Category: Raleigh-Durham

As Virus Spreads to U.S., Tekmira CEO Answers Ebola Questions

Two weeks after Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TKMR]]) announced that its experimental drug was being used to treat Ebola patients, CEO Mark Murray said today that developing the drug has been like swimming in “shark infested waters” but gave no updates about the patients or about future use of the drug. It was the first of … Continue reading “As Virus Spreads to U.S., Tekmira CEO Answers Ebola Questions”

So Far, Little Proof That Digital Health Is Healthy. Does It Matter?

Digital health is popular among investors, there’s no doubt. But is it good for us? Products such as fitness wristbands and online wellness coaching are generating buzz, and as a techno-skeptic I often roll my eyes at the trendy accessories and general assumption that life is easier online. Meanwhile, the funding keeps rolling in. Through … Continue reading “So Far, Little Proof That Digital Health Is Healthy. Does It Matter?”

Orphan Drug From Scioderm Aims to Treat Rare Skin Disease

For children with epidermolysis bullosa, the debate about whether to pull off Band-Aids quickly or peel them back slowly does not apply. From head to toe, special bandages cover skin so fragile that anything but the most slow and careful removal can rip open a wound worse than the one the dressing was protecting. Brett … Continue reading “Orphan Drug From Scioderm Aims to Treat Rare Skin Disease”

What Seattle Needs (Part 2): Dealing With Amgen’s Upcoming Departure

Reality bites: Amgen’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]) decision to leave Washington state is a serious blow to our local bioscience ecosystem. Those who think that all of those people who got laid off (or choose not to relocate) will be able to find biopharma jobs here in Seattle are kidding themselves. Our community is not large and … Continue reading “What Seattle Needs (Part 2): Dealing With Amgen’s Upcoming Departure”

Texas Ebola Patient Gets Chimerix Drug, Clinical Trials Planned

Chimerix’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CMRX]]) lead antiviral drug candidate, which has already shown efficacy treating infections in transplant patients, is being called upon as an emergency Ebola treatment even as the company ramps up to test the drug in humans. The Durham, NC company said today its drug brincidofovir has been made available for treating Ebola, in … Continue reading “Texas Ebola Patient Gets Chimerix Drug, Clinical Trials Planned”

Taking a Hachette to Amazon in the Market for Dead Trees

There’s a strange battle going on right now. Weird enough to fit into the science fiction and fantasy section of your local bookstore, but with enough intrigue to make for a good thriller. One of the big five traditional New York publishing houses, Hachette, is mired in a guerrilla campaign against mega online retailer Amazon. … Continue reading “Taking a Hachette to Amazon in the Market for Dead Trees”

What Seattle Needs (Part 1): “Semi-Successful” Biotech Companies

I know what you’re thinking: that’s a pretty strange headline. Why would a city want to attract or build companies that are only “semi-successful?” Wouldn’t it want companies that are flourishing or expanding rapidly? Actually, here in Seattle, we don’t. Semi-successful companies are exactly what we need here as the river of economic change washes … Continue reading “What Seattle Needs (Part 1): “Semi-Successful” Biotech Companies”

Innovation Hub: Niche Social Networks

When most people think of social networks, they think of Facebook. But apart from Mark Zuckerberg’s behemoth, which has 1.3 billion active users at last count, we’re seeing a rise in niche-based online communities, tailored to our personal or professional interests. Gina Bianchini is an expert on building custom social networks. She started Ning with … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Niche Social Networks”

Leveling Information Silos in the Workplace

Today’s mobile device technology has made it possible for both professionals and consumers to have nearly all of the information they need right at their fingertips. Moreover, the types of information now available to them are limitless—it could be work e-mail, travel itineraries, social media updates, or even the answer to that trivia question that’s … Continue reading “Leveling Information Silos in the Workplace”

Spreedly Obtains $749,711 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=52f48109-988d-4b90-a991-547adedc92ec Date 10/3/2014 Company Name Spreedly Mailing Address 116 West Main Street Durham, NC 27701 USA Company Description Formed in 2008 Spreedly was a simple, elegant subscription management service. Built by developers for developers, we placed an emphasis on solving difficult business challenges around online recurring payments. Over time we realized the … Continue reading “Spreedly Obtains $749,711 New Funding”

