. Luke got started covering life sciences at The Seattle Times, where he was the lead reporter on an investigation of doctors who leaked confidential information about clinical trials to investors. The story won the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award and several other national prizes. Luke holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and during the 2005-2006 academic year, he was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT.
Xconomy Forms Partnership With Seattle Times To Strengthen Tech, Life Sciences Coverage
Xconomy’s coverage of technology and life sciences in Seattle is growing fast, and now we’re getting another lift. My colleague Greg Huang and I are happy to say our company has secured a partnership with The Seattle Times, the owner of the most-read local news website in the Northwest. This is the second syndication deal … Continue reading “Xconomy Forms Partnership With Seattle Times To Strengthen Tech, Life Sciences Coverage”
Asemblon Raises $2.9M To Make Hydrogen Fuel Cheaper Than Gas
[[Update with Buddy Ratner comment, 7 am Pacific]] Asemblon, a Redmond, WA-based developer of technology for storing hydrogen fuel, has raised $2.9 million in the first installment of a Series C financing round, Xconomy has learned. The investment is being led by RAB Capital, a London-based hedge fund, and Sojitz Trading of Japan, says Asemblon … Continue reading “Asemblon Raises $2.9M To Make Hydrogen Fuel Cheaper Than Gas”
Dendreon Starts Trial of Cancer Pill
Dendreon, the Seattle company developing an immune-stimulating therapy for prostate cancer, said today it has started a clinical trial of a cancer drug made in a more conventional pill form. The company will examine safety of D3263 at a variety of doses in patients with solid tumors. Dendreon has been advancing this program toward clinical … Continue reading “Dendreon Starts Trial of Cancer Pill”
Gregoire’s Innovation Man, Rogers Weed, Gets Marching Orders for New State Strategy
Gov. Chris Gregoire wants to light a spark for innovation in Washington state so much that not only did she hire a Microsoft executive to run a key state agency, she’s supporting legislation to make him craft a new strategy for stimulating the technology and life sciences industries in the state. Rogers Weed, who discussed … Continue reading “Gregoire’s Innovation Man, Rogers Weed, Gets Marching Orders for New State Strategy”
Biogen Idec Tysabri Sales Fall Shy of Street Expectations
Biogen Idec’s fortunes rise and fall on largely on the performance of sales of natalizumab (Tysabri), and the latest Tysabri sales trends are disappointing investors. Biogen, which has headquarters in Cambridge, MA, and significant operations in San Diego, said today that the multiple sclerosis drug generated $227 million in worldwide sales during the first quarter. … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Tysabri Sales Fall Shy of Street Expectations”
Amgen Shows Off Cancer Drug Pipeline Before Scientific Meeting
Amgen became the world’s biggest biotech company because of its ability to treat the side effects of cancer chemotherapy. But Amgen’s dream over the past decade has been to get into the game of targeted cancer drugs that actually kill tumors, and over the next few years it will find out if it will be … Continue reading “Amgen Shows Off Cancer Drug Pipeline Before Scientific Meeting”
Dendreon’s “Clear Hit” on Provenge, Oncothyreon Rides Coattails, Cell Therapeutics Nabs $15M, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
The Xconomy biotech desk felt more like “Dendreon News Central” this week. The Seattle biotech company captured headlines around the world when its immune-stimulating treatment for prostate cancer showed it could help men live longer with prostate cancer with minimal side effects. We had several angles on this story, but there was actually plenty of … Continue reading “Dendreon’s “Clear Hit” on Provenge, Oncothyreon Rides Coattails, Cell Therapeutics Nabs $15M, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Hutch Cuts 83 Jobs To Cope with Drop in Philanthropy
[[Updated, 11:55 am Pacific April 16, with corrected employee and budget figures]] The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has joined the list of organizations announcing layoffs, by eliminating 83 jobs, or about 3 percent of its workforce. The Seattle-based nonprofit research institute said in a statement that it made the budget cuts to offset the … Continue reading “Hutch Cuts 83 Jobs To Cope with Drop in Philanthropy”
Vulcan-backed BiPar Sold to Sanofi
BiPar Sciences, a Brisbane, CA-based developer of cancer drugs, said today it agreed to be acquired by Paris-based Sanofi-Aventis in a deal that could be worth as much as $500 million if the company’s lead drug candidate reaches certain milestones in development. Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital led a $13 million Series A round in BiPar … Continue reading “Vulcan-backed BiPar Sold to Sanofi”
From Microsoft to Olympia: Q&A With Rogers Weed, New Washington Commerce Chief
