Author: Rebecca Zacks

Rebecca is Xconomy's co-founder. She was previously the managing editor of Physician's First Watch, a daily e-newsletter from the publishers of New England Journal of Medicine. Before helping launch First Watch, she spent a decade covering innovation for Technology Review, Scientific American, and Discover Magazine's TV show. In 2005-2006 she was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. Rebecca holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Brown University and a master's in science journalism from Boston University.

FDA Decision a Blow For Genzyme—and Biogenerics?

I’m always hesitant to try to read the tea leaves on the future of biogenerics—those would-be lower-cost copies of protein-based biotech drugs. After all, the question of if, when, and how the FDA would create a mechanism for approving such drugs has been kicking around, unanswered, for almost as long as I’ve been covering biotech. … Continue reading “FDA Decision a Blow For Genzyme—and Biogenerics?”

With a $25 Million Bankroll and Technology “Fully Baked” by Biogen Idec, Stromedix is Heading into the Uncharted Territory of Fibrosis

Michael Gilman sounds just a touch frazzled when he first picks up the phone. The co-founder of Cambridge, MA’s Stromedix has been chained to his desk for days, attending to all the investors, lawyers, calls, e-mails, paperwork, i-dotting and t-crossing that need to come together to in order for his 2-year-old startup to close its … Continue reading “With a $25 Million Bankroll and Technology “Fully Baked” by Biogen Idec, Stromedix is Heading into the Uncharted Territory of Fibrosis”

Dynogen, Apex Call Off Reverse Merger

Waltham, MA-based Dynogen and Apex Bioventures Acquisition (AMEX: [[ticker:PEX]]) have agreed to call off the $98 million reverse merger they originally announced in February. Citing market conditions, the firms said the terminating the merger agreement was in the best interests of both companies. Dynogen will seek alternative means of financing its programs, which include clinical-stage … Continue reading “Dynogen, Apex Call Off Reverse Merger”

A Lawsuit for Biogen, A Suitor for Millennium, The Suits Who Made Their Own Fate, & More Life Sciences News

First Carl Icahn stirred the Biogen Idec pot again, to nobody’s surprise, then Takeda swept one of the area’s mainstay companies off its feet—to everybody’s surprise. It’s been an exciting week for Boston-area biotech. —Icahn rang the bell on yet another round in his battle to force a sale of Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) by … Continue reading “A Lawsuit for Biogen, A Suitor for Millennium, The Suits Who Made Their Own Fate, & More Life Sciences News”

Entrepreneurs at Three Massachusetts Colleges Rake in the Prize Money

While the rest of us have spent the last few days getting ready to turn our money over to state and federal governments, several area colleges have been giving theirs to student entrepreneurs. First up was Harvard, which last Wednesday awarded more than $50,000 in prizes to the winners of the I³ Harvard College Innovation … Continue reading “Entrepreneurs at Three Massachusetts Colleges Rake in the Prize Money”

Bob Metcalfe’s First PowerPoint Ever: The Ethernet Inventor Unveils the “Enernet”

Despite having sat on the board of Forethought, the software company that developed PowerPoint before being acquired by Microsoft in 1987, Bob Metcalfe never actually learned to use the program. Until last week, that is—just days after his 62nd birthday. So what could the Ethernet co-inventor, 3Com founder, venture capitalist, and legendary pundit have to … Continue reading “Bob Metcalfe’s First PowerPoint Ever: The Ethernet Inventor Unveils the “Enernet””

Millennium Makes a Surprise Exit, EMC’s Persistence Pays Off, Quantum Dots a Vision to In-Q-Tel, & More Deals News

This last week saw several sizeable takeover agreements (and a few smaller ones) inked. Here’s more on those and the rest of the recent deals news. —Hopkinton, MA-based EMC’s second takeover offer for San Diego-based storage maker Iomega was evidently the charm—the firms agreed on a final price of approximately $213 million, or $3.85 per … Continue reading “Millennium Makes a Surprise Exit, EMC’s Persistence Pays Off, Quantum Dots a Vision to In-Q-Tel, & More Deals News”

Diomed to Sell Assets to AngioDynamics for $11M

Following on last month’s announcement that it had filed for bankruptcy and planned to sell off its assets, minimally invasive medicine firm Diomed (AMEX: [[ticker:DIO]]) of Andover, MA, now says it’s inked an $11 million deal to sell its U.S. operations and some of its U.K assets to AngioDynamics of Queensbury, NY. The agreement, which … Continue reading “Diomed to Sell Assets to AngioDynamics for $11M”

