No one has made an effective vaccine for herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), better known as genital herpes. That’s because no one has been able to harness the immune system to attack the virus while it’s hiding out, dormant, inside cells. While there’s a long road ahead, Genocea Biosciences says it has a shot to … Continue reading “Genocea’s Herpes Vaccine Heads For Critical Proving Ground”
Category: National
TruReview: An Online Feedback Process That Can’t Be Faked?
A few years ago, Dwight Zahringer owned a web development company called Trademark Productions in Royal Oak, MI. After Google went mainstream, customers began asking him to “play” in search engine optimization, an Internet marketing strategy that involves manipulating a website’s visibility in search results and its association with particular keywords—positive and negative. “I was … Continue reading “TruReview: An Online Feedback Process That Can’t Be Faked?”
“Tech Tax” Repeal Coming, Lawmakers Say, After Last-Minute Lobbying
The Massachusetts technology sector saw its hastily flexed political muscle pay off this week, as legislative leaders pledged to repeal a new sales tax on certain kinds of software development. The “tech tax,” as it became known, was passed earlier this year as part of a major state transportation financing package. It extended the state’s … Continue reading ““Tech Tax” Repeal Coming, Lawmakers Say, After Last-Minute Lobbying”
CB Insights, Silicon Valley Bank, Others See Rise in NY Investments
Deals and venture capital investments in New York startups are on track to set a new five-year high, according to projections in a report released Thursday. Venture data firm CB Insights based in New York gathered the stats for the New York Venture Capital Almanac, sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank and law firm Orrick, Herrington … Continue reading “CB Insights, Silicon Valley Bank, Others See Rise in NY Investments”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Isis, Neurocrine, MEI, and More
Isis Pharmaceuticals extended its reach in neurological drugs this week by signing its fourth collaboration agreement with Biogen Idec. We have that and the rest of San Diego’s life sciences news wrapped up here. —Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), the Weston, MA-based maker of multiple sclerosis drugs, agreed to pay $100 million to antisense specialist Isis … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Isis, Neurocrine, MEI, and More”
Rach.io Racks Up Second Big Win, Takes $15K Prize at Apex Challenge
Looks like Rach.io, a Denver-based startup that makes technology for smart sprinkler systems, has found the perfect way to launch a company in Colorado and raise the equivalent of a small angel round—win a business plan challenge every two weeks. Rach.io took home the $15,000 top prize Wednesday at the Colorado Technology’s Association Apex Challenge. … Continue reading “Rach.io Racks Up Second Big Win, Takes $15K Prize at Apex Challenge”
Salsify Blooms With $8M in Skok Brothers’ First VC Deal
One of the most intriguing young Boston startups is having its coming-out party this week. Salsify, named after a plant that is “beautiful, low maintenance, and spreads like wildfire,” is trying to reinvent the fundamental data flow that is crucial to e-commerce businesses. Salsify is announcing it has raised an $8 million Series A round … Continue reading “Salsify Blooms With $8M in Skok Brothers’ First VC Deal”
Bluebird, Moderna, Genocea to Share Their Stories on Oct. 2
It’s just a few weeks to go until our next Boston-area biotech extravaganza, so it’s time to give you an update on what’s in store if you join us at “Xconomy Xchange: Boston’s Life Science Disruptors” at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Cambridge on the evening of Oct. 2. The basic theme here … Continue reading “Bluebird, Moderna, Genocea to Share Their Stories on Oct. 2”
Colorado’s Apex Meeting: Startups Celebrate, Old Guard Shows Life
Leaders of Colorado tech companies are gathering today in Denver for the Colorado Technology Association’s Apex Conference. The crowd at Apex is mostly the part of Colorado’s tech industry that wears ties instead of t-shirts (yes, actual ties), but startups will take the spotlight later today for the Apex Challenge. The challenge is a $20,000, … Continue reading “Colorado’s Apex Meeting: Startups Celebrate, Old Guard Shows Life”
Kauffman Report: It Takes Decades to Build a Startup Hub
The Kauffman Foundation caused a stir in economic-development circles last month with a report showing that high-tech startups are more evenly spread across the United States than many people assume. When researcher Ian Hathaway, an economic advisor with the advocacy group Engine, ranked metropolitan areas in terms of their per-capita density of high-tech startups, his … Continue reading “Kauffman Report: It Takes Decades to Build a Startup Hub”
Gilead Seeks FDA OK for Lymphoma Drug, First Big Move into Cancer