Olympia, in the view of many entrepreneurs I’ve talked to over the years, is practically a code word in this state for “bureaucrats out of touch with what it takes to run a business.” So when I heard Gov. Chris Gregoire turned to Rogers Weed, a former Microsoft vice president, to be in her cabinet … Continue reading “From Microsoft to Olympia: Q&A With Rogers Weed, New Washington Commerce Chief”
Ensemble Nails Deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb to Discover New Drugs
Ensemble Discovery has secured an important partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb to keep its engine of new drugs humming along in a downturn. The Cambridge, MA-based company will get a $5 million upfront payment, $7.5 million to pay part of its research expenses over the next two years, and may get milestone payments worth $29.5 million … Continue reading “Ensemble Nails Deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb to Discover New Drugs”
Riding Dendreon’s Coattails, Antigenics and Oncothyreon Shares Soar
Who will be the next Dendreon? That’s the question investors are asking today, as Dendreon’s good news from this morning is sending a ripple effect through shares of other companies that aspire to develop treatments that stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Lexington, MA-based Antigenics saw its shares rocket 63 percent in mid-day trading, … Continue reading “Riding Dendreon’s Coattails, Antigenics and Oncothyreon Shares Soar”
Dendreon Immune Booster for Prostate Cancer Helps Men Live Longer; Shares Boom
[[Updated]] Dendreon has been vindicated. The Seattle biotech company, after living through years of controversy about whether its experimental drug helps prostate cancer patients live longer, said today that a clinical trial of 512 men now shows that the treatment can help prolong life with minimal side effects. Shares skyrocketed by more than $12, rising … Continue reading “Dendreon Immune Booster for Prostate Cancer Helps Men Live Longer; Shares Boom”
Dendreon’s Top Five Shareholders Hold Their Breath for Big Trial Result
One way or another, Dendreon is going to create some major winners and losers today, but who will they be? Investors will find out if the company has been able to show in a clinical trial whether its immune-boosting therapy for prostate cancer, Provenge, is able to prolong lives. A positive result could send the … Continue reading “Dendreon’s Top Five Shareholders Hold Their Breath for Big Trial Result”
Rematch Time: Carl Icahn and Biogen Idec Square Off Again
It’s rematch time in the battle for control of Biogen Idec. With the Cambridge, MA-based company’s annual shareholder meeting likely coming sometime in the next couple months, the incumbent board nominees are being challenged by four rivals put forth by billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn. A media leak has fueled speculation of a potential buyout … Continue reading “Rematch Time: Carl Icahn and Biogen Idec Square Off Again”
Buckle Up: Dendreon Trading Halted With Prostate Cancer Results Due Tomorrow Morning
Dendreon’s long-awaited big news is coming tomorrow morning. The Seattle biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said it will hold a conference call before stock trading opens tomorrow morning to discuss the final results of a clinical trial that will show whether its immune-stimulating drug for prostate cancer, Provenge, can help men live longer. The company’s conference … Continue reading “Buckle Up: Dendreon Trading Halted With Prostate Cancer Results Due Tomorrow Morning”
Cell Therapeutics Grabs $15M From Single Investor
[[Updated 1:30 pm with investor name]] Cell Therapeutics has been slashing costs to keep its doors open this year, and now it has found a source of new capital to keep going at least a little while longer. The Seattle biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTIC]]) said today it has pulled in $15 million from a single … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics Grabs $15M From Single Investor”
Five Hot Prospects on the UW Faculty, from Engineering Dean Matt O’Donnell
This is the time of year when I look for hot young prospects for my fantasy baseball team. Maybe that’s why it seemed natural to think of Matt O’Donnell, the dean of the University of Washington’s College of Engineering, as being like a baseball general manager. Part of his job is to recruit and develop … Continue reading “Five Hot Prospects on the UW Faculty, from Engineering Dean Matt O’Donnell”
Geospiza Raises $750K
Geospiza, the maker of software for biomedical researchers, has raised $750,000 from new and existing angel investors, according to Laura Lucas, vice president of marketing. The company had gained some momentum in the past year, helping scientists cope with information overload of the genomic age. The company secured a $1.1 million grant last month from … Continue reading “Geospiza Raises $750K”
Brother, Can You Spare a Stimulus Dime? Washington Innovation Summit Notebook
