In 2018, my Exome colleagues and I published hundreds of stories about health, medicine, the biopharma industry, government policy, and more. You’ll find a few of our favorite stories in this review of some of the year’s best from across the Xconomy network. Topics ranged from the worries over CRISPR genome editing and Wild West … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: $74B for Celgene, Two CAR-T Tales, Ready for SF & More”
Category: Boulder/Denver
From Immigration to Taxes, Execs Talk Trump Effect on Innovation
When it comes to developing and promoting innovation, external factors beyond the control of company founders, investors, and other business leaders can also determine whether a startup succeeds or fails. In 2018, geopolitical events—in particular, President Donald Trump’s hard-line stances on trade and immigration, and the repeal of net neutrality rules—were top of mind for … Continue reading “From Immigration to Taxes, Execs Talk Trump Effect on Innovation”
For CAR-T Cancer Fighters in the Real World, Two Roads Diverge
[Corrected, 1/4/19, 3:55pm ET. See below.] A generation ago, cancer treatments made from a patient’s own living immune cells would have been science fiction. Now they’re here. The first two products, approved in 2017 and known in shorthand as CAR-T, have brought some people with otherwise untreatable blood cancers back from the brink of death. … Continue reading “For CAR-T Cancer Fighters in the Real World, Two Roads Diverge”
In a Huge Biopharma Shakeup, Bristol-Myers to Buy Celgene For $74B
Bristol-Myers Squibb has agreed to acquire Celgene in a deal that would create one of the largest biopharma organizations in the world and send ripples throughout the life sciences sector. Bristol (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) on Thursday morning inked a deal to buy Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]) in a deal that values the Summit, NJ, drugmaker at $74 … Continue reading “In a Huge Biopharma Shakeup, Bristol-Myers to Buy Celgene For $74B”
Copps: Key Ingredient As A.I. Permeates Daily Life is Building Trust
The promise, and pitfalls, of artificial intelligence became more apparent in the last year, and for Dave Copps, founder of A.I. companies such as Brainspace and Hypergiant Sensory Sciences, the pace of adoption will only accelerate in 2019. What can help to smooth the transition to our new machine learning-enabled future is an effort on … Continue reading “Copps: Key Ingredient As A.I. Permeates Daily Life is Building Trust”
Three Ways 5G Is More Than Just Fast Video Streaming
In 2019, we will finally see commercial deployment of the much-anticipated 5G (fifth-generation) wireless network. 5G brings us closer to the possibility and promise of ubiquitous, un-tethered connection between every device and every entity. The projected exponential increase in bandwidth, low latency, ultra-reliable connections, and highly configurable network solutions enabled by 5G will go beyond … Continue reading “Three Ways 5G Is More Than Just Fast Video Streaming”
New Year to Bring New Data Security Threats, Cyber Investor Warns
Bob Ackerman is one of the venture capitalists whose funding has long fed the growth of the burgeoning cybersecurity industry. So, you might imagine that his outlook on data protection for 2019 would be more optimistic than in past years, because businesses now take advantage of a broad choice of security services to protect themselves. … Continue reading “New Year to Bring New Data Security Threats, Cyber Investor Warns”
NY’s Research Institutions Must Keep Working Together in ‘19
[Corrected, 1/7/19, 5:15 pm. See below.] [Editor’s Note: Euan Robertson, the Director of Strategic Planning & Special Projects at Columbia Technology Ventures, co-wrote this article.] It is a commonly held belief that academic research institutions, including those in New York City, are fierce competitors. In some ways, that may be true: Universities battle with each … Continue reading “NY’s Research Institutions Must Keep Working Together in ‘19”
In 2019, the Dam Will Break: Student Debt Predictions and Solutions
With the density of colleges and universities in the Boston area, we don’t often recognize how inaccessible higher education has become for the majority of the country. In fact, seven out of 10 college graduates today have outstanding student loans. And while many of us believe that education is a “must-have,” it’s alarming how structurally … Continue reading “In 2019, the Dam Will Break: Student Debt Predictions and Solutions”
From Alnylam to Zayner: Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of 2018
2018 was a year of ups and downs for the business and technology community. It was a year of big exits—both IPOs and acquisitions—for tech and life sciences companies. Venture funding remained strong, but more money went to fewer (and later-stage) companies overall. As the year winds down, we’re reflecting on the big innovation trends … Continue reading “From Alnylam to Zayner: Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of 2018”
