Category: San Diego

Trius Chops IPO Price, Offers More Shares

In a page taken from the discount retailing playbook, San Diego’s Trius Therapeutics slashed the proposed price of its pending IPO by roughly 60 percent and increased the number of shares it is offering by 67 percent. Trius now plans to offer at least 10 million shares at $5 apiece, after initially planning to sell … Continue reading “Trius Chops IPO Price, Offers More Shares”

Reveal Imaging, Makers of Airport Screening Technologies, Sold to SAIC

There’s some news on the homeland security front today. Reveal Imaging Technologies, based in Bedford, MA, said it is being acquired by SAIC, the McLean, VA-based government contractor giant also known as Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: [[ticker:SAI]]). Financial terms of the deal weren’t released, but the acquisition is expected to close by the end … Continue reading “Reveal Imaging, Makers of Airport Screening Technologies, Sold to SAIC”

Conatus Gets Pfizer Subsidiary

Conatus Pharmaceuticals, a San Diego-based drug developer targeting liver disease and cancer, announced it has acquired Pfizer subsidiary Idun Pharmaceuticals for an undisclosed sum. Conatus was launched in 2005 by Idun execs after Pfizer acquired the firm, which at the time was developing liver disease treatments and oncology drugs, and held intellectual property in the … Continue reading “Conatus Gets Pfizer Subsidiary”

Qualcomm Gets its Technology in EV Chargers, Aptera Makes Finals in $10M Automotive X Prize, & More San Diego BizTech News

It wasn’t a busy week for news about San Diego technology innovation, but it wasn’t a slow week either. It was jus-s-s-t right. And here is our summary. —You’re going to start hearing a lot about Ecotality in coming months. The San Francisco-based company is heading efforts to install electric vehicle charging stations throughout San … Continue reading “Qualcomm Gets its Technology in EV Chargers, Aptera Makes Finals in $10M Automotive X Prize, & More San Diego BizTech News”

With Traditional M&A Players Still on Sidelines, Small and Mid-sized Businesses Have Unique Opportunity to Make Strategic Acquisitions

The recent economic turmoil forced rapid change on the mergers and acquisitions marketplace, as the tightening of available credit pushed traditional M&A players—primarily private equity investors and large corporations—to the sidelines and dramatically slowed existing transactions. The landscape yielded a dearth of profitable deals, with any residual motivation for investment in mid-sized firms deflated by … Continue reading “With Traditional M&A Players Still on Sidelines, Small and Mid-sized Businesses Have Unique Opportunity to Make Strategic Acquisitions”

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Pays $112M to Buy Remaining Stake in PackeVideo

Japanese communications provider NTT DoCoMo, which acquired a 35 percent stake in San Diego’s PacketVideo last year for $45.5 million, says it is acquiring the remaining 65 percent from holding company NextWave Wireless for $111.6 million. Under terms of the deal, PacketVideo will become a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT DoCoMo. It will operate autonomously, … Continue reading “Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Pays $112M to Buy Remaining Stake in PackeVideo”

OpenAppMkt: The Return of the iPhone Web App?

Few people remember it now, but for the first year after the launch of the Apple iPhone in June, 2007, there was no App Store. The device came with a few built-in or “native” apps like a calendar, a clock, and a notebook, along with a couple of third-party apps like the YouTube player and … Continue reading “OpenAppMkt: The Return of the iPhone Web App?”

Connect Adopts New Measures to Boost the Innovation Economy

Connect, the San Diego nonprofit group for technology and entrepreneurship, said its board has approved a series of initiatives intended to stimulate the long-term formation of technology startups. The initiatives, which will be supervised by Connect CEO Duane Roth, are supposed to attract more early stage investment capital, and influence innovation policies set by the … Continue reading “Connect Adopts New Measures to Boost the Innovation Economy”

Trius IPO Idling

San Diego’s Trius Therapeutics has again delayed its long-planned $78 million initial public offering, which was scheduled to go out this week, according a report today by Bloomberg News. Renaissance Capital, which listed Trius among the expected IPOs this week, continues to list the Trius offering as “day to day.” Trius, founded in 2004, has … Continue reading “Trius IPO Idling”

California Startup Carmakers, Aptera and Zap, Finalists in Automotive X Prize

And then there were nine. What began in April as a field of 136 experimental cars and 111 teams with their eyes on the $10 million Automotive X Prize has been winnowed to just nine cars and seven teams. Track testing was completed Tuesday at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI. The nine finalists … Continue reading “California Startup Carmakers, Aptera and Zap, Finalists in Automotive X Prize”

