Although the news flow slowed to a trickle over the holidays, we’ve patiently collected all the high-tech news to get you ready to greet the New Year. —San Diego’s Qualcomm announced the resignation of its No. 2 executive, Chief Operating Officer Len Lauer, on Christmas Eve—a move that almost ensured minimal press attention. Lauer, who … Continue reading “Qualcomm’s No. 2 Executive Departs Amid Shuffle, Metaplace Closes Virtual World, Startups Refill Coffers, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Category: San Diego
Life Technologies Uses Sound Wave Technology to Crack Into New Instrument Market
Carlsbad, CA-based Life Technologies sells a bunch of stuff to biomedical researchers, but one market it has never tried to capture is the one for flow cytometers. These are common lab tools that can count and catalog large numbers of cells in a biological sample. They can be useful in many ways, including, say, looking … Continue reading “Life Technologies Uses Sound Wave Technology to Crack Into New Instrument Market”
Top Five Robotics “Hits” of the 2000s
Robotics, in the noughties (I have rank ordered them in importance): 1. Thousands of remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft in the U.S. military. 2. Thousands of supervisory controlled ground robots in the U.S. military. 3. Millions of autonomous home cleaning robots in people’s houses. 4. Autonomous vehicles in the two DARPA grand challenge demonstrations. 5. … Continue reading “Top Five Robotics “Hits” of the 2000s”
Top Five Biotech Innovations of the 2000s
My list is brief, but the innovations that stood out for me in the past decade were first-in-class drugs that can treat or prevent major unmet medical needs. 1. Genentech’s ranibizumab (Lucentis)—The first treatment of its kind for the “wet” form of macular degeneration. It has high efficacy rates and low side effects, has saved … Continue reading “Top Five Biotech Innovations of the 2000s”
Top Five Global Health Innovations of the 2000s
During the past decade, we have seen tremendous technological advances in the field of global health. These innovations promise to bring us closer to a world where health is within reach for everyone. However, realizing their full potential will require further investment to implement these breakthroughs within affordable product platforms. It will also require innovation … Continue reading “Top Five Global Health Innovations of the 2000s”
Top Five Medical Innovations of the 2000s (And One Big Concern)
1—The development of novel mechanisms and combination therapies in HIV, which have turned a universally fatal disease into a chronic one. 2—Targeted cancer therapies. Novartis’ imatinib (Gleevec) is the poster child for this. 3—Sequencing the human genome, and rapidly expanding the technology to allow the analysis of comparative genomes across species and disease areas (e.g., … Continue reading “Top Five Medical Innovations of the 2000s (And One Big Concern)”
Four Groundbreaking Innovations from the 2000s (And One More Life-Changing Event)
Let me start out the great moments/innovations/developments of the past decade with one that was very important to me individually. 1. As a strapping, 6-year-old boy, I had the privilege of seeing Ted Williams’s last game. I don’t know about you, but growing up in Boston in the 1960s there were two heroes: Ted Williams … Continue reading “Four Groundbreaking Innovations from the 2000s (And One More Life-Changing Event)”
Top Five Biomedical Innovations of the 2000s
1—Increasing use, validation and acceptance of surrogate endpoints for clinical trials. 2—Novartis’ imatinib (Gleevec). The first drug for specifically inhibiting an enzyme causing cancer rather than killing fast dividing cells…. 3—Human papillomavirus vaccines. This is both for innovative science, and innovative treatment of a vaccine for a virus tied to cancer. 4—Robotic surgery. (Intuitive Surgical) … Continue reading “Top Five Biomedical Innovations of the 2000s”
Ringing in a New Year With Predictions for Hot Software Sectors
The constrained venture capital markets and difficult environment for IPOs, will make 2010 a big year for M&A transactions. The leaders in hot new software sectors will be swallowed up at a premium, along with entrepreneurs tired of running on the treadmill as they get closer to retirement, will drive more M&A transactions than ever. … Continue reading “Ringing in a New Year With Predictions for Hot Software Sectors”
Enjoy the holidays, and watch this space…