KnowledgeTree Secures $671,051 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=3230cb9a-2980-41ab-aa76-ecf611c11510 Date 10/3/2014 Company Name KnowledgeTree Mailing Address 510 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh, NC 27603 USA Company Description KnowledgeTree makes thousands of global organizations more efficient. We help enterprises collaborate on, discover, and manage the business documents they depend on every day. Website http://www.knowledgetree.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $671,051 Transaction Round … Continue reading “KnowledgeTree Secures $671,051 New Funding”

ZMapp Ebola Drug Production Set for Texas, Possibly North Carolina

A federal initiative to ensure that the United States can respond to biological threats at home will be put to the test in response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. A Texas site is preparing to manufacture the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp, says Robin Robinson, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority … Continue reading “ZMapp Ebola Drug Production Set for Texas, Possibly North Carolina”

StepLeader Obtains $499,999 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=f2953665-2130-417b-8706-d04872c5e4b3 Date 9/30/2014 Company Name StepLeader Mailing Address 2619 Western Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27606 USA Company Description StepLeader was formed in 2004 when it developed the nation’s first news app for local media. Today, the company offers solutions and thought-leading expertise to help trusted content producers deliver their stories across mobile apps, … Continue reading “StepLeader Obtains $499,999 New Financing Round”

Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Tengion, IBM, Velocity, & More

Here are this week’s headlines in North Carolina tech and biotech news: —Tengion (OTC: [[ticker:TNGN]]) is looking to use its regenerative medicine technology to secure a possible deal with another company as the Winston-Salem, NC, firm tries to find a way to supplement its dwindling pile of cash. Tengion’s technology, spun out of Wake Forest … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Tengion, IBM, Velocity, & More”

PPD Acquires Drug Discovery Startup X-Chem

Contract research organization PPD has acquired biotechnology startup X-Chem, buying the remaining shares of the company that it did not already own a little more than a month before its option to acquire that stake expired. Waltham, MA-based X-Chem has a drug discovery platform that includes a proprietary library of compounds, as well as drug … Continue reading “PPD Acquires Drug Discovery Startup X-Chem”

Semprius Lands $1,294,307 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=70152847-3a0c-4753-8afe-20669a77e3a5 Date 9/26/2014 Company Name Semprius Mailing Address 4915 Prospectus Drive Durham, NC 27713 USA Company Description Semprius, Inc. is commercializing a newly invented process for printing high performance single crystal semiconductors on any substrate, including glass, plastic and other semiconductor materials. Website http://www.semprius.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $1,294,307 Transaction Round … Continue reading “Semprius Lands $1,294,307 New Financing”

LabCorp to Acquire Diagnostics Firm LipoScience for $85M

LabCorp (NYSE: [[ticker:LH]]) has reached an agreement to acquire LipoScience (NASDAQ: [[ticker:LPDX]]) in an $85 million cash deal that the Burlington, NC, laboratory testing and diagnostics giant says will boost its efforts to offer doctors more specialized tests. For Raleigh, NC-based LipoScience, which has struggled to find market traction since going public last year, the … Continue reading “LabCorp to Acquire Diagnostics Firm LipoScience for $85M”

The Risks and Opportunities in a Startup: Age 0-2 Years

It’s a great time to start a tech company.  The economy is recovering. The business opportunities are immense. And thanks to the boom in seed investments and crowd-funding it’s easier than ever to raise money for the business. Meanwhile, cloud computing has leveled the playing field by minimizing upfront costs, while social media has made … Continue reading “The Risks and Opportunities in a Startup: Age 0-2 Years”

“100K” Marathon: A Decades-Long Health Study Makes Its Business Case

For the past several months, 108 people, most of them in the Seattle area, have been under constant biomedical surveillance. And they like it. They’ve agreed to submit to a battery of medical tests that began this year but could stretch for 25 years or more in a landmark study organized by Seattle’s Institute for … Continue reading ““100K” Marathon: A Decades-Long Health Study Makes Its Business Case”

Cree CEO Tells Illuminating Tale of LED Bulbs, Innovation

Cree’s entry into the consumer LED light bulb market sent waves through a lighting community that knew the Durham, NC, company as a supplier, not a seller of LED lighting components. The announcement last year was also news to a smaller group intimately familiar with Cree (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CREE]])—the company’s employees. Companies often develop new products … Continue reading “Cree CEO Tells Illuminating Tale of LED Bulbs, Innovation”

