San Diego-based Senomyx is using some innovations from the biotech industry to develop novel flavor ingredients to enhance tastes, enable food makers to reduce their costs, and improve the “nutritional profile” of food and beverages. At least that’s the way CEO Kent Snyder described it when I met with him recently. Snyder emphasized that Senomyx … Continue reading “Using Biotechnology Innovations, Senomyx Makes New Taste Sensations”
Category: National
The Future of Search and the Intelligent Web, From Vulcan Capital’s Steve Hall
Search is hot again. Just when you thought Google had everything figured out, along comes Microsoft with its new search engine, Bing. This upstart effort may not supplant the search king, or even compete with it all that seriously, but it will certainly make things interesting for a while. Even more interesting, though, is the … Continue reading “The Future of Search and the Intelligent Web, From Vulcan Capital’s Steve Hall”
Innovative Spinal Technologies Files for Bankruptcy, Says Human Cadaver Assets (Literally) Frozen
[[Updated: see editor’s note below.]] Innovative Spinal Technologies, the Mansfield, MA, maker of minimally invasive spinal repair devices, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection after running out of cash and shutting its doors earlier this year. VentureWire published the news this morning. Sources told Xconomy that the bankruptcy was in the works after Wade … Continue reading “Innovative Spinal Technologies Files for Bankruptcy, Says Human Cadaver Assets (Literally) Frozen”
ASCO Weekend Recap: OncoGenex, Seattle Genetics, Vulcan-Backed BiPar Show Off Cancer Drug Results
Lots of news from the world of cancer research came out over the weekend at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Orlando, FL. There was a lot of impressive data coming out of Northwest companies (although most of it is still quite preliminary), so here’s a quick recap to catch up. The conference, … Continue reading “ASCO Weekend Recap: OncoGenex, Seattle Genetics, Vulcan-Backed BiPar Show Off Cancer Drug Results”
Seattle Genetics “Empowered Antibody” Wipes Out Hodgkin’s Tumors in Early Study
Seattle Genetics offered some more evidence, albeit quite preliminary, that suggests it may have a powerful new drug for Hodgkin’s disease and related lymphomas. The Bothell, WA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) said today about half of patients who failed on multiple previous treatments had their tumors shrink after taking its experimental SGN-35 drug, and more … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics “Empowered Antibody” Wipes Out Hodgkin’s Tumors in Early Study”
Taiwanese Display Maker Buys Cambridge’s E Ink for $215 Million
[Updated 9:45 a.m. June 1, 2009 with details from this morning’s press conference.] Cambridge, MA-based E Ink, the company that makes the electronic paper display used in Amazon’s Kindle e-book reading devices as well as e-book devices from Sony and other companies, will be purchased by Hsinchu, Taiwan-based display manufacturer Prime View International for $215 … Continue reading “Taiwanese Display Maker Buys Cambridge’s E Ink for $215 Million”
ASCO Weekend Highlights: ImmunoGen, Antigenics, Aveo Show Off Cancer Drug Findings
There were hundreds of companies vying for the attention of 30,000 cancer specialists the past couple days at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Orlando, FL. Here’s a quick recap of highlights from New England companies that have presented data so far. The conference continues today and tomorrow. —ImmunoGen: The Waltham, MA-based biotech … Continue reading “ASCO Weekend Highlights: ImmunoGen, Antigenics, Aveo Show Off Cancer Drug Findings”
Cricket Refinances Debt and Raises Cash, KESDEE Moves to mLearning from eLearning, Good Technology Buys Intercasting, & More San Diego BizTech News
In the short week after Memorial Day, we got a little European literature with tips on bootstrapping, Medsphere got some venture funding, and Good Technology got a San Diego startup, among other interesting news. —At the San Diego Venture Group’s panel discussion on bootstrapping a business, MaxLinear’s CEO Kishore Seendripu talked defining bootstrapping, which he … Continue reading “Cricket Refinances Debt and Raises Cash, KESDEE Moves to mLearning from eLearning, Good Technology Buys Intercasting, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Infinity Sees Comeback Potential for Cancer Drug that Failed
