Category: National

EMC Makes Bold Move into ‘GRC’ Market With Archer Acquisition…But Is It the Last?

It turns out regulation and government mandates aren’t always bad for business. A generation of new software companies is emerging to serve businesses who need to comply with a skein of regulations put in place over the last decade to fight financial and accounting fraud, prevent database breaches, and generally make businesses more transparent and … Continue reading “EMC Makes Bold Move into ‘GRC’ Market With Archer Acquisition…But Is It the Last?”

2010 Venture Capital Oscar Predictions

Even though Oscar buzz is not yet in the air, it is pretty clear what film titles will rule in 2010. So sit back, grab your popcorn…the envelopes please. Precious: The statuette goes to this film about the Greenback, which continues to be really hard to come by. The venture industry weathered a swift-yet-painful contraction … Continue reading “2010 Venture Capital Oscar Predictions”

Former Qualcomm Exec Named CEO of Color Printing Technology Developer

The other shoe dropped today with regard to Len J. Lauer, who announced his resignation before Christmas as Qualcomm’s chief operating officer, which is ostensibly the No. 2 executive post at the San Diego wireless giant. Lauer was named as the president and chief executive officer of Memjet, a privately held company developing innovative color … Continue reading “Former Qualcomm Exec Named CEO of Color Printing Technology Developer”

Biogen Idec CEO Jim Mullen Stepping Down, After Tumultuous Year of Shareholder Activism

[Updated 6:05 pm Eastern 1/4/10] Biogen Idec, the world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs and an anchor of Boston’s biotech cluster, is looking for a new CEO. The Cambridge, MA-based company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) said today that longtime CEO James Mullen is stepping down on June 8, and also will be relinquishing his seat on … Continue reading “Biogen Idec CEO Jim Mullen Stepping Down, After Tumultuous Year of Shareholder Activism”

Adventrx Asks FDA to Approve Its Formulation of Anti-Cancer Drug

San Diego-based Adventrx Pharmaceuticals (AMEX: [[ticker:ANX]]), which reduced its workforce to just five executives and announced plans last March to “substantially end” its drug development and business operations, sprang back to life today. The company says it has submitted a new drug application, or NDA, to the Food and Drug Administration for ANX-530, a formulation … Continue reading “Adventrx Asks FDA to Approve Its Formulation of Anti-Cancer Drug”

The Startup Whisperer’s 2010 Technology Predictions

Now that I’ve posted my results for 2009, here are my predictions for 2010. Apple will have another hit with the Apple Tablet (iTablet) – get ready for the cage match between the iTablet and the Amazon Kindle. The Apple Tablet wont be a revolution and certainly wont have the same type of unit distribution … Continue reading “The Startup Whisperer’s 2010 Technology Predictions”

The Boston Deals You Missed During the Holidays: Cash for Kala Pharma, Funds for ViewFinity, Silver for SCVNGR, & More

Feeling a bit out of the loop on the New England tech and life sciences news? Don’t fret. We’ve compiled the Boston-area deals you may have missed during the last couple of weeks of 2009. There were enough of them to indicate that tech lawyers and execs were quite busy over the break. —Waltham, MA-based … Continue reading “The Boston Deals You Missed During the Holidays: Cash for Kala Pharma, Funds for ViewFinity, Silver for SCVNGR, & More”

M&A Liquidity Up, IPO Market Still Anemic: Fourth-Quarter Data on Venture Exits Is a Mixed Bag

It’s too early to say whether it’s the beginning of the end of the liquidity drought, or just the end of the beginning. But after seven straight quarters of declining IPO and M&A earnings for venture-backed U.S. companies, there was a ray of hope in the fourth quarter of 2009. Venture-backed firms raised $7.5 billion … Continue reading “M&A Liquidity Up, IPO Market Still Anemic: Fourth-Quarter Data on Venture Exits Is a Mixed Bag”

Qualcomm’s No. 2 Executive Departs Amid Shuffle, Metaplace Closes Virtual World, Startups Refill Coffers, & More San Diego BizTech News

