Category: San Diego

Ace Metrix Obtains $6,000,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=b38af771-4284-47e5-ad32-a5708e6f6fc6&Preview=1 Date 12/16/2009 Company Name Ace Metrix Mailing Address 11858 La Grange Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90025 Company Description At Ace Metrix, the ad guys joined with innovative researchers and technology experts to create a new way of providing traditional copy testing, tracking studies and trending analysis. Website http://www.acemetrix.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Ace Metrix Obtains $6,000,000 Series B Financing Round”

Ellie Mae Acquires Mavent for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=abf6ec74-afb6-4afe-8b0e-f44a2f742309&Preview=1 Date 12/16/2009 Company Name Mavent Mailing Address 3 Park Plaza Irvine, CA 92614 Company Description Mavent Inc. developer of the 2comply Expert System was founded in 1999. The 2comply Expert System is an automated expert system that provides the residential mortgage industry with a proven technology solution for complying with applicable … Continue reading “Ellie Mae Acquires Mavent for Undisclosed Sum”

Xconomy Forum: The Biotech Odyssey and Xconomy’s Ode to Innovation and Clean Air

Leave it to the Greeks to provide an epic mythology for interpreting the essence of biotech innovation. As John Maraganore of Cambridge, MA-based Alnylam Pharmaceuticals puts it, drug development is a voyage of Odysseus that requires wily and ingenious problem-solving and extraordinary seamanship. Put another way by Kleanthis Xanthopoulos of Carlsbad, CA-based Regulus Therapeutics, the … Continue reading “Xconomy Forum: The Biotech Odyssey and Xconomy’s Ode to Innovation and Clean Air”

Biogen Prepared for Proxy Battle for Facet Biotech

Cambridge, MA-based Biogen Idec told investors today that it’s willing to wage a proxy battle to take control of the board of Facet Biotech, which it has been trying to acquire without success since September. Biogen (NASDAQ:[[ticker:BIIB]]) said that it would run a proxy contest to take a majority of seats on the board of … Continue reading “Biogen Prepared for Proxy Battle for Facet Biotech”

Connect’s Innovation Report Highlights Higher Federal Spending

A comprehensive snapshot of San Diego’s innovation economy shows a slowdown in new company formation, with 78 technology startups created during the three months that ended in September. But federal grants for basic research jumped to new highs, with funding awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) up 44 percent and funding from the … Continue reading “Connect’s Innovation Report Highlights Higher Federal Spending”

New Faces, New Vacancies on Biogen Idec Board May Foretell Another Proxy Battle

The Biogen Idec boardroom has seen a lot of turnover in the past few months, and who ends up filling the empty slots could say a lot about whether the Cambridge, MA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) will have another proxy fight with billionaire investor Carl Icahn on its hands this spring. Since Icahn won a … Continue reading “New Faces, New Vacancies on Biogen Idec Board May Foretell Another Proxy Battle”

The Top Five Biotech Innovations of the 2000s

[Editor’s Note: As the decade comes to an end, we’ve asked a number of Xconomists around the country to weigh in with the Top 5 innovations they’ve seen in their respective fields the past 10 years, or the Top 5 disruptive technologies that will impact the next decade. Here’s the first installment.] Here are the … Continue reading “The Top Five Biotech Innovations of the 2000s”

CalciMedica Lands $12,000,000 Series C Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6d14ec73-3afa-4b95-9aaf-1ed7718113e1&Preview=1 Date 12/15/2009 Company Name CalciMedica Mailing Address 505 Coast Blvd S. La Jolla, CA 92037 Company Description The company is developing drugs focused on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Website http://www.calcimedica.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $12,000,000 Transaction Round Series C Proceeds Purposes Proceeds purposes were not disclosed. M&A Terms Venture … Continue reading “CalciMedica Lands $12,000,000 Series C Round”

San Diego’s Verari Systems Restructuring its Data Storage Business

PE Hub reports today that San Diego-based Verari Systems shut down on Friday, but a top executive at the company, which provides blade servers and data storage technology, says the doors are still open and that Verari is restructuring its business. Verari is backed by venture investors including Seattle-based Voyager Capital. “Verari has initiated a … Continue reading “San Diego’s Verari Systems Restructuring its Data Storage Business”