Optimer Seeks EU Approval

San Diego-based Optimer Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OPTR]]) said today it has filed an application for approval in the European Union to start marketing fidaxomicin to treat C.difficile bacterial infections. The drug has passed a pair of pivotal clinical trials, showing that it was roughly equal to standard vancomycin therapy at curing patients initially, but the new … Continue reading “Optimer Seeks EU Approval”

Illumina Buys Helixis, Genzyme Shares Soar on Buyout Report, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

There wasn’t a lot of San Diego life sciences news over the past week, but what we got was big. Here’s our summary. —San Diego-based Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), which makes high-speed gene sequencing equipment for biomedical laboratories, acquired Carlsbad, CA-based Helixis for at least $70 million, with an additional $35 million tied to meeting certain … Continue reading “Illumina Buys Helixis, Genzyme Shares Soar on Buyout Report, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Under The Radar Financings in San Diego: Envision Solar, Zacharon Pharmaceuticals, & More

Every month, New York-based CB Insights casts its net for “under-the-radar deals” that provide less than $1 million in capital for technology and life sciences companies, and shares its catch with Xconomy editors in the five cities where we operate. In its survey for June, the private company intelligence firm brought up seven deals in … Continue reading “Under The Radar Financings in San Diego: Envision Solar, Zacharon Pharmaceuticals, & More”

Protecting Consumers From Their Own Genetic Data Will Come at a Cost

Last week’s U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing into the direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing industry was a vicious affair, with more than a whiff of the show trial about it. Representatives from testing companies 23andMe, Navigenics and Pathway Genomics faced a barrage of questions about the accuracy and utility of their tests, made all … Continue reading “Protecting Consumers From Their Own Genetic Data Will Come at a Cost”

Illumina Acquires Helixis for $105,000,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=31b15c63-4283-45d1-a1aa-40eda6da0f70&Preview=1 Date 7/28/2010 Company Name Helixis Mailing Address 5421 Avenida Encinas Carlsbad, CA 92008 Company Description Diagnostics tools for molecular analysis are critical to modern life science and medicine, but are still primitive in form and function. Helixis is developing an entirely new class of advanced molecular diagnostic products that will bring … Continue reading “Illumina Acquires Helixis for $105,000,000”

Qualcomm’s Technology Inside Ecotality’s Electric Vehicle Chargers

At the Xconomy Smart Energy Forum in San Diego just a couple of months ago, Qualcomm’s Manuel Jaime emphasized that 100-percent electric vehicles (EVs) like the Nissan Leaf will need to be integrated with EV charging stations—and the charging stations have to be integrated with a local power grid. Once they’re integrated, Jaime explained, EV … Continue reading “Qualcomm’s Technology Inside Ecotality’s Electric Vehicle Chargers”

Illumina Acquires Helixis for Up to $105M, To Get Small, Low-Cost Genetic Analysis Tool

San Diego-based Illumina has acquired an intriguing startup from southern California with a vision of putting low-cost genetic analysis systems on every biologist’s benchtop. Illumina (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ILMN]]), the leading maker of high-speed gene sequencing instruments, said today in its second-quarter financial report, and in a separate statement, that it has acquired Carlsbad, CA-based Helixis for … Continue reading “Illumina Acquires Helixis for Up to $105M, To Get Small, Low-Cost Genetic Analysis Tool”

A Natural History of the Scentsa: Fragrances Publisher Gets Huntington Capital Financing to Expand Technology Platform

Just as Greg was reporting the $5 million in financing that San Diego’s Huntington Capital arranged for custom publisher RPI in Tukwila, WA, the firm was providing similar financing for Crescent House Publishing of Carlsbad, CA. Both deals came out of Huntington Capital Fund II, the $78 million fund the boutique lender and private equity … Continue reading “A Natural History of the Scentsa: Fragrances Publisher Gets Huntington Capital Financing to Expand Technology Platform”

Solazyme, Founded on ‘Delusional’ Idea of Algae Biofuel, Stakes Claim as Industry’s First Mover

