Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]) hosted a large event at its R&D site in Cambridge, MA, yesterday to make its pitch for why Boston-area biotech companies should want to form partnerships with the French drug giant. It was an impressive show of force by the company, which has historically kept a lower profile in local biotech circles … Continue reading “Right Brains Wanted: Sanofi-Aventis Wants to Tap the Creative Genius of Boston-Area Biotechs”
Category: National
Sequenom Looks to Prolong Operations as Available Cash Runs Low
San Diego’s embattled Sequenom, which halted the debut of a new diagnostic product over mishandled data, is now considering steps to conserve cash. In an SEC document filed Monday, the life sciences tools company says it expects to end the year with $39 million in cash — too little to fund operations and capital expenditures … Continue reading “Sequenom Looks to Prolong Operations as Available Cash Runs Low”
Don Dodge Weighs In On Leaving Microsoft, What’s Next, and Friends Old and New
It was big news here in New England last week when Don Dodge announced on his blog that he had been laid off from Microsoft as part of some 800 layoffs at the software powerhouse. Dodge had been a regular on the innovation scene here in New England—and around the world, really—and was known as … Continue reading “Don Dodge Weighs In On Leaving Microsoft, What’s Next, and Friends Old and New”
Xconomy Auction for Charity—Autographed Collector’s Edition of Turbine’s Lord of the Rings: Mines of Moria
Do you love fantasy role-playing games? Do you enjoy collecting one-of-a-kind autographed artifacts? Do you like supporting good causes? Then this is your lucky week. Through the generosity of the good folks at Turbine, the Westwood, MA-based publisher of online fantasy games, Xconomy has obtained an amazing Collector’s Edition boxed set of Turbine’s most popular … Continue reading “Xconomy Auction for Charity—Autographed Collector’s Edition of Turbine’s Lord of the Rings: Mines of Moria”
Three New England Deal Stories: Startups Pursuing Emotional Sensors, Drugs for Pets, & Mobile Video Raise Some Bucks
We spotted three New England startups today that have recently filed papers with the SEC to report new rounds of equity financing. Other than their common geographic ties to region, it’s tough to see any relationship among these firms. But here’s a brief synopsis of the deals and what each company does: —Waltham, MA-based Affectiva … Continue reading “Three New England Deal Stories: Startups Pursuing Emotional Sensors, Drugs for Pets, & Mobile Video Raise Some Bucks”
Clearwire Closes $1.5B, Alder Scores $1B Partnership, Software Financings Are Down, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Healthcare deals are going one way, tech deals another. That’s my read from the past week in the Northwest, where we’ve seen some of the biggest biotech deals around, even as a prominent Seattle tech venture firm (and software financings in general) head south. —Bothell, WA-based Alder Biopharmaceuticals scored one of the biggest biotech partnerships … Continue reading “Clearwire Closes $1.5B, Alder Scores $1B Partnership, Software Financings Are Down, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Ironwood Gets $75M Deal From Astellas to Market Bowel Drug in Asia
[Update: 10:42 am Eastern, 11/10/09] Cambridge, MA-based Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, the developer of a treatment for chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome, has formed a partnership with Japan-based Astellas Pharma to market the drug in Japan and certain other countries in Asia. Ironwood will get $75 million in upfront and pre-commercial milestone payments as well as … Continue reading “Ironwood Gets $75M Deal From Astellas to Market Bowel Drug in Asia”
Alder Scores Deal With Bristol-Myers Potentially Worth $1 Billion
Alder Biopharmaceuticals has just struck one of the biggest biotech partnerships of the year, both in the Seattle area and nationally. The Bothell, WA-based developer of faster and cheaper technology for making antibody drugs has formed a collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]), focused on the development of Alder’s experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug, that could … Continue reading “Alder Scores Deal With Bristol-Myers Potentially Worth $1 Billion”
San Diego’s Platformic Expands Its Web Development Platform for Broadcasters