Infinity Pharmaceuticals isn’t ready to pull the plug on its lead cancer drug candidate after it failed last month in a clinical trial. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INFI]]) says it sees a way forward with the drug, IPI-504, as long as it switches to a lower dose, and by giving it to patients … Continue reading “Infinity Sees Comeback Potential for Cancer Drug that Failed”
Chinese Boats, Qi Lu, and Competing With Google—A Bing Roundup
Although Microsoft made the official announcement about its new search engine Bing last week, the site won’t be fully functional until this Wednesday. Here are some tidbits about Bing collected from the Web to tide you over until then. —In his early test drive of Bing, The Seattle Times’ Brier Dudley concluded that the upstart … Continue reading “Chinese Boats, Qi Lu, and Competing With Google—A Bing Roundup”
Boston-Power Asks Feds for $100 Million to Build Better Batteries for Electric Vehicles; Filene’s Basement Warehouse Could Be Reborn as 600-Employee Factory
The coming generation of electric and hybrid gas-electric vehicles will need safer, longer-lasting, faster-charging batteries. Boston-Power—the Westborough, MA-based known up to now mainly for its “green” lithium-ion laptop batteries—wants to supply them, and it’s pursuing federal stimulus money to fuel its bid. At a planned media event today featuring Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, the company … Continue reading “Boston-Power Asks Feds for $100 Million to Build Better Batteries for Electric Vehicles; Filene’s Basement Warehouse Could Be Reborn as 600-Employee Factory”
Antigenics, Digging Through Old Data, Sees Survival Edge for Cancer Vaccine
Some biostatisticians may scoff, but Antigenics is not giving up on its treatment to stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. The Lexington, MA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AGEN]]) has found that nine years after its most important clinical trial began, its experimental drug appears to be helping certain kidney cancer patients live longer. The data … Continue reading “Antigenics, Digging Through Old Data, Sees Survival Edge for Cancer Vaccine”
ZymoGenetics Kidney Cancer Drug Shrinks, Stabilizes Tumors in Sickest Patients
ZymoGenetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ZGEN]]) is getting out of the business of developing cancer drugs, but it may have at least one potential valuable asset to put up for sale. The Seattle-based biotech company said its IL-21 drug was able to shrink and stabilize tumors in a small clinical trial of some of the sickest patients with … Continue reading “ZymoGenetics Kidney Cancer Drug Shrinks, Stabilizes Tumors in Sickest Patients”
Breast Cancer Bombshell: Vulcan-Backed BiPar Wows Scientists, Helps Women Live Longer
[[Updated with scientist comment, 1:20 pm ET]] Billionaire Paul Allen made windfall profits from his investment in BiPar Sciences, and today we can really see why. The Brisbane, CA-based biotech company founded by Allen’s Vulcan investment firm said today that its drug candidate for women with an aggressive form of breast cancer was able to … Continue reading “Breast Cancer Bombshell: Vulcan-Backed BiPar Wows Scientists, Helps Women Live Longer”
OncoGenex Drug Helps Prostate Cancer Patients Live Longer in Small Study
OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals’ stock has busted out from obscurity in the past couple of weeks, and today it’s showing what the fuss is all about. The Bothell, WA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OGXI]]) is reporting that its experimental prostate cancer drug was able to help men live longer in a small clinical trial, a finding which suggests … Continue reading “OncoGenex Drug Helps Prostate Cancer Patients Live Longer in Small Study”
Calistoga Picks Up Buzz at ASCO, Thanks to Momentum from Rival
Last Wednesday night, the top dealmaker at Seattle-based Calistoga Pharmaceuticals got a tip that one of his rivals was on the verge of striking a huge deal. Cliff Stocks, the chief business officer, told CEO Carol Gallagher he was hopeful the rumor was true—that some Big Pharma company would pay a fortune for an experimental … Continue reading “Calistoga Picks Up Buzz at ASCO, Thanks to Momentum from Rival”
Modumetal Raises $1.5M-Plus from Alliance of Angels, Second Avenue, WRF Capital
Seattle-based Modumetal, an advanced materials startup, is closing a new round of equity funding worth between $1.5 million and $2 million, according to co-founder and CEO Christina Lomasney. The round includes existing Seattle-area investors Alliance of Angels and Second Avenue Partners, as well as new investor WRF Capital. Modumetal “grows” what are called nanolaminated structures … Continue reading “Modumetal Raises $1.5M-Plus from Alliance of Angels, Second Avenue, WRF Capital”