Cubist to Acquire Calixa Therapeutics in Deal Worth up to $402.5M

Lexington, MA-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals says today that it’s inked a deal to buy fellow antiobiotic drug developer Calixa Therapeutics, of San Diego, for $92.5 million upfront and up to $310 million more in potential payments to Calixa shareholders. Calixa—which Luke profiled back in March after it cleared a key safety study for one of its … Continue reading “Cubist to Acquire Calixa Therapeutics in Deal Worth up to $402.5M”

Alnylam, Studying History of Genzyme, Eyes Drug to Make Big Impact for Rare Disease

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals has a technology, RNA interference, that scientists say has potential to break new ground against hundreds of diseases for decades to come. But when you have a proverbial “platform” technology that can do so much, how exactly should you set priorities, and decide which drugs to develop first? I got a sense for … Continue reading “Alnylam, Studying History of Genzyme, Eyes Drug to Make Big Impact for Rare Disease”

San Diego’s Pfenex, a Dow Spinout, Signs Merck to $52M Licensing Deal

Pfēnex, which just announced its presence in San Diego last week, today says it has granted Merck an exclusive worldwide license to use its technology to produce specific proteins for use in developing an undisclosed vaccine. A Pfēnex spokesman says the deal, which could be worth as much as $52 million in total payments, represents … Continue reading “San Diego’s Pfenex, a Dow Spinout, Signs Merck to $52M Licensing Deal”

Sequoia Gains Stake in Service-Now.com, Analytics Startup Moves HQ, Transaction Wireless Gets $2M, & More San Diego BizTech News

Software analytics continues to be one of San Diego’s busier high-tech sectors, with ParAccel leading a new generation of technologies that combine data warehousing and analytics. Get ready for the week ahead with this overview from Xconomy: —Sequoia Capital, the Menlo Park, CA, venture firm, is taking a big stake in Service-now.com, the Software-as-a-Service company … Continue reading “Sequoia Gains Stake in Service-Now.com, Analytics Startup Moves HQ, Transaction Wireless Gets $2M, & More San Diego BizTech News”

Getfugu Obtains $10,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=26b71d3a-3348-4d02-b47a-5940d3f32ea9&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2009 Company Name Getfugu Mailing Address 8560 W Sunset West Hollywood, CA 90069 Company Description Getfugu, Inc., based in Los Angeles, California, is the next generation mobile search tool and e-commerce application. Getfugu’s “See It,” “Say It” and “Get It” mobile application leverages the mobile phone’s core strengths delivering a … Continue reading “Getfugu Obtains $10,000,000 New Funding Round”

Cubist Pharmaceuticals Acquires Calixa Therapeutics for $92,500,000

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=5ce6f651-f982-4d53-a5ad-304b4d417d27&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2009 Company Name Calixa Therapeutics Mailing Address 12481 High Bluff Drive San Diego, CA 92130 Company Description Calixa Therapeutics, Inc. is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of a novel cephalosporin to address the expanding problem of multi-drug resistant organisms. Treatment of infections caused by resistant gram-negative bacteria, … Continue reading “Cubist Pharmaceuticals Acquires Calixa Therapeutics for $92,500,000”

Getfugu Secures $800,000 New Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=26b71d3a-3348-4d02-b47a-5940d3f32ea9&Preview=1 Date 12/14/2009 Company Name Getfugu Mailing Address 8560 W Sunset West Hollywood, CA 90069 Company Description Getfugu, Inc., based in Los Angeles, California, is the next generation mobile search tool and e-commerce application. Getfugu’s “See It,” “Say It” and “Get It” mobile application leverages the mobile phone’s core strengths delivering a … Continue reading “Getfugu Secures $800,000 New Financing Round”

