Category: Raleigh-Durham

Pfizer Continues Gene Therapy Push With $150M Bamboo Buyout

Pfizer is bolstering its growing gene therapy portfolio with a $150 million acquisition of Bamboo Therapeutics, the latest startup based on the research of one of the field’s pioneers, University of North Carolina Gene Therapy Center director Jude Samulski. Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) initially signaled its interest in Bamboo’s work in the first quarter, when it … Continue reading “Pfizer Continues Gene Therapy Push With $150M Bamboo Buyout”

Gaining an Edge: Understanding Cyber Risk Appetite

Not long ago, companies prepared for cyber risks the way they might for a hurricane, flood, or other disaster situation: Brace for the worst, and hope for the best. Those days are over. Security breaches across industries have put cyber squarely on everybody’s risk agenda. But while they’re taking cyber threats seriously, many companies are … Continue reading “Gaining an Edge: Understanding Cyber Risk Appetite”

FilterEasy Secures $4,214,807 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=be13880e-71b7-43f5-8efd-01739e04eb0c Date 8/1/2016 Company Name FilterEasy Mailing Address 2100 Lake Dam Road Raleigh, NC 27606 USA Company Description Buy your Air Conditioner and Furnace filters through FilterEasy, We will automatically ship them when they need to be replaced. Don’t waste time hassling with the store. Website http://www.filtereasy.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction … Continue reading “FilterEasy Secures $4,214,807 New Funding”

Biotech Roundup: Gilead Slump, Celgene Goes Trump, Hemo Data & More

Quarterly biopharma earnings added a little heat to the already high summer temperatures. Amongst several companies to report this week, the biggest news came from Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]), whose hepatitis C drugs have become some of the top revenue producers in the industry. But the company said this week that sales of Sovaldi and … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Gilead Slump, Celgene Goes Trump, Hemo Data & More”

At Big Hemophilia Meeting, More Data, and Promise, For Gene Therapy

This week’s World Federation of Hemophilia World Congress in Orlando, FL, where researchers gathered to present the latest updates in treatments for the chronic bleeding disorder, marked the latest step in a journey that dates back more than two decades for one particular treatment: gene therapy. Gene therapy provides the potential of a long-term treatment … Continue reading “At Big Hemophilia Meeting, More Data, and Promise, For Gene Therapy”

How Richard Branson and Snoop Dogg Use Social Media Vs. Social Unrest

Last month, I spent a week on Necker Island, where Richard Branson and a bunch of entrepreneurs were discussing how we could help address political upheavals, intolerance, violence, social inequality, and other issues. It’s almost like we’re in a war right now. Nations are split in half. On one side you have citizens who want … Continue reading “How Richard Branson and Snoop Dogg Use Social Media Vs. Social Unrest”

LabCorp Boosts Prenatal Testing Presence with $371M Sequenom Deal

LabCorp, already a giant in diagnostics and laboratory testing, is building its capabilities in prenatal testing with an agreement to acquire Sequenom in a $371 million deal. Under the tender offer, Burlington, NC-based LabCorp (NYSE: [[ticker:LH]]) will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Sequenom for $2.40 per share, for a total equity value of … Continue reading “LabCorp Boosts Prenatal Testing Presence with $371M Sequenom Deal”

Clinton Versus Trump: Who’s Stronger on Innovation?

With the Republican National Convention behind us and the Democratic convention in full swing, it seems like a good moment to ask how a Donald Trump presidency or a Hillary Clinton presidency might affect the prospects for high-tech entrepreneurship and business growth in the United States. At this stage, both candidates have given major economic … Continue reading “Clinton Versus Trump: Who’s Stronger on Innovation?”

AgriSolve Tries for Paydirt with New Soil Amendment Technology

On a farm, nothing goes to waste—not even the waste. But even though manure has value as fertilizer, it’s not valuable enough to transport far, says Roland Kessler. That’s why farmers typically keep it for their own fields. As animal operations get bigger, Kessler says, so much manure is produced that using it all as … Continue reading “AgriSolve Tries for Paydirt with New Soil Amendment Technology”

The Outbreaks Are Here, Where’s Our Response Plan?

The news of the first Zika case in Pierce County—the 14th in Washington State—reminds us that the spread of disease is inevitable. While we don’t have in our region the kind of mosquito that transmits Zika, the latest infected patient returned from a visit to Puerto Rico. Thanks to modern travel, whether by mosquitoes or … Continue reading “The Outbreaks Are Here, Where’s Our Response Plan?”

