When it comes to getting a drug into a cell, size matters. Small molecules can easily pass through the cellular membrane in a way that larger therapeutic proteins can’t, which makes it difficult to develop a biological drug that can reach its target, says Dipal Doshi, CEO of biotech startup Entrada Therapeutics. Entrada, which translates … Continue reading “Entrada Therapeutics Nabs $59M for Drugs that Gain “Entry” to Cells”
Category: Boston
15 For ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch For Next Year (Part 2)
On Monday, Xconomy began our annual look ahead at clinical trials that could define biotech and have profound healthcare effects in the coming year. Today we’re circling back with the rest of the list, which includes studies of drugs for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and more. Read on for the details. [Editor’s … Continue reading “15 For ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch For Next Year (Part 2)”
RightHand Robotics Adds $23M to Scale Up Its Warehouse Tech
Warehouses run entirely by robots may not be waiting on the horizon, but that—and much more—remains a goal for Somerville, MA-based RightHand Robotics. “A typical item delivered to a customer is touched four to 11 times before it ships,” says the company’s co-founder Leif Jentoft. “We are looking to automate every one of those picks.” … Continue reading “RightHand Robotics Adds $23M to Scale Up Its Warehouse Tech”
Versant Ventures Unveils Two New Biotech Funds Totaling $700M
Two years after closing a $400 million fund for biotech investing, Versant Ventures is at it again, this time with $700 million in two new funds. The first of the new funds, Versant Venture Capital VII, is a $600 million biotech fund that the venture capital firm says will be invested in 20 or more … Continue reading “Versant Ventures Unveils Two New Biotech Funds Totaling $700M”
24M, Reeling In $22M, Thinks It Has the Next Great Battery
It turns out we might have been making lithium-ion batteries all wrong this whole time. That’s at least what Cambridge, MA-based battery startup 24M says, now having developed what it sees as the “right” way. The company, a spinoff of A123 Systems, announced today it raised a $21.8 million Series D round led by Japanese … Continue reading “24M, Reeling In $22M, Thinks It Has the Next Great Battery”
A.I. in 2019: IBM Exec on Advances in Training, Trust, Transparency
[Editor’s note: This is part of a series of posts sharing thoughts from technology leaders about 2018 trends and 2019 forecasts.] Today’s artificial intelligence technologies have demonstrated they’re capable of handling specific tasks, such as identifying pictures of cats or spotting cancer in CT scans. Researchers are hopeful the industry’s next breakthroughs will enable A.I. … Continue reading “A.I. in 2019: IBM Exec on Advances in Training, Trust, Transparency”
Seer Launches to Develop Liquid Biopsy for Cancer, Brain Disease
Omid Farokhzad has, as he says, “been around the block a few times” in biotech. The cancer nanomedicine researcher has cofounded a handful of companies that have tried to develop nanotech-based and other drugs for cancer and other diseases. But their results have been mixed. BIND Therapeutics had some clinical disappointments and went bankrupt in … Continue reading “Seer Launches to Develop Liquid Biopsy for Cancer, Brain Disease”
15 for ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch for Next Year (Part 1)
It can take decades and billions of dollars to develop a drug, and its fate—and often that of its developer—rests in the outcome of clinical trials. Just look at some of 2018’s biggest biotech stories. The failure of a closely watched cancer immunotherapy combination sent ripples through the sector and led several companies to change … Continue reading “15 for ’19: Key Clinical Data to Watch for Next Year (Part 1)”
Otsuka’s Frank Czerwiec Joins Goldfinch Bio as Chief Medical Officer
Goldfinch Bio has appointed Frank Czerwiec to serve as its chief medical officer. Czerwiec joins the Cambridge, MA, biotech from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, where he was most recently vice president, global clinical development, leading the company’s cardio-renal and metabolic/medicine group. Goldfinch is developing treatments for genetically driven kidney diseases.