Inotek Consolidates, Bids CEO Adieu

Drug developer Inotek is closing several international offices and selling its Israeli manufacturing plant in an effort to focus its resources on four of its main clinical and preclinical programs, the Beverly, MA-based firm announced today. The company also announced a host of changes to its management, including the resignation of CEO Andrew Salzman, and … Continue reading “Inotek Consolidates, Bids CEO Adieu”

Takeda Takes Hold of Millennium for $8.8 Billion

For months now we’ve been hearing rumors about big pharma planning a shopping spree among Cambridge’s biotechs, but I’ve got to admit we didn’t see this particular deal coming. Millennium Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MLNM]]) has been snatched up for just shy of $9 billion by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Japan’s largest drugmaker. The deal, approved unanimously by … Continue reading “Takeda Takes Hold of Millennium for $8.8 Billion”

Patent Reform Blocked, Epix Deal Expanded, Repligen Suit Settled, & More Life Sciences News

Sure there was a venture funding, some FDA news, and a few interesting alliances last week. But for many members of the Boston-area life sciences community the big news came from Virginia… —The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia blocked a patent-reform package—vehemently opposed by the biotech and pharma industries—that would have … Continue reading “Patent Reform Blocked, Epix Deal Expanded, Repligen Suit Settled, & More Life Sciences News”

Repligen, BMS Settle Patent Suit

Repligen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RGEN]]) of Waltham, MA, will collect $5 million from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) as part of the settlement, announced today, of a patent suit that the Massachusetts firm filed in 2006. Repligen will also collect royalties on BMS’s arthritis drug, Orencia, which Repligen and co-plaintiff the University of Michigan charged violated a patent … Continue reading “Repligen, BMS Settle Patent Suit”

In Latest Local Venture Philanthropy Deal, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Pledges up to $37.7 More to Epix

Just a few weeks after a similar arrangement with Cambridge, MA’s Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) showed early signs of bearing fruit, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is expanding its collaboration with another local biotech, Lexington, MA’s Epix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EPIX]]). The nonprofit initially inked a research, development, and commercialization deal with Epix in 2005, aimed at … Continue reading “In Latest Local Venture Philanthropy Deal, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Pledges up to $37.7 More to Epix”

EMC Tangos with Conchango, MIT Media Lab Goes to the Bank, GT Solar Makes European Inroads, & More Deals News

Last week saw new filings for both an IPO and an SPO. Could the climate for exits be getting a little better? (Seems like it would be hard for it to get much worse.) Here’s the news on those filings, and the rest of the recent deals. —Codon Devices, a Cambridge, MA-based startup focusing on … Continue reading “EMC Tangos with Conchango, MIT Media Lab Goes to the Bank, GT Solar Makes European Inroads, & More Deals News”

Thermo Fisher MRSA Test Approved

The FDA has approved a new test for the “superbug” methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to the manufacturer, Waltham, MA-based Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:TMO]]). The test, called Spectra MRSA, gives results within a day and integrates with routine lab systems to aid healthcare facilities’ efforts to screen their patients, the company said.

Radius Passes Clinical Milestone, Collects $28.3 Million

Cambridge, MA-based Radius Health announced today that it has collected $28.3 million in the second tranche of its Series C financing. The new closing, which was triggered when Radius finished enrolling patients for a Phase 2 trial of its lead candidate, an osteoporosis treatment, brings the amount raised in the round to $67.5 million. All … Continue reading “Radius Passes Clinical Milestone, Collects $28.3 Million”

Monotype Files for SPO

After a somewhat underwhelming IPO back in July, Woburn, MA-based Monotype Imaging (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TYPE]]) has filed for a secondary offering of up to 6.9 million shares. Proceeds from the stock sale could total some $101 million and will go to selling stockholders of the text-imaging firm, including TA Associates Funds, which is offering 5.2 million … Continue reading “Monotype Files for SPO”

Vertex on the Rise, Sirtris on TV, an IPO (Finally) on the Table, and More Life Sciences News

The past week has offered a real variety pack of life sciences news from the Boston area. There were some clinical trials, an IPO filing, a venture financing—and a television appearance. —Shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) had a nice run, boosted by encouraging (if preliminary) clinical-trials results. Last Thursday, the company announced that in … Continue reading “Vertex on the Rise, Sirtris on TV, an IPO (Finally) on the Table, and More Life Sciences News”

1366’s Sunny Start, Adimab’s Second Round, Constant Contact’s Second Offering, and More Deals News