The boys and I will be taking some much needed time off for the next week and a half, so posting will be light in the main blog and News Xpress sections. But keep your eyes peeled, because over in the Xconomist Forum things are going to be hopping right on through the New Year. … Continue reading “Enjoy the holidays, and watch this space…”
Ringing in the New Year: Five San Diego Tech Companies Raise Cash in December
Venture fundraising came to life among for a number of San Diego’s high-tech companies in December, although the deals for the most part were relatively small. Here’s a roundup of recent deals that will no doubt help these startup founders rest a little easier over the holidays: —Daylight Solutions, the specialized maker of solid-state lasers … Continue reading “Ringing in the New Year: Five San Diego Tech Companies Raise Cash in December”
ViaSat Sells Shares as Part of WildBlue Deal
ViaSat (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VSAT]]), the Carlsbad, CA-based satellite communications company raised $133 million in equity funding in December, according to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ViaSat spokesman Bruce Rowe tells me the company issued about 4.3 million shares for the stock component of the company’s $568 million stock-and-cash purchase of Colorado’s WildBlue … Continue reading “ViaSat Sells Shares as Part of WildBlue Deal”
Readers’ Picks: Xconomy San Diego’s Top 5 Stories of 2009
There are many differences between this new world of online media and the old world of ink-on-paper that I used to inhabit. So many, in fact, that sometimes I feel like the earthling in the blockbuster “Avatar” who must take archery lessons and learn how to live in an alien culture. One of the most … Continue reading “Readers’ Picks: Xconomy San Diego’s Top 5 Stories of 2009”
Ambit Signs Big Deal With Astellas, Xenomics Alleges Fraud at Sequenom, Arena Seeks FDA Approval for Weight-Loss Drug & More San Diego Life Sciences News
Despite the fact that there are no snow days in San Diego, we still saw occasional flurries—of life sciences news—in the days before Christmas. Here at Xconomy, we’re wishing everyone happy holidays and an exponential New Year. —Scott Salka, the CEO of Ambit Biosciences told Luke the San Diego life sciences company pushed hard to … Continue reading “Ambit Signs Big Deal With Astellas, Xenomics Alleges Fraud at Sequenom, Arena Seeks FDA Approval for Weight-Loss Drug & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Exponentials R Us: Seven Computer Science Game-Changers from the 2000’s, and Seven More to Come
Forty years ago, in 1969, Neil Armstrong left footprints on the surface of the moon. It was an extraordinary accomplishment. Also in 1969, with much less fanfare and at much less expense, Len Kleinrock’s programmer Charley Kline sent the first message over ARPANET. (The message was “lo” – the first two letters of “login.” Then … Continue reading “Exponentials R Us: Seven Computer Science Game-Changers from the 2000’s, and Seven More to Come”
Arena Loses Merck Collaboration After Clogged-Artery Drug Fails Clinical Trial
Somebody always delivers some bad news on the slow days before Christmas, and this year, it’s Arena Pharmaceuticals. The San Diego-based biotech company said today that pharma giant Merck has cancelled a research collaboration with Arena after an experimental drug for improving levels of the so-called “good” cholesterol failed to reach its goal in a … Continue reading “Arena Loses Merck Collaboration After Clogged-Artery Drug Fails Clinical Trial”
In Development of Bio-Engineered Skin Tissue, Third Try is Charm for Advanced BioHealing
[Corrected 12/29/09, 3:40 pm. See below.] When it comes to commercializing a bio-engineered human skin substitute that could be used to treat diabetic ulcers and other tissue damage, Kathy McGee has the benefit of a long view. McGee tells me she arrived in San Diego from Ireland in 1992 to work for Advanced Tissue Sciences … Continue reading “In Development of Bio-Engineered Skin Tissue, Third Try is Charm for Advanced BioHealing”
Ambit, Buoyed by Astellas Deal, Attempting Rare Switch from Platform to Drug Developer
Ambit Biosciences made news last Friday when it pulled in $40 million through a partnership with Japan-based Astellas Pharma. We had the basic gist out fast that morning, but I gathered a lot more detail and insight during a follow-up conversation with Ambit CEO Scott Salka. It’s been a frenetic year at Ambit. The company … Continue reading “Ambit, Buoyed by Astellas Deal, Attempting Rare Switch from Platform to Drug Developer”
