Category: Boston

Senate Approves 21st Century Cures Act, Sending Bill to Obama

The U.S. Senate has voted overwhelmingly to approve the 21st Century Cures Act, a wide-ranging healthcare spending and reform bill that aims to infuse medical research with new funding and also speed up the regulatory approval process for new drugs and medical devices. With the Senate’s 94-5 vote on Wednesday, the bill now advances to … Continue reading “Senate Approves 21st Century Cures Act, Sending Bill to Obama”

Voyager’s Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Shows Promise in Small Study

Voyager Therapeutics this afternoon is providing very early evidence that an experimental gene therapy it’s been developing might have a chance to help patients with Parkinson’s disease for whom standard treatment is no longer working well. Cambridge, MA-based Voyager (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VYGR]]) is disclosing interim data from a small, open-label, Phase 1 trial among volunteers with … Continue reading “Voyager’s Gene Therapy for Parkinson’s Shows Promise in Small Study”

A Few Tickets Left for The State of Cybersecurity on Thursday

Registration is closing soon for “The State of Cybersecurity,” Xconomy’s first dedicated public cybersecurity event at WGBH in Boston tomorrow—Thursday, December 8. At this half-day event, we’ll be exploring a variety of topics including personal data security, managing cyber threats, and much more. We’ll have a special presentation by Stephen Boyer of BitSight Technologies, which … Continue reading “A Few Tickets Left for The State of Cybersecurity on Thursday”

Soft Tissue Regeneration Obtains $1,485,578 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=eddae745-7f5b-47b4-93e3-17e70e813bca Date 12/7/2016 Company Name Soft Tissue Regeneration Mailing Address 142 Temple Street New Haven, CT 06510 USA Company Description Soft Tissue Regeneration has developed and preliminarily tested a potential breakthrough technology for soft tissue regeneration of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. Website http://www.softtissueregeneration.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Soft Tissue Regeneration Obtains $1,485,578 New Financing”

BlueArchive Obtains $6,200,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c06d8aed-a645-4af6-9c35-4562a562e37f Date 12/7/2016 Company Name BlueArchive Mailing Address 40 Commonwealth Ave E-F Boston, MA 02116 USA Company Description BlueArchive, Inc. offers data archiving cloud services. Website http://www.bluearchive.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $6,200,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture Investor Undisclosed

RapidSOS Lands $3,250,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ab16f609-1133-4568-be0d-d466cddaad40 Date 12/7/2016 Company Name RapidSOS Mailing Address Undisclosed Boston, MA 02119 USA Company Description RapidSOS’ team has developed mission critical code at two national labs, developed back-end and mobile products for a number of tech start-ups, and collectively has helped commercialize over 70 technology companies. Website http://www.rapidsos.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “RapidSOS Lands $3,250,000 New Funding Round”

First Clinical Trial Done, Elysium Lands $20M for Health Supplements

For many people looking for ways to treat illness or disease, the first thought is to pop a pill. Taking medication is a reactive approach to disease. But Eric Marcotulli, CEO of Elysium Health, says science is now revealing ways that a proactive approach can stave off disease and bodily decline. Elysium, a New York-based … Continue reading “First Clinical Trial Done, Elysium Lands $20M for Health Supplements”

PatientPing Gets $32M From Leerink, Andreessen for Health Info Sharing

PatientPing has raised $31.6 million from investors on both coasts to speed up adoption of its software that helps doctors track when their patients get admitted to or released from the hospital. The Series B funding round was led by Boston-based Leerink Transformation Partners and Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley venture firm that has backed … Continue reading “PatientPing Gets $32M From Leerink, Andreessen for Health Info Sharing”

At Late-Night ASH Talk, Juno Execs Look Beyond Stalled “Rocket” Trial

[Corrected 3/1/17 to update trial data] Juno Therapeutics is still mulling next steps for its lead product, an experimental cancer immunotherapy now stuck in limbo. Five of 38 adult leukemia patients taking the product in a clinical trial called “Rocket” have died from severe brain swelling caused by the treatment. In an after-dinner review at … Continue reading “At Late-Night ASH Talk, Juno Execs Look Beyond Stalled “Rocket” Trial”

ASH Roundup: CAR-T Shuffle, Hemophilia Updates, Checkpoint Progress & More

Two years ago at the American Society of Hematology conference, excitement, not blood, was running in the streets of San Francisco. The cancer immunotherapy known as CAR-T was the star of the show, thanks to dazzling early data that showed more patients than not saw their leukemias and lymphomas knocked into remission by the living, … Continue reading “ASH Roundup: CAR-T Shuffle, Hemophilia Updates, Checkpoint Progress & More”