Aveo Kidney Cancer Drug, Challenging Pfizer and Bayer, Passes Important Test
Cambridge, MA-based Aveo Pharmaceuticals is releasing important data today that suggests it may by on its way to developing a better way to cut off blood supply to tumors. An experimental drug from Aveo was able to at least partially shrink tumors for one-fourth of patients, and keep the cancer from spreading for a median … Continue reading “Aveo Kidney Cancer Drug, Challenging Pfizer and Bayer, Passes Important Test”
A Defining Time for Bootstrapping and Survival—Lessons From Business Leaders and Baron Munchausen
When the CEO of Carlsbad, CA-based MaxLinear cited a 1785 translation of “The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen” for the term “bootstrapping,” it’s safe to say nobody in the audience knew where the discussion was headed. But MaxLinear’s Kishore Seendripu was making a point during a panel discussion on “bootstrapping a business” that was hosted … Continue reading “A Defining Time for Bootstrapping and Survival—Lessons From Business Leaders and Baron Munchausen”
RunMyErrand Wins a Trip to Facebookland
Yesterday social networking giant Facebook unveiled the winners of its first fbFund Rev competition, a contest to pick 20 organizations building Facebook-related social media applications for a 10-week company-building incubator program at the company’s Palo Alto, CA, offices. Among the winners was RunMyErrand, a Charlestown, MA-based startup we profiled in February. RunMyErrand.com is a “service … Continue reading “RunMyErrand Wins a Trip to Facebookland”
Three Questions on Startup Culture and Investing Strategy with Greg Huey of Alliance of Angels
We may have similar names, but we come from different worlds. Greg Huey, the new program director of Seattle-based Alliance of Angels, has a business background and more than 10 years of investment and corporate development experience. He bears little resemblance to a certain Xconomy Seattle editor, besides having an avid interest in the local … Continue reading “Three Questions on Startup Culture and Investing Strategy with Greg Huey of Alliance of Angels”
38 Studios Snaps Up Big Huge Games, EMC Buy Configuresoft, Proteon Therapeutics Picks up $12M, & More Boston-Area Deals News
Evidently the word of the week for many New England’s tech firms was acquisition. —Digital Lumens of Salem, MA, raised $6.3 million in a round of equity financing. The startup, whose investors were not named in the filing, aims to make lighting products that use only 10 percent as much energy as other products. —Natick, … Continue reading “38 Studios Snaps Up Big Huge Games, EMC Buy Configuresoft, Proteon Therapeutics Picks up $12M, & More Boston-Area Deals News”
EMC Scouring Boston Today for Bone Marrow Donor for Asian-American Employee
Hopkinton, MA-based EMC is throwing its weight behind a massive social media campaign to find a bone marrow donor for one of its employees, 28-year-old Nick Glasgow. The “donor drive” arrived in the Boston area today with events at EMC locations in Cambridge, MA, and Franklin, MA, where potential donors can visit to see whether … Continue reading “EMC Scouring Boston Today for Bone Marrow Donor for Asian-American Employee”
Celladon CEO Upbeat on Gene Therapy for Heart
Krisztina M. Zsebo, CEO of San Diego’s Celladon, went to the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy to bust some scientific myths about the experimental technology. The conference is meeting this week in San Diego, and when I caught up with her before her talk yesterday, she wasted no time busting myths … Continue reading “Celladon CEO Upbeat on Gene Therapy for Heart”
Notes On A Startup: WebNotes Goes Pro
When Ryan Damico was an undergraduate at MIT, he attended a training session at the university’s library. Ostensibly, the students were being taught how to properly organize sources for research papers. But it turned out to be a session on how to copy blocks of text from websites and paste them into Word documents, and … Continue reading “Notes On A Startup: WebNotes Goes Pro”
Can the Feds Get Into the Biotech VC Business? Bionager Wants to Make It Happen
Washington state gets more than $1 billion every year from the federal government to support biomedical research, which makes a lot of entrepreneurs wonder why there aren’t more startups being spun out each year. Now a couple of well-known Northwest life sciences entrepreneurs, Tom Ranken and Bob Wilcox, want to take a little more money … Continue reading “Can the Feds Get Into the Biotech VC Business? Bionager Wants to Make It Happen”
Diamonds Are Forever. Why Not a Drug Patent?