Gilead Sciences has its sights set on becoming a cancer drugmaker, and today it it took an important step in that direction by turning in a key application to the FDA. Foster City, CA-based Gilead (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]), the world’s largest maker of HIV medicines, said today it has filed a new drug application to the … Continue reading “Gilead Seeks FDA OK for Lymphoma Drug, First Big Move into Cancer”
Green Tech Wants Its Say in the Race for New York’s Next Mayor
Last night while ballots were cast in the mayoral primaries, part of the New York innovation community gathered at the Green Spaces coworking and event venue to display and discuss ideas for creating a greener cityscape. In addition to being a shared space for startups, Green Spaces, which also has a site in Denver, wants … Continue reading “Green Tech Wants Its Say in the Race for New York’s Next Mayor”
Civitas Scores $38M Series B For Parkinson’s Drug Push
Civitas Therapeutics’ Parkinson’s disease drug got a second vote of confidence from the Michael J. Fox Foundation earlier this year. Now the startup has added a big batch of cash to help push that drug—an inhalable version of a long used, but flawed treatment for the disorder—through a key mid-stage clinical trial. Chelsea, MA-based Civitas … Continue reading “Civitas Scores $38M Series B For Parkinson’s Drug Push”
Xconomy is Looking for Detroit Innovation Champions
In 2010, Xconomy opened its fourth news bureau in Detroit, joining Boston, Seattle, and San Diego. Even though this was a time when record numbers of global media were parachuting into town and writing stories showcasing “ruin porn” and what they deemed as the hopelessness of the Motor City’s plight, Xconomy had a different mission … Continue reading “Xconomy is Looking for Detroit Innovation Champions”
Boston Roundup: Gov. Patrick, Benu, iZotope, Dorm Room Fund, edX
We’ve got some significant tech-industry political news this week, along with fundraising announcements, VC expansions, and a new online education product: —Gov. Deval Patrick is suddenly championing the causes of many in the Massachusetts tech sector. In separate announcements yesterday, Patrick said he wants to make non-compete agreements unenforceable in the state and also wants … Continue reading “Boston Roundup: Gov. Patrick, Benu, iZotope, Dorm Room Fund, edX”
FDA Concerns Cause OvaScience To Halt U.S. Trial Of Souped-Up IVF Procedure
[Updated, 9:15 am ET] Shares of OvaScience (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OVAS]]) were sent spiraling downward late Tuesday after the company revealed that the FDA wants it to seek regulatory approval for its lead product, Augment, a procedure designed to boost the success rate of in vitro fertilization. Cambridge, MA-based OvaScience received a letter from the FDA questioning … Continue reading “FDA Concerns Cause OvaScience To Halt U.S. Trial Of Souped-Up IVF Procedure”
Genentech Aims to Set Precedent With FDA OK in Early Breast Cancer
Exactly when does it make sense to start giving breast cancer patients one of the most potent, targeted drugs that doctors have in their repertoire? That’s the gist of a question that an FDA panel of cancer drug experts will consider on Thursday, when they review an application from South San Francisco-based Genentech, a unit … Continue reading “Genentech Aims to Set Precedent With FDA OK in Early Breast Cancer”
9Mile Labs: First Demo Day and Research on Accelerator Effectiveness
9Mile Labs, the new Seattle area startup accelerator for business-to-business companies, delivered nine new companies to potential investors Tuesday. Begun earlier this year on the premise that the high rejection rates of other startup accelerators such as Techstars indicated a need for more accelerators, 9Mile Labs set out “to build a world-class entrepreneurial community in … Continue reading “9Mile Labs: First Demo Day and Research on Accelerator Effectiveness”
New Tech Colorado’s Reich Looks Back at 7 Years of Community Building
If you’re active in Colorado’s world of tech startups, you know New Tech Colorado and its monthly meetups in Boulder and Denver. The grassroots organization is almost 10,000 members strong, and a few hundred tech companies—ranging from Google to Backflip Studios to Techstars companies to brand-new startups—have presented at its gatherings. You also know Robert … Continue reading “New Tech Colorado’s Reich Looks Back at 7 Years of Community Building”
Altius Education Changes Course After Accreditation Battles
Altius Education founder and CEO Paul Freedman says he knew he was taking a risk when he put all of the company’s eggs, save one, into a single basket: an online junior college called Ivy Bridge, owned jointly by Altius and Tiffin University in Ohio. The for-profit college, whose mission was to go traditional junior … Continue reading “Altius Education Changes Course After Accreditation Battles”
Standing Cloud Acquired by SF’s AppDirect, Will Remain in Boulder