A Prescription for the Achilles Heel of Healthcare IT

What keeps doctors from sleeping at night? Electronic Health Records (EHRs). More specifically, the “homework” these essential-but-sometimes-inefficient systems generate is enough to cause nightmares. In a recent study that observed physician behavior, primary care providers spent 40 percent of their patient visit time focused on their computer screens, clicking and scrolling through the patient’s EHR. … Continue reading “A Prescription for the Achilles Heel of Healthcare IT”

Are Angel Investors Filling a VC Gap for North Carolina Startups?

Investor purse strings loosened to fund North Carolina companies to the tune of $266 million in the first half of 2014, up more than 31 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a new report. But perhaps more surprising than the dollars are the investment trends suggested by the report. Angel investment … Continue reading “Are Angel Investors Filling a VC Gap for North Carolina Startups?”

Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Liquidia, TrueBridge, Citrix, & More

Here are this week’s headlines in North Carolina tech and biotech news. —Nanotechnology company Liquidia Technologies spun out a second company and at the same time, announced a $10 million Series A round of financing for the new company. Lq3 Pharmaceuticals will focus on oral health, though the new Research Triangle Park, NC, company did … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Liquidia, TrueBridge, Citrix, & More”

The Rhythm of Management: What Jazz Can Teach Startup Executives

“Jazz stands for freedom. It’s supposed to be the voice of freedom: Get out there and improvise, and take chances, and don’t be a perfectionist – leave that to the classical musicians.” — Jazz great Dave Brubeck Playing in a jazz ensemble and leading a business are very, very similar. And my experiences both as … Continue reading “The Rhythm of Management: What Jazz Can Teach Startup Executives”

Innovation Hub: Why Tech’s Women Problem Is Bigger Than You Think

You’ve seen the numbers. And they’re not good. At Apple, Twitter, Google, and Facebook, women are vastly outnumbered by men. When it comes to technical positions like coders, men occupy 80 to 90 percent of the positions. Which isn’t a great sign if these represent the jobs—and skill sets—of the future. The startup scene is … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: Why Tech’s Women Problem Is Bigger Than You Think”

How to Attract Smart People, Smart Ideas, and Smart Money

North Carolina entrepreneurs are attracting attention all over the nation—and all over the world—across the tech, life science, and advanced materials sectors. The proof is in the numbers. Last year, more than 220 entrepreneurial companies in North Carolina raised nearly half a billion dollars through equity investments, grants, and awards from 108 unique funders, according … Continue reading “How to Attract Smart People, Smart Ideas, and Smart Money”

Pappas, Chiesi Venture Fund Joins Ranks of Pharma & VC Partnerships

Art Pappas has overseen his own firm’s venture capital investments for 20 years. Now the veteran life sciences investor is adding on a new role, scoping out investment opportunities for a pharmaceutical company’s new venture fund. Italian pharma Chiesi Group’s recently-launched Chiesi Ventures will focus on investing in companies developing treatments for rare and orphan … Continue reading “Pappas, Chiesi Venture Fund Joins Ranks of Pharma & VC Partnerships”

An Intriguing Program Takes on Tropical Diseases—But Not Ebola

[Updated and corrected 9/10/14, 10:05 am. See below.] On August 28, Anthony Fauci, the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s top infectious disease specialist, announced a major trial in concert with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]) to test new Ebola vaccines in humans. Fauci called it an “all-hands-on-deck response” to the growing global health emergency in which more … Continue reading “An Intriguing Program Takes on Tropical Diseases—But Not Ebola”

Xconomy Q&A: Intellectual Ventures Co-founder and CTO Edward Jung

Edward Jung, co-founder and chief technology officer, of Intellectual Ventures, has been out talking about how his company—which was recently described as among Silicon Valley’s most hated—is playing a long game to attack the big problems confronting the world today. On the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Seattle last week, Jung sat … Continue reading “Xconomy Q&A: Intellectual Ventures Co-founder and CTO Edward Jung”