The Top Five Advances From the Decade of Genomics
1. The Human Genome Project 2. Massively parallel DNA sequencing 3. Personalizing therapeutics via companion diagnostic tests (Herceptin, Gleevec, OncoDX, …) 4. Advanced diagnostics by blood biomarker analysis (e.g. fetal DNA/cells in mother’s blood) 5. The launch of the field of systems biology [Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of posts from Xconomists … Continue reading “The Top Five Advances From the Decade of Genomics”
Seacoast Science Avoids VCs, Finds Other Money to Develop Tiny Chemical Sensors
I wanted to meet with the founders of Seacoast Science since I learned in late October that the Carlsbad, CA, startup is part of a government-sponsored initiative to embed tiny chemical sensors in cell phones. Seacoast’s technology is impressive: tiny microchips—about the size of the typeface on a postage stamp—each containing multiple individual sensors, or … Continue reading “Seacoast Science Avoids VCs, Finds Other Money to Develop Tiny Chemical Sensors”
Patent Issued to Vical and UW
San Diego-based Vical says today it has obtained a patent covering DNA vaccines for the sexually transmitted herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), the leading cause of genital herpes. Vical (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VICL]]) says it is in preclinical development of a HSV-2 vaccine in collaboration with the University of Washington School of Medicine, which also is … Continue reading “Patent Issued to Vical and UW”
Arena Turns In FDA Application
San Diego-based Arena Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARNA]]) said today it has filed its application to the FDA for clearance to start marketing lorcaserin for weight loss. The application includes information on 18 clinical trials that enrolled almost 8,600 patients, including the pivotal trials known as Bloom and Blossom. The company had forecasted previously it would complete … Continue reading “Arena Turns In FDA Application”
Scandal, Swine Flu, Shareholder Disputes, and More: 2009 Was Quite a Year for San Diego’s Life Sciences Industry
Covering the life sciences in San Diego is never dull, and the news flow last year provided plenty of drama. What follows are some highlights from the past year: — Embattled tools company Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]) scuttled the debut of a non-invasive prenatal Down syndrome test amid a data-mishandling scandal. CEO Harry Stylli was fired … Continue reading “Scandal, Swine Flu, Shareholder Disputes, and More: 2009 Was Quite a Year for San Diego’s Life Sciences Industry”
Metaplace Pulling Plug on Website
San Diego-based Metaplace co-founder Ralph Koster announced on his blog today that the venture-backed company is shutting down Metaplace.com, its user-generated content website, effective Jan. 1. Koster, the former chief creative officer at Sony Online, says the Metaplace website, which offers users an online marketplace and platform for building their own social networking rooms “just … Continue reading “Metaplace Pulling Plug on Website”
My Top 10 List of Innovations Across the Spectrum
Here are my top 10 innovations that are coming to the forefront in 2010. Of course, none of these would be possible without the economic engine that is embodied by the USA Science & Engineering Festival, which is creating the innovative minds of the future. 1) High-tech treatment of nuclear waste, a technology that solves … Continue reading “My Top 10 List of Innovations Across the Spectrum”
Qualcomm Plans to Repeat Global QPrize, With a Few Changes
After reporting reporting last month that Israeli startup Panoramic Power won the inaugural QPrize, the incentive prize organized by Qualcomm Ventures, I recently got a chance to discuss the outcome with Nagraj Kashyap, vice president of Qualcomm Ventures. He says the San Diego wireless industry giant intends to organize a second round of its business … Continue reading “Qualcomm Plans to Repeat Global QPrize, With a Few Changes”
The New Google: Internet Giant Opens Up About Real-Time and Local Search, Cloud Computing, and Data Liberation
When it comes to product and business strategy, Google is one of the most secretive companies around. So I was pleased when the Internet giant agreed to grant me a series of interviews last week, most of them with senior product managers from its Mountain View, CA, headquarters. I touched on elements of Google’s technology … Continue reading “The New Google: Internet Giant Opens Up About Real-Time and Local Search, Cloud Computing, and Data Liberation”