Rainbow Broadband Leads Charge to Bring Fixed Wireless to Brooklyn

Microwaves belong in kitchens, right? Not according to Russ Hamm, president and founder of New York-based Rainbow Broadband. Since 2004, Hamm and his firm have been installing microwave antennas on rooftops across Manhattan capable of providing fixed wireless Internet service to hundreds of clients in a roughly two-mile radius. The devices are capable of wirelessly providing … Continue reading “Rainbow Broadband Leads Charge to Bring Fixed Wireless to Brooklyn”

Lemonade Garners $33,099,997 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a5a2d07b-04ac-49e9-9ffe-a0e66ff2ef70 Date 12/6/2016 Company Name Lemonade Mailing Address P.O. Box 445 South Norwalk, CT 06856 USA Company Description Lemonade Insurance is set to be the first insurance company designed around peer-to-peer technology. Lemonade harnesses the power of behavioral economics and the essence of the sharing economy, delivering to consumers an insurance experience … Continue reading “Lemonade Garners $33,099,997 New Financing Round”

Cerevance Lands $36,000,000 Series A Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6c0e6949-a55e-4689-8446-b600c92ea3d0 Date 12/6/2016 Company Name Cerevance Mailing Address One Kendall Square Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Company Description Cerevance is a neuroscience company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $36,000,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were … Continue reading “Cerevance Lands $36,000,000 Series A Financing”

With Nod To Biden, Senate To Say Yes To “Cures” Spending, Reform Bill

The U.S. Senate cleared the way for the 21st Century Cures Act, an omnibus healthcare spending and reform bill, by voting 85-13 to end debate this evening. It passed the House with 392 votes last week. After a final Senate vote as early as tomorrow, it will head to President Obama’s desk. The president used … Continue reading “With Nod To Biden, Senate To Say Yes To “Cures” Spending, Reform Bill”

Uber Buys New York’s Geometric Intelligence to Power New A.I. Lab

Uber is ratcheting up its efforts to advance artificial intelligence technologies as it pushes down the road toward self-driving vehicles. The ride-hailing app company has launched Uber AI Labs, a new division based in San Francisco focused on A.I. and machine learning research. The initial core team is made up of the 15 employees of … Continue reading “Uber Buys New York’s Geometric Intelligence to Power New A.I. Lab”

With Cowboys’ Backing, Blue Star Set to Boost Sports Startups

Dallas—Partners with a deep well of subject matter expertise and capital are on the top of any entrepreneur’s wish list. Now an accelerator tailored to sports technology startups might be giving those founders a connection to the ultimate in sports and marketing royalty: the Dallas Cowboys. The new Blue Star Accelerator, aimed at nurturing young … Continue reading “With Cowboys’ Backing, Blue Star Set to Boost Sports Startups”

Fresh Off ASH Data, Spark Teams With Selecta to Boost Gene Therapies

As a group of experimental gene therapies—potentially long-lasting, if not permanent treatments—for the blood disease hemophilia continue to creep through clinical testing, a few things have become clear. They’re helping patients produce meaningful amounts of the blood-clotting proteins they lack for increasingly long periods of time. But they also may not work for everybody. Spark … Continue reading “Fresh Off ASH Data, Spark Teams With Selecta to Boost Gene Therapies”

How Secure Are You? Find Out at The State of Cybersecurity Thursday

Are your security measures good enough? We’re not talking about the locks on your house. We’re talking about the security of your sensitive personal data—health records, bank account passwords, and more—and the cyber defenses protecting businesses’ computer systems, data, files, intellectual property, and other digital assets. It’s a crucial question that seemingly grows more urgent … Continue reading “How Secure Are You? Find Out at The State of Cybersecurity Thursday”

The Xconomy Immuno-Oncology Resource: A Mid-ASH T Cell Update

[Updated, 12/5/16, 4 p.m. See below.] If you’re following cancer immunotherapy, you might feel a bit swamped by this week’s wave of clinical data from experimental programs that turn living T cells into revved-up cancer fighters. We’re updating our ongoing cancer immunotherapy trial resource with American Society of Hematology results, plus a few others we’ve … Continue reading “The Xconomy Immuno-Oncology Resource: A Mid-ASH T Cell Update”

