Emulate, a Boston-based startup that has developed small laboratory chips intended to replace the animal tests used in pharmaceutical research, has raised $36 million in financing. The Series C round of funding was led by Founders Fund. Also participating in the financing were new investors ALS Investment Fund, SciFi VC, and Glass Wall Syndicate, as … Continue reading “Emulate Adds $36M to Expand “Organ Chip” Drug Research Technology”
Category: Boston
Decibel Hauls in $55M to Bring Multiple Hearing Drugs to the Clinic
[Updated, 6/19/18, 4:20 p.m. See below.] Hearing loss affects millions of Americans, but so far, drug companies have not yet brought treatments to the market. Decibel Therapeutics aims to pioneer the discovery and development of therapies addressing multiple forms of hearing loss. The startup has quietly built a pipeline of experimental drugs, and as those … Continue reading “Decibel Hauls in $55M to Bring Multiple Hearing Drugs to the Clinic”
As Sarepta Preps Data, FDA Lifts Hold on Solid’s Duchenne Gene Therapy
The race to use gene therapy to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive, deadly genetic disease that affects boys, is heating up this week. The FDA just cleared Solid Biosciences to resume clinical testing of a Duchenne gene therapy, a day before Sarepta Therapeutics will report human clinical data from a rival treatment that also … Continue reading “As Sarepta Preps Data, FDA Lifts Hold on Solid’s Duchenne Gene Therapy”
Biotech Beware, Your Culture Is Showing
In a recent survey of 220 scientists, 60 percent of the respondents reported having experienced harassment at a conference at some point in their careers. Even more astounding is the fact that 82 percent of those who reported harassment did not report it when it occurred. That’s why it’s easy to say, “How big of … Continue reading “Biotech Beware, Your Culture Is Showing”
Northern Biologics’ Rahul Ballal Joins Imara as CEO
Rahul Ballal has been named CEO of Cambridge drug developer Imara. Ballal most recently served as chief business officer of Northern Biologics. Imara launched in 2016 backed by $31 million in financing to develop drugs for sickle cell disease and other blood disorders. The company’s lead sickle cell disease compound, IMR-687, is in mid-stage clinical … Continue reading “Northern Biologics’ Rahul Ballal Joins Imara as CEO”
Bio Roundup: Not-BIO Party Foul, CRISPR Drama, Sickle Cell Updates
This week brought a sobering reminder of how far away we are from true gender equality in the life sciences. An industry party held during BIO’s annual meeting in Boston last week featured scantily clad women with company logos painted on their bodies—two years after the infamous party at the J.P. Morgan party in San … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Not-BIO Party Foul, CRISPR Drama, Sickle Cell Updates”
For Sickle Cell, a Complex Disease, New Drugs Could Bring Complex Costs
Cassandra Trimnell has sickle cell disease. She also loves to travel. For her 30th birthday last year, she and her husband planned a trip to Indonesia, and she figured she would be fine. Growing up in Iowa, she was sick all the time, in and out of hospitals with severe pain episodes, or “crises,” and … Continue reading “For Sickle Cell, a Complex Disease, New Drugs Could Bring Complex Costs”
Bluebird’s Upgraded Gene Therapy Shows Promise For Sickle Cell Patients
Bluebird Bio has new clinical data this morning that, while early and only from a handful of patients, are the most significant evidence to date that gene therapy might help people with sickle cell disease, a genetic disorder without an effective treatment that afflicts millions around the world. The data, presented at the European Hematology … Continue reading “Bluebird’s Upgraded Gene Therapy Shows Promise For Sickle Cell Patients”
Boston Tech Watch: Airbnb, Tableau, Pillo, Orbita, Validity & More
Here are some of the latest headlines from the Boston-area tech community: —Seattle-based Tableau Software (NYSE: [[ticker:DATA]]) said it acquired Empirical Systems, an automated statistical analysis startup that spun out of MIT’s Probabilistic Computing Project. The price wasn’t disclosed in a press release announcing the deal. Empirical employees will join Tableau, which is establishing a … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Airbnb, Tableau, Pillo, Orbita, Validity & More”