Tell me if this makes sense to you: —If I buy a diamond, I can own it for as long as I like; —If I produce a brand name for a product, provided that I trademark it, I can own it for as long as I would like, until and unless it becomes “generic” (like … Continue reading “Diamonds Are Forever. Why Not a Drug Patent?”
Will Quick Hit Score Big? Behind the Scenes with Foxborough’s Newest Team
There’s a company in Foxborough, MA, not two miles away from the New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium, where a crew of veteran online game developers is putting the finishing touches on a potentially groundbreaking new game about football. Now, I can tell you all about why the venture-funded startup, Quick Hit, is likely to dazzle … Continue reading “Will Quick Hit Score Big? Behind the Scenes with Foxborough’s Newest Team”
Nokia CEO Says the Door to U.S. Market is in San Diego
Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo says San Diego plays a key role in the Finnish mobile phone giant’s plans to stage a comeback in the U.S. market. Kallasvuo was questioned by Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg at the All Things Digital D7 conference in Carlsbad, CA, about Nokia’s (NYSE: NOK) decline with U.S. carriers. Nokia … Continue reading “Nokia CEO Says the Door to U.S. Market is in San Diego”
Bing! Google’s Death Knell?
Microsoft today announced the launch of its new search engine, Bing. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, will be making the official announcement this morning at the D: All Things Digital conference in Carlsbad, CA. Bing has been the topic of many rumors and speculations in the months leading to its unveiling—mostly people wondering whether it … Continue reading “Bing! Google’s Death Knell?”
EMC to Buy Configuresoft, Builds on Growth Strategy
EMC (NYSE:[[ticker:EMC]]) is upping its presence in the market for software to manage both physical and virtual servers in data centers, revealing yesterday that it plans to acquire existing partner Configuresoft for an undisclosed amount. Hopkinton, MA-based EMC says the buyout further advances its strategy to offer software for managing and servicing the computer servers … Continue reading “EMC to Buy Configuresoft, Builds on Growth Strategy”
Xbox 360 Passes 30 Million Mark
Microsoft has sold more than 30 million units of its flagship console game platform, the Xbox 360, the company announced today. For the year to date, Xbox sales are up 28 percent over the same period in 2008, which is a bigger increase than those seen by Sony with its Playstation 3 and even Nintendo … Continue reading “Xbox 360 Passes 30 Million Mark”
Vulcan’s Biotech Windfall, Tekmira Tackles RNAi Delivery, The $1,000 Genome Debate, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News
The usual suspects in Seattle biotech were quiet this week, but we reported on an intriguing cancer drug developer with Paul Allen’s fingerprints all over it, as well as some compelling life sciences companies from British Columbia. —Vulcan Capital, the investment vehicle that controls billionaire Paul Allen‘s fortune, quietly dialed back its biotech investing a … Continue reading “Vulcan’s Biotech Windfall, Tekmira Tackles RNAi Delivery, The $1,000 Genome Debate, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”
Amylin Pharmaceuticals Gets New Directors (But Who Are They?), Ophthonix and Vical Raise Capital, Metabasis Cuts Back—Again, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
After months of buildup to get to yesterday’s shareholder vote to determine the makeup of Amylin Pharmaceuticals’ board of directors, a key question remains unresolved. Happily for those who like more closure, the rest of the week held more definitive news for San Diego’s life sciences companies. —The protracted proxy battle between San Diego’s Amylin … Continue reading “Amylin Pharmaceuticals Gets New Directors (But Who Are They?), Ophthonix and Vical Raise Capital, Metabasis Cuts Back—Again, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
SiCortex, Out of Cash, Powers Down