Standing Cloud, a venture-backed startup in Boulder, has been acquired by AppDirect for an undisclosed price, the companies announced Tuesday. Standing Cloud was developing a marketplace and management tools for cloud-based applications, offering more than 100 applications like WordPress, Drupal, and SugarCRM to clients. San Francisco-based AppDirect and Standing Cloud were working on very similar … Continue reading “Standing Cloud Acquired by SF’s AppDirect, Will Remain in Boulder”
Roundup: Raikes Leaving Gates Foundation; Front Desk, Versium Funding
Somewhere between the news of Steve Ballmer’s planned retirement from Microsoft and its blockbuster acquisition of Nokia’s mobile devices business, Seattle tech news took a very brief summer vacation. Did you notice? Now it’s back to school, back to work. In recent days, we’ve tracked financing news for area startups including Front Desk and Versium … Continue reading “Roundup: Raikes Leaving Gates Foundation; Front Desk, Versium Funding”
Broad Institute Joins up with Bayer to Find Targeted Cancer Drugs
The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, MA, has scored its latest big industry partnership—this time with Bayer. Broad, the non-profit biomedical and genomics institute staffed by Harvard and MIT scientists, said today that will team with the German pharma giant’s U.S. arm, Bayer Healthcare, on a five-year pact to discover targeted cancer … Continue reading “Broad Institute Joins up with Bayer to Find Targeted Cancer Drugs”
Former Auto, Bomber Plant to Become Connected Vehicle Research Center
A 5 million-square-foot former automotive factory in Ypsilanti Township, MI—the site where Henry Ford perfected his system of producing a new World War II bomber every minute—has taken its first step toward new life as a connected vehicle research center. “This is the next big thing in transportation technology,” says Paul Krutko, president and CEO … Continue reading “Former Auto, Bomber Plant to Become Connected Vehicle Research Center”
Icahn Withdraws Opposition to Dell Buyback Offer
After months of legal wrangling this summer, it looks like Michael Dell will get his company back. Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn conceded defeat yesterday in his bid to prevent Dell Computer from being brought private in the bid led by Dell’s founder. In a letter to shareholders, Icahn reiterated his opposition to the buyout, … Continue reading “Icahn Withdraws Opposition to Dell Buyback Offer”
Qualcomm Joins “Formula E” (as in Electric) Auto Racing Series
Auto racing enthusiasts often point out that many of the innovations in today’s standard production automobiles—including disc brakes, direct shift gearboxes, and dual overhead cams—were pioneered in race cars built by elite race teams. So the idea behind the FIA Formula E Championship, a 10-city tour of motorsport races for electrically-powered “formula” cars (Le Mans-type … Continue reading “Qualcomm Joins “Formula E” (as in Electric) Auto Racing Series”
Juan Enriquez, Mark Levin, Phil Sharp to Speak at Healthcare Summit Oct. 15
October 15 is shaping up to be an incredible day. School will have settled into a rhythm, the leaves will be changing, and we are convening a killer group of healthcare experts for our first-ever Xconomy Healthcare Summit. This is an invitation-only event that features the world’s leading innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists, practitioners, and investors in … Continue reading “Juan Enriquez, Mark Levin, Phil Sharp to Speak at Healthcare Summit Oct. 15”
5 Reasons You Should Drop Everything and Start Growing Bugs
Around the world, since the dawn of time, humans have eaten insects. The Western aversion to the idea is a recent phenomenon. With feed conversion ratios double that of chicken, and nearly six times that of beef, edible species like the common house cricket are a popular food source worldwide. In countries such as Thailand, … Continue reading “5 Reasons You Should Drop Everything and Start Growing Bugs”
Songza Tunes In for $4.7M, Amps Up Ad Technology
Streaming music geared for your mood seems to flow well with Songza’s backers. The Long Island City, NY-based startup announced Tuesday it raised $4.7 million in equity financing from its investors that include Gary Vaynerchuk, Lerer Ventures, and Amazon.com. Songza is a platform that curates music for listeners based on their lifestyle and situation, such … Continue reading “Songza Tunes In for $4.7M, Amps Up Ad Technology”
TapInfluence Taps Into Colorado VC Firms for a $5M Series B Round
TapInfluence, a Boulder, CO-based startup that develops software to power influencer marketing campaigns, has closed a $5 million Series B round, the company announced today. The new investment increases the total amount raised by TapInfluence (which until March was named BlogFrog) to $9 million. Grotech Ventures led the round, which was oversubscribed, and Access Venture … Continue reading “TapInfluence Taps Into Colorado VC Firms for a $5M Series B Round”
Cold Spring Hires Former VC to Lead “Proactive” Tech Transfer Effort
