[Updated: 8:40 am Eastern] ImmunoGen has struck a lucrative new deal with Novartis to make antibody drugs for cancer that are more potent than what physicians have come to embrace over the past decade. Waltham, MA-based ImmunoGen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IMGN]]) said today it will get a $45 million upfront payment from Novartis in exchange for the … Continue reading “ImmunoGen Gets $45M Upfront From Novartis To Make Souped Up Antibodies For Cancer”
Category: National
Exelixis Nabs $60M Upfront, Potentially $505M More, From New Deal With Bristol-Myers
Exelixis may have had a rough moment this summer in its relationship with Bristol-Myers Squibb, but apparently the two companies still see a lot in common and no reason to break up. South San Francisco-based Exelixis (NASDAQ: [[ticker:EXEL]]) said today it has struck a new partnership in which it will get a $60 million upfront … Continue reading “Exelixis Nabs $60M Upfront, Potentially $505M More, From New Deal With Bristol-Myers”
Seattle Genetics, Millennium Nail 2nd Straight Trial With “Empowered Antibody” For Cancer
Seattle Genetics broke new ground in the field of cancer drug development last month, and now evidence is mounting from a second clinical trial that suggests it wasn’t a fluke. Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) and its partner, Cambridge, MA-based Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, are reporting today that 50 out of 58 patients (86 percent) … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics, Millennium Nail 2nd Straight Trial With “Empowered Antibody” For Cancer”
Gelesis, With Obesity Drug That Swells Up in Stomach, Helps Rats Eat Less
One of the more offbeat ideas in the obesity drug development business has gathered some new evidence to suggest it might someday help people lose weight. Boston-based Gelesis, the developer of a superabsorbent capsule designed to swell up in the stomach and make people feel full, said its treatment was able to help rats reduce … Continue reading “Gelesis, With Obesity Drug That Swells Up in Stomach, Helps Rats Eat Less”
Genentech’s Souped-Up Breast Cancer Drug Beats Original Herceptin in Head-to-Head Study
Genentech broke new ground with a targeted antibody drug for breast cancer in the late 1990s, and now it’s showing another sign that it may have surpassed the original. Researchers reported today on a study of 137 breast cancer patients who were randomly assigned to get the original trastuzumab (Herceptin) along with chemotherapy, or a … Continue reading “Genentech’s Souped-Up Breast Cancer Drug Beats Original Herceptin in Head-to-Head Study”
Research Universities and Big Pharma’s Wicked Problem
A few years ago BP awarded a consortium of universities led by Berkeley the largest grant in University of California history: $500 million over 10 years to develop biofuels. Despite BP’s well-publicized travails, their commitment to the Energy Biosciences Institute remains firmly in place. BP is a huge company with a wealth of resources at … Continue reading “Research Universities and Big Pharma’s Wicked Problem”
Bristol-Myers Almost Ready to Seal the Deal, Complete Takeover of ZymoGenetics
ZymoGenetics, one of the driving forces of Seattle biotech the past 30 years, is about to become a thing of the past. The pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb is putting the finishing touches on its acquisition of the Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]). Bristol announced today that 94.9 percent of the ZymoGenetics shareholders agreed to hand … Continue reading “Bristol-Myers Almost Ready to Seal the Deal, Complete Takeover of ZymoGenetics”
Motricity’s Ryan Wuerch on the Post-IPO Game Plan, International Expansion, and the New Wave of Mobile
Most companies might consider reining in their loftiest ambitions after an IPO plan falls far short of expectations.. Then again, most companies aren’t run by Ryan Wuerch. Wuerch is the founder and chief executive of Bellevue, WA-based mobile software company Motricity (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MOTR]]). The company, founded in 2001, filed for its IPO in January. At … Continue reading “Motricity’s Ryan Wuerch on the Post-IPO Game Plan, International Expansion, and the New Wave of Mobile”
Just When I Was Working Up Some Sympathy for Mark Zuckerberg—Facebook Blows It Again
I was going to write an impassioned column this week attacking David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin for the hatchet job they performed on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. I can’t remember the last time a movie made me so angry; no entrepreneur who’s created such a beloved and successful service, even if … Continue reading “Just When I Was Working Up Some Sympathy for Mark Zuckerberg—Facebook Blows It Again”