After Departing CyPhy, Helen Greiner to Help U.S. Army in Robotics
Helen Greiner, the robotics expert and entrepreneur who co-founded iRobot, quietly left her most recent startup, the drone venture CyPhy Works, a few months ago, and she is now working with the U.S. Army on robotics and artificial intelligence initiatives. Greiner (pictured) left CyPhy in late 2017 and relinquished her board seat, a company spokesperson … Continue reading “After Departing CyPhy, Helen Greiner to Help U.S. Army in Robotics”
GE Plans a Sale as San Diego Smart City Project Nears Completion
In another month or two, a General Electric (NYSE: [[ticker:GE]]) subsidiary is expected to complete the installation of an intelligent lighting system in San Diego that’s been billed as “the world’s largest municipal Internet of Things.” The Boston-based subsidiary, Current by GE, began work earlier this year for the city of San Diego on a … Continue reading “GE Plans a Sale as San Diego Smart City Project Nears Completion”
Benchling Scores $14.5M to Grow Online Lab Notebook for Bio-Researchers
New immunotherapy approaches to cancer treatment, and the CRISPR technology for editing genetic material in cells, are among the most sophisticated research strategies scientists are using in their quest to defeat disease. But as researchers develop these techniques based on manipulating biological molecules, they may still be recording their experimental results by a method untouched … Continue reading “Benchling Scores $14.5M to Grow Online Lab Notebook for Bio-Researchers”
Biogen’s Gilmore O’Neill Joins Sarepta as Chief Medical Officer
Gilmore O’Neill has been appointed chief medical officer of Sarepta Therapeutics. O’Neill comes to the Cambridge, MA, biotech company from Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), where he was most recently senior vice president for all of the company’s clinical development. Sarepta’s first drug, eteplirsen (Exondys 51) won FDA approval in 2016 as a treatment for Duchenne muscular … Continue reading “Biogen’s Gilmore O’Neill Joins Sarepta as Chief Medical Officer”
Take Two: Biotech Party with Nearly Nude Women Condemned by Industry Leaders
Biotech party organizers don’t seem to have learned the lesson from two years ago, when an infamous life science party in San Francisco with hired models in short dresses sparked outrage. This time, a biotech industry party held last week in Boston during the BIO annual meeting reportedly featured topless female dancers sporting logos of … Continue reading “Take Two: Biotech Party with Nearly Nude Women Condemned by Industry Leaders”
Westphal’s Flex Pharma To Cut Jobs and Seek Sale After Clinical Flop
Flex Pharma, a company formed four years ago by serial biotech executive Christoph Westphal to develop treatments for muscle cramps, will layoff more than half of its staff and look to sell itself after suffering another setback in clinical testing. Boston-based Flex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FLKS]]) said it will halt two Phase 2 trials of experimental FLX-787 … Continue reading “Westphal’s Flex Pharma To Cut Jobs and Seek Sale After Clinical Flop”
Last Chance to Save on June 21’s ‘New York Biotech: Bringing Back the Expats’
Summer is quickly approaching, and Xconomy has one last biotech event lined up to kick it off. On Thursday, June 21, we’re presenting “New York Biotech: Bringing Back the Expats.” Register today with our procrastinator’s special and save $75! The New York life sciences sector faces myriad challenges catching up to places such as Boston … Continue reading “Last Chance to Save on June 21’s ‘New York Biotech: Bringing Back the Expats’”
Jibo Lays Off Staff Several Months After Launch of “Social Robot”
Less than a year after Jibo began shipping its long-awaited “social robot” to consumers, the startup has reportedly laid off almost all of its employees. A Jibo spokesperson told BostInno that the company recently carried out a “significant reduction” in its workforce and cut other costs to give the startup “additional time to secure additional … Continue reading “Jibo Lays Off Staff Several Months After Launch of “Social Robot””