Two teenagers arrived at Emory University in Atlanta as freshmen in 1989, and within days, they hit upon a “delusional” idea: starting a biotech company. Two decades later, it’s become a lot less delusional, as Jonathan Wolfson and Harrison Dillon have built South San Francisco-based Solazyme into one of the nation’s leading contenders in the … Continue reading “Solazyme, Founded on ‘Delusional’ Idea of Algae Biofuel, Stakes Claim as Industry’s First Mover”

Sapphire Energy Moving Fast on Genetically Engineered Algae

After reading Andy Pollack’s reportage on biotechnology for years in the New York Times, I finally got a chance to meet him a couple of weeks ago in San Diego, at a briefing to update reporters and VIPs on the $300-million partnership that Synthetic Genomics and ExxonMobil formed to develop algae biofuels. Today Pollack published … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy Moving Fast on Genetically Engineered Algae”

Memjet To Unveil Innovative Printing Technology, Energy Innovations Moves into Poway, Skinit Gets $60M, & More San Diego BizTech News

So many innovations, so little time. It’s a good thing you don’t have to choose between Memjet’s superfast printing technology and Energy Innovations’ supercool concentrating photovoltaic solar modules. You can have it all, and you can get it now. —Memjet, the San Diego-based startup with new inkjet printing technologies, is getting ready to step on … Continue reading “Memjet To Unveil Innovative Printing Technology, Energy Innovations Moves into Poway, Skinit Gets $60M, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Biotech on a Shoestring? There’s a Better Way

A recent Xconomy article “Biotech on a Shoestring” reflects an industry landscape change where, “the era of free-spending is supposedly out, and austerity is the watchword.” An emphasis on a heightened form of frugality can certainly save dollars but can also create uncertainty and anxiety amongst the rank and file. The inevitable next question arises … Continue reading “Biotech on a Shoestring? There’s a Better Way”

The Power of Outsourcing in Early through Preclinical Drug Development

An evening symposium sponsored by the Iranian-American Life Sciences Network features nine senior pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry speakers. The agenda includes a keynote address, case study presentations, and discussions covering hot topics and end-to-end solutions across the drug-development spectrum. The presentations will explore a number of issues related to “Early through Preclinical Drug Development” and … Continue reading “The Power of Outsourcing in Early through Preclinical Drug Development”

Biocom Breakfast with Brian Bilbray

Biocom legislative roundtable with Republican Brian Bilbray, who represents California’s 50th Congressional District (including parts of San Diego, Escondido, Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, and Fairbanks Ranch. Bilbray serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee on Veteran’s Affairs and the Science and Technology Committee. … Continue reading “Biocom Breakfast with Brian Bilbray”

Biocom PAC Reception for Legislators & Candidates

The Biocom Political Action Committee (PAC) is hosting this reception for members of San Diego’s life sciences community. It’s an opportunity to become better acquainted with the elected officials and candidates that make critical decisions affecting the industry. Biocom has invited officials and candidates from local (city and county), state and federal levels of government.

Meet the Directors of the National Cancer Institute’s Small Business Innovation Research Program

The National Cancer Institute recently introduced the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Bridge Award mechanism, which is intended to offer an incentive to phase II awardees who obtain third party financing in order commercialize technologies developed with SBIR funds. Michael Weingarten, director of the SBIR Development Center at the National Cancer Institute, and … Continue reading “Meet the Directors of the National Cancer Institute’s Small Business Innovation Research Program”

Legislative Roundtable With U.S. Rep. Susan Davis

Democrat Susan Davis represents San Diego’s 53rd Congressional District. She supported Small Business Innovation Research, and was a strong supporter of the follow-on Biologics Pathway legislation and the Therapeutic Tax Credit legislation. Davis also led an effort to include billions of new funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which was included in the … Continue reading “Legislative Roundtable With U.S. Rep. Susan Davis”

CRO Workshop: Lessons Learned From Pre-IND Meetings and Submissions

This workshop provides an overview of strategic regulatory considerations and lessons learned from early-stage drug development activities such as pre-IND meetings and IND submissions. We will discuss the pros and cons related to pre-IND meetings, the advantages and challenges related electronic IND submissions, and the best practices for addressing each challenge in a timely and … Continue reading “CRO Workshop: Lessons Learned From Pre-IND Meetings and Submissions”

The Human Genome 10 Years Later: What Does it Mean for SD Biotech?

The San Diego Biotechnology Network is organizing an event on August 18 titled “The Human Genome Project 10 Years Later: What Does it Mean for San Diego Biotech?” The event will feature speakers from Illumina, Fate Therapeutics, the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, and UCSD. For more information, click here.