Every entrepreneur in the Northwest seems to be wondering about how to scrape up a few bucks from President Obama’s economic stimulus, yet hardly anybody has any coherent answers about how to actually get any of it. That was the main impression I got yesterday after attending the Washington Innovation Summit. This event, organized by … Continue reading “Brother, Can You Spare a Stimulus Dime? Washington Innovation Summit Notebook”
Amgen Cuts 100 Jobs in Bothell
Amgen, the world’s biggest biotech company, is cutting 100 jobs at a drug manufacturing site in Bothell, WA, Xconomy has learned. This round of cuts will leave Amgen with about 70 people still working in Bothell, and a total workforce in the state of just under 900 people, company spokeswoman Carol Pawlak confirmed. Amgen, which … Continue reading “Amgen Cuts 100 Jobs in Bothell”
Putting UW Startup Dreams on Hold: Entrepreneur Advises Researchers to Nurture Ideas More
We’ve been writing for months about the renaissance in startup activity at the University of Washington since Linden Rhoads came to campus to run tech transfer. The big ideas, and the fire in the belly, are easy to find coming from UW these days (Arzeda and EnerG2 pop to mind), but as any businessperson will … Continue reading “Putting UW Startup Dreams on Hold: Entrepreneur Advises Researchers to Nurture Ideas More”
Dendreon Saga Nears Climax, Gregoire Biotech Fund in Jeopardy, UW’s Biofuel Futurist, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
Seattle biotech had a little something for everybody this past week. There was drama (Dendreon), politics (Life Sciences Discovery Fund getting whacked), a scientist’s life story (David Baker), and young competitors vying to make the world a better place (UW Environmental Innovation Challenge). —Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]), the Seattle developer of an immune-stimulating therapy for prostate … Continue reading “Dendreon Saga Nears Climax, Gregoire Biotech Fund in Jeopardy, UW’s Biofuel Futurist, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Gov. Gregoire’s Baby, $350M Life Sciences Discovery Fund, Faces Possible Shutdown
[[Updated at 11:10 am Pacific with comment from Governor’s spokesman]] One of the centerpieces of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s economic development strategy, the state’s 10-year, $350 million Life Sciences Discovery Fund, would either be gutted or essentially shut down by dueling budget bills under consideration by state lawmakers, Xconomy has learned. This pot of money, which … Continue reading “Gov. Gregoire’s Baby, $350M Life Sciences Discovery Fund, Faces Possible Shutdown”
Ardea Biosciences, in Moment of Serendipity, Discovers HIV Drug That May Work for Gout
Biotech companies like to talk up the discipline it takes to move a drug through years of development, but discovery sometimes depends on plain serendipity. I got an interesting reminder of that the other day from Barry Quart, the CEO of San Diego-based Ardea Biosciences. Back in late 2007, Ardea (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RDEA]]) scientists were looking … Continue reading “Ardea Biosciences, in Moment of Serendipity, Discovers HIV Drug That May Work for Gout”
Alkermes, Swinging For the Fence, Touts New Anti-Addiction Drug
Alkermes is in the midst of a makeover. The Cambridge, MA-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALKS]]) is morphing from a steady-as-she-goes developer of technology that improves drugs for partners into a more classic biotech that swings for the fence. This means Alkermes is now getting in the high-risk and high-reward game that goes with developing new drugs … Continue reading “Alkermes, Swinging For the Fence, Touts New Anti-Addiction Drug”
Antibodies for HIV, Long Dismissed, Show Signs of Comeback at Seattle’s Theraclone
One of the great riddles of modern medicine is why a few rare individuals who get infected with HIV retain a strong enough immune defense to naturally fight off the virus in all its nefarious strains. Some of these people are prostitutes in Africa, they never take an expensive cocktail of antiviral drugs, and they … Continue reading “Antibodies for HIV, Long Dismissed, Show Signs of Comeback at Seattle’s Theraclone”
Isilon Cuts 10% of Workforce
Isilon Systems, the Seattle-based maker of data storage products, said it is cutting 10 percent of its global workforce to save about $4 million a year. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISLN]]) announced the cuts in a preliminary first-quarter financial report, which put revenue at $26.5 million to $27 million in the quarter, down 15 to 17 … Continue reading “Isilon Cuts 10% of Workforce”
SonoSite Revenue Dips
SonoSite, the Bothell, WA-based maker of portable ultrasound machines, said today that worldwide sales fell 1 to 2 percent in the first quarter, in a preliminary earnings report. Sales to U.S. hospitals fell by a “mid-teen percentage,” and overseas sales were weakened by foreign currency exchange rates, the company said. The company saw grown in … Continue reading “SonoSite Revenue Dips”