Cempra Milestone Highlights Experimental Antibiotic’s Potential

Cempra Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CEMP]]) efforts to bring patients a next-generation antibiotic that could help address drug-resistant bacteria now has a boost from Japan. The Chapel Hill, NC, company last year licensed Japanese development and commercialization rights for its solithromycin to Toyama Chemical Co. in a deal that could pay up to $60 million in milestones. … Continue reading “Cempra Milestone Highlights Experimental Antibiotic’s Potential”

Packard Place Serves as Hub for Charlotte’s Emerging Startup Scene

When people think of startup culture in North Carolina, what usually comes to mind is the Research Triangle of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill and all of the activity surrounding the technology spun out of nearby universities. But there’s also an emerging startup scene taking root in Charlotte, the most populous city in the state and the headquarters … Continue reading “Packard Place Serves as Hub for Charlotte’s Emerging Startup Scene”

Tryton Medical Lands $20,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d89df234-cacb-4330-bc8b-3fc6f60c4c33 Date 9/8/2014 Company Name Tryton Medical Mailing Address 1000 Park Forty Plaza Durham, NC 27713 USA Company Description Tryton Medical, Inc. is the leading developer of stents that are designed to definitively treat bifurcation lesions. 540,000 bifurcation coronary lesions are sub-optimally treated every year with a variety of time consuming and … Continue reading “Tryton Medical Lands $20,000,000 New Financing”

John Maraganore: From “Prototypical Geek” To Canny Alnylam Chief

John Maraganore opened up an envelope in 1994 that changed his life. Inside were the results of the pivotal study of an anticoagulant drug Maraganore had created in the lab. It was the star prospect for Maraganore’s employer, Biogen. If the drug, bivalirudin, worked, Biogen might have its first product—and Maraganore, the glory of designing … Continue reading “John Maraganore: From “Prototypical Geek” To Canny Alnylam Chief”

Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design

John Maeda stands at the intersection of design and technology—and attracts a bit of a cult following. He’s the first Design Partner at Kleiner Perkins, the venture capital firm that has backed companies from Amazon to Genentech to WebMD. Previously, he served as President of The Rhode Island School of Design. Maeda insists that design … Continue reading “Innovation Hub: John Maeda on Why Tech Loves Design”

Tech Startups Take Stage at Wilmington Entrepreneurship Conference

Movie fans know Wilmington, NC, as the shooting location for many popular flicks. The pharmaceutical industry knows Wilmington as the home of contract research organization PPD. But few people realize the coastal city is also a breeding ground for entrepreneurs. The Coastal Connect Entrepreneur and Capital Conference, hosted by the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, drew … Continue reading “Tech Startups Take Stage at Wilmington Entrepreneurship Conference”

Netsertive Secures $10,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d8284e39-a885-4108-bcd2-46a44048b228 Date 9/5/2014 Company Name Netsertive Mailing Address 2400 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 USA Company Description We wrote the book on using technology to localize online marketing for small & medium businesses and deliver national online exposure through local online channels. Website http://www.netsertive.com Transaction Type Debt Transaction Amount $10,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Netsertive Secures $10,000,000 New Financing”

Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Sapheon, Cree, Red Hat, & More

Here are this week’s headlines in North Carolina tech and biotech news: —Covidien (NYSE: [[ticker:COV]]) added to its vascular treatments portfolio with the acquisition of Morrisville, NC medical device developer Sapheon. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal. Ireland-based Covidien, which itself is in the process of being acquired by Medtronic (NYSE: [[ticker:MDT]]), says … Continue reading “Raleigh-Durham Roundup: Sapheon, Cree, Red Hat, & More”

Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated

A lot has been written lately about innovation, or the lack thereof, in the world of biopharma. One question that often gets asked: which countries lead the way in creating new medicines? Many people think that drugs originate in the nation where the companies that produce them are headquartered. The truth, however, is much more … Continue reading “Which Countries Excel in Creating New Drugs? It’s Complicated”

Novan Therapeutics Lands $10,325,093 New Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=62cc2045-8dbc-42e1-8db0-dd9aecbcc2bf Date 9/2/2014 Company Name Novan Therapeutics Mailing Address 4222 Emperor Boulevard Durham, NC 27703 USA Company Description Novan uses a licensed nitric oxide technology, developed at the lab of Schoenfisch, to give medical devices an antimicrobial coating, helping to fight bacteria. Website http://www.novantherapeutics.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,325,093 Transaction … Continue reading “Novan Therapeutics Lands $10,325,093 New Funding”