Although the news flow slowed to a trickle over the holidays, we’ve patiently collected all the high-tech news to get you ready to greet the New Year. —San Diego’s Qualcomm announced the resignation of its No. 2 executive, Chief Operating Officer Len Lauer, on Christmas Eve—a move that almost ensured minimal press attention. Lauer, who … Continue reading “Qualcomm’s No. 2 Executive Departs Amid Shuffle, Metaplace Closes Virtual World, Startups Refill Coffers, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Alder Rises From Ashes of Layoffs to Become Seattle Biotech Force

Nobody would have guessed the seeds for one of Seattle’s most promising biotech companies were being planted just before Thanksgiving in 2003. That’s when Randy Schatzman had the depressing task of firing all 90 people who worked for him, and closing the doors at Celltech R&D in Bothell, WA. Celltech’s headquarters back in the U.K. … Continue reading “Alder Rises From Ashes of Layoffs to Become Seattle Biotech Force”

Dicerna Snags Deal With Japan’s Kyowa Hakko Kirin to Develop RNAi Cancer Treatments

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals has found some deep pockets to support its approach to creating RNA interference drugs. The Watertown, MA-based company is announcing today that it has formed an alliance with Japan-based Kyowa Hakko Kirin. Under the deal, Kyowa Hakko Kirin will get access to Dicerna’s proprietary RNAi drug technology against one undisclosed target on cancer … Continue reading “Dicerna Snags Deal With Japan’s Kyowa Hakko Kirin to Develop RNAi Cancer Treatments”

Life Technologies Uses Sound Wave Technology to Crack Into New Instrument Market

Carlsbad, CA-based Life Technologies sells a bunch of stuff to biomedical researchers, but one market it has never tried to capture is the one for flow cytometers. These are common lab tools that can count and catalog large numbers of cells in a biological sample. They can be useful in many ways, including, say, looking … Continue reading “Life Technologies Uses Sound Wave Technology to Crack Into New Instrument Market”

UW Startup Nanocel Seeks Funding and Partners, Wants to Make Computers Cooler

Last May, the Seattle startup Nanocel won the University of Washington’s yearly business plan competition. Now the company—founded by UW mechanical engineering Ph.D. student Dustin Miller and recent UW MBA grad Daniel Rossi—is gearing up for a big year in 2010. Their planned first products, affordable fluid-based cooling systems for computer chips, will fill a … Continue reading “UW Startup Nanocel Seeks Funding and Partners, Wants to Make Computers Cooler”

Top Five Robotics “Hits” of the 2000s

Robotics, in the noughties (I have rank ordered them in importance): 1. Thousands of remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft in the U.S. military. 2. Thousands of supervisory controlled ground robots in the U.S. military. 3. Millions of autonomous home cleaning robots in people’s houses. 4. Autonomous vehicles in the two DARPA grand challenge demonstrations. 5. … Continue reading “Top Five Robotics “Hits” of the 2000s”

Bringing Order to the Address Book, Sensobi Targets Underserved Blackberry Mobile App Customers

You’ve been scrolling through your phone’s address book for minutes now just to find the coworker you call the most. Because his name falls at the end of the alphabet, he’s buried behind dozens of other entries, many of whom you probably haven’t called in years. Shouldn’t a smart phone be smarter about managing your … Continue reading “Bringing Order to the Address Book, Sensobi Targets Underserved Blackberry Mobile App Customers”

India’s Innovation Front Lines 2009 (Part 4): Billionaire Democracy

Delhi, December 29, 2009—The ruling Congress Party turned 125 years old today to muted fanfare. Founded in 1885, it became the main opposition to British rule, eventually coming to power in 1947 when India reclaimed its independence. The party remained in power for 30 years, until losing its position in 1977. Since then it has … Continue reading “India’s Innovation Front Lines 2009 (Part 4): Billionaire Democracy”