The Real Cracks in the Foundation of Ransomware

The rise of ransomware has been striking over the past two years, rapidly dominating headlines with its frequency, its wide range of victims, and its profitability. So when news hit that two of the largest and most notorious delivery systems for ransomware — the Necurs botnet and the Angler exploit kit — had gone dark, … Continue reading “The Real Cracks in the Foundation of Ransomware”

Biotech Roundup: Scangos’s Exit, Zafgen’s Shakeup, Jounce, Relypsa & More

The top news in biotech this week centers around one big job opening: the head seat at Biogen, now that George Scangos has announced plans to leave the company. Who takes the gig, and the strategic direction he or she chooses for Biogen will have implications not just for the company and its employees, but … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Scangos’s Exit, Zafgen’s Shakeup, Jounce, Relypsa & More”

Clinipace Receives $3,730,362 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b5ac3555-b73c-4b89-a912-ab8f00e7ec8a Date 7/22/2016 Company Name Clinipace Mailing Address 3800 Paramount Parkway Morrisville, NC 27560 USA Company Description As a digital CRO (dCRO), Clinipace pioneered an innovative service model to transform drug and medical device development by delivering technology-amplified services to improve performance, collaboration, and visibility across all stakeholders. Website http://www.clinipace.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Clinipace Receives $3,730,362 New Financing”

Indigo’s Microbial Tech for Crops Lands $100M to Fight Plant Stresses

Indigo, an agricultural technology startup, has discovered ways that microbes help a plant grow under dry conditions. Now the company is pulling back the curtain on some of that work as it ramps up efforts to bring this technology to farmers. Boston-based Indigo is announcing this morning it has closed a $100 million Series C … Continue reading “Indigo’s Microbial Tech for Crops Lands $100M to Fight Plant Stresses”

Is the Future of Cybersecurity in M&A?

Last month Symantec announced its plans to buy Blue Coat for $4.7 billion. Has the consolidation—and creation of this enterprise security giant—put immense pressure on other industry players? In an ideal world, and from the perspective of a venture investor, this would absolutely be the case. In 2015, Cybersecurity startups saw 332 funding deals with … Continue reading “Is the Future of Cybersecurity in M&A?”

Zimmer Biomet Enters Robotic Surgery Space with Medtech Deal

Zimmer Biomet is staking out territory in the fast-growing robotic surgery market by acquiring Medtech, a France-based company that has already commercialized robotic systems used in brain and spinal procedures. Warsaw, IN-based Zimmer Biomet (NYSE: [[ticker:ZBH]]) paid an estimated $77 million for a majority stake in Medtech (EURONEXT: [[ticker:ROSA]]), marking its third acquisition in as … Continue reading “Zimmer Biomet Enters Robotic Surgery Space with Medtech Deal”

Biotech Roundup: Hellos, Goodbyes, “Cures” Delays And Trial News

The week started on a reflective note. Our San Diego editor Bruce Bigelow penned a personal goodbye to entrepreneur Larry Bock, who died last week of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. And then the news flowed, from a fast reprieve for Juno Therapeutics to no mercy for Elizabeth Holmes. There were other goodbyes: … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Hellos, Goodbyes, “Cures” Delays And Trial News”

‘Megadeals’ Dominate Q2 as VCs Invest $15.3B, and Top 10 Deals

Showing little concern for stock-market volatility or worries over the Brexit, venture capital firms pumped $15.3 billion into 961 deals across the United States during the three months that ended June 30, according to the MoneyTree Report on venture capital activity. It was the 10th consecutive quarter that venture firms put at least $10 billion … Continue reading “‘Megadeals’ Dominate Q2 as VCs Invest $15.3B, and Top 10 Deals”

Cree Sharpens LED Lighting Focus with Deal to Sell Power & RF Unit

Cree has made no secret of its plans to focus its business on LED lighting. Now the company is ramping up those efforts with the planned sale of a legacy business unit that did not fit that strategy. Durham, NC-based Cree (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CREE]]) announced today that it has a definitive agreement to sell its Power & … Continue reading “Cree Sharpens LED Lighting Focus with Deal to Sell Power & RF Unit”

Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness

The horrific news of recent weeks has amplified America’s long-simmering tensions and many divisions, and cast a new and disturbing light on the nature of social and economic inequality in this economy. The shootings that targeted police officers at a peaceful protest in Dallas, which followed the officer-involved shooting deaths of Philando Castile near Minneapolis … Continue reading “Why Entrepreneurs Should Care About Inequality and Divisiveness”

How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral

Another day, another breach. For many Bostonians, the “privacy incident” recently disclosed by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)—which reportedly involved the personal information of 4,300 dental patients stored by a software vendor—hit close to home in many ways, as most of us have at one time or another been to MGH for ourselves or a loved … Continue reading “How Cyber Visibility Protects Against the Abnormal & the Immoral”