Genzyme Stock Surges 15 Percent on Sanofi Buyout Speculation

Genzyme stock boomed today on speculation that the company could get acquired by Paris-based drug giant Sanofi-Aventis. The news was reported earlier today by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News. No deal was actually announced, and a Genzyme spokesman stated the obvious—that the company, with headquarters in Cambridge, MA, and significant operations in San … Continue reading “Genzyme Stock Surges 15 Percent on Sanofi Buyout Speculation”

Speculation Intensifies Over Future of Qualcomm’s Flo TV

Uncertainty concerning the future of Flo TV triggered a flurry of media reports this week pegged to Qualcomm’s recent quarterly earnings call, although the San Diego wireless giant didn’t say much beyond what it’s been saying: that it is exploring a lot of different possibilities. As we reported during the Uplinq conference earlier this month, … Continue reading “Speculation Intensifies Over Future of Qualcomm’s Flo TV”

Q&A With Wireless Entrepreneur Hiep Pham on San Diego’s Changing Startup Landscape

When I met recently with San Diego entrepreneur Hiep Pham to talk about his latest startup, a Web-based restaurant marketing tool called TipCity, I was reminded that this area was once a healthy hotbed for networking and telecommunications startups. I later wondered if Pham had any insights into the climate for tech startups in San … Continue reading “Q&A With Wireless Entrepreneur Hiep Pham on San Diego’s Changing Startup Landscape”

Flipboard, Off to a Shaky Start, Could Still Grow Into One of Tablet Computing’s Killer Apps

[Updated, see page 2] Say a reviewer goes to a performance of the latest Broadway extravaganza, and the elaborate stage machinery breaks down before the show even starts, forcing everyone to go home. This actually happened to me once, at a showing of Sunset Boulevard in New York. It probably wouldn’t be fair for the … Continue reading “Flipboard, Off to a Shaky Start, Could Still Grow Into One of Tablet Computing’s Killer Apps”

Solar Startup Energy Innovations, Funded and Incubated by Idealab, Begins Production in San Diego

Energy Innovations, a solar energy company founded by entrepreneur Bill Gross, opened the doors of its new headquarters and manufacturing facility today in the suburban San Diego community of Poway, CA, after gestating since 2001 at Idealab, the business incubator Gross runs in Pasadena, CA. Energy Innovations has raised a total of $60 million in … Continue reading “Solar Startup Energy Innovations, Funded and Incubated by Idealab, Begins Production in San Diego”

38 Studios Reveals First Video Game at San Diego’s Comic-Con

Veteran Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling is unveiling the first game put out by the Maynard, MA-based video game company he founded, 38 Studios, at the San Diego entertainment festival Comic-Con today. The single-player game, called “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning,” is based on the fantasy novels of author R.A. Salvatore. It was previously kept under … Continue reading “38 Studios Reveals First Video Game at San Diego’s Comic-Con”

RPI Raises $5M from Huntington Capital, Carves Out Photo Printing Niche in Digital Age

Here’s a company that you might not think would make the pages of Xconomy. But it’s made it, baby. RPI, based in Tukwila, WA, south of Seattle, prints photo books and other custom-designed products like greeting cards, invitations, calendars, notebooks, and posters. That’s right, it actually produces physical stuff for customers. And today, RPI announced … Continue reading “RPI Raises $5M from Huntington Capital, Carves Out Photo Printing Niche in Digital Age”

Cypress Bio Gets Buyout Offer, Trius Prepares for IPO, Arena Gains Following Vivus Setback, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

San Diego’s life sciences companies continued to raise big money, which is a good thing, since a survey shows that venture funding for biotech and medical device companies accounted for more than 80 of all second-quarter VC deals in San Diego. We’ve rounded up all that and more for you here: —San Diego’s Cypress Bioscience … Continue reading “Cypress Bio Gets Buyout Offer, Trius Prepares for IPO, Arena Gains Following Vivus Setback, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

Euthymics, Led by Orexigen Vet, Nabs $24M for Depression Drug With Fewer Side Effects

Boston has a new startup working on what could help people battle depression, even if they didn’t respond to prior treatment, and without the weight gain and sexual dysfunction side effects that have plagued the field for years. Cambridge, MA-based Euthymics Bioscience is off and running toward that goal, having secured the initial installment of … Continue reading “Euthymics, Led by Orexigen Vet, Nabs $24M for Depression Drug With Fewer Side Effects”