Saxena: More Than a Tool, A.I. Must Be Used With Society in Mind
[Updated 12/27/18, 9:54 am] Manoj Saxena is bullish on artificial intelligence. As chairman of Austin, TX-based A.I. startup CognitiveScale and managing director of The Entrepreneur Fund, which makes investments in early-stage machine learning companies, Saxena believes A.I. can transform how we work and play—creating opportunities for business. But he’s also aware that the technology, if … Continue reading “Saxena: More Than a Tool, A.I. Must Be Used With Society in Mind”
CFOs: Prepare To Become Your Company’s Data Czar This Year
In mid-2018, Tom Bogan was the leader of business planning software company Adaptive Insights as it planned its own next steps. The Palo Alto, CA-based company was on the point of raising about $115 million in a June IPO that would have set its market value at around $705 million, according to PitchBook. But like … Continue reading “CFOs: Prepare To Become Your Company’s Data Czar This Year”
Boston A.I. Leaders Call for Focus on Diversity, Global Mindset in 2019
It was an eventful year for the artificial intelligence industry. The sector saw more big venture capital deals and acquisitions, while researchers kept plugging away on technology advances. Meanwhile, A.I. developers continued to grapple with issues around transparency, trust, and ethics. As part of Xconomy’s series of year-end posts, we asked a pair of CEOs … Continue reading “Boston A.I. Leaders Call for Focus on Diversity, Global Mindset in 2019”
VCs May Face Backlash if Profits Come at Expense of Responsibility
Venture capital is, by nature, an optimistic industry, and venture capitalists have historically gone about their work comfortable that they were making positive societal contributions. When looking at VC activity over the past half century, one can see venture capital’s role in championing endeavors that advanced knowledge, improved health, increased worker productivity, and preserved natural … Continue reading “VCs May Face Backlash if Profits Come at Expense of Responsibility”
Bio Roundup: 2019 Trials, Pilgrim Price Chat, Pre-Xmas Sales & More
It’s beginning to look a lot like, well, the last roundup of the year, with plenty of news to pack in before our holiday breather. Whew. Before you fly off, or drive, or simply unplug, check out our preview of what could be next year’s top clinical studies; the tumult in big pharma’s on again-off … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: 2019 Trials, Pilgrim Price Chat, Pre-Xmas Sales & More”
Pfizer, GSK to Merge Consumer Health Units, Focus on Prescription Drugs
Two of the world’s top drugmakers want to focus on making prescription drugs. Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline have agreed to merge their consumer health businesses and spin them off into a joint venture, a move that will both create a new consumer healthcare giant and increase the pressure on each company to churn out innovative medicines. … Continue reading “Pfizer, GSK to Merge Consumer Health Units, Focus on Prescription Drugs”
Graphcore Scores $200M to Scale Up A.I. Chip Production
One of the leading contenders in the A.I. chip race, Graphcore, announced Tuesday it pulled down $200 million in a Series D fundraising round that set its valuation at $1.7 billion. The Bristol, U.K.-based startup, founded in 2016, has now secured a total of more than $300 million in financing from venture capital firms and … Continue reading “Graphcore Scores $200M to Scale Up A.I. Chip Production”
Waldo Adds $4 Million for Software That Finds Your Face in the Crowd
Austin—Waldo Photos, a startup with facial recognition software that helps its users find photos of themselves and family members, has raised $4 million in a new round of financing led by Lewis & Clark Ventures. Waldo plans to use the money to add to its engineering team and sales force, as the startup is expanding … Continue reading “Waldo Adds $4 Million for Software That Finds Your Face in the Crowd”
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)”
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”
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)”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
San Antonio Seeks to Be Known as Silicon Valley of Military Medicine
San Antonio — When it comes to medical technology, what’s good for the military isn’t always good for the private sector. It’s often difficult for military researchers to find investors who will help them privately commercialize the innovations they develop, in part because the duties of military physicians are different than those of civilian doctors. That’s … Continue reading “San Antonio Seeks to Be Known as Silicon Valley of Military Medicine”
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”
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”
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?”