Mark Underhill says he was doing Web design and applications development for Clear Channel Communications when the San Antonio, TX-based media company announced plans to sell 448 of its 1,150 radio stations, along with its 42-station TV group. That was in November 2006. Underhill, who had initially been hired in San Diego six or seven … Continue reading “San Diego’s Platformic Expands Its Web Development Platform for Broadcasters”
Who Will Create the Future of San Diego Biotech? Xconomy Event Will Gather Star Innovators From Inside and Outside the Region
Who are the innovators who will help keep the San Diego region’s life sciences sector vibrant in the years to come? Which of the emerging ideas here will help transform the way we treat and prevent disease around the world? And how is the San Diego region poised to work with leaders from other hubs … Continue reading “Who Will Create the Future of San Diego Biotech? Xconomy Event Will Gather Star Innovators From Inside and Outside the Region”
Cambridge Public Library Grand Opening: A Beautiful Library for a Great Innovation City
When they write the book on great libraries of the world, a few legendary names will come to mind: Alexandria; Pergamum (the city where papyrus is said to have been invented) in what is now Turkey; the British Library; the New York Public Library; and of course, the U.S. Library of Congress. The new public … Continue reading “Cambridge Public Library Grand Opening: A Beautiful Library for a Great Innovation City”
BioVex Nails Down Another $30M To Finish Pivotal Study of Cancer-Killing Virus
BioVex, the Woburn, MA-based company aspiring to create the first FDA-approved cancer-killing virus, has raised an additional $30 million in private financing to finish off a pivotal clinical trial needed to prove the virus is good enough to reach the U.S. market. This latest round brings BioVex’s grand total of financing this year to $70 … Continue reading “BioVex Nails Down Another $30M To Finish Pivotal Study of Cancer-Killing Virus”
Tokai Pushes Edge With Three-Pronged Attack on Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer has been one of the hot fields for new biotech drug development this year, and now Cambridge, MA-based Tokai Pharmaceuticals is getting into the game with a drug that it hopes will someday help men live longer and push the boundaries of science even further. Tokai, which raised $22 million in May from … Continue reading “Tokai Pushes Edge With Three-Pronged Attack on Prostate Cancer”
Seattle’s Kineta Rakes in Half of $13M Federal Contract to UW For Vaccine Boosters
Kineta, the Seattle-based developer of drugs for autoimmune diseases, has won about half of a $13 million federal contract awarded to the University of Washington to create new compounds which might be used to boost the effectiveness of vaccines against HIV or flu. The five-year contract from the National Institutes of Health is worth about … Continue reading “Seattle’s Kineta Rakes in Half of $13M Federal Contract to UW For Vaccine Boosters”
Where Are the Software Deals? WA Firms Raised $70M in October, Mostly in Healthcare, Gaming
Early-stage software and IT deals are a scarce breed these days. That’s my initial take from looking at the October funding numbers for Washington state, courtesy of ChubbyBrain, a New York-based information services company that makes tools for investors, startups, and entrepreneurs. According to ChubbyBrain’s stats, Washington tech, life sciences, and cleantech companies raised a … Continue reading “Where Are the Software Deals? WA Firms Raised $70M in October, Mostly in Healthcare, Gaming”
Former Pfizer R&D Chief Joins PureTech Ventures as Senior Partner
PureTech Ventures says it has swelled its ranks with another Big Pharma veteran. John LaMattina, former president of global research and development at Pfizer, has joined the Boston-based venture firm as senior partner. PureTech has also promoted previous firm associates Eric Elenko and Steve Muniz to partner. LaMattina—who retired from New York-based Pfizer (NYSE:[[ticker:PFE]]) in … Continue reading “Former Pfizer R&D Chief Joins PureTech Ventures as Senior Partner”
San Diego’s Gizmo5 Reportedly Acquired by Google
San Diego’s Gizmo5, which was rumored to be a Skype acquisition target for $50 million about three weeks ago, is now reported to have been sold—except the buyer is identified as Google, and the price is put at $30 million. Both the Skype and Google reports were exclusives from TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington, who initially explained … Continue reading “San Diego’s Gizmo5 Reportedly Acquired by Google”