Emotional Intelligence Startup Cogito Spins Out Mental Health Unit
Cogito, the A.I. startup that wrings emotional intelligence cues out of the human voice, is training its focus on call centers and splitting off its behavioral health unit into a new enterprise called CompanionMX. The new Boston-based company’s CEO is Sub Datta, who most recently worked as chief business officer at Soft Robotics in Cambridge. … Continue reading “Emotional Intelligence Startup Cogito Spins Out Mental Health Unit”
Boston Tech Watch: Indigo Ag, GE, Algo Capital, Solo.io, Cybric
Venture capital deals, acquisitions, and spin-offs made up much of this week’s Boston technology news. —Boston-based agtech startup Indigo Ag has acquired TellusLabs, an A.I. satellite technology company that was founded in Somerville, MA. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Indigo says it plans to integrate TellusLabs’ agricultural technology with its on-the-ground data to … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Indigo Ag, GE, Algo Capital, Solo.io, Cybric”
Bio Roundup: Eli Lilly Tries Tau, Generic Insulin, NASH Cash & More
Pharmaceutical industry critics lament the cost of rare disease drugs, but some of the steepest price hikes have come on widely used insulin. The patent holder, the University of Toronto, gave companies the right to manufacture insulin. But the university also allowed them to patent the improvements they made, which enabled them to slap higher … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Eli Lilly Tries Tau, Generic Insulin, NASH Cash & More”
Carl Decicco Departs Bristol-Myers for Foghorn Executive Role
Foghorn Therapeutics has appointed Carl Decicco to serve as its chief scientific officer. Decicco joins the Cambridge, MA, biotech from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]), where he was head of discovery. In addition to his executive role at Foghorn, Decicco will also serve as a venture partner at Flagship Pioneering, the venture capital firm that launched … Continue reading “Carl Decicco Departs Bristol-Myers for Foghorn Executive Role”
TMC’s Halvorsen Exits Innovation Institute in Houston
[Updated 12/13/18, 7:20 p.m.] Erik Halvorsen, who led the Texas Medical Center’s Innovation Institute, is out as director of the institute. Lance Black, the institute’s medical device lead, became the interim director Thursday, Black confirmed. He declined to comment further. Halvorsen, a veteran of the Boston biotech scene, joined the TMC nearly three years ago … Continue reading “TMC’s Halvorsen Exits Innovation Institute in Houston”
Udacity Achieves 50,000 Nanodegree Grads Amid Company Reorganization
Udacity, a pioneer in the online teaching of IT skills, is celebrating a milestone today—50,000 students have now graduated from one of its revenue-generating “Nanodegree” programs. Launched four years ago, the Nanodegree courses allow students worldwide to gain expertise in areas such as data analytics, machine learning, and autonomous flight engineering by completing coursework that … Continue reading “Udacity Achieves 50,000 Nanodegree Grads Amid Company Reorganization”
Apple Plans 5,000 Jobs for New Austin Site as Part of Nationwide Expansion
Austin — [Updated 3:10 p.m. See below.] Apple expects to make thousands of new hires around the country from Seattle to New York, the company announced Thursday, with its biggest growth planned for Austin, TX. The computer and smartphone manufacturer plans to hire 5,000 new employees in Austin and to spend $1 billion building a new … Continue reading “Apple Plans 5,000 Jobs for New Austin Site as Part of Nationwide Expansion”
Aiera Bags $3.5M for A.I. to Help Wall Street Analysts Pick Stocks
Machine learning startups are trying to establish a deeper presence on Wall Street. The latest move comes from Aiera (pronounced like “era”), a New York- and Boston-based company that announced today it took in $3.5 million in seed funding. Flybridge Capital Partners led the investment and was joined by Macquarie Group, Innovation Endeavors, Fin Venture … Continue reading “Aiera Bags $3.5M for A.I. to Help Wall Street Analysts Pick Stocks”
Checkmate Pharmaceuticals Appoints Barry Labinger President & CEO
