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.

Google Supporting George Church’s Personal Genome Project

The Personal Genome Project, led by Harvard Medical School professor George Church, got a boost from Google late last year, according to a report today from Bloomberg. One of several academic and commercial efforts that Church, an Xconomist, is leading to develop tools and practices for sequencing and interpreting individual people’s DNA, the PGP is … Continue reading “Google Supporting George Church’s Personal Genome Project”

DOJ Investigates Boston Scientific Marketing

Boston Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]) disclosed in an annual report filed today with the SEC that the Department of Justice is conducting a civil investigation of allegations that the Natick, MA firm and other manufacturers promoted off-label uses of biliary stents. The company indicated it plants to cooperate with the investigation, though none of its documents … Continue reading “DOJ Investigates Boston Scientific Marketing”

Biogen Bouncing Back From Tysabri Warning News

Shares of Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) are climbing back up today after taking a dip yesterday on news that Tysabri, which Biogen markets in partnership with Ireland’s Elan, may cause liver damage. The stock closed down a couple of percent yesterday, at $60.13, but was trading back up around $61 at noon. To be clear—and … Continue reading “Biogen Bouncing Back From Tysabri Warning News”

Caliper and Anticancer Bench Attorneys to End Patent Suit, Strike Cross Licensing Deal

Caliper Life Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CALP]]) of Hopkinton, MA, yesterday announced it had ended a long-standing patent dispute with San Diego’s AntiCancer. As part of the agreement, each firm will get a royalty-free license to various of the other’s optical imaging patents, as well as certain rights to sublicense the technology to third parties. The companies … Continue reading “Caliper and Anticancer Bench Attorneys to End Patent Suit, Strike Cross Licensing Deal”

New CEO for Metabolix

Metabolix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MBLX]])—a Cambridge, MA developer of sustainable plastics, energy, and other cleantech products—has announced that it will have a new president and CEO as of March 17. Richard P. Eno, who was previously a chemicals and energy executive at CRA International, Arthur D. Little, and Chevron, will replace Jay Kouba, who has helmed Metabolix … Continue reading “New CEO for Metabolix”

Was Alexander Graham Bell an Idea Thief? This Afternoon’s a Good Time to Find Out

There’s nothing like a good detective story to brighten up a gray day, and boy does Xconomy contributing writer Seth Shulman have a good detective story to tell. The central mystery: Did Alexander Graham Bell steal the idea for the telephone from rival inventor Elisha Gray? Seth spent several years poring over Bell’s notebooks and … Continue reading “Was Alexander Graham Bell an Idea Thief? This Afternoon’s a Good Time to Find Out”

Axcelis Rejects Sumitomo Takeover Offer

Semiconductor manufacturing firm Axcelis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACLS]]) of Beverly, MA, today announced that its board has unanimously rejected an unsolicited takeover offer from Sumitomo Heavy Industries of Japan. Axcelis said the $5.20 per share offer undervalued the company.

Organogenesis Acquires NanoMatrix

Canton, MA-based regenerative medicine firm Organogenesis announced today that it’s acquiring Baton Rouge’s NanoMatrix for an undisclosed sum. The Louisiana firm specializes in using a technique called electrospinning to build three-dimensional scaffolds on which new tissues can grow. Such technology fits neatly into Organogenesis’ business of producing biomaterials for surgery and engineered tissue products such … Continue reading “Organogenesis Acquires NanoMatrix”

Three FDA Approvals for Boston Scientific Cardiac Division

Boston Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]) announced today that the FDA has approved three of its cardiac products. The news is a bit of a bright spot amidst an ongoing restructuring effort expected to cut some 2,300 jobs at the Natick, MA-based firm, and follows on the heels of the news that it had lost a $431 … Continue reading “Three FDA Approvals for Boston Scientific Cardiac Division”

ConforMIS Launches Knee Implant

Burlington, MA-based ConforMIS, which custom-builds implants for less-invasive knee surgery and is in the midst of an expansion push, today announced the commercial launch of an implant for partial knee replacement. The device was approved by the FDA in 2005 but, as I mentioned when I profiled ConforMIS last fall, the company has taken the … Continue reading “ConforMIS Launches Knee Implant”

Super-Stealthy Givvy to Offer Online “Charity Therapy”

Think about the causes that are closest to your heart—the environment? The wellbeing of children? Social justice? The fate of NBC’s critically acclaimed “Friday Night Lights?” Now think about the charitable donations you made last year. Even if you’re one of those incredibly organized people who has already gathered all of his 2007 receipts into … Continue reading “Super-Stealthy Givvy to Offer Online “Charity Therapy””

Yahoo Acquires Maven, Novell Acquires SiteScape, Eons Spins Off Tributes, Vertex Makes $400M Offering, & More