Isis Nabs $10M from OncoGenex Deal
Isis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISIS]]), the Carlsbad, CA-based biotech company, said today it will receive a $10 million payment from OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals in connection with OncoGenex’s new partnership with Teva Pharmaceutical. Bothell, WA-based OncoGenex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OGXI]]) secured a worldwide partnership with Teva to develop OGX-011, an antisense therapy for prostate cancer. Isis will receive $10 million … Continue reading “Isis Nabs $10M from OncoGenex Deal”
Qualcomm’s Top Executives Talk Shop, Verari Lays Off Nearly Everyone, Assay Depot Goes From Biotech Startup to Online Merchant, & More San Diego BizTech News
San Diego’s tech news slowed to a trickle last week, as considerable speculation focused on the restructuring at Verari Systems, which included laying off most of the data equipment supplier’s workforce. Keep reading to get the latest news. —San Diego-based Verari Systems abruptly laid off most of its employees, prompting a flurry of reports that … Continue reading “Qualcomm’s Top Executives Talk Shop, Verari Lays Off Nearly Everyone, Assay Depot Goes From Biotech Startup to Online Merchant, & More San Diego BizTech News”
Top Five Tech Advances of the 2000s
[Editor’s Note: As the decade comes to an end, we’ve asked Xconomists and other technology leaders around the country to identify the top innovations they’ve seen in their fields the past 10 years, or predict the top disruptive technologies that will impact the next decade.] 1—Digital camera proliferation. Digital cameras and camera phones have become … Continue reading “Top Five Tech Advances of the 2000s”
BridgeCo Receives $7,500,000 New Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8f188ab0-fe11-4d05-b645-4bd61115f7a2&Preview=1 Date 12/21/2009 Company Name BridgeCo Mailing Address 400 Continental Blvd 6th Floor El Segundo, CA 90245 Company Description BridgeCo, a networked entertainment pioneer, offers the world’s most comprehensive, cost-effective and highly integrated processor IC and software platforms for connecting Internet media sources, computers and consumer electronics throughout the home. Website http://www.bridgeco.com … Continue reading “BridgeCo Receives $7,500,000 New Financing Round”
MediciNova Completes Merger
San Diego-based MediciNova, (NASDAQ: [[ticker:MNOV]]) which is developing small-molecule therapeutics through partnerships with Japanese pharmaceuticals, says it has merged Avigen, (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVGN]]), a biotech based in Alameda, CA, that is focused on developing treatments for serious neurological disorders. Under the merger agreement, Avigen shareholders will receive either cash, secured convertible notes, or a combination of … Continue reading “MediciNova Completes Merger”
Ambit Nabs Partnership With Astellas, $40M Upfront Cash, To Develop Leukemia Drug
Ambit Biosciences is showing that its third try to build a company looks like a charm. The San Diego-based biotech company said today it has secured a partnership with Japan-based Astellas Pharma to co-develop new drugs for cancer and other diseases. The deal revolves around Ambit’s lead experimental drug for acute myeloid leukemia, AC220, and … Continue reading “Ambit Nabs Partnership With Astellas, $40M Upfront Cash, To Develop Leukemia Drug”
The Decade’s Most Important Biomedical Discovery
The past decade has been rich in biological and biomedical advances. The decade opened with the reports of the large number of new genes within the human genome that encode small non-coding RNAs, or microRNAs. We have learned that these RNAs a) control at least half of all genes, b) are dysfunctional in many cancers … Continue reading “The Decade’s Most Important Biomedical Discovery”
As Wireless Industry Moves From Voice to Data, Qualcomm’s Top Execs Discuss Their ‘Big Bets’ on Next-Generation Technologies
Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs seemed upbeat, at times even jocular, during a town hall forum at the wireless giant’s corporate headquarters Wednesday night. Perhaps his good humor stemmed from the kickoff question from moderator Brian Modoff, the Deutsche Bank Securities analyst, who asked Jacobs how he views Qualcomm now that the company has entered a … Continue reading “As Wireless Industry Moves From Voice to Data, Qualcomm’s Top Execs Discuss Their ‘Big Bets’ on Next-Generation Technologies”