Barry Labinger has joined Checkmate Pharmaceuticals as president and CEO, the Cambridge, MA, company announced Wednesday. Labinger comes to the cancer drug developer from Biothera Pharmaceuticals, where he was president and CEO. His experience also includes leadership positions at Human Genome Sciences, 3M Pharmaceuticals, and Immunex. Labinger is succeeding Arthur Krieg, who is shifting to … Continue reading “Checkmate Pharmaceuticals Appoints Barry Labinger President & CEO”
Facial Recognition Startup Suspect Technologies Raises $810K
Amid warnings over potential dangers of facial recognition, Jacob Sniff is still bullish on the technology. His Cambridge, MA-based facial recognition software startup Suspect Technologies has closed on an $810,000 funding round co-led by billionaire investor and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban and Santa Monica, CA-based venture firm Chaac Ventures. Up until now, Suspect Technologies … Continue reading “Facial Recognition Startup Suspect Technologies Raises $810K”
Eli Lilly Partners with AC Immune on Tau Blockers for Alzheimer’s
There’s at least one major pharmaceutical company that isn’t giving up yet on finding a drug for Alzheimer’s disease, despite a long trail of clinical flops. Eli Lilly is pairing up with AC Immune to develop drugs that block tau, a protein linked to the neurodegenerative disease. Under the agreement announced Wednesday, AC Immune (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “Eli Lilly Partners with AC Immune on Tau Blockers for Alzheimer’s”
Farm Startup Bowery Lands $90M to Take Indoor-Grown Greens National
Foodies in New York City may not realize it, but some of the tasty kale, bok choy, and other leafy greens they buy trace their origins to an industrial park in New Jersey. The produce grown by indoor farming startup Bowery never sees soil or natural sunlight before making its way to select restaurants and … Continue reading “Farm Startup Bowery Lands $90M to Take Indoor-Grown Greens National”
To Cover Debts, Synergy Inks $200M Bankruptcy Sale to Bausch Health
Synergy Pharmaceuticals has spent years looking for a buyer. The developer of a struggling drug for two types of chronic constipation finally has one—now that it’s gone bankrupt. New York-based Synergy (NASDAQ [[ticker:SGYP]]) cut a deal on Wednesday to sell itself to Bausch Health, a Canadian specialty pharma company, for roughly $200 million in cash. … Continue reading “To Cover Debts, Synergy Inks $200M Bankruptcy Sale to Bausch Health”
The Power of Dreams: Making a Difference as a Detroit Entrepreneur
Those born and raised in Detroit are used to defying expectations, but making your dreams a reality is never an easy task. It involves overcoming both personal and professional hardships, which is why I named my business Make Your Dreams Come True (MYDCT). Inspired by what I wanted to do for both myself and others, … Continue reading “The Power of Dreams: Making a Difference as a Detroit Entrepreneur”
House Members Grill Google CEO Amid Bipartisan Privacy Concerns
Google CEO Sundar Pichai took his turn in the Congressional hotseat on Tuesday, following similar appearances by the chief executives of Facebook and Twitter earlier this year before lawmakers who are increasingly alert to the vast societal impact of Silicon Valley tech giants. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy opened a hearing before the House Judiciary … Continue reading “House Members Grill Google CEO Amid Bipartisan Privacy Concerns”
Adding A.I. to the Factory Floor, MachineMetrics Powers Up with $11M
Many of today’s factories are a far cry from the soot-covered, smoke-belching machine shops of old: The Internet-connected machines talk to one another, compile output and maintenance data, and some accept software updates much like personal computers or smartphones. But managing the tides of incoming data to fine-tune factory productivity has required an industry of … Continue reading “Adding A.I. to the Factory Floor, MachineMetrics Powers Up with $11M”
Pear Therapeutics App Gets FDA Nod for Treating Opioid Abuse