Few places in Long Island, NY, have the scientific cache of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory—the birthplace of OSI Pharmaceuticals, and the former workplace of DNA pioneer James Watson, among other Nobel Prize winners. But that doesn’t mean the 123-year-old research institution can’t use a little help commercializing its research. CSHL is announcing today that it … Continue reading “Cold Spring Hires Former VC to Lead “Proactive” Tech Transfer Effort”
Amicus, Biogen Team Up on Parkinson’s Drug Deal
When Amicus Therapeutics’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FOLD]]) stock tanked a few months ago following a regulatory delay for its lead drug, CEO John Crowley promised there would be some business development moves coming to raise some cash. The Cranbury, NJ-based company followed through this morning, striking a deal with Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) on a preclinical program … Continue reading “Amicus, Biogen Team Up on Parkinson’s Drug Deal”
Disappointments, New Prospects for Rigel Pharmaceuticals
When Rigel Pharmaceuticals of South San Francisco took the stage at the annual JP Morgan Healthcare conference in January, the 16-year-old biotechnology company hoped to soon introduce its first two approved drugs—both of them designed to treat major health problems. At the time, London-based AstraZeneca was funding late-stage trials on Rigel’s drug candidate for rheumatoid … Continue reading “Disappointments, New Prospects for Rigel Pharmaceuticals”
Paydiant Banks $15M, Shows Patience in Mobile Payments
You hear a lot about the Series A funding crunch for startups these days. But just as telling, maybe even more so, is the Series B crunch. And the Series C crunch. For New England tech startups, there’s a fair bit of seed funding going around—and growth capital, too—but less money seems to be flowing … Continue reading “Paydiant Banks $15M, Shows Patience in Mobile Payments”
A Startup’s Years-Old Gift Finally Pays Off for Colorado Nonprofits
The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Colorado has sold its shares in Automattic and used $24,000 from the sale for grants to two Boulder nonprofits, the foundation announced Monday. The money comes from equity the foundation, known as EFCO, originally held in IntenseDebate, which developed software for online commenting systems. The company was founded in 2006, and … Continue reading “A Startup’s Years-Old Gift Finally Pays Off for Colorado Nonprofits”
NanoString Wins FDA Approval of Breast Cancer Diagnostic Test
NanoString Technologies got started in the diagnostics business in Europe about six months ago, and now it’s gotten the go-ahead from regulators in the U.S. The Seattle-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NSTG]]) said today it has been cleared by the FDA to market its Prosigna test in the U.S. The test is designed to provide doctors and … Continue reading “NanoString Wins FDA Approval of Breast Cancer Diagnostic Test”
Hybra Advance Technology on the Future of Wireless Audio
Ryan Wells and Joe Thiel, co-founders of the Traverse City, MI-based startup Hybra Advance Technology, formed their company in 2009 with the idea to build a business plan around the rapidly growing market for innovative wireless audio devices. “We were discussing what the headsets of the future would look like, how they’d interact [with consumers],” … Continue reading “Hybra Advance Technology on the Future of Wireless Audio”
Houston’s C-Voltaics Takes Nanotech From Solar Power to Stain Protection
If a Houston-based startup has its way, more red-wine drinkers of the world could dare to wear white. The young company, C-Voltaics, has come up with a chemical solution that it says will stain-proof wood, carpets, and even your best white clothing from water, coffee, red wine, or other damaging substances. C-Voltaics’ product is called … Continue reading “Houston’s C-Voltaics Takes Nanotech From Solar Power to Stain Protection”
Livestream and Roku to Pump Live Video on Connected TVs
Opening up another digital pathway to reach audiences, Livestream announced last week its live video platform has landed on Roku media players. The arrangement brings New York-based Livestream’s service to the connected television market for the first time and gives Roku its first-ever live video feed, offering concerts, sports, and news content. Broadcasters that use … Continue reading “Livestream and Roku to Pump Live Video on Connected TVs”
Biogen Idec Strikes $100M Upfront Deal With Isis for Neurology
Biogen Idec has been working with Isis Pharmaceuticals on neurological disorders for a while, and today it’s making an even bigger bet on the company and its antisense technology. Weston, MA-based Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), the world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs, said today it has agreed to pay $100 million upfront to Carlsbad, CA-based … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Strikes $100M Upfront Deal With Isis for Neurology”
Are Some Degrees Better than Others for Big Pharma Leaders?