Another somewhat sluggish week, deals-wise. Perhaps everybody was too busy trying to uncover the identities of the members of the MIT blackjack team? —Biotech startup Adimab of Lebanon, NH, closed a Series B financing round co-led by Polaris Venture Partners and SV Life Sciences. The total raised in the deal, which comes less than a … Continue reading “1366’s Sunny Start, Adimab’s Second Round, Constant Contact’s Second Offering, and More Deals News”

Xconomy Forum: Boston Life Sciences 2028

What will the Boston life sciences landscape look like twenty years from now? Will this area remain the world’s leader in university and corporate research, venture financing, and entrepreneurial activity? Will local firms be dominating a marketplace built around personalized medicine, RNAi-based drugs, and stem-cell therapies? Will the ever-increasing competition from other states and nations … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum: Boston Life Sciences 2028”

Vertex Climbs on Encouraging Early Results From Cystic Fibrosis Drug Trial

Shares of Cambridge, MA-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) climbed this morning after the company announced some encouraging preliminary results from an ongoing trial of VX-770, a drug for cystic fibrosis. The firm’s stock opened at $18.24 and by about 11:00 was trading around $19.55, up almost 10 percent from yesterday’s close of $17.83. Vertex’s drug … Continue reading “Vertex Climbs on Encouraging Early Results From Cystic Fibrosis Drug Trial”

Technical Bibliophiles to Bid Adieu To Kendall Square

Fans of browsing uber-geeky tomes on computer graphics, operating-system design, programming, and all other deeply technical matters have something of a wake to attend tomorrow afternoon. Kendall Square’s Quantum Books, which will be shuttering its brick-and-mortar store this weekend, is hosting a 5:30 p.m. goodbye party for longtime customers, according to the Cambridge Chronicle. Quantum … Continue reading “Technical Bibliophiles to Bid Adieu To Kendall Square”

Repligen Launches Trial of Imaging Agent

Repligen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RGEN]]) of Waltham, MA, has begun a Phase 3 clinical trial of an imaging agent that would enhance the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect abnormalities in the ducts of the pancreas, the company announced today. The company believes that the study, being conducted at about 30 U.S. and Canadian sites, … Continue reading “Repligen Launches Trial of Imaging Agent”

Alkermes Makes Cuts, Eyegate Avoids Pokes, Codon Gets a Boost, & More Life Sciences News

The past week was evidently on the quiet side for Boston-area life sciences firms, with a few exceptions: —Cambridge, MA-based Alkermes (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALKS]]) announced it will cut 150 jobs and close a manufacturing plant after Eli Lilly ended a joint project to develop inhaled insulin. —EyeGate Pharma of Waltham, MA, raised $15 million from Medicis … Continue reading “Alkermes Makes Cuts, Eyegate Avoids Pokes, Codon Gets a Boost, & More Life Sciences News”

Adimab Scores Second Funding Round in Less Than A Year

A young biotech company founded by a pair of professors from MIT and Dartmouth has closed a Series B financing round co-led by Polaris Venture Partners and SV Life Sciences, just eight months after it closed a $6.2 million Series A round led by the same firms. Lebanon, NH’s Adimab didn’t disclose the value of … Continue reading “Adimab Scores Second Funding Round in Less Than A Year”

BladeLogic Scores Big, EMC Gets Another Crack at Iomega, Luminus Closes a Large Round, & More Deals News

The word of the week for Boston-area deal-making was acquisition. You’ll see what I mean. —Data-center-automation firm BladeLogic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BLOG]]) of Lexington, MA, scored an impressive $800 million in a buy-out deal with Houston, TX-based BMC Software (NYSE: [[ticker:BMC]]). —Beverley, MA-based Axcelis Technologies, a maker of specialized semiconductor manufacturing equipment, once again rejected a takeover … Continue reading “BladeLogic Scores Big, EMC Gets Another Crack at Iomega, Luminus Closes a Large Round, & More Deals News”

Alkermes Cuts Jobs After Lilly Deal Ends

A week and a half after learning that Eli Lilly was ending a joint project to develop inhaled insulin, Alkermes (NASDAQ: ALKS) is cutting some 150 jobs and closing a manufacturing plant, the Cambridge, MA-based firm announced today. The job cuts represent a reduction of about 18 percent in the firm’s staff.