Doctors and other caregivers have a new weapon to combat the opioid epidemic. But it’s not a pharmaceutical drug—it’s a mobile app. This week, the FDA cleared “reSET-O,” an app developed by “digital therapeutics” startup Pear Therapeutics, for sale in the U.S. as a treatment for patients recovering from opioid abuse disorder. Doctors can now … Continue reading “Pear Therapeutics App Gets FDA Nod for Treating Opioid Abuse”
Alcohol-Delivery App Drizly Doubles VC Haul with $34M Funding Round
Booze delivery app Drizly has raised $34.6 million in a new funding round, according to regulatory filings, nearly doubling the total venture capital the company has taken in since its 2012 founding. The Boston-based company—which operates an online marketplace for beer, wine, and liquor that’s delivered to customers’ doors—closed its last funding in February 2017 … Continue reading “Alcohol-Delivery App Drizly Doubles VC Haul with $34M Funding Round”
Dell Sets Return to Public Market With Shareholder OK of VMware Deal
Austin—Dell Technologies is on its way to becoming a public company again. Shareholders of a stock that’s linked to Dell subsidiary VMware approved a plan for Dell to buy out the stock, allowing it to return to the public market. Dell, based in Round Rock, TX, announced Tuesday that 61 percent of the shareholders of … Continue reading “Dell Sets Return to Public Market With Shareholder OK of VMware Deal”
HubSpot Wants to Stoke Innovation With $30M Corporate Venture Fund
Hubspot is launching a $30 million corporate venture capital fund to invest in promising startups that can boost its marketing platform. HubSpot Ventures will back companies with software tools that align with the Cambridge, MA-based company’s aim to help small and medium businesses grow, the company says. Target companies will also need to align with … Continue reading “HubSpot Wants to Stoke Innovation With $30M Corporate Venture Fund”
IPOs Will Strip Veils From Uber & Lyft’s Financials, Strategies
The IPO of any private company comes as the resolution of a mystery, as closely held details about its financial performance and strategies are revealed. But the suspense is heightened in the case of San Francisco-based companies Uber and Lyft, which pioneered the huge ride-hailing industry but have yet to come close to turning a … Continue reading “IPOs Will Strip Veils From Uber & Lyft’s Financials, Strategies”
Marinus Claims Phase 2 Postpartum Depression Win, Analysts Less Sure
Marinus Pharmaceuticals says its treatment for postpartum depression (PPD) is showing encouraging results in a mid-stage study—enough to continue clinical development. But it’s unclear whether the results are statistically significant or enough to make the drug competitive against a Sage Therapeutics drug now awaiting an FDA decision for the same condition. Marinus (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MRNS]]) said … Continue reading “Marinus Claims Phase 2 Postpartum Depression Win, Analysts Less Sure”
After $2B+ Cisco Buyout, Dug Song Reflects on Duo Security’s Journey
Successful startup founders who are also humble and down-to-earth are a rare breed in the tech industry. But Duo Security co-founder and former CEO Dug Song is a mensch in every sense of the word. Song is best known as the guy who started and nurtured a cybersecurity company worth billions in Ann Arbor, MI—outside … Continue reading “After $2B+ Cisco Buyout, Dug Song Reflects on Duo Security’s Journey”
McAfee CTO On Election Hacking, Cryptojacking, Quantum Security
Election hacking. Information warfare. Adversarial artificial intelligence. All worrisome topics racing through Steve Grobman’s head these days. But the McAfee chief technology officer seems surprisingly upbeat about the prospects of meeting these cybersecurity challenges—or at least putting up a good fight. I met Grobman at a coffee shop in downtown Boston last week. He was … Continue reading “McAfee CTO On Election Hacking, Cryptojacking, Quantum Security”
GSK’s Katharine Knobil Joins Kaleido Bio as Chief Medical Officer
Katharine Knobil has been appointed chief medical officer and head of research and development of Kaleido Biosciences. Knobil joins Lexington, MA-based Kaleido from GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]) where she had increasing roles of responsibility in the past 20 years, most recently as the company’s chief medical officer. Kaleido, which was founded by venture capital firm Flagship … Continue reading “GSK’s Katharine Knobil Joins Kaleido Bio as Chief Medical Officer”