Digital Magazines Emerge—But Glossy Paper Publishers Haven’t Turned the Page on the Past
With all the drama this year around newspapers, including the Boston Globe‘s near-death experience and the actual demise of several other papers such as the Seattle P-I and the Rocky Mountain News, there’s been slightly less hoopla over the fate of magazines. They’re dealing with many of the same problems as newspapers, including a falloff … Continue reading “Digital Magazines Emerge—But Glossy Paper Publishers Haven’t Turned the Page on the Past”
Equipois Lands $1,250,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=8950dc0b-e857-4bbf-a6b8-d1747a7e88d3&Preview=1 Date 12/18/2009 Company Name Equipois Mailing Address 6601 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038 Company Description The company is a developer of technology for heavy lifting, targeted at reducing workplace injuries. Website http://www.equipoisinc.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,250,000 Transaction Round Series B Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not … Continue reading “Equipois Lands $1,250,000 Series B Financing”
Biogen Idec Bid for Facet Biotech Shot Down, But the Show’s Not Over
[Update: 5:26 pm Eastern, 12/17/09] Biogen Idec failed to persuade shareholders to approve its $450 million hostile takeover bid for Redwood City, CA-based Facet Biotech, but a statement today suggests that this particular corporate dance isn’t over yet. Shareholders of Facet (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FACT]]) turned down Cambridge, MA-based Biogen’s offer of $17.50, and now that the … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Bid for Facet Biotech Shot Down, But the Show’s Not Over”
Assay Depot Founders Morphed Their Biotech Startup Into e-Commerce Provider of Drug Discovery Services
The three co-founders of San Diego’s Assay Depot started the company in 2006 as a for-hire cancer research outfit, with the big idea of creating a Web-based system that would make it super easy for biomedical researchers to order assays, screening tests, and other lab services. “We were building the website and we really wanted … Continue reading “Assay Depot Founders Morphed Their Biotech Startup Into e-Commerce Provider of Drug Discovery Services”
Calixa Gets Acquired, Pfēnex signs Merck to Licensing Deal, Local Biotechs Report From Breast Cancer Symposium, & More San Diego Life Sciences News
San Diego’s Calixa Therapeutics will be celebrating the holidays in style, after getting acquired by a Massachusetts-based company in the biggest deal of the week. Start your countdown to Christmas here with a rundown of the latest biotech news. —Lexington, MA-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CBST]]) completed its $92.5-million buyout of San Diego antibiotic drug developer … Continue reading “Calixa Gets Acquired, Pfēnex signs Merck to Licensing Deal, Local Biotechs Report From Breast Cancer Symposium, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”
Sequenom Down Syndrome Results “Deliberately Doctored,” Says Partner Xenomics
Sequenom has maintained for months that it “mishandled” clinical test results of a noninvasive prenatal test for Down syndrome, but one of its partners is now accusing the company of committing fraud by having “deliberately doctored” the data. New York-based Xenomics said in October that it is suing San Diego-based Sequenom (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SQNM]]), for as … Continue reading “Sequenom Down Syndrome Results “Deliberately Doctored,” Says Partner Xenomics”
Regulus Adds IP from Baltimore Lab
Regulus Therapeutics, the Carlsbad, CA-based developer of microRNA therapies, said today it has obtained an exclusive license from the lab of David Baltimore at Caltech to make drugs that affect a pair of microRNAs thought to be related to inflammation. Regulus is getting worldwide exclusive rights to develop drugs against miR-146 and miR-155. Baltimore is … Continue reading “Regulus Adds IP from Baltimore Lab”
Neurocrine Gets $10M From Venrock
Neurocrine Biosciences, the San Diego-based biotech company, said today it raised about $10 million through a stock offering to Venrock Associates. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NBIX]]) said it sold 4.78 million shares of Neurocrine at $2.09 apiece to Venrock. That’s about an 8 percent discount to the market price of $2.27 at yesterday’s close.