Sage Speeds Ahead With Plans For a Short-Course Depression Drug
Sage Therapeutics has announced a potential fast path to approval for an experimental depression drug—as well as plans to treat patients with it for just two weeks until they feel relief, not chronically as with other treatments for the disease. After meeting with the FDA, Cambridge, MA-based Sage (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SAGE]]) said it will only have … Continue reading “Sage Speeds Ahead With Plans For a Short-Course Depression Drug”
New York Fashion Tech Lab Connects Retail to Crucial Innovations
Amazon is fundamentally disrupting how and where we shop, but in-store retail still has life in it. The Seattle e-commerce giant is “a hefty competitor, but that doesn’t mean brands and retailers don’t have the ability to fight back,” says Kay Koplovitz, co-founder and managing partner of Springboard Growth Capital in New York. In fact, … Continue reading “New York Fashion Tech Lab Connects Retail to Crucial Innovations”
Rockwell Automation Pouring $1B into PTC to Push Connected Factories
Rockwell Automation is investing $1 billion in PTC, as the two companies team up to advance their vision of software-driven factories and industrial operations. The companies said Monday they expect their “strategic partnership” to boost both businesses by strengthening their pitch to customers around the world who are interested in enhancing their physical operations with … Continue reading “Rockwell Automation Pouring $1B into PTC to Push Connected Factories”
CRISPR Risks? Researchers Stoke Fears of Cancer in Gene-Edited Cells
Two papers published today in Nature Medicine are raising a new potential red flag with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing: Human cells that are successfully edited in the lab may have a genetic malfunction known to drive many types of cancer. That genetic defect occurs in the gene is p53, nicknamed the “guardian of the genome” for … Continue reading “CRISPR Risks? Researchers Stoke Fears of Cancer in Gene-Edited Cells”
TraceLink Tracks Down $60M to Fight Counterfeit Drugs Worldwide
A global proliferation of subpar and fake prescription drugs is driving more investment into businesses combating the problem with new software-based systems for tracking the supply chain of pharmaceuticals. TraceLink is one of those companies on the rise, and the North Reading, MA-based firm recently raised $60 million in a new venture capital round, according … Continue reading “TraceLink Tracks Down $60M to Fight Counterfeit Drugs Worldwide”
With $45M Translate Bio Deal, Sanofi Bets Again on mRNA Vaccines
It hasn’t been proven yet that synthetic messenger RNA molecules (mRNA) can be effective medicines. But their promise as a source for new vaccines, primarily for cancer, has enticed multiple pharmaceutical companies. The latest evidence comes from Sanofi, which just cut its second mRNA vaccine deal to date, this time with Translate Bio. Sanofi Pasteur, … Continue reading “With $45M Translate Bio Deal, Sanofi Bets Again on mRNA Vaccines”
Toyota Sees Opportunity to Lead Industry on Safe Mobility Innovations
When a self-driving Uber car killed a pedestrian in Tempe, AZ, a few months ago, it shook up the mobility industry. The accident served as a gut check, and it sent already tenuous rates of consumer acceptance plummeting. One of the main benefits associated with driverless cars is safety, but it’s hard for riders to … Continue reading “Toyota Sees Opportunity to Lead Industry on Safe Mobility Innovations”
Data Centers on Wheels: How Intel Plans to Capitalize on Mobility
Intel sealed its commitment to become a player in the burgeoning autonomous vehicle industry when it bought computer vision company Mobileye for more than $15 billion in 2017. The venerable Santa Clara, CA-based chipmaker is betting that its data analytics and connectivity chops—as well as its semiconductors—combined with Mobileye’s computer vision and mapping functions, will … Continue reading “Data Centers on Wheels: How Intel Plans to Capitalize on Mobility”
Bio Roundup: Wrapping ASCO, Dreaming IPO, Rebooting Axovant & More