Top Five Biotech Innovations of the 2000s

My list is brief, but the innovations that stood out for me in the past decade were first-in-class drugs that can treat or prevent major unmet medical needs. 1. Genentech’s ranibizumab (Lucentis)—The first treatment of its kind for the “wet” form of macular degeneration. It has high efficacy rates and low side effects, has saved … Continue reading “Top Five Biotech Innovations of the 2000s”

Top Five Global Health Innovations of the 2000s

During the past decade, we have seen tremendous technological advances in the field of global health. These innovations promise to bring us closer to a world where health is within reach for everyone. However, realizing their full potential will require further investment to implement these breakthroughs within affordable product platforms. It will also require innovation … Continue reading “Top Five Global Health Innovations of the 2000s”

Top Five Medical Innovations of the 2000s (And One Big Concern)

1—The development of novel mechanisms and combination therapies in HIV, which have turned a universally fatal disease into a chronic one. 2—Targeted cancer therapies. Novartis’ imatinib (Gleevec) is the poster child for this. 3—Sequencing the human genome, and rapidly expanding the technology to allow the analysis of comparative genomes across species and disease areas (e.g., … Continue reading “Top Five Medical Innovations of the 2000s (And One Big Concern)”

India’s Innovation Front Lines 2009 (Part 3): A Continent, Not a Country

Mumbai, December 23, 2009—There are now 500 million cell phone subscribers in India. In the major metropolitan cities, penetration rates are close to U.S. levels. A golf caddy, who makes about Rs 300 ($6) per day, has a cell phone so golfers can reserve him for a round. The 500 million subscribers appears to be … Continue reading “India’s Innovation Front Lines 2009 (Part 3): A Continent, Not a Country”

Four Groundbreaking Innovations from the 2000s (And One More Life-Changing Event)

Let me start out the great moments/innovations/developments of the past decade with one that was very important to me individually. 1. As a strapping, 6-year-old boy, I had the privilege of seeing Ted Williams’s last game. I don’t know about you, but growing up in Boston in the 1960s there were two heroes: Ted Williams … Continue reading “Four Groundbreaking Innovations from the 2000s (And One More Life-Changing Event)”

Top Five Biomedical Innovations of the 2000s

1—Increasing use, validation and acceptance of surrogate endpoints for clinical trials. 2—Novartis’ imatinib (Gleevec). The first drug for specifically inhibiting an enzyme causing cancer rather than killing fast dividing cells…. 3—Human papillomavirus vaccines. This is both for innovative science, and innovative treatment of a vaccine for a virus tied to cancer. 4—Robotic surgery. (Intuitive Surgical) … Continue reading “Top Five Biomedical Innovations of the 2000s”

Ringing in a New Year With Predictions for Hot Software Sectors

The constrained venture capital markets and difficult environment for IPOs, will make 2010 a big year for M&A transactions. The leaders in hot new software sectors will be swallowed up at a premium, along with entrepreneurs tired of running on the treadmill as they get closer to retirement, will drive more M&A transactions than ever. … Continue reading “Ringing in a New Year With Predictions for Hot Software Sectors”

Ringing in the New Year: Five San Diego Tech Companies Raise Cash in December

Venture fundraising came to life among for a number of San Diego’s high-tech companies in December, although the deals for the most part were relatively small. Here’s a roundup of recent deals that will no doubt help these startup founders rest a little easier over the holidays: —Daylight Solutions, the specialized maker of solid-state lasers … Continue reading “Ringing in the New Year: Five San Diego Tech Companies Raise Cash in December”

ViaSat Sells Shares as Part of WildBlue Deal

ViaSat (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VSAT]]), the Carlsbad, CA-based satellite communications company raised $133 million in equity funding in December, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ViaSat spokesman Bruce Rowe tells me the company issued about 4.3 million shares for the stock component of the company’s $568 million stock-and-cash purchase of Colorado’s WildBlue … Continue reading “ViaSat Sells Shares as Part of WildBlue Deal”