RXi’s Debut, Sirtris’ Surprising Deal, Hydra’s Big Financing Round, & More of the Last Week in Life Sciences

The past week finally saw a life sciences firm debut on the stock market (although it was a spin-off rather than an IPO). That and more news below. —RXi Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RXII]]), the Worcester, MA-based spin-off of Los Angeles’s CytRx, made its debut on the NASDAQ Capital Market last week. Shares of the firm, which … Continue reading “RXi’s Debut, Sirtris’ Surprising Deal, Hydra’s Big Financing Round, & More of the Last Week in Life Sciences”

Bristol-Myers Squibb Unit Now Independent

The diagnostics business unit formerly known as Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging is now an independent firm called Lantheus Medical Imaging, the N. Billerica, MA–based company announced today. The news follows the sale of the unit to private equity firm Avista Capital Partners, which was announced in December. Lantheus makes a suite of diagnostic products including … Continue reading “Bristol-Myers Squibb Unit Now Independent”

Exact Sciences Puts Itself on the Block After Investor’s Prodding

Looks like Carl Icahn isn’t the only activist investor yanking local life sciences firms’ chains these days. Just a few weeks after a California fund manager called for a sale of cancer-diagnostics firm Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]), the Marlborough, MA-based firm announced that it’s putting itself on the block. (Seriously, what is it with all … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Puts Itself on the Block After Investor’s Prodding”

IT Acquisitions All Around: BladeLogic, Teragram, and Maybe Even Iomega?

Looks like somebody misread the memo about Evacuation Day and decided yesterday was Acquisition Day here in the greater Boston area. (Although Axcelis Technologies made no such mistake.) First, there was the whopping $800 million that Lexington, MA’s BladeLogic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BLOG]]) announced it will make in a buy-out by Houston, TX-based BMC Software (NYSE: [[ticker:BMC]]). … Continue reading “IT Acquisitions All Around: BladeLogic, Teragram, and Maybe Even Iomega?”

Luminus Devices Aglow With $72 Million in New Financing

When these guys say they’re looking to expand they ain’t kidding. Luminus Devices of Billerica, MA, said a few months ago that it was working to build its LED business beyond TV and display applications and into the general illumination market; a deal with Arizona’s Avnet Electronics Marketing, inked a few weeks ago, marked an … Continue reading “Luminus Devices Aglow With $72 Million in New Financing”

GreenFuel Strikes A Deal, Sirtris Teams with Bayer on Crops, Salient Files for an IPO, & More Deals News

A new IPO filing, a few solid venture financings, and a decent assortment of new partnerships… Dare we call it an uptick it dealmaking? You be the judge. —GreenFuel Technologies, a Cambridge, MA firm developing algae-based fuel-production systems, struck a deal worth up to $92 million to build a plant in Europe. It’s an important … Continue reading “GreenFuel Strikes A Deal, Sirtris Teams with Bayer on Crops, Salient Files for an IPO, & More Deals News”

Diomed Files for Bankruptcy, Plans Sale

Minimally invasive medicine firm Diomed (AMEX: [[ticker:DIO]]) of Andover, MA, has filed for bankruptcy, the company announced today. The firm intends to sell some of its operating assets for between $6 million and $7 million to a German medical laser manufacturer, Biolitec, which would continue to operate Diomed’s business in the United States. Diomed expects … Continue reading “Diomed Files for Bankruptcy, Plans Sale”

Hydra Biosciences Feeling No Pain, Thanks to $34 Million From Advanced Technology Ventures And Others

Cambridge, MA-based Hydra Biosciences has closed a $34 million Series C funding round, the company said today. The round, led by Advanced Technology Ventures and joined by Polaris Venture Partners, BioVentures Investors, Abingworth, Lilly Ventures, and New Enterprise Associates, brings the firm’s total raised to date to over $63 million. Hydra was founded in 2001 … Continue reading “Hydra Biosciences Feeling No Pain, Thanks to $34 Million From Advanced Technology Ventures And Others”

Mello RNAi Firm RXi Pharmaceuticals Has Wild Ride on First Day of Trading

Shares of Worcester, MA-based RXi Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RXII]]) hopped on a bit of a roller coaster this morning when the company—which was spun out of Los Angeles’ CytRx to develop RNAi-based treatments for human diseases—made its debut on the NASDAQ Capital Market. After being distributed to CytRx shareholders last night, the stock began trading at … Continue reading “Mello RNAi Firm RXi Pharmaceuticals Has Wild Ride on First Day of Trading”

Exact Sciences Makes the List, Curis and Alkermes Get Dropped, Patent Reform Sparks Debate, & More Life Sciences News