Onyx Delays FDA Push, Vega Aims High Against Diabetes, Stanford Biologist Goes Open Source, & More Bay Area Life Sciences News
This week the biotech beat served up its usual variety of news from the fields of cancer, diabetes, genomics, and stem cells. Catch up on any headlines you might have missed here. —Emeryville, CA-based Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONXX]]), the maker of cancer drugs, said this week it is delaying its application to seek FDA approval … Continue reading “Onyx Delays FDA Push, Vega Aims High Against Diabetes, Stanford Biologist Goes Open Source, & More Bay Area Life Sciences News”
Sanofi Bids for Genzyme, ModeRNA Announces Stem Cell Tech, Health IT Execs Debate, & More Boston Area Life Sciences News
It was a lighter life sciences news week, but we did see a new biotech company surface, while a major pharma continued its pursuit of a local biotech giant. —French drug giant Sanofi-Aventis made another move in its quest to acquire Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GENZ]]), with a $18.5 billion hostile takeover bid. It was … Continue reading “Sanofi Bids for Genzyme, ModeRNA Announces Stem Cell Tech, Health IT Execs Debate, & More Boston Area Life Sciences News”
Onyx Delays Cancer Drug Application as FDA Asks for More Data on Manufacturing
Some minor bad news came out this afternoon from Onyx Pharmaceuticals, and its lead drug candidate for patients with multiple myeloma. The Emeryville, CA-based drug developer said today it is delaying the new drug application for carfilzomib after FDA officials asked for more data to show it can manufacture larger commercial batches that are consistent … Continue reading “Onyx Delays Cancer Drug Application as FDA Asks for More Data on Manufacturing”
Tata Backs Sun Catalytix in $9.5M B Round
Sun Catalytix has found a new and deep-pocketed investor. Tata, a global conglomerate that owns the largest auto company in India, has led the Cambridge, MA, startup’s $9.5 million Series B funding round, the companies report today. The round, which included return backer Polaris Venture Partners, will fund further development of the startup’s catalyst, which … Continue reading “Tata Backs Sun Catalytix in $9.5M B Round”
Venter Institute, Synthetic Genomics Form Vaccine Company, Partner With Novartis
San Diego’s Synthetic Genomics, co-founded by human genome pioneer J. Craig Venter, and the nonprofit J. Craig Venter Institute, are forming a new company called Synthetic Genomics Vaccines. The startup plans to develop next-generation vaccines, using the latest advances in synthetic biology and genomic sequencing from the Maryland-based Venter institute, and intellectual property and “business … Continue reading “Venter Institute, Synthetic Genomics Form Vaccine Company, Partner With Novartis”
Customer Development by the Numbers
A couple of days ago, more than two hundred founders, CEOs and marketers got together with some very sharp thinkers to talk about making startups successful under the umbrella of FutureM—a week-long series of events about what’s next in marketing. MITX, which I’m honored to be on the board of, organized FutureM with the help … Continue reading “Customer Development by the Numbers”
Wireless Health Meeting Draws ‘A’ List Speakers, Seidel Takes the GNF Reins, Apricus Bio Raises $9.3M, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
It was a relatively quiet week for life sciences news. But we nevertheless saw some interesting developments in personnel moves and fund-raising, as some key local scientists helped start a couple of new companies, as well as in the clinical test of a new experimental cancer drug. —The Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation … Continue reading “Wireless Health Meeting Draws ‘A’ List Speakers, Seidel Takes the GNF Reins, Apricus Bio Raises $9.3M, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
VentiRx, With Venti-Sized Ambition to Treat (and Maybe Prevent) Allergies, Passes First Big Test
Every corner drugstore carries cheap meds for allergies, and about 30 million people in the U.S. still suffer from the symptoms. But now VentiRx Pharmaceuticals, a small biotech with operations in Seattle and San Diego, has generated some intriguing data that suggests it might have found a completely new way to treat—and possibly prevent—allergies. VentiRx … Continue reading “VentiRx, With Venti-Sized Ambition to Treat (and Maybe Prevent) Allergies, Passes First Big Test”
