iPierian used to be known as a stem cell company, when stem cells were all the rage. But now it’s taking on a new identity as an antibody drug developer that happens to use stem cells as a tool for discovery. The South San Francisco-based company is announcing today that it has found a new … Continue reading “iPierian Zeroes In on Antibodies for Alzheimer’s, Neurodegeneration”
Category: National
Who’s on Biotech’s Endangered Species List? Mid-Sized Drugmakers
[Updated: 9:20 pm PT] Only a few companies have ever been successful enough to call themselves Big Biotechs. If boards and shareholders lack vision and guts, we’ll look back in a few years and wonder why the Big Biotechs went extinct. The group of Big Biotechs includes companies like Amgen, Gilead Sciences, Biogen Idec, and … Continue reading “Who’s on Biotech’s Endangered Species List? Mid-Sized Drugmakers”
NeighborPower Brings Rewards Points to the Energy Market
Former Massachusetts secretary of energy and environmental affairs Ian Bowles thinks energy efficiency isn’t all that engaging for consumers. But he’s betting that rewards points are one way to get them excited about it. Bowles is co-founder of the Andover, MA-based startup NeighborPower, which has built a platform allowing consumers to pay their home utility … Continue reading “NeighborPower Brings Rewards Points to the Energy Market”
Will 3-D Thermal Imaging Revolutionize Breast Cancer Detection?
Paul Angott is an idea man. He holds 40 patents on products such as a clock thermostat, a wireless doorbell, and a laser-guided, unmanned mower for football fields and golf courses. Throughout his career, he’s launched five companies and raised more than $10 million for his various entrepreneurial endeavors, sold more than $100 million worth … Continue reading “Will 3-D Thermal Imaging Revolutionize Breast Cancer Detection?”
Misery Loves Company: 38 Studios, AEB, and WFNX
OK, listening to Morphine’s “Cure for Pain” on Julie Kramer’s very last Leftover Lunch show on WFNX pushed me over the edge. In case you missed the news amid all the Facebook hoopla, Boston alternative music station WFNX is being bought by Clear Channel, and most of the staff is being laid off. The old … Continue reading “Misery Loves Company: 38 Studios, AEB, and WFNX”
Can Facebook’s New Millionaires Save the World?
From everyone to whom much is given, much shall be required. Regular readers know that I’m not in the habit of quoting scripture. But this line found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke has a bit of new relevance this morning, as Facebook’s initial public offering—valuing the company at $106 billion at the … Continue reading “Can Facebook’s New Millionaires Save the World?”
For Those on Watch, Hope Springs Eternal as Hair Trials Inch Along
Waiting for the biotech industry to advance new treatments for male pattern baldness (as well as female hair loss) might seem about as exciting as watching hair grow. But some people have a lot of skin in the game, if you know what I mean. More than just a few people, actually. San Diego’s Histogen … Continue reading “For Those on Watch, Hope Springs Eternal as Hair Trials Inch Along”
CardioKinetix Clears 2-Year Study with Implant for Heart Failure
CardioKinetix has spent 10 years and $80 million in venture capital working on an implantable device for people with heart failure. Now it’s got some evidence that suggests it could be on track with a real product. The Menlo Park, CA-based company is announcing today it has passed a study of 31 patients who got … Continue reading “CardioKinetix Clears 2-Year Study with Implant for Heart Failure”
Promedior, Aveo, Ra, and More Boston Life Sciences Headlines
Drugs, devices, and nonprofits showed up in this week’s New England life sciences news. —Promedior, a maker of treatments for tissue damage known as fibrosis, is moving its headquarters from Pennsylvania to Boston and has hired Suzanne Bruhn, a veteran of the Irish drug giant Shire’s Human Genetic Therapies division, as its new CEO. —Cambridge, MA-based Aveo Pharmaceuticals … Continue reading “Promedior, Aveo, Ra, and More Boston Life Sciences Headlines”
Does Facebook Solve VC Industry Woes?
So here is my obligatory post on Facebook…which will be the most spectacular IPO of a venture-backed company in the history of mankind…and it just priced tonight. The shares priced at $38 giving the company a market cap of $104 billion fully diluted, raising $16 billion in proceeds. Of the 421 million shares being sold, … Continue reading “Does Facebook Solve VC Industry Woes?”