Venture deals continued to be slow heading into the long weekend, and things will be slow here at Xconomy today—but here’s the action from the past week. Happy Birthday, Misters President! —Boston’s Vaultus raised $6 million in a round led by Point Judith Capital and joined by Susquehanna International Group and IDG Ventures. The new … Continue reading “Yahoo Acquires Maven, Novell Acquires SiteScape, Eons Spins Off Tributes, Vertex Makes $400M Offering, & More”

AspenTech Delisted from NASDAQ

Burlington, MA’s Aspen Technology (NASDAQ [[ticker:AZPN]]) will be delisted from the NASDAQ effective February 19, the optimization software firm announced today. “The delisting comes after a series of accounting mishaps dating back several years, resulting in the firing of CEO David McQuillin in 2004,” according to the Boston Business Journal. Current CEO Mark Fusco said … Continue reading “AspenTech Delisted from NASDAQ”

Massachusetts’ Billion Dollar Biotech Plan Has Sweet Valentine’s Day; House Blows Kisses to UMass, RNAi, and Others

The Massachusetts legislature promised Governor Deval Patrick he’d get some action this month—on his long-delayed billion-dollar life sciences initiative, anyway—and it delivered right on Valentine’s Day. The House yesterday unveiled its version of the bill, which according to media reports is largely faithful to the one the Governor introduced in May. Indeed, the 10-year, $1 … Continue reading “Massachusetts’ Billion Dollar Biotech Plan Has Sweet Valentine’s Day; House Blows Kisses to UMass, RNAi, and Others”

Bose Tapped For Inventors Hall of Fame

Bose Corporation founder and former MIT professor Amar Bose will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the eponymous nonprofit group announced today. Recognized for audio inventions including the 901 Directing/Reflecting speaker system, Bose joins a group of honorees that includes the inventors of wrinkle-free cotton, light emitting diodes, the anti-fungal drug Fluconazole, … Continue reading “Bose Tapped For Inventors Hall of Fame”

With a Whole Lot of Spending to Do, Vertex Seeks Some $400 Million in Stock and Note Offerings

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) is turning to the market for an infusion of new cash after a series of delays and disappointments that have nudged the Cambridge, MA-based firm’s stock steadily downward for the last several months. The biotech, whose shares were trading around $40 in September, last night priced an underwritten offering of 6 … Continue reading “With a Whole Lot of Spending to Do, Vertex Seeks Some $400 Million in Stock and Note Offerings”

Evergreen Solar Plans Offering, ThingMagic Teams With Ford, Dynogen Reverse-Merges Onto the Market, & More

There used to be a time when almost all the deals in the weekly(ish) roundup involved life sciences companies, but things have been suspiciously quiet on that front in recent weeks. Which is not to say there aren’t plenty of interesting deals to discuss. —Braving a market that has scared off several local IPOs, Marlboro, … Continue reading “Evergreen Solar Plans Offering, ThingMagic Teams With Ford, Dynogen Reverse-Merges Onto the Market, & More”

Targanta Files for FDA Approval of Anti-MRSA Drug

Shares of Targanta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TARG]]) got a small boost today on the news that the Cambridge, MA-based firm has submitted an application to the FDA for approval of its antibiotic oritavancin for the treatment of complicated skin infections caused by the “superbug” MRSA and other gram-positive bacteria. The stock opened at $9.08, up from … Continue reading “Targanta Files for FDA Approval of Anti-MRSA Drug”

Need a Job? Need a Staffer? We Might Be Able to Help.

We’ve always said that part of our mission in building Xconomy is helping diverse members of the local innovation community to forge new connections. And hey, if those connections come with stock options, 401k plans, and a cubicle-free workspace overlooking the Charles, who are we to judge? In other words, if you’re looking for a … Continue reading “Need a Job? Need a Staffer? We Might Be Able to Help.”

T2 Biosystems: Can a Who’s Who of Local Biotech Change the Way Disease is Diagnosed?

For a journalist I’m pretty bad with names, but I had no problem recognizing the ones on T2 Biosystems’ roster. The founders of the Cambridge, MA-based medical diagnostics startup, which sprung from research at MIT and Mass General Hospital, are pretty much local legends. Take Tyler Jacks, the director of MIT’s Center for Cancer Research … Continue reading “T2 Biosystems: Can a Who’s Who of Local Biotech Change the Way Disease is Diagnosed?”

Archemix Pulls IPO

There goes another one: Cambridge, MA’s Archemix has withdrawn its planned IPO, citing unfavorable market conditions. The deal was to have been worth up to $63 million. VentureBeat Life Sciences has a good look at the quickly worsening environment for biotech offerings, in case you’re not bummed out enough already.

Biogen Idec: Earnings Up, Gauntlet Down, Headhunters All Around?