Most of the cancer news this week happened at the massive ASCO meeting in Chicago. But not all, as we’ll see in a moment. Also this week, Biogen and Eisai reported good news about an Alzheimer’s drug, but with plenty of caveats. Axovant Sciences, which hit the skids last year because of a massive Alzheimer’s … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Wrapping ASCO, Dreaming IPO, Rebooting Axovant & More”
Boston Tech Watch: Devo, Circle, IBM, 10% Happier, Cuseum & More
Time to catch up on recent Boston tech news, including several venture capital investments, an acquisition in cybersecurity, and a White House tour app developed by a Boston startup in partnership with Amazon. Read on for details. —Devo (no, not that Devo) said it raised $25 million in a Series C funding round led by … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Devo, Circle, IBM, 10% Happier, Cuseum & More”
Novartis’ Hinshaw Joins Axcella Health as President & CEO
Axcella Health has appointed William Hinshaw to serve as president and CEO. Before joining the Cambridge, MA, biotech company, Hinshaw was executive vice president and head of U.S. oncology for Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]). Axcella is developing protein drugs to address metabolic dysregulation. The company’s drug pipeline includes compounds for muscle, liver, and central nervous system … Continue reading “Novartis’ Hinshaw Joins Axcella Health as President & CEO”
Langer, Yancopoulos & Hockfield to Headline Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston
The life science industry is undergoing unprecedented change, with the recent commercialization of groundbreaking new treatments like gene therapy, the growing adoption of digital technologies, and increasing backlash against high drug prices. How should drug makers, researchers, and the healthcare system adapt? We have invited an all-star lineup of keynote speakers to share their thoughts … Continue reading “Langer, Yancopoulos & Hockfield to Headline Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston”
Biogen Makes Another Small Bet With Option Deal for TMS Stroke Drug
Biogen has yet to make the big, transformative buyout Wall Street investors have hoped for. But it continues to place small bets to build up its neurology pipeline. The latest is a deal to pick up a compound now in mid-stage testing in stroke victims. Cambridge, MA-based Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) said Thursday that it will … Continue reading “Biogen Makes Another Small Bet With Option Deal for TMS Stroke Drug”
Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston
INSPIRATION. INNOVATION. CELEBRATION. COLLABORATION. There’s something for everyone at Xcelerate, and if you care about life sciences and the people and issues driving the future, then you won’t want to miss a moment . . . THE VISIONARIES. Presented by Xconomy, Xcelerate features a curated series of spotlight keynotes from life science luminaries that will … Continue reading “Xcelerate at Biotech Week Boston”
Vertex CF Competitor Proteostasis Falters, Galapagos Up Next
Data released Wednesday afternoon looks to have eased a potential threat to Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ burgeoning cystic fibrosis franchise, though news from another challenger looms later this month. Proteostasis Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTI]]) released data from a 49-patient Phase 1 study testing its experimental cystic fibrosis drug, PTI-801, in combination with Vertex’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) FDA-approved CF drug … Continue reading “Vertex CF Competitor Proteostasis Falters, Galapagos Up Next”
Waze for the Sky: GE Drone Venture AiRXOS Takes Flight
Despite all the hype and business investment, drones are mostly flown by hobbyists and the military these days, says Ken Stewart. But if he and other drone supporters have their way, the sky will eventually be dotted with unmanned aircraft delivering packages to consumers, transporting organs between hospitals, conducting search missions in remote areas, inspecting … Continue reading “Waze for the Sky: GE Drone Venture AiRXOS Takes Flight”
Pulse@MassChallenge Startups Score More Deals in Program’s 2nd Year