From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors

Napa Valley met the Silicon Valley at the recent Xconomy Retreat on Technology, Jobs, and Growth (aka the Napa Summit). Experts in cutting-edge technology huddled with business leaders and investors in the California wine country to explore what’s on, and just over, the technological horizon. Over the course of the two-day event, drones and the … Continue reading “From Drones to Sharing Economy, Don’t Disrupt the Disruptors”

As Drone Navigation Advances, SlantRange Focuses on Farm Analytics

As the Federal Aviation Administration sets new rules for commercial operations of unmanned aircraft, legions of new startups are using drones to perform all kinds of tasks—from aerial inspections to mapping, imaging, and analysis. Whether these new businesses can succeed will depend on a variety of factors, including restrictions on autonomous flight that government regulators … Continue reading “As Drone Navigation Advances, SlantRange Focuses on Farm Analytics”

Argos Therapeutics Names Richard Katz New CFO

Argos Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARGS]]) has appointed Richard Katz the Durham, NC-based immune-oncology company’s new CFO. Katz was most recently CFO of Viamet Pharmaceuticals, also based in Durham. Previous roles include serving as CFO of Durham-based Icagen, and working as an executive in Goldman, Sachs & Company’s (NYSE: [[ticker:GS]]) healthcare group. Katz holds a medical degree … Continue reading “Argos Therapeutics Names Richard Katz New CFO”

Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More

This week started with celebrations of America’s birthday, and it has been dominated—biotech-wise—by America’s government. The Obama administration continued its high-profile involvement in the life sciences by updating its Precision Medicine Initiative, easing limits on doctors who want to fight opioid addiction, and stopping a clinical trial in one of the hottest biomedical fields, cancer … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Fighting Addiction, Obama Precision, Juno Deaths & More”

Pernix Therapeutics Slashes Staff to Shake Up Sales Strategy

Pernix Therapeutics is slashing its headcount by more than 20 percent as the specialty pharmaceutical company tries to move toward profitability after a streak of acquisitions. Morristown, NJ-based Pernix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTX]]) will cut 60 workers, mostly from its neurology sales staff, the company said today. As of the end of 2015, Pernix reported a headcount … Continue reading “Pernix Therapeutics Slashes Staff to Shake Up Sales Strategy”

Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years

The Obama administration’s push to sign up one million Americans for a long-term health study will start in New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Tucson, AZ, top health officials said today. National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins (pictured) and FDA commissioner Rob Califf spoke on a call this afternoon to update the Precision Medicine Initiative, … Continue reading “Recruitment Goal In Obama Precision Med Study: 1M in 3 or 4 Years”

With CF Pact, Moderna and Vertex Aim to Spray mRNA Into the Lungs

Moderna Therapeutics has spent years developing a way to coax a patient’s body to make its own protein-based drugs, with visions of treating conditions ranging from cancer to cardiology. Add cystic fibrosis to those ambitions, as Cambridge, MA-based Moderna is announcing today a collaboration with Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]), a top maker of drugs … Continue reading “With CF Pact, Moderna and Vertex Aim to Spray mRNA Into the Lungs”

3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation

People who live outside of Indiana probably know a few things about it: The Indianapolis 500, a.k.a. “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is run every Memorial Day weekend; Indiana limestone was used to build the Empire State Building, the National Cathedral, and the Pentagon; and Indiana sugar cream pie is the best dessert ever. But … Continue reading “3 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know about Indiana Innovation”

Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year

Here we are at the midpoint of 2016 already. Time to look back on the past six months—and some of the top stories of the year so far. The following represent a cross-section of what Xconomy offers on a daily basis: in-depth reporting from the front lines of technology and business innovation; coverage from 11 … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Top Innovation Stories of the Half Year”

Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons

Sixty years ago, on the Fourth of July, 1956, the American President gained a capacity that has never been lost: clear pictures from above of Russia’s thermonuclear weapons delivery system. Because the images ended up shrinking the world’s appetite for tools of ultimate destruction, it is hard to think of a more significant innovation. The … Continue reading “Milestones of Innovation 12: Overflight Of Russia’s Ultimate Weapons”

Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More

The word of the week was “moonshot,” as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s cancer initiative convened a summit in Washington, DC. At the gathering, Biden took verbal shots at scofflaw cancer researchers and at drug prices, while the FDA said it would take a shot at restructuring the way it evaluates oncology products. Gilead Sciences … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Moonshots, Pink Slips, Gilead, Brexit & More”

Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book

U.S. federal and financial regulators recently advised banks nationwide to assess the strength of their safeguards against cyber fraud. The warning comes after a string of cyber heists and attempted heists against banks around the world, including the $81 million theft from the Bangladesh central bank. These crimes have opened the financial industry’s eyes to … Continue reading “Why Finance Should Take a Page Out of the Credit Card Industry’s Book”

Bone-Healing Therapies Firm Bioventus Files for IPO

Bioventus, a company that develops treatments that harness the body’s own biology to help bones heal, is joining the list of life science firms lining up to go public. The Durham, NC-based biotech company filed paperwork on Thursday for a $150 million initial public offering to raise funds to pay off debt. That dollar figure … Continue reading “Bone-Healing Therapies Firm Bioventus Files for IPO”

Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?