Think Tech Labs Tailors Salesforce to the Real Estate Market
Yesterday, we published an article about why VC guru Jason Mendelson is feeling bullish about Michigan as a hub for entrepreneurship. He pointed out that the state’s tendency toward collaboration is an important asset that should continue to be championed. Vijay Mehra, CEO of Think Tech Labs, wholeheartedly agrees. It’s exactly the reason that, six … Continue reading “Think Tech Labs Tailors Salesforce to the Real Estate Market”
From MIT Entrepreneur to Tea Party Leader: The Thomas Massie Story
Buried in the news of the past month, which was admittedly a busy one, was a press release headlined: “Geomagic Acquires Sensable 3D Design and Haptics Businesses.” As far as I can tell, no media outlets besides Xconomy picked up on this deal or its historical—and now, political—significance. Woe is them. That’s because “Sensable” would … Continue reading “From MIT Entrepreneur to Tea Party Leader: The Thomas Massie Story”
SD Biotech Roundup: Elevation Pharmaceuticals, BioSurplus, and More
We’re anticipating a lot of news out of a big cancer conference that begins next week in Chicago. Here is your head start. —Cancer researchers have talked for decades about finding the silver bullet that could kill cancer cells without harming the healthy cells nearby. These days, the industry is focusing on the development of … Continue reading “SD Biotech Roundup: Elevation Pharmaceuticals, BioSurplus, and More”
Xconomist of the Week: Tom Maniatis on Prize4Life and ALS Research
A few years back, molecular geneticist Tom Maniatis was approached by a Harvard Business School student with a heart-wrenching story. The student, Avichai Kremer, then 29, had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Kremer had an unusual idea: He wanted to advance ALS research by offering million-dollar prizes … Continue reading “Xconomist of the Week: Tom Maniatis on Prize4Life and ALS Research”
Investors Talk Disruption in Digital Music at Internet Week New York
At a time when companies such as Pandora and Songza are trying to change the way listeners discover music, some hurdles continue to stand in the way of the industry’s evolution. In a relatively short timespan, music has graduated from digital downloads to live streams curated for listeners’ individual tastes. The pace of change may … Continue reading “Investors Talk Disruption in Digital Music at Internet Week New York”
Dendreon’s Provenge Works Best for Patients With Low PSA, Scientists Say
From the moment Dendreon started in business 20 years ago, most scientists have said that if its immune-booster for prostate cancer was going to work, it would probably work best at an early stage of disease, before tumors had gotten too powerful for the immune system to contain. Today, Dendreon is offering the latest slice … Continue reading “Dendreon’s Provenge Works Best for Patients With Low PSA, Scientists Say”
Aveo Kidney Cancer Drug Shows Safety Edge in Pivotal Study
Aveo Oncology is entering a competitive world for the treatment of kidney cancer, and it made a bold bet that its drug would prevail in the first head-to-head comparison of its kind against an active drug. Now the company is preparing to enter that competition with data that says its drug has a slight advantage … Continue reading “Aveo Kidney Cancer Drug Shows Safety Edge in Pivotal Study”
Quirks & Perqs: YC Startups Woo Employees with Unusual Benefits
It’s old news that tech startups in San Francisco and Silicon Valley are locked in a fierce competition for the most talented engineers, product managers, and business development staff. But you might be surprised how far some companies are going these days to portray their workplaces as virtual Disneylands for employees. At a Tuesday night … Continue reading “Quirks & Perqs: YC Startups Woo Employees with Unusual Benefits”
CloudTop, Ketchup, Todd Park, & A New President: An MIT Recap
It’s been an eventful 24 hours for MIT. The university held the finale of its $100K Entrepreneurship Competition last night, naming CloudTop the grand prize winner. The company comes from the Web/IT track of the competition and is developing an application allowing users to access of all their online content and applications through a Web … Continue reading “CloudTop, Ketchup, Todd Park, & A New President: An MIT Recap”
Twitter Was Clueless About Spammers at First, Safety Chief Says
Ever get the feeling that social media services didn’t really think through the privacy and legal problems they might run into? Turns out, you’re probably right. Del Harvey saw it firsthand. When she joined the fledgling company in late 2008, Harvey quizzed co-founders Biz Stone and Evan Williams about how they might handle spam. “And … Continue reading “Twitter Was Clueless About Spammers at First, Safety Chief Says”
VC Guru Mendelson on MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (And Why There’s Hope)