New RunKeeper Features Aim To Bring the Fitness Class Experience To Your Phone
Since 2008, RunKeeper, the fitness-tracking, GPS-based mobile app from Boston-based startup FitnessKeeper, has helped runners log and track the distance, speed, and routes they’ve run and engage with a broader community of like-minded athletes. The “pro” $9.99 version of the tool even offers coaching via headphones to help runners hit their desired pace, understand how … Continue reading “New RunKeeper Features Aim To Bring the Fitness Class Experience To Your Phone”
TOPGUN: Good Training for Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship
Top Gun the movie, like many movies loosely based on true stories or real organizations, certainly left us all entertained, and hopefully even a little motivated. The scenes of beach volleyball, testosterone-charged competition, and Maverick’s famous rendition of the Righteous Brothers’ classic were all unforgettable. But Hollywood never lets the truth get in the way … Continue reading “TOPGUN: Good Training for Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship”
Aneesh Chopra, Obama’s Chief Technology Officer, Talks About Health IT Geek Squads, Entrepreneurship Prizes, and “Data as a Policy Lever”
“In the Obama Administration, entrepreneurs are welcome.” So said Aneesh Chopra, chief technology officer of the United States, in a keynote speech yesterday at “DC to VC,” a summit on healthcare IT investing organized by Morgenthaler Ventures partner Rebecca Lynn in San Francisco and co-sponsored by Silicon Valley Bank and Venrock. Speaking to a group … Continue reading “Aneesh Chopra, Obama’s Chief Technology Officer, Talks About Health IT Geek Squads, Entrepreneurship Prizes, and “Data as a Policy Lever””
Sage Attracts Bigwigs, Hutch Adds Immunotherapy Center, the Pro-Life Vaccine Firm, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
We had an unusual grab bag of news and features this week from the Seattle biotech beat, from the worlds of genomics, cancer treatment, stem cells, vaccines, and medical devices. —Sage Bionetworks, the Seattle-based nonprofit seeking to kickstart an open source movement for biology, said it has secured commitments from a quartet of big-name biologists … Continue reading “Sage Attracts Bigwigs, Hutch Adds Immunotherapy Center, the Pro-Life Vaccine Firm, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
OLPC Part 2: Nicholas Negroponte on the Mideast and the XO 3 Tablet—and Why He May Not Ever Have to Build It
Nicholas Negroponte walked into the Starbucks holding some sort of thin, tablet-like computer. I couldn’t tell what model, because it was zipped inside a carrying case—but I was hoping for a prototype of the XO 3, the next-generation tablet Negroponte’s One Laptop per Child Foundation wants to create for children in the developing world for … Continue reading “OLPC Part 2: Nicholas Negroponte on the Mideast and the XO 3 Tablet—and Why He May Not Ever Have to Build It”
In Verve Wireless, Founders Create a Mobile Technology Platform and a Lifeline for Local News
The New York Times has a pretty impressive website for mobile apps, with plenty of information to help its loyal readers access news on their iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre, Android, and other mobile devices. As the premiere national newspaper, though, the Times also has more wherewithal than most local newspapers and broadcasters to develop customized … Continue reading “In Verve Wireless, Founders Create a Mobile Technology Platform and a Lifeline for Local News”
When Will TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington Quit AOL? Conceivian Takes a Stab
Ever since AOL (NYSE: [[ticker:AOL]]) acquired San Francisco-based TechCrunch for an undisclosed amount, many in the technology community have been speculating on how long it will take founder Michael Arrington to toss in his towel and leave the Internet giant. At least that’s the question on the minds of the folks over at Redmond, WA-based … Continue reading “When Will TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington Quit AOL? Conceivian Takes a Stab”
Nick Hanauer and Rich Barton Start New Social Gaming Company “King of the Web”
Early Amazon investor and aQuantive founder Nick Hanauer is teaming up with Zillow co-founder and former Expedia CEO Rich Barton on a new social gaming venture, according to Brier Dudley of The Seattle Times. The company, called “King of the Web,” will reportedly roll out in December. Until then, all we know is that the … Continue reading “Nick Hanauer and Rich Barton Start New Social Gaming Company “King of the Web””