Boston’s Mobile Startups React to Google’s $750M AdMob Purchase
I was at the offices of uLocate, a Boston startup with a suite of location-aware information services for mobile phones, when I heard today’s news about Google’s $750 million acquisition of San Mateo, CA-based AdMob, which runs one of the largest mobile advertising networks. “It’s a very good thing,” commented Walt Doyle, uLocate’s CEO, who … Continue reading “Boston’s Mobile Startups React to Google’s $750M AdMob Purchase”
ZymoGenetics, King Pharma Brawl Over Drugs to Control Surgical Bleeding
ZymoGenetics started really playing hardball with King Pharmaceuticals in August, and now a high-and-tight fastball has come right back at the Seattle biotech company. The projectile in question is a lawsuit filed on November 2 by Bristol, TN-based King in the U.S. District Court in Eastern Tennessee; the suit accuses ZymoGenetics of false advertising, unfair … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics, King Pharma Brawl Over Drugs to Control Surgical Bleeding”
Verathon, Maker of Diagnostic Ultrasound Tools, Acquired by Roper as Part of $356M Deal
Bothell, WA-based Verathon, which markets a simple ultrasound technology to help doctors diagnose common bladder disorders, has been acquired by Sarasota, FL-based Roper Industries in a pair of transactions worth a combined $356 million. Roper (NYSE: [[ticker:ROP]]), a company with a market capitalization of $4.8 billion, made the announcement Friday. It said it acquired Verathon … Continue reading “Verathon, Maker of Diagnostic Ultrasound Tools, Acquired by Roper as Part of $356M Deal”
Good Things in Threes: Trius Therapeutics Files for IPO to Fund Phase 3 Clinical Trials, Marks San Diego’s Third IPO Filing
San Diego’s Trius Therapeutics, a venture-backed biotech developing a new antibiotic for treating acute and life-threatening bacterial infections, submitted a regulatory filing Friday to raise as much as $86 million in an initial public stock offering. It marks the third IPO filing by a company in the San Diego area so far this year. The … Continue reading “Good Things in Threes: Trius Therapeutics Files for IPO to Fund Phase 3 Clinical Trials, Marks San Diego’s Third IPO Filing”
Clean Energy Week Preview: Of Green Ties and 52 Startups
We’ve noticed a slowing of venture investment in cleantech and other aspects of energy here in New England. But put any green investment pessimism on hold this week—as today marks the start off what’s being touted as the third annual Clean Energy Week here in Massachusetts. In a week of charged-up presentations from Springfield to … Continue reading “Clean Energy Week Preview: Of Green Ties and 52 Startups”
San Diego’s PaxVax Developing Oral Tablet Vaccine, Looks to Raise More Cash With Support of Seattle’s Ignition Capital
PaxVax, a San Diego startup backed by Seattle’s Ignition Capital, has raised $2 million of a planned $6 million investment round, according to a document filed Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The biotech was founded in early 2007 to develop new oral vaccine technology based on a common cold virus called the adenovirus. … Continue reading “San Diego’s PaxVax Developing Oral Tablet Vaccine, Looks to Raise More Cash With Support of Seattle’s Ignition Capital”
Concert Starts HIV Trial, Bags $12M From Glaxo to Help Challenge Gilead’s Once-Daily Pill
Concert Pharmaceuticals, the Lexington, MA-based company that chemically modifies existing drugs to make them more attractive, has started human testing of an HIV medication which it hopes will help GlaxoSmithKline wrestle back market share it has been losing to Gilead Sciences, the world’s largest maker of HIV drugs. Concert will receive a $12 million payment … Continue reading “Concert Starts HIV Trial, Bags $12M From Glaxo to Help Challenge Gilead’s Once-Daily Pill”
The Rise of Agile Organizational Development
There’s lots of buzz in the startup community about agile software development; there are software programs, books, and seminars on the topic, and even huge firms like IBM are now touting their “agile development solutions”. The general idea is to create a team and a software process that is flexible, quick, and adaptive to feedback … Continue reading “The Rise of Agile Organizational Development”
DHS Funds Chemical Sensors for Cell Phones, MaxLinear Files for IPO, EcoDog Wins GadgetFest, & More San Diego BizTech News