We at Xconomy are anxiously waiting to see what activist investor Carl Icahn has to say about the B word (Biogen Idec) when he puts bits to screen on his newly announced blog. But in the meantime, yesterday’s quarterly earnings call gave us a little taste of what Biogen CEO Jim Mullen has to say … Continue reading “Biogen Idec: Earnings Up, Gauntlet Down, Headhunters All Around?”

Dynogen Goes Public Via Reverse Merger

Waltham, MA-based Dynogen announced today that it will go public in a reverse merger with a subsidiary of California’s Apex Bioventures. The subsidiary, Apex Bioventures Acquisition (AMEX: [[ticker:PEX]]) was set up for the purpose of acquiring a private firm. The Boston Business Journal has a nice run-down of the details of the somewhat unusual deal, … Continue reading “Dynogen Goes Public Via Reverse Merger”

A Trio of Transitions: Altus, Kronos, and Terra-Gen Power Announce Management Changes

Change is in the air today, and I’m not just talking about the primary. (But hey, don’t forget to vote!) Three local firms are announcing shifts in top-level personnel. Cambridge, MA-based Altus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALTU]]) revealed that president, CEO, and board member Sheldon Berkle has resigned all three roles as of yesterday. The chair of … Continue reading “A Trio of Transitions: Altus, Kronos, and Terra-Gen Power Announce Management Changes”

ImmunoGen Scores $1.5M From Biogen Idec

Cambridge, MA-based ImmunoGen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IMGN]]) has snagged a $1.5 million milestone payment from Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), the latest in a string of positive signs for a company that has struggled for decades, as David described last week. The payment was triggered by Biogen filing for FDA permission to being clinical trials of an anti-tumor … Continue reading “ImmunoGen Scores $1.5M From Biogen Idec”

Evergreen Solar Plans $230M Secondary Offering

Marlboro, MA’s Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESLR]]) has registered for an underwritten public offering of up to 20 million shares of its common stock. The maker of solar-power products, a greentech success story that went public in 2000, expects to net $231.9 million in the deal, and up to $266.8 million if underwriters exercise a 3-million … Continue reading “Evergreen Solar Plans $230M Secondary Offering”

Xconomy Forum: Homeland Security and the Innovation Community **REGISTRATION CLOSED: SOLD OUT**

Can the U.S. Department of Homeland Security innovate in science and technology—and, if so, what does it mean for local businesses and entrepreneurs? Join Xconomy founder and editor in chief Robert Buderi for an up-close-and-personal conversation with The Honorable Jay Cohen Under Secretary of Science and Technology for DHS. The Under Secretary will speak about … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum: Homeland Security and the Innovation Community **REGISTRATION CLOSED: SOLD OUT**”

Inverness and Athenahealth Face Market Woes, Virtualization Startups Woo Investors, GreatPoint Energy Cuts a Deal for Coal, & More

I’m too bummed about the Super Bowl to come up with a snappy lede for today’s roundup. Here are last week’s deals: —Coal gasification firm GreatPoint Energy of Cambridge, MA, forged a long-term agreement with St. Louis-based Peabody Energy (NYSE: [[ticker:BTU]]) to build plants close to the company’s mines in Montana and Wyoming. —Visible Measures … Continue reading “Inverness and Athenahealth Face Market Woes, Virtualization Startups Woo Investors, GreatPoint Energy Cuts a Deal for Coal, & More”

Cash For Your Old Gadgets, Without The Hassle of Selling on eBay

There must have been a message in the fact that my cell phone cut out—as it has been wont to do throughout my entire relationship with the device—in the middle of my conversation yesterday with Israel Ganot. Perhaps it was a sign that it’s time for me and my Motorola to finally part ways? And … Continue reading “Cash For Your Old Gadgets, Without The Hassle of Selling on eBay”

$20M More for Virtual Iron

Lowell, MA’s Virtual Iron Software, the self-proclaimed “alternative to the juggernaut called VMware” has scored $20 million in equity capital from the likes of Highland Capital Partners, Matrix Partners, Goldman Sachs, Intel Capital, and SAP Ventures. Virtual Iron closed a $13 million series D round in November; the new financing brings the firm’s total venture … Continue reading “$20M More for Virtual Iron”

Inverness Falls on Matria News

Shares of Inverness Medical Innovations (AMEX: [[ticker:IMA]]) took an 8 percent hit today on the news that the Waltham, MA-based diagnostics firm has reached an agreement to buy Marietta, GA’s Matria Healthcare (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MATR]]) for some $1.18 billion in cash, stock, and the assumption of debt. Inverness plans to consolidate Matria, a health-management firm, with … Continue reading “Inverness Falls on Matria News”