MassChallenge’s experiment in digital health is picking up steam. Pulse@MassChallenge, the healthtech accelerator launched by Boston-based nonprofit organization MassChallenge in 2016, wrapped up its second annual session Tuesday night. The event, held in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center during the 2018 BIO International Convention, showcased the approximately 30 startups that participated in Pulse’s latest … Continue reading “Pulse@MassChallenge Startups Score More Deals in Program’s 2nd Year”
Athenahealth CEO Jonathan Bush Steps Down as Company Considers Sale
Athenahealth announced Wednesday that Jonathan Bush, its co-founder and chief executive, is stepping down, and the healthcare IT company will explore “strategic alternatives” that could include a sale. The news sent Athenahealth’s stock price up about 4 percent Wednesday morning, to more than $157 per share, as of this writing. The moves come a month … Continue reading “Athenahealth CEO Jonathan Bush Steps Down as Company Considers Sale”
Rubius Therapeutics Names Pablo Cagnoni CEO
Pablo Cagnoni has joined cell therapy developer Rubius Therapeutics as CEO. Cagnoni’s career includes work as both an oncologist and a pharmaceutical executive. He was most recently president and CEO of South San Francisco, CA, cancer drug developer Tizona Therapeutics. Rubius, based in Cambridge, MA, is engineering red blood cells with therapeutic properties. The company … Continue reading “Rubius Therapeutics Names Pablo Cagnoni CEO”
Double-Digit Funding Rounds for Fintech Startups BlueVine, Chime, Marqeta
[Updated 6/11/18, 11:13 am. See below.] A trio of Bay Area fintech companies announced fundraising rounds in the double-digit millions over the past week to help build out their alternative services in small business lending, consumer banking, and payment cards. Silicon Valley venture capital firm Menlo Ventures led two of the funding rounds. —BlueVine, an … Continue reading “Double-Digit Funding Rounds for Fintech Startups BlueVine, Chime, Marqeta”
Nimbus Nabs $65M to Advance In-House Drug Discoveries to the Clinic
Nimbus Therapeutics’ drugs have already found new homes with larger companies that aim to develop them into potential treatments for autoimmune and liver diseases. Selling its discoveries was a goal for Nimbus from its inception. But the Cambridge, MA, biotech has also been trying to forge its own identity framed around discoveries that it keeps … Continue reading “Nimbus Nabs $65M to Advance In-House Drug Discoveries to the Clinic”
ASCO Wrap: Cancer Combos, Precision Meds, Stock Movers & More
The American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, the world’s largest cancer conference, wraps up today in Chicago. Investors have dissected the data, picked winners and losers, and sent some biotech stocks soaring and others tumbling. In the days before ASCO, Xconomy previewed two major themes: the feverish and flawed race to develop cancer immunotherapy … Continue reading “ASCO Wrap: Cancer Combos, Precision Meds, Stock Movers & More”
Biotech’s Looming Talent Crisis: 5 Ways to Prepare for the Storm
Finding and keeping great talent has always been a limiting factor for building companies—and even more so in the life science industry, which requires highly specialized skills. As an executive recruiter focused solely on life sciences, I know firsthand the challenges of filling key executive roles, and I’m often the first to see signs of … Continue reading “Biotech’s Looming Talent Crisis: 5 Ways to Prepare for the Storm”
Sun Life Financial Buys Maxwell Health to Ease Insurance Buying
Maxwell Health’s quest to simplify the mind-numbing tasks of buying health insurance and administering other employee benefits will now continue under the wing of one of the startup’s investors. Boston-based Maxwell announced Monday it has been acquired by Sun Life Financial (NYSE: [[ticker:SLF]]), a Toronto, Canada-based company that sells insurance and provides a variety of … Continue reading “Sun Life Financial Buys Maxwell Health to Ease Insurance Buying”
E-Commerce Firm Rue La La Buys Fellow Flash-Sales Site Gilt Groupe
Two of fashion tech’s pioneering companies have come together. Rue La La, a flash-sale fashion site, announced Monday that it has purchased Gilt Groupe, a discount fashion and merchandise seller. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the two brands will operate independently, according to a press release. The merged company will be called … Continue reading “E-Commerce Firm Rue La La Buys Fellow Flash-Sales Site Gilt Groupe”