The One Percent Solution: How Innovalight’s Silicon Ink Makes Solar Panels Slightly More Efficient, and Why That’s a Huge Deal
Silicon Valley is a place defined by big numbers and rapid change. Since the 1960s, the number of transistors that can be placed on an integrated circuit for the same cost has doubled every two years or so. The capacity of Flash memory chips has been increasing even faster of late, doubling every year. So … Continue reading “The One Percent Solution: How Innovalight’s Silicon Ink Makes Solar Panels Slightly More Efficient, and Why That’s a Huge Deal”
Marvell Backs OLPC Tablet With $5.6M, Sanofi-Aventis’ Makes Takeover Bid for Genzyme, $7M Lands in The Echo Nest, & More Boston-Area Deals News
A French drugmaker’s bid to acquire one of New England’s biggest biotechs turned hostile this week. Read on for this, and some of the week’s less predictable deals news from the tech and life sciences sectors. —Watertown, MA-based WiTricity forged an alliance with Troy, MI-based Delphi Automotive aimed at developing wireless charging stations for hybrid … Continue reading “Marvell Backs OLPC Tablet With $5.6M, Sanofi-Aventis’ Makes Takeover Bid for Genzyme, $7M Lands in The Echo Nest, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
Stanford, UCSD Biologists Take Plunge Into Arpanet-Style Project With Sage Bionetworks
[Updated: 6:40 am Pacific] Stephen Friend had plenty of doubters last year when he quit a high-powered Big Pharma executive job to start a nonprofit seeking to spark an open source style movement for biology. One year later, the former chief of cancer research at Merck has pulled off another unlikely feat. He’s corralled four … Continue reading “Stanford, UCSD Biologists Take Plunge Into Arpanet-Style Project With Sage Bionetworks”
Crimson Hexagon Edges Forward in Social Media Analysis with Big Customers Like Bing
OK, I think both the Boston and Seattle tech communities should pay attention to this startup. Mostly because it overlaps with a number of local efforts on both coasts. But also because Microsoft’s Bing is involved. The three-year-old startup is Crimson Hexagon, based in Cambridge, MA, and it is the brainchild of Gary King, a … Continue reading “Crimson Hexagon Edges Forward in Social Media Analysis with Big Customers Like Bing”
Buycentives’ Targeted Marketing Software Is Out to Break the One-Size-Fits All Tradition for Automobile Incentives
When it comes to the incentive deals offered by auto companies to potential car buyers, little has changed, despite advances in technology. Customers may be starting their auto purchases online, but automakers are still trying to reel them in with deals that are marketed more like the coupons found in a newspaper or Sunday flyer, … Continue reading “Buycentives’ Targeted Marketing Software Is Out to Break the One-Size-Fits All Tradition for Automobile Incentives”
Athenahealth and EClinicalWorks CEOs Explain Their Differences, Critique Software Subsidies
It was an experiment. Put two rivals in the health IT game—Jonathan Bush, CEO of Watertown, MA-based Athenahealth (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ATHN]]), and Girish Navani, CEO of Westborough, MA-based eClinicalWorks—on the same stage to talk frankly about the future of their industry. Pam McNamara, president of Cambridge Consultants, showed up to moderate with a wooden gavel, if that’s … Continue reading “Athenahealth and EClinicalWorks CEOs Explain Their Differences, Critique Software Subsidies”
NW Cleantech Open Names Nanocel, Puralytics, and Arcimoto as Finalists
The Cleantech Open Pacific Northwest regional finalists, out of a pool of 15 semifinalists, were announced at NW the Cleantech Open at the Bell Harbor Conference Center yesterday. Of the participants, who have gone through months of training, consulting, and business planning in preparation for the competition, three—Seattle-based Nanocel, Beaverton, OR-based Puralytics, and Eugene, OR-based … Continue reading “NW Cleantech Open Names Nanocel, Puralytics, and Arcimoto as Finalists”
Qualcomm Ending Its Own Direct-to-Consumer TV Service
Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) today confirmed media reports from yesterday, saying it has decided to stop offering its Flo TV direct consumer mobile television service to new customers. In a statement this afternoon, the San Diego wireless giant said it also has stopped selling its Qualcomm pocket-sized personal TV. The company says it anticipates there will … Continue reading “Qualcomm Ending Its Own Direct-to-Consumer TV Service”