It was a busy week for local technology news. —Two teams from San Diego and a third from Northern California demonstrated their development of advanced chemical sensor prototypes that are tiny enough to be found inside ordinary cell phones. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is funding the Cell-All program, with a goal of basically … Continue reading “DHS Funds Chemical Sensors for Cell Phones, MaxLinear Files for IPO, EcoDog Wins GadgetFest, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Startup Failure: Seattle’s Stigma, Boston’s Chip on Its Shoulder, and Silicon Valley’s Badge of Honor
“People say if you fail in Seattle, you’re screwed,” said Marcelo Calbucci. “If you fail in the Bay Area, you just have a badge of honor.” We were at the TechStars reunion event in Seattle last week, listening to early-stage investors Brad Feld, Andy Sack, Steve Hall, Greg Gottesman, Shawn Broderick, and Chris Sheehan speak … Continue reading “Startup Failure: Seattle’s Stigma, Boston’s Chip on Its Shoulder, and Silicon Valley’s Badge of Honor”
Viridity Points to Greener, and Cheaper, Data Centers
Any company that owns or manages a data center, even a small one, knows how power-hungry they can be. It’s not unusual for operators of large data centers—say, 50,000 square feet—to pay $10 million a year or more for electricity. Under those circumstances, companies have every incentive to look to virtualization and other technologies that … Continue reading “Viridity Points to Greener, and Cheaper, Data Centers”
Wireless Chip Designer MaxLinear Files for IPO
MaxLinear, a fabless RF chipmaker based in Carlsbad, CA, filed a registration statement today for an initial public stock offering, marking only the second IPO in the San Diego area since Bridgepoint Education made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in April. About 45 IPOs have taken place nationwide so far this year. … Continue reading “Wireless Chip Designer MaxLinear Files for IPO”
Porn Always Wins, Bacon Salt Expands, and Other Thoughts from Entrepreneur University
I’m not going to do justice to this event. Let’s just get that out there right now. There were some great speakers and panels at yesterday’s Entrepreneur University in Bellevue, WA, organized by the Northwest Entrepreneur Network. But this isn’t about them. This is about the crowd-pleasers that brought an otherwise productive day to a … Continue reading “Porn Always Wins, Bacon Salt Expands, and Other Thoughts from Entrepreneur University”
Ion Torrent, Stealthy Company Tied to Harvard’s George Church, Nabs $23M Venture Deal
Ion Torrent Systems, a company advised by Harvard University genomics pioneer George Church, has raised $23 million in new capital to develop what it calls on its website “groundbreaking and highly disruptive technology” and to hire people who “want to do what it takes to put a dent in the universe.” The company, which has … Continue reading “Ion Torrent, Stealthy Company Tied to Harvard’s George Church, Nabs $23M Venture Deal”
Elias Zerhouni Talks Public Health Challenges, Culture Wars at WBBA Annual Meeting
Just came back from the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association’s annual meeting in downtown Seattle, where 500-plus biotechies and distinguished guests (including more than a few local politicians) gathered for a quiche-and-berries breakfast and some keen networking. The keynote speaker was Elias Zerhouni, the former director of the National Institutes of Health and now a … Continue reading “Elias Zerhouni Talks Public Health Challenges, Culture Wars at WBBA Annual Meeting”
A Cleantech Startup Looks to Raise $1.2M for the Greening of Hospitality Industry
Dave Paton and Dave Moody tell me they founded EESG, a San Diego cleantech startup also known as Energy Efficiency Systems Group, last year in anticipation that soaring energy prices would unleash strong demand for practical alternatives. But they didn’t focus on new technologies for alternative energy sources. They focused on energy efficiencies. They also … Continue reading “A Cleantech Startup Looks to Raise $1.2M for the Greening of Hospitality Industry”
Is it Real or Is It High Dynamic Range? How Software Is Changing the Way We Look at Photographs
You know how listening to music on a friend’s pricey Bose headphones makes it harder to tolerate your tinny little speakers at home, or watching your favorite show on a high-definition screen spoils you for regular TV? I’m at a moment like that in the way I look at photographs. For the last few weeks, … Continue reading “Is it Real or Is It High Dynamic Range? How Software Is Changing the Way We Look at Photographs”