Infusion Medical Secures $3,200,000 New Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=00eece95-a437-4cf9-b3d6-595b96e1e53a Date 8/30/2014 Company Name Infusion Medical Mailing Address 1000 Perimeter Park Dr. Morrisville, NC 27560 USA Company Description Infusion Medical, Inc. operates in the healthcare industry. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is based in Morrisville, North Carolina. Website Undisclosed Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,200,000 Transaction Round Undisclosed … Continue reading “Infusion Medical Secures $3,200,000 New Round”

East Coast Biotech Roundup: Biogen, Civitas, Rhythm, Alkermes, & More

To get ready for the annual post-Labor Day market revival, three Boston-area biotechs have put their IPO plans on the front burner. Syndax Pharmaceuticals has come back to the table after postponing its plans earlier this year, while Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and Civitas have declared their intentions for the first time. In pipeline news, Alkermes has … Continue reading “East Coast Biotech Roundup: Biogen, Civitas, Rhythm, Alkermes, & More”

BioCryst Ebola Drug Awarded Funding for Tests

An experimental Ebola drug from BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BCRX]]) now has funding for tests in monkeys, a step away from testing the treatment in humans. BioCryst says it expects tests of its experimental Ebola treatment will start “within weeks.” The Durham, NC company says the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) has awarded … Continue reading “BioCryst Ebola Drug Awarded Funding for Tests”

Covidien Acquires Sapheon for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=030b5bd5-e04f-47f3-8db8-a6e94dd45b5f Date 8/29/2014 Company Name Sapheon Mailing Address 951 Aviation Parkway Morrisville, NC 27560 USA Company Description Sapheon Inc. is a medical device company whose mission is to develop new approaches and disruptive technologies for the treatment of vascular disease. Website http://www.sapheoninc.com Transaction Type M&A Transaction Amount Undisclosed Transaction Round Proceeds Purposes … Continue reading “Covidien Acquires Sapheon for Undisclosed Sum”

Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services

Until recently, 99 percent of government data around the world was shrouded in darkness. It was trapped in a vault, gathering mold, and never saw the light of day. But the vibrant open data movement, which is taking hold on just about every continent, has begun to radically change this. Now, government data is being … Continue reading “Open Data Can Help Government Be the Airbnb of Civic Services”

Coelacanths And Other IPO Thoughts Before The Autumn Markets Return

Ah, the final week of summer. Would that it could go on forever. And thanks for reading this on your mobile device with your toes in the sand. Just don’t forget to take a dip or toss a Frisbee when you’re done. No doubt many would like the current biotech IPO climate to stretch on … Continue reading “Coelacanths And Other IPO Thoughts Before The Autumn Markets Return”

INRFOOD Garners $30,000 Seed Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b05e83f0-56e0-4028-b6e1-2a0ef86b2da1 Date 8/26/2014 Company Name INRFOOD Mailing Address 334 Blackwell Street Durham, NC 27701 USA Company Description INRFOOD is not an app, product, or even platform, it’s a REVOLUTION. A revolution in the way you eat, understand, select, and define food. Our goal is to empower you to make more informed decisions … Continue reading “INRFOOD Garners $30,000 Seed Funding Round”

“Plan” Versus “Vision” Entrepreneurs and How a VC Evaluates Startups

Since I first joined Mercury Fund in 2008, I’ve seen the ups (now) and downs (2009) of venture capital in just six years. Despite the wildly different environments, I’ve noticed that the types of pitches we get, and our responses to them, haven’t changed much. Although we have seen small changes to some of the … Continue reading ““Plan” Versus “Vision” Entrepreneurs and How a VC Evaluates Startups”

BioKier Takes a Shot at a New Kind of Diabetes Drug

Diabetics know all too well that needle sticks are a routine part of managing their disease. Insulin injections have been part of the diabetes standard of care for decades. And in recent years, a new class of injectable drugs have emerged to help patients regulate their blood sugar levels. Chapel Hill, NC, drug developer BioKier … Continue reading “BioKier Takes a Shot at a New Kind of Diabetes Drug”