Strategy at San Diego’s Chumby Coming to Fruition Under New CEO
San Diego’s Chumby Industries, creator of the consumer gadget that is a plush toy, alarm clock, Web terminal, and video and music player, raised an additional $3 million in debt, options, and rights to securities, according to a regulatory filing yesterday. The latest funding, which co-founder and investor Steve Tomlin describes as “no real news…simply … Continue reading “Strategy at San Diego’s Chumby Coming to Fruition Under New CEO”
Where Will the Next Gleevec Come From? Xconomy Forum Looks At the Edge of Cancer R&D
The past decade of cancer research and development was mainly about getting targeted. Chemotherapy that kills all kinds of cells—cancerous and healthy—is still a mainstay of treatment, but more targeted cancer drugs like Roche’s bevacizumab (Avastin) and Novartis’ imatinib (Gleevec) finally broke through and fulfilled at least some of their promise. They showed drugs could … Continue reading “Where Will the Next Gleevec Come From? Xconomy Forum Looks At the Edge of Cancer R&D”
The Soapbox: RevenueLoan and Bonanza Join Ace Lineup at Xconomy’s VC Crossfire
We’re tapping into a hot issue at our next big Xconomy Forum, called “VC Crossfire” on October 28 at Amazon’s brand new South Lake Union headquarters. We’ve assembled a stellar cast of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs (Bob Nelsen, Tom Alberg, Martin Tobias, Chris Henney) to talk about something that affects everybody in the Northwest innovation … Continue reading “The Soapbox: RevenueLoan and Bonanza Join Ace Lineup at Xconomy’s VC Crossfire”
With $10 Million Series B Round, Viewdle Turns Its Face Recognition Technology on Consumers
Viewdle is one of those technology startups that probably should have stayed in stealth mode a lot longer. The San Jose, CA-based company created a stir around the time of its public launch back in September 2007 with demos that promised real-time facial recognition for digital video—a still-unsolved problem that, if definitively licked, could help … Continue reading “With $10 Million Series B Round, Viewdle Turns Its Face Recognition Technology on Consumers”
CIC Startup Micronotes Emerges From Stealth to Help Yodlee Appify Online Banking
The online banking space is taking a cue from Apple’s iTunes App Store. No, you won’t be seeing Sudoku puzzles or restaurant recommendation tools on your online banking interface, but you will be seeing plug-ins designed to enhance your online personal finance management experience. The marketplace for these apps, unveiled yesterday, is the Yodlee FinApp … Continue reading “CIC Startup Micronotes Emerges From Stealth to Help Yodlee Appify Online Banking”
The Echo Nest Powers Up With $7 Million Series B Round, Out To Connect Independent Music App Developers with Commercial Partners
The Echo Nest, a Somerville, MA-based music data service powering interactive music applications, announced today that it has closed a $7 million Series B investment, led by new investor Matrix Partners and joined by existing backer Commonwealth Capital Ventures. The startup, founded by two MIT Media Lab PhDs, did not disclose the full amount of … Continue reading “The Echo Nest Powers Up With $7 Million Series B Round, Out To Connect Independent Music App Developers with Commercial Partners”
Novartis-backed Genomics Institute Names Martin Seidel as New Director, Replacing Peter Schultz
One of San Diego’s top biomedical research centers has a new boss. H. Martin Seidel, the longtime No. 2 official at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF), has been hired as the permanent replacement for founding director Peter Schultz. Seidel, who has served as interim director of GNF since Schultz stepped down … Continue reading “Novartis-backed Genomics Institute Names Martin Seidel as New Director, Replacing Peter Schultz”
Mimecast Expands in Boston Area, Taps E-mail Pioneer in Michigan to Drive Growth
Nathaniel Borenstein is a man you either love or hate. Or both. There’s nothing in between. If you have more than 24,000 unread e-mails in your inbox, like I do, you curse the day he was born, even if you enjoy being able to communicate with friends and business contacts in real-time, for free. Borenstein … Continue reading “Mimecast Expands in Boston Area, Taps E-mail Pioneer in Michigan to Drive Growth”
A Cure for the Common Conference: HealthCamp Brings Consumer-Driven Health Care to Life