If the turnout at yesterday’s Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is any indication, our fair state is on the upswing. The conference, in its 31st year, had roughly 450 venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, academics, and government officials in attendance. Jason Mendelson, called “the Elvis of innovation” by this very publication, gave the keynote speech titled, “The Velocity … Continue reading “VC Guru Mendelson on MI’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (And Why There’s Hope)”
Hutch, UW Scientists Find Elusive Cancers With Adaptive Diagnostic
Doctors often ask themselves, after a leukemia or lymphoma patient gets high-dose chemotherapy, whether they really wiped out every last rugged cancer cell in the patient. That’s always been a difficult question, but now a team of Seattle researchers is showing they might have found a powerful new technology to consistently deliver that answer. Scientists … Continue reading “Hutch, UW Scientists Find Elusive Cancers With Adaptive Diagnostic”
Mining “Happiness Moments” at Mobile-Rewards Startup Kiip
Whatever you do, don’t tell Kiip CEO Brian Wong that he’s in the advertising business. Yes, if you’re playing a mobile game that uses Kiip’s service, you’ll see pop-up screens offering rewards from big brands like Pepsi, Disney, and Best Buy. But these aren’t ads, Wong insists. They’re moments of reciprocity prompted by an achievement … Continue reading “Mining “Happiness Moments” at Mobile-Rewards Startup Kiip”
Vertica/HP Veteran Chris Lynch Joins Atlas for Big Data Investing
Chris Lynch, the tech exec who said venture capital was not for him, is the newest member of the technology team at Atlas Venture, the Cambridge, MA-based firm announced today. In March, Lynch left his role as CEO of Vertica Systems, a year after the data analytics company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard for $300 million. … Continue reading “Vertica/HP Veteran Chris Lynch Joins Atlas for Big Data Investing”
The Skqueak That Roars: New App Combines Drawing, Audio, Images
What began as an effort by a couple of San Diego engineers to bring computer vision to the iPhone has resulted instead in “Skqueak,” a mobile app that enables users to sketch over photos and videos on their iPhones. The Skqueak app is now available in Apple’s iTunes App Store. Sanjay Nichani, who moved to … Continue reading “The Skqueak That Roars: New App Combines Drawing, Audio, Images”
Targeted Cancer Drugs With Punch: The Next Big Class of Antibodies
[Updated: 11 am PT, 6/5/12] One of the big dreams in biotech over the past 35 years has been to make drugs that work like “smart bombs” by destroying tumors while minimizing collateral damage. Scientists have learned this is no easy thing, but now that a couple of these types of drugs have been shown … Continue reading “Targeted Cancer Drugs With Punch: The Next Big Class of Antibodies”
Ensequence Looks to Keep Consumers Glued to TV Shows and Ads
With each new generation of television, broadcasters and marketers look for fresh ways to keep the audience invested in what they are watching. These days it is not unheard of for TV viewers to see discreet messages appear in the margins of their screens during broadcasts. If they click on these messages, marketing material or … Continue reading “Ensequence Looks to Keep Consumers Glued to TV Shows and Ads”
InsightSquared, Bradford, Plastiq, & More Boston Dealmakers
[Updated 5/16/12 at 5:30 pm. See below]We saw deals this week for companies working on database, business intelligence, credit card processing, and security technology. —Hopkinton, MA-based data storage giant EMC (NYSE: [[ticker:EMC]]) confirmed its acquisition of Israeli flash-storage startup XtremIO. Other media outlets peg the purchase price at $430 million, though EMC has not officially revealed … Continue reading “InsightSquared, Bradford, Plastiq, & More Boston Dealmakers”
Facebook, Google+ Officials: Privacy Complaints are Sinking In
In today’s tech industry, builders rule. But there’s a real tension between creators—who want to use every tool at their disposal—and everyday users, who freak out when too much of their personal information gets vacuumed up and sprayed out into the world. The privacy leaders at Facebook and Google+ say their companies are starting to … Continue reading “Facebook, Google+ Officials: Privacy Complaints are Sinking In”
Medify Acquired by Alliance Health Networks, Will Continue to Grow
Seattle startup Medify unveiled its medical-research service last year, aiming to give patients a window into the latest and best knowledge as they navigate the medical system. The 10-person team will continue that work, but as part of a larger company following an acquisition by Alliance Health Networks, a Salt Lake City-based operator of health-focused social … Continue reading “Medify Acquired by Alliance Health Networks, Will Continue to Grow”
Qualcomm Sees Licensing Model in Wireless EV Charging Technology
Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) plans to use its well-established model in technology licensing as it advances innovations in wireless charging of electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones, and other devices, according to Qualcomm’s top European executive, Andrew Gilbert. The San Diego wireless giant, which announced the formation of a wireless charging standards organization with Samsung last week, also … Continue reading “Qualcomm Sees Licensing Model in Wireless EV Charging Technology”
Promedior Moves Fibrosis Pipeline to Boston, Hires Shire Vet as CEO
Biotech firm Promedior announced today that it will be moving its headquarters from Malvern, PA, to Boston, and that it has hired a new CEO, Suzanne Bruhn,who was previously senior vice president for planning and program management for Shire’s Human Genetic Therapies division. Promedior is working on several drugs to treat fibrosis—a type of tissue … Continue reading “Promedior Moves Fibrosis Pipeline to Boston, Hires Shire Vet as CEO”
Lenddo Grabs $8M, Expands Microloan Model to Asia and Latin America
New York-based Lenddo, which uses social media to help middle-class folks in emerging countries secure loans, announced today that it has raised $8 million in a Series A funding round. Investors include Accel Partners, Blumberg Capital, Omidyar Network, iNovia Capital, and Metamorphic Ventures. The one-year-old firm also counts among its supporters angel investors Geoff Judge, David … Continue reading “Lenddo Grabs $8M, Expands Microloan Model to Asia and Latin America”
Theraclone Passes First Clinical Test with Flu-Fighting Antibody
Theraclone Sciences has taken its first step ahead toward showing it might have an antibody drug that could work in humans. The Seattle-based biotech company is announcing today that it passed its first clinical trial with an antibody drug designed to fight a wide variety of flu strains. The study randomly assigned 40 healthy volunteers … Continue reading “Theraclone Passes First Clinical Test with Flu-Fighting Antibody”
Coaching Program Springboard Hits Boston With Life Sciences Entrepreneurs
Startup accelerators like Y Combinator and TechStars are known for producing the latest and greatest in Web startups. But there’s a set of established and accomplished companies—like ZipCar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZIP]]), Xenogen, and Constant Contact (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTCT]])—that also received startup coaching, mentoring, and connections to investors back in their day. They went through a different program, … Continue reading “Coaching Program Springboard Hits Boston With Life Sciences Entrepreneurs”
Five Questions for E&Y’s David DeMarco on the Future of Health IT
In March, global consulting firm Ernst & Young released an annual report for its life sciences clients called “The Third Place: Healthcare Everywhere.” It discusses a range of topics, from apps designed to improve patient adherence to medical treatments, to games that encourage healthy habits. Today Ernst & Young is holding a summit in Princeton, … Continue reading “Five Questions for E&Y’s David DeMarco on the Future of Health IT”
N Reduce Opens Up As Alternative to Ultra-Elite Startup Incubators
Maybe getting rejected by Y Combinator isn’t such a bad thing. For Jacques Crocker, Ash Bhoopathy, and Rich Lengsavath it turned into the beginning of a new adventure: alongside their own startup, called Lizi, they’re introducing a new, more open startup accelerator called N Reduce. Announced on May 10 and known for less than a week as N … Continue reading “N Reduce Opens Up As Alternative to Ultra-Elite Startup Incubators”
JumpStart, NEI Plan New High Tech Accelerator in Detroit
JumpStart Inc., a Cleveland-based nonprofit focused on entrepreneurship and economic development, will team with the New Economy Initiative (NEI) to open a new high-tech accelerator in Detroit, says NEI executive director David Egner. Egner (an Xconomist) says a variety of state and regional investors will fund the accelerator and he expects it to have an … Continue reading “JumpStart, NEI Plan New High Tech Accelerator in Detroit”
Xconomy Editor Luke Timmerman a Finalist for Loeb Award
Anyone in business journalism knows full well the power of the Gerald Loeb Awards for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism. Loeb was a founding partner of E.F. Hutton and a noted author and columnist, and the awards he created in 1957 to promote and recognize great writing and reporting for individual investors have become something … Continue reading “Xconomy Editor Luke Timmerman a Finalist for Loeb Award”
Looking to the Future of A New Kind of Science
[This is the third in a series of posts about A New Kind of Science. Previous posts have covered the original reaction to the book and what’s happened since it was published. This post first appeared on Wolfram’s blog—Eds.] Today ten years have passed since A New Kind of Science (”the NKS book”) was published. But in many … Continue reading “Looking to the Future of A New Kind of Science”