As part of a national cancer “moonshot” initiative led by Vice President Joe Biden, the FDA said Wednesday it would retool the way it evaluates cancer treatments and tests. But to what end? The goals of the FDA’s new Oncology Center of Excellence remain vague, as does its structure. In a speech Wednesday morning at … Continue reading “Riding Moonshot, FDA Will Revamp Its Cancer Practice. To What End?”

Payzer Obtains $1,500,000 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=98978241-d415-4b0a-b96c-2bd551238472 Date 6/30/2016 Company Name Payzer Mailing Address 8000 Corporate Center Drive Charlotte, NC 28226 USA Company Description Payzer is an exciting, financial services technology company, located in the heart of South Charlotte, North Carolina. We’re a fun loving, hard working, family-oriented team with an aim to be Charlotte’s next big success … Continue reading “Payzer Obtains $1,500,000 New Funding”

No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation

Led Zeppelin just won a major copyright case defending against infringement claims from the estate of Randy California—songwriter for the band Spirit. At first listen, the opening guitar part of Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven does sound a lot like California’s guitar part in the middle of Taurus. But as I explain in a longer blog … Continue reading “No Stairway (Infringement) and the Importance of Shared Design Tools in Innovation”

Icagen Boosts Drug Discovery Capabilities With Sanofi Site Purchase

Icagen is expanding its capabilities to search for new drugs by bolting on a Sanofi research site in Arizona and gaining access to the lab’s library of compounds. Durham, NC-based Icagen says it has a definitive agreement to acquire the Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]) research site in Oro Valley, AZ. The companies disclosed no financial terms … Continue reading “Icagen Boosts Drug Discovery Capabilities With Sanofi Site Purchase”

Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry

Editor’s note: Xconomy invited Marcelo Calbucci, a Seattle serial entrepreneur and startup stalwart who just announced plans to move with his family to London, to reflect on the Brexit vote. No, the skies are not falling. The U.K. vote to exit the European Union has passed, and there is an enormous amount of uncertainty right … Continue reading “Brexit and the Impact in the London Startup Industry”

Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More

It’s a week for the history books. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union last night, triggering worldwide financial fears and, perhaps, a breakup of the U.K. itself. Closer to home, Cleveland (pictured) celebrated LeBron James & the Cavaliers’ historic comeback that brought the city its first sports title in over 50 years. … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: CRISPR’s 1st Trial, IPO Insiders, Zika & More”

The Evolution of the App Stores

In many ways, Apple and Google are following similar paths. At their annual developer conferences, Google I/O, held last month, and Apple’s WWDC, last week they both announced updates to their development platforms. Google is making major improvements to Android Studio, while Apple is continuing to invest in Swift and announced Playgrounds, an exciting new … Continue reading “The Evolution of the App Stores”

Radicle Accelerator Fund Launches to Nurture AgTech Innovation

Radicle, a new accelerator fund focused on agricultural ventures, is launching today with plans to seed and nurture the next generation of agtech companies addressing global farming problems. The new accelerator will have locations in multiple states and around the world. Radicle, which takes its name from the botany term for the part of a … Continue reading “Radicle Accelerator Fund Launches to Nurture AgTech Innovation”

GamEffective Secures $7,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f897e45e-9bf6-4054-b743-37211142e077 Date 6/22/2016 Company Name GamEffective Mailing Address 3440 Toringdon Way Charlotte, NC 28277 USA Company Description We’re human: we like play. We’re skillful learners when there’s a game involved. GamEffective is a comprehensive enterprise gamification platform. It supports sales, customer service, social collaboration, elearning and much more. Website http://www.gameffective.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “GamEffective Secures $7,000,000 New Financing”

Biotech Roundup: Kadmon Debt, Hemo Data, Loose Lips & More

Familiar biotech names—not necessarily familiar for the right reasons—made news this week in biotech. Data from a hematology conference stoked dreams of approval, though still on a far horizon, for a couple drug makers. Long anticipated, Walgreens officially cut ties with Theranos, and the FDA both gave and denied approvals. You think a Game 7 … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: Kadmon Debt, Hemo Data, Loose Lips & More”

Balancing Risks and Opportunities: The Board’s Perspective

People start a business for many reasons. Some do it out of sheer passion, while others do it to create wealth and economic growth. Yet, underlying it all is a willingness to take risks. Entrepreneurs and established companies make risky decisions every day in the hope that those risks will translate into better opportunities, better … Continue reading “Balancing Risks and Opportunities: The Board’s Perspective”