As many clinicians will tell you, there is no single change that will radically improve health care for everyone. Technology is often regarded as the secret sauce, but really, it is only an enabler. There is no silver bullet that will cause everyone to suddenly adopt healthy habits of eating, sleeping, and exercise. Yet if … Continue reading “A Cure for the Common Conference: HealthCamp Brings Consumer-Driven Health Care to Life”
Truste Goes Mobile, Amyris Goes Public, EA Hires nPario, & More Bay Area BizTech News
I’m a day behind with our usual roundup of the previous week’s major business and technology stories from Xconomy San Francisco. So, without further ado: —Having driven past Box.net’s cheeky anti-Microsoft billboard on U.S. 101 many times, I finally got to meet the company’s young CEO, Aaron Levie, who told me why SharePoint is a … Continue reading “Truste Goes Mobile, Amyris Goes Public, EA Hires nPario, & More Bay Area BizTech News”
Smart Grid Demo Projects Nabs $89M More, Green Startups Compete at Cleantech Open, Isilon & F5 Are Primed for Buyouts, and More Seattle-Area Deals News
Where are all the tech deals? I thought things were supposed to speed up as autumn set in, not slow down. But there wasn’t a single financing deal for Seattle tech companies that we tracked down over the last week. Still, a number of potential negotiations did work their way into the spotlight. Take a … Continue reading “Smart Grid Demo Projects Nabs $89M More, Green Startups Compete at Cleantech Open, Isilon & F5 Are Primed for Buyouts, and More Seattle-Area Deals News”
One Ecosystem Per Child: Walter Bender and OLPC Reunite to Enhance Learning and Grow Economies in Developing Nations
Walter Bender and the One Laptop per Child organization are back together again. The architect of the Sugar learning environment at the heart of every XO laptop, who had teamed with OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte to launch the project but split with the organization 30 months ago, saying it had lost its way as a … Continue reading “One Ecosystem Per Child: Walter Bender and OLPC Reunite to Enhance Learning and Grow Economies in Developing Nations”
Isilon, F5 Being Primed for Buyouts, Reports Say
Both Seattle-based Isilon Systems (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISLN]]) and F5 Networks (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FFIV]]) are rumored to be potential candidates for acquisitions, according to two recent reports. Isilon, which has a market value of $1.52 billion, may be shopping itself around to possible buyers, according to a report by Bloomberg. The Bloomberg story cites two anonymous sources briefed … Continue reading “Isilon, F5 Being Primed for Buyouts, Reports Say”
Exoskeletons In My Closet: What Raytheon’s Robotic Suit Really Means for the Field
Last week, Waltham, MA-based defense contractor Raytheon (NYSE: [[ticker:RTN]]) unveiled its latest prototype “exoskeleton.” This is a powered robotic suit that a soldier or worker could strap on in the field to enable them to load heavy equipment faster, carry supplies or munitions using less energy, or—let’s face it—just look ultra-cool. Raytheon said in a … Continue reading “Exoskeletons In My Closet: What Raytheon’s Robotic Suit Really Means for the Field”
Qualcomm Reportedly Moving to Close Flo TV Operation
Last year, Qualcomm (NASDAQ: [[ticker:QCOM]]) announced during the CTIA Wireless trade show that it was introducing a handheld personal TV to help boost interest in its Flo TV business, which has been flagging. This year, it looks like the San Diego wireless giant will be confronting reports of a planned shutdown of its Flo TV … Continue reading “Qualcomm Reportedly Moving to Close Flo TV Operation”
Fred Hutch Wins $14M Grant to Establish Cancer Immunotherapy Trial Center
Seattle researchers have lived through the ups and downs of cancer immunotherapy, and now they are seizing a growing leadership position in the field. Martin “Mac” Cheever, a scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, has been awarded a five-year, $14 million grant from the National Institutes of Health … Continue reading “Fred Hutch Wins $14M Grant to Establish Cancer Immunotherapy Trial Center”
ModeRNA, Stealth Startup Backed By Flagship, Unveils New Way to Make Stem Cells
ModeRNA Therapeutics, a new startup out of Cambridge, MA-based Flagship VentureLabs, announced it has developed a method for producing human induced pluripotent stem cells, which are embryonic-like stem cells that are formed by reprogramming adult stem cells. Flagship and three other scientists co-founded the startup this summer with an undisclosed amount of Series A funding, … Continue reading “ModeRNA, Stealth Startup Backed By Flagship, Unveils New Way to Make Stem Cells”