Man Charged with Murder in Death of San Diego Angel Investor

San Diego authorities are adding a murder charge to the case against a 59-year-old man who was jailed last month on identity theft charges, which stemmed from the illegal transfer of $7.5 million from the account of a biotech investor who was found dead June 8. Kent Thomas Keigwin will be arraigned for murder tomorrow … Continue reading “Man Charged with Murder in Death of San Diego Angel Investor”

San Diego, Pond Scum, and Crude Oil: Our Mayor Issues an Invitation to Sloganeers

Sometimes in this job, the stuff you hear just seems too good to be true. Like when the mayor of San Diego invites members of an audience to suggest a slogan more exciting than the one he came up with: “When you think of pond scum, think of San Diego.” It’s not often that the … Continue reading “San Diego, Pond Scum, and Crude Oil: Our Mayor Issues an Invitation to Sloganeers”

Biotech on a Shoestring: How Companies Are Pinching Pennies in the “New Reality”

Just in case startups thought they were insulated from the Wall Street implosion of September 2008, Sequoia Capital let there be no doubt that the ripple effect was being felt. Sequoia famously held an emergency meeting with its portfolio companies in October 2008, complete with a mock tombstone with the message “RIP: Good Times.” The … Continue reading “Biotech on a Shoestring: How Companies Are Pinching Pennies in the “New Reality””

Help Increase Transparency in Private Company Executive Compensation

A decade ago, investors and chief executive officers were largely flying blind when it came to compensation in early-stage, privately held companies. They had little more than anecdotal information and their gut to judge how much it would take to land a new head of sales or whether it was worthwhile to retain a chief … Continue reading “Help Increase Transparency in Private Company Executive Compensation”

Calient Networks Garners $10,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6d17c16c-d7aa-4828-8771-dd126eee8e8a&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2010 Company Name Calient Networks Mailing Address 27 Castilian Drive Goleta, CA 93117 Company Description Calient Networks is a leading provider of intelligent, photonic switching systems and software that help service providers scale their networks for expanding bandwidth demands and deliver new wavelength services. Website http://www.calient.net Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “Calient Networks Garners $10,000,000 New Financing”

Inphi Corporation Receives $3,005,665 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=14557420-34df-4ba4-8291-fbf05b388d9a&Preview=1 Date 7/21/2010 Company Name Inphi Corporation Mailing Address 2393 Townsgate Westlake Village, CA 91361 Company Description Inphi Corporation is a privately held fabless electronic components company located in Westlake Village in Southern California. Website http://www.inphi-corp.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $3,005,665 Transaction Round Undisclosed Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Inphi Corporation Receives $3,005,665 New Financing Round”

EngEx 2010 Conference Cancelled

EngEx 2010, a cleantech conference that intended to draw 10,000 attendees to the San Diego Convention Center next week, has been cancelled, according to Steve Johnson, the convention center’s vice president of public affairs. The conference, which had included a presentation on thousands of electric vehicle charging stations to be installed throughout San Diego this … Continue reading “EngEx 2010 Conference Cancelled”

Auspex Pharma Raises $12M

Vista, CA-based Auspex Pharmaceuticals has raised $12 million from investors, according to a recent regulatory filing. As I noted when the company arranged a $2 million financing in March, Auspex is developing deuterium-based analogs of clinically validated drugs in multiple therapeutic areas. The deuterium replaces metabolically sensitive hydrogen atoms to create novel therapeutics with “very … Continue reading “Auspex Pharma Raises $12M”

Skinit Raises $60M

Skinit, a San Diego company that sells branded vinyl skins for cell phones, game consoles, laptops, and other personal electronic devices, has raised $60 million from ABS Capital Partners and Norwest Equity Partners, according to PE Hub. Using its licensing agreements with Disney and other entertainment brands, Major League Soccer and other sports leagues, The … Continue reading “Skinit Raises $60M”

Memjet CEO Lauer Talks Strategy as Debut Approaches for “Disruptive” Inkjet Technology

When I got a chance to sit down with Memjet CEO Len Lauer a few weeks ago, I was full of anticipation—because, for me, Memjet is a study in contradictions. Memjet, as I reported in March, has been developing a host of radically innovative inkjet printing technologies for a worldwide market that was established decades … Continue reading “Memjet CEO Lauer Talks Strategy as Debut Approaches for “Disruptive” Inkjet Technology”