Rodin Therapeutics Names Michael Ryan Chief Medical Officer
J. Michael Ryan has been appointed chief medical officer of drug developer Rodin Therapeutics. Ryan comes to the Cambridge, MA, biotech from Swiss company Asceneuron, where he was chief medical officer. His experience also includes posts in neuro drug development for Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]) and Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]). Rodin is developing treatments for neurological disorders … Continue reading “Rodin Therapeutics Names Michael Ryan Chief Medical Officer”
Neon Therapeutics, Translate Bio Join the Ranks of IPO Hopefuls
At this rate, 2018 could be a record-breaking year for biotech IPOs. Two more Boston-area companies filed their IPO plans late last week. Neon Therapeutics is developing personalized cancer vaccines, one of which is in Phase 1 clinical testing. Translate Bio is a messenger RNA (mRNA) company that started human testing just last month. Neon … Continue reading “Neon Therapeutics, Translate Bio Join the Ranks of IPO Hopefuls”
Online Insurance Marketplace EverQuote Plans IPO: 4 Takeaways
The tech IPO revival of 2018 continues. EverQuote, a Boston-area company that operates an online insurance marketplace, filed documents with the SEC on Friday indicating it intends to go public. EverQuote said it might raise up to $75 million in an initial public stock offering, although that number could shift if the Cambridge, MA-based company … Continue reading “Online Insurance Marketplace EverQuote Plans IPO: 4 Takeaways”
Teladoc Buys Advance Medical for $352M to Expand Telehealth Services
Teladoc said Monday that it has bought Advance Medical, a fellow provider of telehealth software and services, in a $352 million cash and stock deal intended to add to its reach beyond U.S. borders. Purchase, NY-based Teladoc (NYSE: [[ticker:TDOC]]) said that following its acquisition of Westwood, MA-based Advance Medical, more people who are employed by … Continue reading “Teladoc Buys Advance Medical for $352M to Expand Telehealth Services”
Why Microsoft Bought GitHub for $7.5B, and What Developers Think
Since Satya Nadella took over as CEO of Microsoft in 2014, the company’s dedication to cloud computing and developer-focused software products has been palpable. Nadella was executive vice president of Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise group before taking the helm of the entire business. And revenues for the company’s cloud computing services, such as Microsoft Azure, … Continue reading “Why Microsoft Bought GitHub for $7.5B, and What Developers Think”
Xconomy’s Napa Summit Is June 14-15: Last Call for Invites
Just 10 days to go—but it’s not too late to request your invitation to Xconomy’s most unique and thought-provoking event of the year: our annual Napa Summit: The Xconomy Retreat on Technology, Jobs, and Growth. We only have a few spots left open, so get your wine on and request your invitation today. You will … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Napa Summit Is June 14-15: Last Call for Invites”
Price Check on Aisle 3: Retailers Turn to Robots to Manage Inventory
Inventory management is crucial to operating a successful retail operation. And as hard as it may be to believe, retailers “don’t really know what’s on the shelves,” says Sarjoun Skaff, founder and CTO of Bossa Nova Robotics. A combination of the sheer number of products a retailer like Walmart has on offer and the pace … Continue reading “Price Check on Aisle 3: Retailers Turn to Robots to Manage Inventory”
Banks & Insurers Seek Out Startups in New MassChallenge Accelerator
Big corporations increasingly say they see startups as friends, not enemies. The latest example is a new financial technology accelerator in Boston led by MassChallenge, the nonprofit organization that runs a global network of startup support programs that don’t take equity stakes in the companies. MassChallenge FinTech will match early-stage ventures with well-established industry partners … Continue reading “Banks & Insurers Seek Out Startups in New MassChallenge Accelerator”