SiCortex, a six-year-old startup building energy-efficient supercomputers in Maynard, MA, has shut its doors. The company ran out of working capital and was unable to raise more from its venture investors, according to a report that surfaced yesterday in HPC Wire, a trade publication in the high-performance computing industry. Xconomy obtained confirmation of the shutdown … Continue reading “SiCortex, Out of Cash, Powers Down”
San Diego’s KESDEE Prepares to Move to mLearning
KESDEE calls itself world’s largest eLearning company for money managers. The San Diego company provides state-of-the-art financial education and training for professionals, and it is taking its digital headstart to new levels. KESDEE plans to move its courses to mLearning—as in mobile learning—which means its 700 accredited eLearning courses on such topics as banking, insurance, … Continue reading “San Diego’s KESDEE Prepares to Move to mLearning”
Open Source Biology Movement Co-Founder, Merck’s Eric Schadt, Leaves for New Job
Merck’s Eric Schadt, one of the creative forces in a fledgling effort to start an open-source computing movement for biology, is leaving that role after a couple of months for a new full-time job. Schadt, 44, the executive director of Merck’s Rosetta Inpharmatics division in Seattle, has agreed to become the chief scientific officer for … Continue reading “Open Source Biology Movement Co-Founder, Merck’s Eric Schadt, Leaves for New Job”
Alnara Pharma Completes Key Cystic Fibrosis Drug Trial, “Extremely Encouraged” by Results
Alnara Pharmaceuticals won’t likely reveal the full results of its late-stage clinical trial of enzyme-replacement drug liprotamase in patients with cystic fibrosis until this fall, but the Cambridge, MA-based biotech firm has completed the trial in recent weeks and continues to find the effectiveness of the treatment “extremely encouraging,” Robert Gallotto, chief business office of … Continue reading “Alnara Pharma Completes Key Cystic Fibrosis Drug Trial, “Extremely Encouraged” by Results”
Startups and Silver Linings: Insights from a WTIA Forum Panelist
I had the pleasure of attending the 2009 WTIA Tech Showcase Fast Pitch Forum yesterday. I was one of four panelists tasked with listening, reacting, and asking questions of the 23 Seattle-area companies that each had eight minutes to present. The day was divided up into six one-hour-long sessions, and I’m ashamed to admit I … Continue reading “Startups and Silver Linings: Insights from a WTIA Forum Panelist”
Leap Wireless Out to Raise over $1.3B to Expand, Retire Debt
Plans by former Qualcomm spinout Leap Wireless (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LEAP]]) to raise more than $1.3 billion in debt and loans set off market speculation about potential mergers, although the company says it just plans to retire a credit line and maybe expand its wireless network. Leap disclosed its capital-raising plans late yesterday in a pair of … Continue reading “Leap Wireless Out to Raise over $1.3B to Expand, Retire Debt”
Singing, Dancing, Careful Note-Taking: Students Express Life Science Ideas at Expo
The red blood cells traveled down the vein in their endless journey, moving oxygen and nourishment throughout the body. But some blood cells, thinner, curved, and more rigid were having trouble. They stuck to the blood vessel walls slowing this whole intricate process to a crawl. Actually these weren’t real red blood cells, or veins. … Continue reading “Singing, Dancing, Careful Note-Taking: Students Express Life Science Ideas at Expo”
Genentech Veteran Takes Agios’ Helm, E8 and MIT Take on Navigenics, Genzyme’s Mipomersen Takes Next Step, Alnylam Takes Advantage of Tekmira Technology, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
New England’s life sciences firms reported a lot of encouraging clinical-trials news this week. —A cholesterol-lowering drug developed by Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GENZ]]) and Carlsbad, CA-based Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISIS]]) reached its goals in a pivotal clinical trial. Genzyme intends to apply for approval of the drug, called mipomersen, first in a small population … Continue reading “Genentech Veteran Takes Agios’ Helm, E8 and MIT Take on Navigenics, Genzyme’s Mipomersen Takes Next Step, Alnylam Takes Advantage of Tekmira Technology, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