SQZ Biotech Lands $4,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=402b5aa6-d269-4ee4-af4e-3e1987a515af Date 12/3/2016 Company Name SQZ Biotech Mailing Address 100 Morrissey Blvd. Boston, MA 02125 USA Company Description Many promising therapeutic modalities have limited clinical efficacy due to the challenges of delivering molecules into cells. SQZ Biotech seeks to address this fundamental problem by developing its CellSqueeze platform for use in drug … Continue reading “SQZ Biotech Lands $4,000,000 New Financing”

Neurovance Garners $1,500,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5feed7c6-744b-4fa1-9150-baf187d7b7e4 Date 12/3/2016 Company Name Neurovance Mailing Address 43 Thorndike Street Cambridge, MA 02141 USA Company Description Neurovance is a clinical stage neuroscience-focused company. Following development of centanafadine SR (formerly EB-1020 SR) for adult ADHD, Neurovance will develop centanafadine SR for adolescent and pediatric ADHD. Website http://www.neurovance.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount … Continue reading “Neurovance Garners $1,500,000 New Funding Round”

Acetylon Crafts New Buyout Deal With Celgene, Spins Out Startup Regenacy

[Updated, 12/5/16, see below] Earlier this year, Celgene passed on an exclusive option to buy Acetylon Pharmaceuticals. But surprisingly, the two companies have come up with a new deal instead. Celgene agreed Friday to acquire just a portion of the assets of the Boston company, which will spin the rest of its assets into a … Continue reading “Acetylon Crafts New Buyout Deal With Celgene, Spins Out Startup Regenacy”

Katie Vale, Digital Learning and Tech Leader From Boston, Dies at 51

Xconomy is sad to report that Katie Vale, a mainstay of the New England education and technology community, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Nov. 27. She was 51. Vale was a close friend of the Xconomy family and participated in many Boston-area education and tech efforts and mentoring programs, among other things. Most recently, she … Continue reading “Katie Vale, Digital Learning and Tech Leader From Boston, Dies at 51”

Boston Scientific to Buy Neovasc Heart Valve Assets in $75M Deal

With sales of its minimally invasive heart valve growing in Europe and an expected launch of the product coming in the United States, Boston Scientific is now shoring up the resources behind its Lotus Valve System with a deal to acquire a piece of a key supplier that makes parts for the device. Marlborough, MA-based … Continue reading “Boston Scientific to Buy Neovasc Heart Valve Assets in $75M Deal”

This Week in Drug Pricing and Post-Election Healthcare Policy News

Healthcare news has been coming fast and furious in the fallout of the election, particularly this week. Read on below for the latest on the 21st Century Cures Act, the Trump Administration’s latest nominees, and a biopharma CEO’s warning to his peers on drug pricing. IN WASHINGTON… —The House of Representatives passed a sweeping healthcare … Continue reading “This Week in Drug Pricing and Post-Election Healthcare Policy News”

Bio Roundup: CAR-T Ups & Downs, Lilly’s Failure, Myeloma & More

We’ve packed some extra stuffing into the roundup this week to account for some burnt turkey delivered by biopharma in the few days before Thanksgiving—starting with Eli Lilly’s failed gamble in Alzheimer’s disease. Lilly wasn’t alone, however. Several companies, among them Juno Therapeutics, Arrowhead Pharmaceutials, and Nivalis Therapeutics, have had some bad news for investors … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CAR-T Ups & Downs, Lilly’s Failure, Myeloma & More”

Boston Holiday Tech Watch: GiveHope, LovePop, Samsung, IBM & More

‘Tis the holiday season, and in this week’s roundup of Boston-area tech news, we’re covering funding for a pop-up greeting card startup and an initiative that encourages people to, instead of giving gifts, donate to nonprofits that support causes considered at risk after Donald Trump’s election. Meanwhile, in non-holiday-themed news, we’ve got a local nanotech … Continue reading “Boston Holiday Tech Watch: GiveHope, LovePop, Samsung, IBM & More”

Qstream Garners $15,000,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ac7e2a33-a333-44df-8085-f70e3a2676f9 Date 12/2/2016 Company Name Qstream Mailing Address 200 Wheeler Road Burlington, MA 01803 USA Company Description We provide a patented and secure sales performance solution delivered via the cloud to mobile devices that is fun to use and takes only minutes a day. A sophisticated analytics engine uses the data to … Continue reading “Qstream Garners $15,000,000 Series B Financing Round”