A Tale of Three Cities: How Boston, Boulder, and Seattle Measure Up as Tech Innovation Hubs
I was chatting with a couple of local investors at the TechStars (seed fund and mentorship program) event in Seattle on Wednesday. They thought the VC panel discussion of the startup climate and culture in different cities around the country was boring. If you’re an entrepreneur or investor, they said, that’s just where you are, … Continue reading “A Tale of Three Cities: How Boston, Boulder, and Seattle Measure Up as Tech Innovation Hubs”
Gloucester Pharma Wins FDA Approval of Drug for Rare Skin Cancer
Gloucester Pharmaceuticals has won clearance to start selling its first cancer drug in the U.S. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company said today it has gotten the green light from the FDA to start marketing its romidepsin treatment, under the brand name Istodax, for patients with a rare malignancy of the skin known as cutaneous T-cell … Continue reading “Gloucester Pharma Wins FDA Approval of Drug for Rare Skin Cancer”
Light Sciences Oncology Lines Up Extra $35M Financing For Targeted Cancer Treatment
Light Sciences Oncology, the Bellevue, WA-based developer of an unusual drug-device combo treatment for cancer, has put itself in position to raise $35 million for its product development through setting up a line of credit and offering investors warrants to buy shares, according to a regulatory filing released today. The latest financing comes about 16 … Continue reading “Light Sciences Oncology Lines Up Extra $35M Financing For Targeted Cancer Treatment”
Evergreen Solar to Move Solar Panel Production from Massachusetts to China
[Updated and corrected—8:30 pm ET on 11/05/09]Marlboro, MA-based Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:[[ticker:ESLR]]) said it will move its solar panel production from Massachusetts to China—dealing a blow to the clean technology economy in the commonwealth. Evergreen plans to begin migrating the manufacturing of solar panels out of its Devens, MA, plant to a facility under construction in … Continue reading “Evergreen Solar to Move Solar Panel Production from Massachusetts to China”
Evri, SEOmoz, Topsy, and Sage to Present at “Future of Search” Forum
Want to know what the real opportunities are for startup companies and investors in the field of Web search and information discovery? Or what happens when you put Google and Bing in the same room? You’ve come to the right place. We’re putting the finishing touches on the program for our next Xconomy Forum, on … Continue reading “Evri, SEOmoz, Topsy, and Sage to Present at “Future of Search” Forum”
Build it Boldly, and Pharma Will Come—and More Wisdom from Boston’s Biotech and Pharma Elite at Xconomy Forum
It was an inspiring afternoon yesterday at Xconomy’s latest event, “Pharma’s Bet on Boston Innovation,” in Cambridge, MA. Local industry pioneers such as Millennium CEO Deborah Dunsire and Sirtris CEO Christoph Westphal talked about how game-changing technologies and sound business strategies have attracted big pharmaceutical outfits to invest in their respective companies. Our speakers also … Continue reading “Build it Boldly, and Pharma Will Come—and More Wisdom from Boston’s Biotech and Pharma Elite at Xconomy Forum”
Six Easy Pieces: Google CEO Eric Schmidt Talks with Boston Journalists
There must be some new force pulling West Coast tech CEOs to visit Boston. Last month, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was in town; yesterday it was Google CEO Eric Schmidt. To mark the unusual occasion, Google invited a raft of journalists to its offices in Cambridge for an open, on-the-record roundtable discussion with Schmidt. Google’s … Continue reading “Six Easy Pieces: Google CEO Eric Schmidt Talks with Boston Journalists”
GadgetFest Crowd Names EcoDog Best in Show
The moderators of San Diego’s 9th Annual GadgetFest kept saying during Tuesday night’s showcase for new technology products that past winners have gone on to even greater glory and success. That may or may not be good news for the Motorola Droid that goes on sale tomorrow at Verizon stores nationwide. After making a cursory … Continue reading “GadgetFest Crowd Names EcoDog Best in Show”
Dendreon Files FDA Application, DxBox Reaches Turning Point, ISB to Do 100 Genomes, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