Readers’ Picks: Xconomy San Diego’s Top 5 Stories of 2009

There are many differences between this new world of online media and the old world of ink-on-paper that I used to inhabit. So many, in fact, that sometimes I feel like the earthling in the blockbuster “Avatar” who must take archery lessons and learn how to live in an alien culture. One of the most … Continue reading “Readers’ Picks: Xconomy San Diego’s Top 5 Stories of 2009”

Ambit Signs Big Deal With Astellas, Xenomics Alleges Fraud at Sequenom, Arena Seeks FDA Approval for Weight-Loss Drug & More San Diego Life Sciences News

Despite the fact that there are no snow days in San Diego, we still saw occasional flurries—of life sciences news—in the days before Christmas. Here at Xconomy, we’re wishing everyone happy holidays and an exponential New Year. —Scott Salka, the CEO of Ambit Biosciences told Luke the San Diego life sciences company pushed hard to … Continue reading “Ambit Signs Big Deal With Astellas, Xenomics Alleges Fraud at Sequenom, Arena Seeks FDA Approval for Weight-Loss Drug & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Readers’ Picks for 2009: Terrafugia’s Maiden Flight, Kindle 2 Taps E Ink, Follica’s War on Baldness, & More

For the second year straight, our readers have made stories about the biotech startup Follica’s plans to treat baldness, Terrafugia’s street-legal aircraft, and the nonprofit One Laptop Per Child Foundation among Xconomy Boston’s five most popular posts for the year. What conclusions can we draw from this? Well, none. But I’ll speculate that some stories, … Continue reading “Readers’ Picks for 2009: Terrafugia’s Maiden Flight, Kindle 2 Taps E Ink, Follica’s War on Baldness, & More”

Editor’s Picks: The Best of 2009 From Xconomy Seattle

Every day in 2009, I got out of bed and thought about how to create excellent, original stories for Xconomy Seattle. So did my brother-in-arms, editor Greg Huang. We want Xconomy to be a source of original, in-depth, engaging content for you. We are always looking to dig up things about the local tech, biotech, … Continue reading “Editor’s Picks: The Best of 2009 From Xconomy Seattle”

Cell Therapeutics Dangles Exec Bonuses, Oncothyreon’s Turnaround Year, VLST Layoffs, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

This was the last week of 2009 that anybody could realistically get deals done, and quite a few did. —Bothell, WA-based OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OGXI]]) secured a partnership to develop its experimental prostate cancer treatment with Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical, the generic drug giant. OncoGenex pulled in $60 million in upfront cash, but investors objected to … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics Dangles Exec Bonuses, Oncothyreon’s Turnaround Year, VLST Layoffs, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

See Which Life Sciences Companies Are Getting The $25M State Tax Breaks

Quite a few of the companies we cover here at Xconomy received some good fortune this year right before the holidays. These 28 life sciences companies will pocket a total of $25 million in tax incentives, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. Gov. Deval Patrick, who staked a fair bit of … Continue reading “See Which Life Sciences Companies Are Getting The $25M State Tax Breaks”

Exponentials R Us: Seven Computer Science Game-Changers from the 2000’s, and Seven More to Come

Forty years ago, in 1969, Neil Armstrong left footprints on the surface of the moon. It was an extraordinary accomplishment. Also in 1969, with much less fanfare and at much less expense, Len Kleinrock’s programmer Charley Kline sent the first message over ARPANET. (The message was “lo” – the first two letters of “login.” Then … Continue reading “Exponentials R Us: Seven Computer Science Game-Changers from the 2000’s, and Seven More to Come”

Kala Pharmaceuticals, Stealthy New Company Tied to MIT’s Bob Langer, Gets $2M

MIT’s famously inventive bioengineering professor, Bob Langer, is lending his expertise to yet another fledgling biotech company. Boston-based Kala Pharmaceuticals, which lists Langer on its board of directors, has secured a $2 million equity financing, according to a regulatory filing. Kala doesn’t have a website, and I haven’t been able to find any public statements … Continue reading “Kala Pharmaceuticals, Stealthy New Company Tied to MIT’s Bob Langer, Gets $2M”