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”
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”
“JK Told Me He Was Planning This”: A CRISPR Baby Q&A with Matt Porteus
Last week, Chinese researcher He Jiankui stunned the world with his claim to have created the world’s first gene-edited humans. He said he had used CRISPR-Cas9 to change the DNA of the embryos of twin girls, to make them immune to HIV infection, then implanted them in their mother’s womb. He announced on video the … Continue reading ““JK Told Me He Was Planning This”: A CRISPR Baby Q&A with Matt Porteus”
BCMA Day: At ASH ‘18, Cell Therapies For Myeloma Take Center Stage
The treatment landscape for multiple myeloma, a deadly cancer of the bone marrow that affects about 30,000 Americans every year, has changed significantly over the past decade. And more changes look to be on the way. Take the results of a Phase 3 study just reported today at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) yearly … Continue reading “BCMA Day: At ASH ‘18, Cell Therapies For Myeloma Take Center Stage”
Event-Stream Hack Is Not Cause For Panic About Open-Source Security
News last week that event-stream, the popular open-source code library managed by NPM, had been compromised by a hacker (or hackers) looking to steal Bitcoin led some to question the underlying security of the open-source components that they are using in their software. According to reports, a hacker gained control of the event-stream package by … Continue reading “Event-Stream Hack Is Not Cause For Panic About Open-Source Security”
15Five Lands $8M to Provide Coaching Software to More Managers
[Updated 12/4/18 9:20 am. See below.] San Francisco-based performance management startup 15Five, whose mission is to torpedo annual performance reviews for workers and replace them with supportive weekly coaching by managers, announced today it raised $8 million in a Series A funding round. 15Five gets its name from the feedback and coaching process that its … Continue reading “15Five Lands $8M to Provide Coaching Software to More Managers”
ASH 2018: Three Up, Two Down as Big Blood Disease Meeting Rolls On
[Updated 4:37 p.m. See below.] Last week, Xconomy previewed the American Society of Hematology’s big meeting in San Diego, the largest medical gathering in the country on blood diseases. We took a deep dive into five specific disease areas under scrutiny, from lymphoma to hemophilia to sickle cell disease and more. News related to those … Continue reading “ASH 2018: Three Up, Two Down as Big Blood Disease Meeting Rolls On”
Volvo Expands In Silicon Valley As Auto Innovation Goes West
As GM announced a wave of auto plant closures in the North American heartland this week at the cost of thousands of jobs, Sweden’s Volvo Cars was expanding its U.S. presence, both in Silicon Valley and at a new South Carolina factory. Like Detroit-based GM (NYSE: [[ticker:GM]]), which is shifting its attention from traditional auto manufacturing … Continue reading “Volvo Expands In Silicon Valley As Auto Innovation Goes West”
Occipital Reaches Turning Point with New 3D Sensor for Drones, VR
Occipital, the San Francisco-based spatial computing startup, first planted its flag in computer vision tech five years ago when it released a plug-in sensor, billed as the first 3D sensor created for mobile devices such as the iPad. Called Structure Sensor, it allows users—mostly software developers and gamers—to capture 3D models or images in order … Continue reading “Occipital Reaches Turning Point with New 3D Sensor for Drones, VR”
Bio Roundup: CRISPR Babies, Blood Diseases, Big Cancer Nod & More
This was one of those weeks when the world seemed to slip into a new era with no going back. A Chinese researcher, He Jiankui, claimed he helped bring to life two genetically engineered babies, twin girls with a gene disabled to make them immune to HIV infection. Even though the technology He used—in vitro … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Babies, Blood Diseases, Big Cancer Nod & More”
Women Inspire NYC’s Tech Startups to Dream Bigger
As a native New Yorker, it may not come as much of a surprise that growing up I wanted to work in finance. In fact, I put myself through NYU Stern while working for companies like IBM, Prudential, and Merrill Lynch, and joined Goldman Sachs upon graduation. You could say I had made it in … Continue reading “Women Inspire NYC’s Tech Startups to Dream Bigger”
Under Fire, He Jiankui Says He’s “Proud” to Help Make CRISPR’d Babies
[Updated, 11/28/18, 12:20pm ET. See below.] Is there another CRISPR baby on the way? In his first public appearance since his stunning claim, released on YouTube Sunday, that he helped bring the first genome-edited humans into the world, He Jiankui, a genomics researcher at Southern University of Science and Technology of China in Shenzhen, said … Continue reading “Under Fire, He Jiankui Says He’s “Proud” to Help Make CRISPR’d Babies”
Genetic Medicine: FDA OKs 2nd Cancer Drug That Targets DNA, Not Tissues
[Updated 11/26/18. See below.] Going deeper into the new world of genetic medicine, the FDA has for the second time approved a drug that targets a tumor’s DNA fingerprint, no matter where in the body that cancer is found. And more could be on the way. The drug is larotrectinib (Vitrakvi), from Loxo Oncology (NASDAQ: … Continue reading “Genetic Medicine: FDA OKs 2nd Cancer Drug That Targets DNA, Not Tissues”
Necessity Vs. Innovation-Based Entrepreneurs
What makes someone an entrepreneur? Most simply defined, an entrepreneur is a person who identifies a need and starts a business to fill that void. But others will argue that a “true” entrepreneur must come up with an innovative new product or service and then operates their business to sell and profit from that innovation. … Continue reading “Necessity Vs. Innovation-Based Entrepreneurs”
ASH 2018: A Guide to the Latest for Blood-Borne Cancers and More
[Note: Ben Fidler co-authored this report.] This weekend, San Diego will host the annual American Society of Hematology conference, the largest U.S. medical gathering to get the latest on blood diseases, and a venue for updates on some of the most cutting-edge biotechnologies that only a few years ago seemed like science fiction. Using the … Continue reading “ASH 2018: A Guide to the Latest for Blood-Borne Cancers and More”
Immigrants Are Key to Winning the AI Arms Race
If we want to create jobs and economic opportunity here in the U.S., we’re going to need immigrants. Not only have they pioneered our country’s greatest achievements, bringing you everything from hot dogs to YouTube, but today they serve at the cutting edge of our foremost industries. Nowhere is this more true than in the … Continue reading “Immigrants Are Key to Winning the AI Arms Race”