Save $100 Today on Registration for The State of Cybersecurity

The State of Cybersecurity, Xconomy’s first-ever dedicated conference on cybersecurity, is just one week away! It all takes place in WGBH’s auditorium in Boston at 1:30pm on Thursday, Dec. 8. Now’s your chance to save a little extra cash during the holiday season—we have a special running until midnight that will save you $100 on … Continue reading “Save $100 Today on Registration for The State of Cybersecurity”

Harvard Spinout Qstream Grabs $15M for App to Coach Sales Reps

The methods of honing the skills of sales people are getting more sophisticated, as companies turn to mobile technologies, data analytics, and even neuroscience to coax the best performance possible from their sales teams. Investors see promise here: Qstream announced today it closed a $15 million Series B funding round led by Polaris Partners. Qstream’s … Continue reading “Harvard Spinout Qstream Grabs $15M for App to Coach Sales Reps”

TraceLink Lands $51,500,000 Series C Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=a08abcec-2146-47b2-8834-3744c2cf2e9a Date 12/1/2016 Company Name TraceLink Mailing Address 200 Quannapowitt Parkway Wakefield, MA 01880 USA Company Description TraceLink protects patients, enables health, grows profits and ensures compliance for companies across the global Life Sciences network through the TraceLink Life Sciences Cloud. Website http://www.tracelink.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $51,500,000 Transaction Round … Continue reading “TraceLink Lands $51,500,000 Series C Round”

Axial Biotherapeutics Obtains $19,000,000 Series A Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b1bdc4fb-dcfd-41c5-bc6b-d690060ed32c Date 12/1/2016 Company Name Axial Biotherapeutics Mailing Address 800 Boylston St. 15th Floor Boston, MA 02199 USA Company Description Axial Biotherapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company harnessing the link between the human gut microbiome and Central Nervous System to develop a new class of therapeutics to improve the quality of life for … Continue reading “Axial Biotherapeutics Obtains $19,000,000 Series A Funding”

Brushing Aside Critics, House Votes in Landslide for Cures Act

By a 392 to 26 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the omnibus healthcare legislation called the 21st Century Cures Act, bringing new funding for top Obama administration health priorities a big step closer to the outgoing president’s signature. While critics of the bill questioned whether that funding would actually materialize in coming … Continue reading “Brushing Aside Critics, House Votes in Landslide for Cures Act”

In Year of CAR-T Trouble, Can Bluebird, Penn Make Headway in Myeloma?

Several drugs have been approved to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow, in recent years. But it remains a nasty, persistent disease. Most everyone relapses. Two rival groups, Bluebird Bio and researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, are presenting data in coming days to make a case that a cutting-edge therapy known … Continue reading “In Year of CAR-T Trouble, Can Bluebird, Penn Make Headway in Myeloma?”

Founder Collective Closes Third Fund: $75M to Back Early-Stage Startups

Founder Collective has reloaded its stock of dry powder to fuel young startups. The venture firm today announced it has raised $75 million for its third fund, roughly the same aggregate size as its second. The firm was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2009, and launched with a $40 million seed-stage fund. Founder … Continue reading “Founder Collective Closes Third Fund: $75M to Back Early-Stage Startups”

RAM shift phase 2

[Editor’s note: Seattle-based sci-fi author Greg Bear has contemplated a day when intelligent machines, which are already assisting or replacing humans in manufacturing and transportation, could do his job, too. Indeed, a World Economic Forum study (PDF) predicts that technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics will replace some 5 million jobs by 2020, while … Continue reading “RAM shift phase 2”

Goldman Funnels $51M Into Cloud Tech Company That Fights Fake Drugs

An increased incidence of counterfeit drugs around the world has people worried about the health problems they can cause, among other issues. That’s sparked a wave of interest in companies that are creating technologies to potentially sniff out counterfeit drugs. Now, a Massachusetts business that tracks and documents the authenticity of pharmaceutical drugs globally has … Continue reading “Goldman Funnels $51M Into Cloud Tech Company That Fights Fake Drugs”

With $19M, Axial Becomes Latest Startup to Target Gut-Brain Connection

We’re still a long way from understanding how the trillions of bacteria that live in and on our bodies, known collectively as the human microbiome, affect our health and well-being. Despite those unknowns, a steady drip of companies have launched in recent years to explore those links and make drugs for a range of diseases. … Continue reading “With $19M, Axial Becomes Latest Startup to Target Gut-Brain Connection”