Top 5 Takeaways on Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Tim Draper of DFJ
On a gloriously sunny Seattle afternoon, venture capitalist Tim Draper stopped by to impart some words of wisdom. The founder and managing director of Silicon Valley-based Draper Fisher Jurvetson gave the keynote today at the Washington Technology Industry Association’s Fast Pitch Forum & Technology Showcase down at the Bell Harbor conference center. He was hosted … Continue reading “Top 5 Takeaways on Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Tim Draper of DFJ”
Amylin’s Dissident Shareholders Gain Influence on Board
Two dissident shareholder groups have succeeded in electing two new directors to the board of San Diego’s Amylin Pharmaceuticals, (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMLN]]), according to the company and one of the shareholder groups. In a statement issued today, Eastbourne Capital Management of San Rafael, CA, says, “based on voting estimates from its proxy solicitor,” it appears that … Continue reading “Amylin’s Dissident Shareholders Gain Influence on Board”
Latest Metabasis Cutbacks Leave Just Seven Employees
San Diego-based diabetes drug developer Metabasis Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MBRX]]) laid off 35 of its 125 employees in November, and another 38 in January. Those cutbacks amounted to 28 percent and 43 percent of the biotech’s workforce, respectively. At that time, new CEO Mark Erion said he was optimistic the diabetes drug, MB07803, would lead to … Continue reading “Latest Metabasis Cutbacks Leave Just Seven Employees”
Honoring Catalysts For Girls’ Science Education
In the 1960s, there weren’t many role models a little black girl interested in science could relate to. As a child, Evelynn Hammonds, who would become the first black female Dean of Harvard College, looked up to the Lt. Uhura character from Star Trek. Today’s generation, said the dean, will have slightly more realistic women … Continue reading “Honoring Catalysts For Girls’ Science Education”
Big Huge Acquisition for 38 Studios Will Boost Its Copernicus Project
38 Studios, the Maynard, MA-based video game company founded by Boston Red Sox star Curt Schilling, has filled a gap in its lineup. The company said today that it has nearly doubled its size by acquiring Big Huge Games, a Maryland-based company that’s behind such role-playing and strategy games as Rise of Nations and Age … Continue reading “Big Huge Acquisition for 38 Studios Will Boost Its Copernicus Project”
Ophthonix Raises $25.9M for Vision-Correction Technology
Vista, CA-based vision correction company Ophthonix has closed a $25.9 million “Series AA” financing round. According to a press release the company’s current investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Enterprise Partners, DAG Ventures, Gund Investment Corporation, InterWest Partners, Trex Enterprises, and Wasath Advisors’ Cross Creek Capital Fund participated, in addition to a new, undisclosed investor. … Continue reading “Ophthonix Raises $25.9M for Vision-Correction Technology”
Clarian Technologies Aims to Take Financial Sting Out of Wind Power with Jellyfish Turbine
[Updated with comments from Kelly Jo MacArthur on page 2] In recent years, we have seen an explosion of alternative energy devices, yet most of these technologies remain out of the reach of the average homeowner. To outfit your roof with solar panels, you’d probably be out $10,000 to $20,000 as an initial investment. Clarian … Continue reading “Clarian Technologies Aims to Take Financial Sting Out of Wind Power with Jellyfish Turbine”
Agios Lands Genentech Cancer Drug Leader as New CEO
Agios Pharmaceuticals has landed a big fish in the world of cancer drug development. The Cambridge, MA-based company has hired David Schenkein, the senior vice president in charge of cancer drug development at Genentech, to be its first permanent CEO, starting in August. He will replace Kevin Starr, a partner with Third Rock Ventures, who … Continue reading “Agios Lands Genentech Cancer Drug Leader as New CEO”