Innovative Platforms for Biomass-to-Chemicals Conversion

A one-day symposium precedes the two-day Summit on Next Generation Bio-Based Chemicals, providing a snapshot of state-of-the-art conversion strategies, methods and challenges. Approaches spanning synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, cellular platforms, fermentation, bio-catalysis and thermochemical conversion, and post-fermentation will be covered. The symposium is intended to bring attendees up to date on the most innovative approaches … Continue reading “Innovative Platforms for Biomass-to-Chemicals Conversion”

Leadership Seminar for Scientific Professionals

A four-day program, From the Laboratory to Leadership, created by Leadership Edge in cooperation with Biocom is intended to turn science-minded managers into capable business leaders. Classes include company- and industry-relevant case studies, practical and engaging exercises, down-loadable support tools for each session, and a manual designed to personalize the training for each participant. More … Continue reading “Leadership Seminar for Scientific Professionals”

Biotech Primer for Non-Science Professionals

A one-day briefing that provides a concise overview of the key concepts of modern biology and an introduction to the technology and terminology used in the biotech and medical device industries. Classes are specifically geared toward the non-science professional who needs to better understand industry terminology, science, techniques and issues. More online information and registration … Continue reading “Biotech Primer for Non-Science Professionals”

Enabling Medical Devices for Wireless Communication

This one-day symposium is aimed at medical device manufacturers that are enabling the next generation of healthcare products and services for the wireless world. The event is hosted by Texas Instruments, Arrow Electronics, CommNexus, Telit, and speakers will provide an overview on how to enable medical devices to attach to various wireless topologies. Breakfast and … Continue reading “Enabling Medical Devices for Wireless Communication”

San Diego’s BioTheranostics Gears Up to Sell Test That Predicts Breast Cancer Relapse

One big question women often have after getting diagnosed with breast cancer is whether their first round of treatment is really going to work, or whether they need more aggressive therapy to prevent a relapse. Another big one is whether aggressive treatment is likely to work. Now a little diagnostic company from San Diego, called … Continue reading “San Diego’s BioTheranostics Gears Up to Sell Test That Predicts Breast Cancer Relapse”

Cytori Says Early Results of its Breast Reconstruction Treatment Are Promising

[Corrected 12/13/09, 9:45 am. See below] San Diego’s Cytori Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CYTX]]) is reporting encouraging interim results today concerning its breast reconstruction technology at the 32nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Cytori has been developing its treatment for women whose partial mastectomy or lumpectomy has left a soft-tissue crater or deformity, as well as … Continue reading “Cytori Says Early Results of its Breast Reconstruction Treatment Are Promising”

Cleantech Recylcer EcoATM Among Winners of San Diego’s “Most Innovative Products” Awards

EcoATM is on a tear. The San Diego startup founded last year has developed automated kiosks that enable consumers to recycle their used cell phones and other devices (and get a redemption) was today named the most innovative product in the cleantech category by Connect, the non-profit organization that supports technology and entrepreneurship. Just last … Continue reading “Cleantech Recylcer EcoATM Among Winners of San Diego’s “Most Innovative Products” Awards”

San Diego’s Analytics Cluster Adds Algebraix, a Texas Transplant

As I noted in a recent post about ParAccel, there seems to be a recent proliferation of startups that are combining database management systems with sophisticated analytical capabilities. Another one has just come to my attention: Algebraix Data Corp. is a business intelligence software company that moved its headquarters to San Diego from Austin, TX, … Continue reading “San Diego’s Analytics Cluster Adds Algebraix, a Texas Transplant”

Biogen Idec Chairman Steps Down as Board Re-Shuffles in Wake of Icahn Arrival

Bruce Ross, one of the lightning rods for criticism from billionaire investor Carl Icahn during last spring’s proxy battle at Biogen Idec, has agreed to relinquish the company chairmanship and leave the board at next year’s annual meeting in what appears to be an ongoing boardroom shakeup. He will be joined on his way out … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Chairman Steps Down as Board Re-Shuffles in Wake of Icahn Arrival”

Zogenix Raises Cash for Headaches, Sleepless in Somaxon, Dow Chemical Spins Out Pfēnex, & More San Diego Life Sciences News