Sesen Bio Names Dennis Kim Chief Medical Officer
Dennis Kim has joined Sesen Bio (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SESN]]) as the Cambridge, MA, biotech’s chief medical officer. Kim’s experience includes posts at Ipsen, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]), and Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]). Sesen was originally founded as Eleven Biotherapeutics. The company’s most advanced drug candidate, VB4-845, is in late-stage studies testing it as a treatment for … Continue reading “Sesen Bio Names Dennis Kim Chief Medical Officer”
Synthorx Gets $131M in Upsized IPO for Synthetic Biology Drugs
Synthorx, which is working to develop cancer and autoimmune therapies using technology that allows it to expand the genetic alphabet, raised $131 million in an upsized IPO on Thursday. The company sold more than 11.9 million shares at $11 apiece. Nearly 1.8 million additional shares are available for its underwriters to purchase. Synthorx, headed by … Continue reading “Synthorx Gets $131M in Upsized IPO for Synthetic Biology Drugs”
Bio Roundup: ASH Wrap, CRISPR Baby Fallout, Moderna’s Record IPO
The biggest yearly meeting for blood disease research has come and gone, and yet the stories to come out of the American Society of Hematology’s gathering in San Diego represent just a fraction of what happened in biopharma this week. Even if ASH wasn’t on your radar, the CRISPR baby saga—the apparent birth of gene … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: ASH Wrap, CRISPR Baby Fallout, Moderna’s Record IPO”
Boston Tech Watch: Endeavor, Building Ventures, LearnLux, ETQ, Cogito
[Updated 12/07/18, 10:30 a.m., and 12/10/18, 10:45. See below.] The spigot is still wide open for venture funding as cash continued to flow into Boston startups this week. Smart scooters and military robots rounded out the week in tech news. Read on for more: —IBM (NYSE: [[ticker:IBM]]) is dealing away two Massachusetts-founded enterprises it shelled out … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Endeavor, Building Ventures, LearnLux, ETQ, Cogito”
As Unicorns Multiply, Bootstrapped Tech Businesses Holding Steady
[Corrected 12/11/18, 11:20 p.m. See below.] Why do unicorns get all the attention? Brian de Haaff wonders this sometimes, especially as compared to his own tech business, Aha. It’s not a “unicorn”—a business with a valuation of more than $1 billion—and it’s not even close. Instead, Aha is a bootstrapped startup. Founded in 2013 by … Continue reading “As Unicorns Multiply, Bootstrapped Tech Businesses Holding Steady”
Moderna Raises $604M and Nails Down Biotech’s Biggest IPO Ever
One of the biggest gambles in the history of the life sciences industry made it to Wall Street this evening when Moderna, a developer of messenger RNA drugs—an unproven technology with enormous potential—priced the largest biotech IPO ever. Now, finally under the scrutiny of investors and analysts, Moderna must prove that its technology has enough … Continue reading “Moderna Raises $604M and Nails Down Biotech’s Biggest IPO Ever”
Google A.I. Fund Leads $7M Boost For Boston Route Logistics Startup
Google’s A.I.-focused fund Gradient Ventures has made its second Boston-area investment by leading a $7 million Series A round for autonomous dispatch and routing software startup Wise Systems. Wise was founded in 2014 by a group of MIT and Harvard graduates. The company says it uses machine learning to autonomously direct delivery operations by melding … Continue reading “Google A.I. Fund Leads $7M Boost For Boston Route Logistics Startup”
SuperNus ADHD Drug to Head to FDA, But Is It Better Than a Generic?
An experimental attention deficit hyperactivity drug developed by SuperNus Pharmaceuticals has met the main goals of two late-stage studies, bolstering the company’s case that it could provide an alternative to currently available ADHD therapies. But shares of the Rockville, MD-based company promptly fell on concerns of whether the drug is any better than a widely … Continue reading “SuperNus ADHD Drug to Head to FDA, But Is It Better Than a Generic?”