Icahn to Nominate Three, Including Two Harvard Bigwigs, to Biogen Idec Board

Two prominent local academics are among a group of three people to be nominated to Biogen Idec’s board of directors at the company’s upcoming annual meeting, the Cambridge, MA-based biotech giant announced today. Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) received notice of the planned nomination came from entities affiliated with billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who as of January … Continue reading “Icahn to Nominate Three, Including Two Harvard Bigwigs, to Biogen Idec Board”

Endeca Scores Some Intel Dollars, MIT Teams with ABB, Another IPO Off the List, & More

We last rounded up last Wednesday, so this installment represents only a few business days’ worth of New England tech deal-making—and yet there’s still much to discuss. —Burlington, MA-based AptSoft was acquired by IBM for an undisclosed sum. Wade explains how the software firm’s technology fits into IBM’s strategy—and how you can tell when the … Continue reading “Endeca Scores Some Intel Dollars, MIT Teams with ABB, Another IPO Off the List, & More”

Artificial Heart Finally Ready for Market? Abiomed’s Potential “Billion-Dollar Monopoly”

A piece of news went out over the wires yesterday that I think deserves a little more explanation: Danvers, MA-based Abiomed announced that it had received a new FDA approval for its AbioCor artificial heart. The item caught my eye because I’ve been loosely following this technology—a fully implantable mechanical heart replacement—since 1999, when I … Continue reading “Artificial Heart Finally Ready for Market? Abiomed’s Potential “Billion-Dollar Monopoly””

MIT Teams With Italian Energy Giant, Elixir Postpones Its IPO, Biogen Idec Will Buy or Be Bought, & More

It’s a little bit of an odd week, with the Monday holiday and all the last-minute preparations for last night’s AWESOME battle of the bands (more on that soon), so I’m rounding up last week’s deals a little later than usual. The bonus is you get the first part of this week’s action as well. … Continue reading “MIT Teams With Italian Energy Giant, Elixir Postpones Its IPO, Biogen Idec Will Buy or Be Bought, & More”

ATG Shells Out $10M for CleverSet

Cambridge, MA-based e-commerce firm Art Technology Group (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARTG]]) will acquire Seattle’s CleverSet for some $10 million in cash, not counting closing adjustments. CleverSet’s technology for automated personalization recommendations can be used for retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, financial services, travel and hospitality, and other applications, according to the announcement.

Hologic Grabs $82M for Drug

Medical technology megafirm Hologic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HOLX]]), which develops diagnostics, imaging tools, and other devices focused on women’s healthcare, announced today that it will sell the rights to its drug Gestiva for $82 million in cash to St. Louis, MO-based KV Pharmaceutical. Bedford, MA-based Hologic acquired the rights to Gestiva, a treatment for the prevention of … Continue reading “Hologic Grabs $82M for Drug”

ConforMIS Device Gets EU Approval

ConforMIS, a Burlington, MA-based maker of implants for less-invasive knee surgery that I profiled back in November, announced today that it has received European regulatory approval for the second of its four types of implants, as well as the specialized instruments for implanting the device. ConforMIS’s products are already approved in the U.S.

Elixir Postpones IPO

What was looking to be the first Boston-area IPO of the year has been put off. Cambridge, MA-based Elixir Pharmaceuticals, which is developing treatments for diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic diseases, has postponed its offering of five million shares, according to the Boulder, CO-based research firm Morningnotes. Elixir, whose investors include MPM Capital, Oxford Bioscience … Continue reading “Elixir Postpones IPO”

NitroMed Ends BiDil Marketing, Slashes Staff

Malorye wrote back in November that the future of BiDil, the controversial heart-failure drug approved specifically for African Americans, was resting on a new marketing plan from manufacturer NitroMed (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NTMD]]). Looks like that plan has failed. The Lexington, MA-based firm announced yesterday after the market’s close that it was slashing its staff from 90 … Continue reading “NitroMed Ends BiDil Marketing, Slashes Staff”

Pervasis Picks Up $9.75 Million

Cambridge, MA-based regenerative medicine firm Pervasis Therapeutics has raised $9.75 million in new funding from Flagship Venture Partners, Polaris Venture Partners, Highland Capital Partners, and Musket Research Associates, the firm announced today. Pervasis will use the funds to further the development of Vascugel, a blood-vessel-repair product, as well as research into other applications of its … Continue reading “Pervasis Picks Up $9.75 Million”

Another offering From Athenahealth, Genzyme Teams With Isis, Ze-Gen Takes Out a Loan, & More

It seemed like half of the Boston area’s life sciences sector was out at JPMorgan’s Annual Healthcare Conference in San Francisco last week, but somehow the deals—in that industry and the rest of tech—kept getting done back here in town. —Waltham, MA-based Polaris Venture Partners led a $47 million Series B financing for Montreal-based jewelry … Continue reading “Another offering From Athenahealth, Genzyme Teams With Isis, Ze-Gen Takes Out a Loan, & More”