Seattle Genetics, Millennium Do Deal
Seattle Genetics, the Bothell, WA-based developer of cancer drugs, said today it licensed its technology to Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) will get $4 million upfront for a worldwide license to use technology that combines antibodies that seek out tumors, with toxins that can make them more potent. Millennium will pay … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics, Millennium Do Deal”
Biotech Neighbors, VLST and Novo Nordisk, Forge Alliance in Seattle’s South Lake Union
One of the things we believe at Xconomy is that innovation happens in geographic clusters, especially when people can easily interact across multiple disciplines. I got a sense of how one of those important interactions is starting to blossom in pockets of a massive construction zone otherwise known as Seattle’s South Lake Union. Smack in … Continue reading “Biotech Neighbors, VLST and Novo Nordisk, Forge Alliance in Seattle’s South Lake Union”
Alnylam Starts Liver Cancer Trial
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]), the Cambridge, MA-based developer of RNA interference drug technology, said today it has started an early-phase clinical trial of a treatment for liver cancer. The trial is important because it is Alnylam’s first attempt to make an RNAi drug that can circulate throughout the body, as CEO John Maraganore explained in … Continue reading “Alnylam Starts Liver Cancer Trial”
Dendreon Saga Heads Toward Climax, As Cancer Drug Aims to Prove It Prolongs Lives
Dendreon has all the ingredients of a Hollywood thriller: Life and death on the line. Millions of dollars at stake. Fast money in the stock market. Cutting-edge technology that aspires to achieve the impossible. The Seattle biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) has gone through a riveting set of twists and turns over the past two years, … Continue reading “Dendreon Saga Heads Toward Climax, As Cancer Drug Aims to Prove It Prolongs Lives”
PATH Moving to South Lake Union
PATH, the nonprofit that works to improve health in developing countries, said it is planning to move its headquarters from Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood to larger space in South Lake Union. The organization intends to lease 111,000 square feet on three floors in the 2201 Westlake building being developed by Paul Allen’s Vulcan company. PATH, which … Continue reading “PATH Moving to South Lake Union”
HydroSense, With Plan to Conserve Water, Wins UW Environmental Business Competition
University of Washington president Mark Emmert told a group of local business leaders last fall that two issues, above all others, can rally the intellectual energy of the institution’s students and faculty—environmental sustainability and global health. Yesterday, some of those students and researchers showed off their best business ideas for the environment and competed for … Continue reading “HydroSense, With Plan to Conserve Water, Wins UW Environmental Business Competition”
UW’s Protein Guru, David Baker, Eyes Alternative Biofuels, Vaccines in New 3-D Structures
David Baker’s parents were both scientists at the University of Washington, and growing up, he figured that was the last thing he’d ever want to be. Yet after a couple of intriguing detours, his life path has led him right back to the UW campus. It’s there that he has carved out his own path … Continue reading “UW’s Protein Guru, David Baker, Eyes Alternative Biofuels, Vaccines in New 3-D Structures”
Genzyme Enters Seattle Hub, Oncothyreon Bets on Cancer Drugs, Pathway Nabs $40M, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
The local biotech scene was busy again this week at Xconomy, with breaking news about one of the world’s biggest biotech companies (Genzyme) coming to town, a local medical device leader attracting $40 million in venture capital (Pathway Medical Technologies), and an exclusive feature about how one publicly traded company in Seattle (Oncothyreon) has switched … Continue reading “Genzyme Enters Seattle Hub, Oncothyreon Bets on Cancer Drugs, Pathway Nabs $40M, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
MDRNA Sells Osteoporosis Drug
MDRNA, the Bothell, WA-based developer of drugs using RNA interference technology, said today it has sold its assets related to a nasal spray drug for osteoporosis to Par Pharmaceutical. MDRNA (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MRNA]]) will receive an undisclosed upfront cash payment, and a double-digit percentage royalty on sales of the product, a generic form of calcitonin-salmon nasal … Continue reading “MDRNA Sells Osteoporosis Drug”
Riding a Cancer Diagnostics Wave, Genoptix Sees Boom Continuing in 2009
There are about 11,000 physicians in the U.S. whose job is to diagnose and treat people thought to have cancers of the blood. These specialty physicians need to sort through a dizzying number of lab tests to identify subtle differences in types and stages of leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas. Get it exactly right, and it … Continue reading “Riding a Cancer Diagnostics Wave, Genoptix Sees Boom Continuing in 2009”