Forge AI Raises $11M to Crack Unstructured Data for Machine Learning
Forge AI, a Cambridge, MA-based startup aiming to decode the world’s mountains of unstructured data for machine learning algorithms, says it has raised $11 million in new funding. Jim Crowley, Jack Crowley, and Jennifer Lum founded Forge in 2017, and it’s kept relatively quiet in the time since. The company reads and digests unstructured data. … Continue reading “Forge AI Raises $11M to Crack Unstructured Data for Machine Learning”
Brii Bio’s Alliance with VBI Vaccines Adds Hepatitis B Drug to Pipeline
Brii Biosciences launched earlier this year with $260 million and a mission to find new medicines in infectious disease and other therapeutic areas and bring them to China. Today, the startup is announcing new partnerships that jump-start its pipeline, with an eye on potentially curing hepatitis B. Brii, co-founded by GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]) infectious disease … Continue reading “Brii Bio’s Alliance with VBI Vaccines Adds Hepatitis B Drug to Pipeline”
5 Reasons to Seek Geographic Diversity in a Venture Portfolio
Silicon Valley. New York City. Boston. Call them tech hubs or startup capitals, they are drawing in our nation’s venture capital dollars. But when it comes to new investments, venture capitalists can’t be so short-sighted. The opportunities beyond these markets may be richer than many realize. In July 2018, my venture capital firm, Alumni Ventures … Continue reading “5 Reasons to Seek Geographic Diversity in a Venture Portfolio”
Former Biotech VC Steven Burrill Draws 30-Month Prison Term for Fraud
G. Steven Burrill, once a noted biotech investment fund founder, sought-after conference speaker, and life sciences publisher, was sentenced Wednesday to serve 30 months in federal prison for defrauding his investors and evading taxes. Burrill was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 14, 2017. He was accused of diverting more than $18 million … Continue reading “Former Biotech VC Steven Burrill Draws 30-Month Prison Term for Fraud”
Diffbot’s A.I. Engine Draws Global Map of Machine Learning Expertise
A year ago, the leading Chinese Internet company Tencent Holdings pegged the global number of artificial intelligence researchers and professionals at 300,000 or less—just as the unmet demand for such experts was pushing salary offers to as much as $1 million. In February, the Canadian firm Element AI estimated that talent pool at no more than … Continue reading “Diffbot’s A.I. Engine Draws Global Map of Machine Learning Expertise”
Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Caroline Loew Named Glympse Bio CEO
Caroline Loew has been appointed president and CEO of Glympse Bio. Loew comes to the Cambridge, MA, company from Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]), where she was most recently vice president and head of R&D strategy and planning. Her experience also include positions at Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a … Continue reading “Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Caroline Loew Named Glympse Bio CEO”
Sylvia Wulf to Succeed Ronald Stotish as AquaBounty CEO
AquaBounty Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AQB]]) has appointed Sylvia Wulf to serve as CEO. She is joining the Maynard, MA, aquaculture company from US Foods (NYSE: [[ticker:USFD]]), where she is a senior vice president. Her experience also includes posts at Tyson Foods (NYSE: [[ticker:TSN]]) and Sara Lee Corporation. Wulf will start her new role at AquaBounty on … Continue reading “Sylvia Wulf to Succeed Ronald Stotish as AquaBounty CEO”
Alto Lands $50M as Pharmacy Sector Embraces E-Commerce Lessons
[Updated 12/5/18, 5:16 pm. See below.] The pharmacy industry’s transformation is accelerating, as traditional drug retailers strike deals to expand their businesses and fend off technology startups encroaching on their territory. The latest salvo in the increasingly competitive sector is a $50 million investment in Alto Pharmacy, a San Francisco-based “digital pharmacy” startup that has … Continue reading “Alto Lands $50M as Pharmacy Sector Embraces E-Commerce Lessons”