From Adamis to Zogenix, we’ve got the A to Z in San Diego life sciences news. Here’s your chance to catch up now. —Zogenix said it has raised a total of $71 million for the anticipated launch in January of its needle-free, drug-and-device delivery system for migraine and cluster headaches. The San Diego life sciences … Continue reading “Zogenix Raises Cash for Headaches, Sleepless in Somaxon, Dow Chemical Spins Out Pfēnex, & More San Diego Life Sciences News”

San Diego’s Anvita Health Seeks to Prevent Medical Errors

[Corrected 12/10/09, 1:05 am to show Anvita does not store or manage EMRs.] Ahmed F. Ghouri was frustrated. Too often, the anesthesiologist had seen seemingly preventable prescribing errors that threatened the lives of patients. So nine years ago, with angel backing from doctors who shared his same frustrations, Ghouri co-founded Anvita Health, a San Diego … Continue reading “San Diego’s Anvita Health Seeks to Prevent Medical Errors”

GOGII Garners $8,200,000 Series B Financing Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=448dfec2-671d-461d-b783-160252e2f985&Preview=1 Date 12/10/2009 Company Name GOGII Mailing Address 13160 Mindanao Way Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Company Description GOGII is taking text messaging to the next level. Let us explain. We all know how to send a text. Easy. Been there. Love that. But sometimes you want to interact with more than … Continue reading “GOGII Garners $8,200,000 Series B Financing Round”

Pfenex Lands $24,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=86113017-895b-43bd-8be4-fb33b4b30c85&Preview=1 Date 12/10/2009 Company Name Pfenex Mailing Address 5501 Oberlin Drive San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Headquartered in San Diego, California, Pfenex Inc. is a leading biotechnology company focused on recombinant protein expression for a broad range of applications including therapeutic proteins, vaccines, research, reagents and biosimilars. The Company’s core technology, … Continue reading “Pfenex Lands $24,000,000 New Funding Round”

Aurora Biotechnologies Acquires Nexus Biosystems for Undisclosed Sum

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=82bd03b7-c3d0-4958-81b3-85aaf9c27b6c&Preview=1 Date 12/10/2009 Company Name Nexus Biosystems Mailing Address 12140 Community Road Poway, CA 92064 Company Description NEXUS Biosystems, a privately held company based in Poway, California, USA, has since 1996 been a developer and provider of enabling technologies and automation systems for pharmaceutical, biotech, agrochemical and academic research institutions worldwide. Current … Continue reading “Aurora Biotechnologies Acquires Nexus Biosystems for Undisclosed Sum”

Sequoia Investment in San Diego’s Service-Now.com Provides a Big Holiday Payout

It’s going to be a Merry Christmas this year for many employees at suburban San Diego-based Service-now.com, a privately held company that was founded in the aftermath of the corporate accounting scandal at San Diego’s Peregrine Systems. Perhaps merrier for some more than others. In a regulatory filing submitted yesterday, Service-now.com discloses that it has … Continue reading “Sequoia Investment in San Diego’s Service-Now.com Provides a Big Holiday Payout”

Transaction Wireless Raises $2M

Transaction Wireless, a San Diego startup founded in mid-2006 by Basil Abifaker, raised an additional $2 million in a Series B round of venture funding from San Diego-based Mission Ventures and Okapi Ventures of Laguna Beach, CA. Transaction Wireless, which has developed mobile payment processing technology, raised $2.25 million in September 2008, shortly before the … Continue reading “Transaction Wireless Raises $2M”

Pfēnex: A New Biotech in Town

Dow Chemical has officially spun out a new San Diego-based biotech, Pfēnex, which is using a bacteria that secretes a fluorescent pigment to develop a variety of protein-based drugs, vaccines, diagnostic reagents, and biosimilars. Signet Healthcare Partners is lead investor in the venture-backed company, which is headed by CEO Bertrand C. Liang and includes a … Continue reading “Pfēnex: A New Biotech in Town”

Change Comes to the Arctic: A Photographic Journey

The Copenhagen climate conference is in full swing, and if you wonder why it matters, we’ve got evidence of a changing world to share with you. On the following pages is a series of arresting photographs and captions contributed by Alun Anderson, an Xconomy board member and former editor-in-chief and publishing director at New Scientist. … Continue reading “Change Comes to the Arctic: A Photographic Journey”