Arena Loses Merck Collaboration After Clogged-Artery Drug Fails Clinical Trial

Somebody always delivers some bad news on the slow days before Christmas, and this year, it’s Arena Pharmaceuticals. The San Diego-based biotech company said today that pharma giant Merck has cancelled a research collaboration with Arena after an experimental drug for improving levels of the so-called “good” cholesterol failed to reach its goal in a … Continue reading “Arena Loses Merck Collaboration After Clogged-Artery Drug Fails Clinical Trial”

pSivida Shares Boom as Eye Drug Passes Pivotal Trial

Shares of pSivida (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PSDV]]) rocketed more than 50 percent this morning on some positive clinical trial news. The Watertown, MA-based company, the developer of a treatment for an eye disorder related to diabetes, said its technology helped patients improve their vision after two years of follow up in a clinical trial. pSivida climbed 56 … Continue reading “pSivida Shares Boom as Eye Drug Passes Pivotal Trial”

In Development of Bio-Engineered Skin Tissue, Third Try is Charm for Advanced BioHealing

[Corrected 12/29/09, 3:40 pm. See below.] When it comes to commercializing a bio-engineered human skin substitute that could be used to treat diabetic ulcers and other tissue damage, Kathy McGee has the benefit of a long view. McGee tells me she arrived in San Diego from Ireland in 1992 to work for Advanced Tissue Sciences … Continue reading “In Development of Bio-Engineered Skin Tissue, Third Try is Charm for Advanced BioHealing”

India’s Innovation Front Lines 2009 (Part 2): Maharajas, Jewelry, and Economic Growth

Jaipur, December 22, 2009—I have come to Jaipur, a major tourist attraction, for the TiE Charter Member Annual Retreat. Some 250 charter members from across the 53 chapters of TiE are in attendance. These are some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the U.S., UK, India, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan. The retreat begins with … Continue reading “India’s Innovation Front Lines 2009 (Part 2): Maharajas, Jewelry, and Economic Growth”

Announcing Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands 3: Seattle vs. Boston

Are you tired of this whole East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry? Do you want it settled once and for all? What better way to do so than with a knock-down drag-out fight— with bass, drums, and guitars. That’s the idea behind Xconomy Boston’s third annual Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands. The theme of … Continue reading “Announcing Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands 3: Seattle vs. Boston”

Joule Biotechnologies Picks Site For Pilot Ethanol Plant in the Desert

Joule Biotechnologies has been busy since we last spoke to the company’s leadership around the time it first started talking publicly in July. The Cambridge, MA-based company, which develops fuels and chemicals in a process that mimics photosynthesis, has been advancing toward commercialization. I got the update from Bill Sims, the firm’s CEO. For starters, … Continue reading “Joule Biotechnologies Picks Site For Pilot Ethanol Plant in the Desert”

Oncothyreon CEO on Next-Generation Cancer Vaccines, Two Key Zymonites, and Serious Luck

Biotech companies can be resilient little animals, and one example in Seattle is Oncothyreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONTY]]). This company looked like a goner a little over a year ago, when it was down to its last few months of cash and its stock was trading for less than a buck. Somehow, when his back was against … Continue reading “Oncothyreon CEO on Next-Generation Cancer Vaccines, Two Key Zymonites, and Serious Luck”

Founder of Adaptiva, Deepak Kumar, on Green-IT Strategy and Working with Microsoft

Seattle knows green—green trees, green ideas, and green innovation. As businesses rush to become more environmentally friendly, organizations like New York and London-based 1E and Seattle-based Verdiem have emerged as leaders in green-IT management. They offer systems that allow companies to cut off power to their computers remotely, saving energy and IT costs, and make … Continue reading “Founder of Adaptiva, Deepak Kumar, on Green-IT Strategy and Working with Microsoft”

Ambit, Buoyed by Astellas Deal, Attempting Rare Switch from Platform to Drug Developer