Dead Reckoning: No Smooth Sailing for Startups
Prior to the mid 1700s (and long before the advent of GPS receivers in every smartphone), mariners at sea calculated their position by Dead Reckoning, a process in which you simply assume that whatever course and speed you are on can be straight-lined ahead with a ruler and pencil, day after day, regardless of wind, … Continue reading “Dead Reckoning: No Smooth Sailing for Startups”
InsightSquared Scores $4.5M, Looks to Bring Business Intelligence to the Masses
Finally, a tech company that’s not all about big data. In fact, this one is about lots of little bits of “idiosyncratic, messy data,” says its founder. And it puts those bits together to help small businesses make better decisions and, ultimately, more money. InsightSquared, based in Cambridge, MA, has been fairly quiet in the … Continue reading “InsightSquared Scores $4.5M, Looks to Bring Business Intelligence to the Masses”
ASCO Preview: Eight Cancer Drugs to Watch at the Big Show
The pistons of the biggest publicity engine in cancer R&D will start firing this week. It’s time to behold the annual rite of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, the biggest event for showing off what’s new and interesting in the treatment of cancer. This conference, officially held June 1-5 at McCormick Place … Continue reading “ASCO Preview: Eight Cancer Drugs to Watch at the Big Show”
Livio Connect Wins Frost & Sullivan Product Development Award
Ferndale, MI-based Livio Radio announced this week that it has won the Frost & Sullivan 2012 New Product Innovation Award for its Livio Connect API. The technology connects mobile apps on drivers’ phones to their cars, allowing the apps to show up on the stereo’s dashboard touchscreen. Frost & Sullivan is a trusted auto analyst, says Livio’s … Continue reading “Livio Connect Wins Frost & Sullivan Product Development Award”
SmartPlanet Features Xconomy’s Future of Robotics Event [Video]
“The tiniest bit of bot news will attract a swarm of journos,” comments SmartPlanet chief correspondent Sumi Das. And she’s right: our May 3 forum on the Future of Robotics in Silicon Valley and Beyond brought in one of the biggest contingents of reporters ever to attend an Xconomy event. Das herself came away with … Continue reading “SmartPlanet Features Xconomy’s Future of Robotics Event [Video]”
EMC’s Acquisition of XtremIO Is Flashpoint in New Storage Wars
Why did one of Massachusetts’ biggest companies just spend more than $400 million on an Israeli tech firm with no products and no revenue? It’s all about the flash. EMC, the Hopkinton, MA-based data storage giant (NYSE:[[ticker:EMC]]), confirmed it has acquired Israeli flash-storage startup XtremIO in an all-cash transaction. Media reports put the price of … Continue reading “EMC’s Acquisition of XtremIO Is Flashpoint in New Storage Wars”
Boston Life Sciences News From Vertex, Eleven, RXi, & More
News of financings, clinical developments, hires, and IPO moves came out of New England life sciences companies this week. —Cambridge, MA-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals revealed promising data showing it could potentially reach more cystic fibrosis patients by combining its treatment ivacaftor (Kalydeco) with an experimental drug called VX-809. The company plans to advance the combination regimen into … Continue reading “Boston Life Sciences News From Vertex, Eleven, RXi, & More”
Touch Press, the iPad, and the New Golden Age of Multimedia
Back in 2008 (exactly 180 columns ago, in fact) I wrote an elegy for the CD-ROM. If you’re under the age of 30, you probably won’t know what I’m talking about, but there was a brief span of time in the mid-1990s—after the emergence of personal computers powerful enough to handle multimedia content, but before … Continue reading “Touch Press, the iPad, and the New Golden Age of Multimedia”
Verdezyne Raises $10.6M to Advance Sustainable Chemicals Technology
Verdezyne, the Carlsbad, CA-based company developing industrial biotechnology processes for making adipic acid and other sustainable chemicals and fuels, has raised more than $10.6 million, according to a recent regulatory filing. A spokesman for the company confirmed the financing, but would not comment beyond the filing, which shows the financing consisted of debt and rights … Continue reading “Verdezyne Raises $10.6M to Advance Sustainable Chemicals Technology”
New Tech City: Has NYC Passed Boston in Mobile and Web Innovation?
On Wednesday, New York-based Center for an Urban Future, a policy think tank, released a report surveying the city’s digital startup scene, and its conclusion was rather dramatic: New York has surpassed Boston in tech leadership, the center says. “In 2006, I wouldn’t have put New York anywhere on the map [of leading tech hubs],” … Continue reading “New Tech City: Has NYC Passed Boston in Mobile and Web Innovation?”