Anadys Hepatitis C Drug Shows Early Sign of Viral-Killing Punch, Without Dreaded Rash
Anadys Pharmaceuticals has bet the company on its experimental drug for hepatitis C, and an early peek at clinical trial results show the San Diego company is still in the game. Anadys (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ANDS]]) is announcing today it has captured data from the first 44 patients who were randomly assigned to get a low dose … Continue reading “Anadys Hepatitis C Drug Shows Early Sign of Viral-Killing Punch, Without Dreaded Rash”
Chicken Little is History, Now It’s Time for Old School VC
“Biotech is Broken!” “Pharmaceuticals Out of Balance!” “Venture Capital abandoning Biotech Sector!” Lately articles on the state of biotech scream out like spinning headlines on the MovieTone News Reels from seventy years ago: “Millions out of work!” or “War in the Pacific!” Since I’m penning my article on Pearl Harbor Day, the dramatic headlines pop … Continue reading “Chicken Little is History, Now It’s Time for Old School VC”
Neurocrine Biosciences Lands $10,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=96fd2273-c4ed-4de5-8182-6058277d9b97&Preview=1 Date 12/17/2009 Company Name Neurocrine Biosciences Mailing Address 12780 El Camino Real San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: NBIX) of San Diego is a product based biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products to treat unmet medical needs. Website http://www.neurocrine.com Transaction Type … Continue reading “Neurocrine Biosciences Lands $10,000,000 New Funding”
SmartDrive Extends VC Round to $25M
San Diego’s SmartDrive Systems, which reported raising $12 million in venture capital funding in October, now says it has raised a total of $25 million. “We had always had the goal to have the round at about this size,” CEO Greg Drew tells me. The round was led by existing investors Oak Investment Partners of … Continue reading “SmartDrive Extends VC Round to $25M”
Cool Device from San Diego’s BeneChill May Improve Odds for Cardiac Arrest Victims
Research over the last several years has shown that lowering the temperatures of unconscious cardiac arrest patients improves their odds of survival without brain damage. This intervention commonly begins in the hospital because most temperature-lowering technologies (water-filled blankets, blood-cooling machines) are not suited for use by ambulance crews. San Diego-based BeneChill wants to put temperature-lowering … Continue reading “Cool Device from San Diego’s BeneChill May Improve Odds for Cardiac Arrest Victims”
Google Senior Exec Alan Eustace on Innovation Strategy and the Technology of the Next Decade
If ever a company defied hyperlocal coverage, it’s Google. Whether you live in Boston or Bosnia, Seattle or Shanghai, Google is a big deal—and it’s getting bigger every day. Whether it’s attracting or gobbling up the best companies and talent in New England or Southern California, or competing with giants like Microsoft (Bing) and Amazon … Continue reading “Google Senior Exec Alan Eustace on Innovation Strategy and the Technology of the Next Decade”
SmartDrive Systems Lands $25,000,000 Series E Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=60f46843-1ad0-4f4d-a32f-969380079e9c&Preview=1 Date 12/16/2009 Company Name SmartDrive Systems Mailing Address 9276 Scranton Road 5th Floor San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description SmartDrive Systems saves lives by increasing safe driving through behavior modification and saves money through lower insurance costs/claims via state-of-the-art, vehicle safety devices for commercial and government fleets of vehicles. SmartDrive Systems … Continue reading “SmartDrive Systems Lands $25,000,000 Series E Financing”