Ambit Biosciences made news last Friday when it pulled in $40 million through a partnership with Japan-based Astellas Pharma. We had the basic gist out fast that morning, but I gathered a lot more detail and insight during a follow-up conversation with Ambit CEO Scott Salka. It’s been a frenetic year at Ambit. The company … Continue reading “Ambit, Buoyed by Astellas Deal, Attempting Rare Switch from Platform to Drug Developer”

Biogen Drops Facet Bid, Aveo Reveals IPO Ambitions, Pfizer Partners with Adimab, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News

New England’s drug developers and device makers are squeezing in a few more partnerships, acquisitions, financings, and strategic moves before the year’s end. —Acceleron Pharma, the Cambridge, MA-based biotech that’s building its own drug-making infrastructure rather that outsourcing the work, raised $10.9 million in equity financing, according to an SEC filing. $8 million comes from … Continue reading “Biogen Drops Facet Bid, Aveo Reveals IPO Ambitions, Pfizer Partners with Adimab, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”

The Top Five Advances From the Decade of Genomics

1. The Human Genome Project 2. Massively parallel DNA sequencing 3. Personalizing therapeutics via companion diagnostic tests (Herceptin, Gleevec, OncoDX, …) 4. Advanced diagnostics by blood biomarker analysis (e.g. fetal DNA/cells in mother’s blood) 5. The launch of the field of systems biology [Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of posts from Xconomists … Continue reading “The Top Five Advances From the Decade of Genomics”

Seacoast Science Avoids VCs, Finds Other Money to Develop Tiny Chemical Sensors

I wanted to meet with the founders of Seacoast Science since I learned in late October that the Carlsbad, CA, startup is part of a government-sponsored initiative to embed tiny chemical sensors in cell phones. Seacoast’s technology is impressive: tiny microchips—about the size of the typeface on a postage stamp—each containing multiple individual sensors, or … Continue reading “Seacoast Science Avoids VCs, Finds Other Money to Develop Tiny Chemical Sensors”

AVI Biopharma Drug Shows Hint of Effect Against Muscular Dystrophy In Small Study

Bothell, WA-based AVI Biopharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVII]]) is trying to develop the first treatment to correct an underlying molecular abnormality in boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and after taking an early peek at a small clinical trial, the drug appears to be doing what it’s supposed to do in at least one patient. The preliminary results … Continue reading “AVI Biopharma Drug Shows Hint of Effect Against Muscular Dystrophy In Small Study”

Livemocha Scores $8M Series B Round, Looks to Expand Globally with New Partnerships

Now here’s an interesting deal from a company we’ve had our eye on for a while. Bellevue, WA-based Livemocha, which runs a popular language-learning website, announced today it has raised $8 million in Series B financing, led by new investor August Capital in Menlo Park, CA. Existing venture investor Maveron, based in Seattle, also participated … Continue reading “Livemocha Scores $8M Series B Round, Looks to Expand Globally with New Partnerships”

Zulily Gets Funded, Ontela Merges with Photobucket, OncoGenex Secures $60M from Teva, & More Seattle-Area Deals News

It was another pretty busy week for deals in the Northwest, as everyone scrambled to beat the holiday rush. Lots of action in biotech, Internet, and mobile. —Seattle-based ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) is getting back the full rights to its drug for surgical bleeding in the U.S. and every other country except Canada, under a restructured … Continue reading “Zulily Gets Funded, Ontela Merges with Photobucket, OncoGenex Secures $60M from Teva, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”

Genocea Eyes Vaccines that Treat, Not Just Prevent, Infectious Diseases

Genocea Biosciences sees a big potential in high-speed technology for discovering vaccines—not only ones that prevent diseases, but also ones that treat them. Indeed, the Cambridge, MA-based biotech has decided to pursue an immune-boosting therapy for genital herpes as its lead product candidate. Genocea (pronounced Jen-O-shuh) has been one of the biotech startups to watch … Continue reading “Genocea Eyes Vaccines that Treat, Not Just Prevent, Infectious Diseases”