Targeted Ends Year With $5.2M
Targeted Genetics, the Seattle developer of gene therapies, said today in its quarterly financial report that it entered 2009 with $5.2 million of cash left in the bank, after burning through about $11.2 million of cash in the past year. The company had 47 employees as of March 1, and only enough money to run … Continue reading “Targeted Ends Year With $5.2M”
Genzyme Acquires Three Cancer Drugs From Bayer, Enters Seattle Biotech Hub
[[Updated: 4:50 pm Eastern time]] Genzyme, the world’s largest maker of drugs for rare genetic diseases, is making a big move into broader diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis to continue fuelling its growth. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company said today it is acquiring three drugs from Germany-based Bayer AG, including one that gives Genzyme … Continue reading “Genzyme Acquires Three Cancer Drugs From Bayer, Enters Seattle Biotech Hub”
Goodbye Cancer Vaccines, Hello Cancer Drugs: Oncothyreon Reinvents Itself
Cancer vaccines still have the power to captivate the public imagination, but Bob Kirkman isn’t betting his company on them anymore. The CEO of Seattle-based Oncothyreon has reinvented this little biotech firm in a way that puts a pair of experimental cancer drugs, not vaccines, on the corporate front burner. Kirkman learned from hard knocks … Continue reading “Goodbye Cancer Vaccines, Hello Cancer Drugs: Oncothyreon Reinvents Itself”
Genzyme Gene Therapy Fails To Help People with Leg Disease Walk Longer
Score another one in the loss column for gene therapy. Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme said yesterday at a medical meeting that its gene therapy for people with peripheral artery disease failed in a clinical trial to help them regain some mobility. The trial—one of the largest in the field of gene therapy—enrolled 289 patients who were … Continue reading “Genzyme Gene Therapy Fails To Help People with Leg Disease Walk Longer”
Spaltudaq Now Theraclone Sciences
Spaltudaq (SPAHL-too-dack), the Seattle-based maker of genetically engineered antibody drugs, has changed its name to Theraclone Sciences. Founder Johnny Stine, a member of the Snohomish tribe, gave the company its original name after a healing ceremony once performed by his ancestors in the Puget Sound region to make sure people don’t die before their time. … Continue reading “Spaltudaq Now Theraclone Sciences”
Seattle Genetics Gets Fast Track
Seattle Genetics, the Bothell, WA-based cancer drug developer, said today it has received “Fast Track” designation from the FDA for the pivotal trial of its SGN-35 drug for Hodgkin’s disease. The designation, which the FDA provides to potentially life-saving therapies, will allow Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) to submit data in its application on a rolling … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Gets Fast Track”
Arena Obesity Drug Helps Patients Lose Weight, Without Heart Damage
[[Updated last paragraph: 9:38 am EDT]] Arena Pharmaceuticals has some good news this morning, although it will take some time to sort out how good. The San Diego-based biotech company said its experimental drug for obesity was able to reach its goals for helping people lose weight, without the side effect of damaging heart valves … Continue reading “Arena Obesity Drug Helps Patients Lose Weight, Without Heart Damage”
BioVex Raises $40M for Cancer-Fighting Virus
BioVex, a cancer drug developer based in Woburn, MA, reported some impressive clinical trial results that we covered last June. Now the company has raised $40 million in venture capital to see if it’s good enough to bring this drug candidate to the marketplace. The investment round was led by Amsterdam-based Forbion Capital Partners, which … Continue reading “BioVex Raises $40M for Cancer-Fighting Virus”
Indel Therapeutics Aims High With New Class of Antibiotics to Fight Hospital Infections
Most biotech stories in 2009 are about companies hunkering down or otherwise playing it safe with incremental advances, not people just getting started with an audacious dream. Malcolm Kendall has one of those dreams. He’s starting a company that aims to identify new targets on cells that haven’t been proven before, and create antibiotics to … Continue reading “Indel Therapeutics Aims High With New Class of Antibiotics to Fight Hospital Infections”
Dyax Hit With FDA Drug Delay
Cambridge, MA-based Dyax (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DYAX]]) said today that its lead drug in development, DX-88, failed to win FDA approval on schedule. The company said it needs to answer more questions about the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls section of its application, and for a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy. The company doesn’t need to do more … Continue reading “Dyax Hit With FDA Drug Delay”