Biopharmaceutical companies are under a great deal of financial pressure these days, and many are tinkering with long established business models. There can be no doubt that the industry is in flux as a result of pricing pressures from insurance companies, changing patent regulations and expirations, healthcare reform, and an increased focus on proving significant … Continue reading “Are Some Degrees Better than Others for Big Pharma Leaders?”
Which VCs Are Poised to Profit From the Biotech IPO Boom?
Biotech venture capitalists, as a group, haven’t had much to cheer about the past few years. But this is shaping up to be the year the storyline changes, thanks to the ripple effect from the biotech IPO class of 2013. The story of biotech venture capital over the past few years, as many readers know … Continue reading “Which VCs Are Poised to Profit From the Biotech IPO Boom?”
Mile High Roundup: Techstars Grads Stay Busy, Rally Reports Results
Welcome to the Mile High Roundup, a look at some of the interesting things that have happened over the past two weeks in the tech scene in Boulder, Denver, and around Colorado. In this edition, Techstars stays busy after its demo day, three Techstars grads close rounds (and one gets a new CEO), and Rally … Continue reading “Mile High Roundup: Techstars Grads Stay Busy, Rally Reports Results”
San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Evoke Pharma, Isis, Otonomy, & More
There was a spate of significant developments following the Labor Day holiday, as San Diego’s life sciences companies continued to take advantage of favorable market conditions. Here’s my rundown from a pretty newsy week. —Otonomy, the San Diego startup founded by Avalon Ventures partner Jay Lichter to advance new treatments for Meniere’s disease and other … Continue reading “San Diego Life Sciences Roundup: Evoke Pharma, Isis, Otonomy, & More”
Investors to Get $300M as FDA Approves Celgene Drug For Pancreatic Cancer
Celgene’s 2010 buyout of Abraxis Bioscience is about to pay some more dividends for a whole lot of patients and investors. The FDA today approved the Summit, NJ, company’s chemotherapy drug, protein-bound paclitaxel (Abraxane), to treat patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]) drug—which it acquired when it snared Abraxis three years ago—is … Continue reading “Investors to Get $300M as FDA Approves Celgene Drug For Pancreatic Cancer”
EBay Buys Price-Predicting Startup Decide, Adds to Seattle Office
Updated 11:35 am Pacific One of Seattle’s best-pedigreed tech startups is joining a big name in the industry. Decide, a price-forecasting service formed by veterans of the Farecast team, has been acquired by online shopping giant eBay for an undisclosed sum. Decide’s team “will be making the move to eBay’s new Seattle-area offices,” CEO Mike … Continue reading “EBay Buys Price-Predicting Startup Decide, Adds to Seattle Office”
Danish Robots Storm New York, Establish Beachhead in U.S.
A Denmark-based maker of lightweight industrial robots announced Thursday it has set up its U.S. headquarters near Stony Brook, Long Island. The office and warehouse space will serve as a distribution, sales, and tech support center for Universal Robots. The company also plans to offer training seminars and demos at the facility. Universal Robots established … Continue reading “Danish Robots Storm New York, Establish Beachhead in U.S.”
Toyota Invests $28M in Expansion of Ann Arbor Tech Center
Yesterday, Toyota announced it will invest $28 million in its technical center located in Ann Arbor, MI. The new expansion will support the development of Toyota’s powertrain, specifically in the areas of calibration, evaluation, and design on new engine and transmission projects. Toyota also expects to hire 60 employees; there are currently 999 employees working … Continue reading “Toyota Invests $28M in Expansion of Ann Arbor Tech Center”
East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: Aileron, Enzymatics, Acton, & More
[Updated, 8:15 a.m. ET] Labor Day has come and gone, and that means one thing: football season is finally upon us. But before the pigskins start flying en masse on Sunday, make sure to catch up on all your East Coast biotech news below: —Many drugmakers have tried, and failed, to find ways to protect … Continue reading “East Coast Life Sciences Roundup: Aileron, Enzymatics, Acton, & More”
Enzymatics Snares Boulder-based ArcherDx For Diagnostics Play
Beverly, MA-based Enzymatics has grown into a 100-employee company in seven years thanks to the rapidly evolving use of DNA sequencing machines. Now, it’s taking some of the cash it has hoarded away to make its first acquisition: a nine-month-old startup named ArcherDx. Enzymatics is announcing today that it has snapped up the Boulder, CO-based … Continue reading “Enzymatics Snares Boulder-based ArcherDx For Diagnostics Play”