The local life sciences scene was pretty quiet this week, although we heard more than usual from medical device companies. —Paul Yager, the University of Washington’s chair of bioengineering, offered a detailed status update on a tool called the DxBox his lab has been developing the past four years in collaboration with Redmond, WA-based Micronics, … Continue reading “Dendreon Files FDA Application, DxBox Reaches Turning Point, ISB to Do 100 Genomes, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Amylin Forms Global Alliance in Obesity Drug Development; TEDMED’s Show Will Go On, Sequenom Sued for Civil Fraud, & More San Diego Biotech News
TEDMED had Martha, Goldie, and other celebrity speakers, but San Diego-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals broke this week’s big news when it signed up a big Japanese partner to develop its line of obesity drugs. It’s all part of your regular dose of San Diego biotech news, and it’s ready now: —Amylin Pharmaceuticals, the San Diego-based diabetes … Continue reading “Amylin Forms Global Alliance in Obesity Drug Development; TEDMED’s Show Will Go On, Sequenom Sued for Civil Fraud, & More San Diego Biotech News”
VC Len Jordan Joins Madrona, Says Frazier Technology Ventures Won’t Raise Another Fund
Len Jordan, a general partner at Seattle-based Frazier Technology Ventures, will be joining Madrona Venture Group, also based in Seattle, as of January 1, 2010. Jordan will start at Madrona as a venture partner, the firm announced today, and will identify and lead new investments across technology areas like software, mobile, and Internet, as well … Continue reading “VC Len Jordan Joins Madrona, Says Frazier Technology Ventures Won’t Raise Another Fund”
Konarka Finding New Partners for Power Plastic, But Faces Major Market Hurdles
Konarka Technologies, the Lowell, MA-based developer of flexible materials that convert light into electricity, is showing how everyday items like handbags and umbrellas can be turned into power generators. But the eight-year-old firm will need to collect a lot more juice before it can become a commercial success. The company—which has raised $150 million from … Continue reading “Konarka Finding New Partners for Power Plastic, But Faces Major Market Hurdles”
Enlight Biosciences Forms Partnership with Abbott Labs
There’s big news about Enlight Biosciences breaking here at the Xconomy Forum: Pharma’s Bet on Boston Innovation. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:[[ticker:ABT]]) has joined the consortium of big pharmas that are supporting Enlight, according to CEO David Steinberg; the Boston-based startup is out to develop platform technologies to help large drug companies like Abbott streamline the processes … Continue reading “Enlight Biosciences Forms Partnership with Abbott Labs”
Kashless Expands, Enters Marketing Phase as It Rewards Consumers for Recycling Products
I caught up yesterday with noted entrepreneur and investor Martin Tobias, after his latest startup, Seattle-based Kashless, announced a partnership with RecycleBank to reward people for recycling items at Kashless.org. The basic idea is a rewards program—redeemable for merchandise at hundreds of retailers—for people who give away things like old clothes, food, bikes, electronics, or … Continue reading “Kashless Expands, Enters Marketing Phase as It Rewards Consumers for Recycling Products”
Keeping Details to a Minimum, San Diego’s Jitterbug Announces Acquisition of MobiWatch of Waltham, MA
San Diego-based Jitterbug, the simple-to-use wireless phone and services provider, says today it has acquired MobiWatch, a startup in Waltham, MA, developing mobile personal emergency response services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Jitterbug says the deal will provide its users with personal safety services that are intuitive, reliable and deliverable through its Samsung-made … Continue reading “Keeping Details to a Minimum, San Diego’s Jitterbug Announces Acquisition of MobiWatch of Waltham, MA”
Microsoft Dumps Don Dodge
Don Dodge, admired by many technology entrepreneurs as Microsoft’s enthusiastic ambassador to the startup world, is one of those swept up in today’s big round of layoffs at the software giant. Dodge was director of business development for the Emerging Business Team, working from Microsoft’s offices in Cambridge, MA. Dodge revealed the news in a … Continue reading “Microsoft Dumps Don Dodge”