Well, it’s our second installment of Life Sciences Wednesday, and once again the week has seen a relative dearth of financings and stock offerings. Still plenty of news to report from the sector, though. —Curis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRIS]]) and Alkermes (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALKS]]), both of Cambridge, MA, both had pharma partners pull out of large drug-development agreements. … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Makes the List, Curis and Alkermes Get Dropped, Patent Reform Sparks Debate, & More Life Sciences News”

Sumitomo Ups Axcelis Offer

After rejecting an unsolicited $5.20 per share takeover offer from Sumitomo Heavy Industries (and getting sued by shareholders for failing to negotiate with the Japanese firm), semiconductor manufacturer Axcelis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACLS]]) of Beverly, MA, has a new offer to consider. Sumitomo announced yesterday that it has upped its bid to $6.00 per share, valuing Axcelis … Continue reading “Sumitomo Ups Axcelis Offer”

Curis, Alkermes Down on News of Failed Pharma Partnerships

Shares of two Boston-area biotechs are down today after separately losing large agreements with pharmaceutical partners. Curis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRIS]]) is looking for a new partner, the Cambridge, MA-based drug developer announced today, after the pharmaceutical giant Wyeth put an end to a four-year-old collaboration between the companies focused on treatments for stroke and cardiovascular disease. … Continue reading “Curis, Alkermes Down on News of Failed Pharma Partnerships”

A123Systems, GE, and Norwegian Carmaker Join Forces, TNS Commits to Compete, Bottomline Buys Optio, & More

Last week was a little on the quiet side, deals-wise. Here’s what we’ve got: —Online community management firm Mzinga of Burlington, MA, raised $32.5 million in new venture financing and acquired Littleton, MA-based Prospero. —Boston-based Compete, a web-traffic analysis firm, was snatched up by the U.K.’s Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) for $75 million in cash … Continue reading “A123Systems, GE, and Norwegian Carmaker Join Forces, TNS Commits to Compete, Bottomline Buys Optio, & More”

Exact’s Colon Cancer Test Included in Medical Organization Recommendations

Exact Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXAS]]) got some long-awaited good news yesterday afternoon when the American Cancer Society unveiled new colorectal cancer screening guidelines that recommend, among other things, the use of the Marlborough, MA firm’s noninvasive DNA-based test for the disease. Developed by the ACS in conjunction with the American College of Radiology and the U.S. … Continue reading “Exact’s Colon Cancer Test Included in Medical Organization Recommendations”

Luminus Strikes Another Distribution Deal

Luminus Devices of Billerica, MA, has struck another deal for the distribution of its “PhlatLight” super-bright LED technology, the company announced today. Under the agreement, Toyota Tsusho America, will distribute and support television and projector PhlatLight products in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Mexico. A separate agreement inked last week will facilitate the distribution of PhlatLight … Continue reading “Luminus Strikes Another Distribution Deal”

Biogen’s Busy Week, Alnylam’s Big Announcement, Targanta’s and Momenta’s Growing Executive Ranks, & More Life Sciences News

Regular readers of Xconomy will have noticed that for a while now we’ve been doing (almost) regular roundups of the previous week’s news, focusing on financings, M&A, and other deals. But Boston being such a key hub for life sciences, we thought a separate, bio-centric roundup was in order. So welcome to Life Sciences Wednesday. … Continue reading “Biogen’s Busy Week, Alnylam’s Big Announcement, Targanta’s and Momenta’s Growing Executive Ranks, & More Life Sciences News”

Boston’s Compete Bought by UK Market Research Firm for Up to $150 Million

With more and more users, transactions, and advertising dollars moving to the Web, the ability to understand exactly what people do online is at an unprecedented premium. Which probably played no small part in U.K.-based market research behemoth Taylor Nelson Sofres’s (TNS) decision, announced today, to acquire Boston’s Compete for up to $150 million. Compete … Continue reading “Boston’s Compete Bought by UK Market Research Firm for Up to $150 Million”

Novell Gets Into Virtualization, 38 Studios Gets Into Virtual Worlds, Mascoma Raises Some Real Money, & More

Things have been eerily quiet on the venture front lately—and then there was the Mascoma deal. Dare we dream that that, combined with Clarus Venture’s juicy new life sciences fund, bodes better for the coming months? More on those, and the rest of last week’s deals, below. —East Coast/West Coast Life sciences venture firm Clarus … Continue reading “Novell Gets Into Virtualization, 38 Studios Gets Into Virtual Worlds, Mascoma Raises Some Real Money, & More”