LovePop Secures $4,095,777 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c6e0b0b0-5556-4335-841d-c079f5bc0397 Date 11/30/2016 Company Name LovePop Mailing Address 61 Chatham St. 5th Floor Boston, MA 02109 USA Company Description LovePop sells 3D pop-up greeting cards online. Website http://www.lovepopcards.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $4,095,777 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. 19 investors participated in the offering. The … Continue reading “LovePop Secures $4,095,777 New Financing”

Trump Tabs Fiscal, Social Conservatives To Run U.S. Health Agencies

Two big pieces of the Trump healthcare puzzle have fallen into place. The President-elect’s transition team has nominated Georgia Republican congressman Tom Price to be Health and Human Services secretary. It has also tabbed Indiana health consultant Seema Verma to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In a statement, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), … Continue reading “Trump Tabs Fiscal, Social Conservatives To Run U.S. Health Agencies”

The Tough Questions You Must Discuss Before You Take the Money

If all goes well, the day will come when just one small thing will stand between you and funding for your startup: your signature on a term sheet. Most founders quickly sign on the line and get back to the business of growing their business. Smart ones set aside the paperwork, grab their business partners, … Continue reading “The Tough Questions You Must Discuss Before You Take the Money”

Celgene Invests More in GNS Healthcare For Machine Learning Software

Celgene has made a second investment in GNS Healthcare and is tapping into the firm’s data analytics software to boost Celgene’s drug discovery and development efforts. Under an agreement announced Tuesday, Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]) has licensed the rights to use GNS Healthcare’s “Reverse Engineering and Forward Simulation” software. The technology crunches reams of health data—from … Continue reading “Celgene Invests More in GNS Healthcare For Machine Learning Software”

480 Biomedical Lands $5,999,999 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=439ce256-8392-4f35-8a60-6d59b187720e Date 11/29/2016 Company Name 480 Biomedical Mailing Address 480 Arsenal Street Watertown, MA 02472 USA Company Description 480 Biomedical focuses on the development of a bioresorbable scaffold for treating occlusive disease in the superficial femoral artery. Website http://www.480biomedical.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $5,999,999 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds … Continue reading “480 Biomedical Lands $5,999,999 New Financing Round”

Today Only: Save $120 for The State of Cybersecurity on 12/8

Join us next Thursday, December 8, for The State of Cybersecurity, where you’ll hear the who’s who of business and tech leaders address questions about data security, IT strategy in the age of cyber threats, and much more. It all starts at 1:30pm at WGBH in Boston. And to save you a little extra cash, … Continue reading “Today Only: Save $120 for The State of Cybersecurity on 12/8”

Iris Plans Uses Telemedicine to Innovate Delivery of End-of-life Care

Austin—Iris Plans is using telemedicine for an often overlooked part of health care: advanced care planning. Iris recently announced a partnership with the University of Utah Health Plans, and is now providing technology-enabled advanced care planning for about 50,000 members. Iris has created an online office where doctors, nurses, or social workers can advise patients … Continue reading “Iris Plans Uses Telemedicine to Innovate Delivery of End-of-life Care”

Should We Rewrite the Human Genome?

Scientists are engineering a new living thing: a radically modified version of the lowly bacterium E. coli. In an article in Science from August, researchers at Harvard University described an ongoing project to build the genetic code of E. coli from scratch, but with major revisions to create a new strain unlike any in existence. The modified E. coli is … Continue reading “Should We Rewrite the Human Genome?”

Cerahelix Lands $510,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c983462c-ca22-478a-870b-32e911e2d1de Date 11/28/2016 Company Name Cerahelix Mailing Address 20 Godfrey Drive Orono, ME 04473 USA Company Description Cerahelix and the helix NFM is based on a patented process that uses DNA to make a nano-ceramic coating to provide faster filtration at high purity. Website http://www.cerahelix.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $510,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Cerahelix Lands $510,000 New Funding”

Fullbridge Secures $3,713,950 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ef8c37ec-576e-4a1d-b89f-b3d9f790d151 Date 11/28/2016 Company Name Fullbridge Mailing Address 38 Chauncy Street Boston, MA 02111 USA Company Description We empower students and young adults to succeed in the global economy. Website http://www.fullbridge.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $3,713,950 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. 12 investors participated in the … Continue reading “Fullbridge Secures $3,713,950 New Round”