Nobel Laureate from Caltech, RNAi Leader To Headline Xconomy San Diego Event on Monday

Which San Diego biotech companies have the potential to rewrite the history of medicine? Who are the brightest young scientific entrepreneurs at San Diego’s research centers? What does this place have going for it that other biotech hubs around the world don’t? Yes, you can say I’m a little excited. These are some of the … Continue reading “Nobel Laureate from Caltech, RNAi Leader To Headline Xconomy San Diego Event on Monday”

Biogen Idec’s Dream: Antibodies That Kill Two Birds With One Stone

Some of the most successful biotech drugs ever created are designed to hit just one specific target on diseased cells, while sparing all sorts of markers found on healthy cells. But if Biogen Idec scientist Tony Manning and his colleagues are right, antibodies that specifically hit two targets could someday be better than one. Cambridge, … Continue reading “Biogen Idec’s Dream: Antibodies That Kill Two Birds With One Stone”

Crinetics Pharma Gets SBIR Grant

Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, a San Diego startup focused on developing specialized biosensors for drug discovery applications, says it has been awarded a $237,895 Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Institutes of Health. A Crinetics spokesman says the company also has an application pending for $1 million in “fast-track” funding, but won’t learn the outcome … Continue reading “Crinetics Pharma Gets SBIR Grant”

Service-now.com Receives $41,000,000 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=d1abb056-3a4d-49d7-9e3f-0ff455e5827d&Preview=1 Date 12/9/2009 Company Name Service-now.com Mailing Address 120 S. Sierra Avenue Solana Beach, CA 92075 Company Description Service-now.com is championing a new approach to IT Service and Asset Management through modern application development, delivery and pricing. We offer the first and only On Demand, Web 2.0 solution (AJAX and SOAP enabled) … Continue reading “Service-now.com Receives $41,000,000 New Funding Round”

Transaction Wireless Obtains $2,000,000 Series B Funding

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=960bb932-1b12-4d11-b12f-f57bef8388a3&Preview=1 Date 12/9/2009 Company Name Transaction Wireless Mailing Address 9645 Scranton Road San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Transaction Wireless is dedicated to providing cutting-edge wireless payment solutions. As in many other sectors, the payment industry is increasingly turning to wireless technologies as a means of offering new advantages to financial organizations, … Continue reading “Transaction Wireless Obtains $2,000,000 Series B Funding”

Adamis to Merge with La Jolla Pharmaceutical

San Diego’s La Jolla Pharmaceutical, which was unable to muster a sufficient number of investors to approve its liquidation plan, has agreed to a merger with Adamis Pharmaceuticals, a Del Mar, CA, biotech with shares that trade over-the-counter. Under a reverse merger approved by both boards, La Jolla Pharmaceutical shareholders will get as much as … Continue reading “Adamis to Merge with La Jolla Pharmaceutical”

With Extra Dose of Cash, Zogenix Raises VC Round to $71M for Launch of Migraine Treatment

San Diego-based Zogenix got a $20 million vote of confidence for the anticipated launch next month of its needle-free, drug-and-device delivery system for migraine and cluster headaches. Zogenix, which announced in September that it had closed on a $51 million Series B round of venture funding, says it extended the round to accommodate an additional … Continue reading “With Extra Dose of Cash, Zogenix Raises VC Round to $71M for Launch of Migraine Treatment”

San Diego’s ParAccel, Which Sprang From Netezza, Prepares for Next Database War

I discerned a couple of recurring themes when I sat down with ParAccel CEO David Ehrlich to discuss the venture-backed startup that specializes in database management systems technology. One is that ParAccel’s industry seems prone to what Ehrlich calls “database wars,” which might be best exemplified by the intense competition that broke out in the … Continue reading “San Diego’s ParAccel, Which Sprang From Netezza, Prepares for Next Database War”

Evofem Lands $25,000,000 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=0d594d26-782a-4cff-b28e-383069a0627a&Preview=1 Date 12/8/2009 Company Name Evofem Mailing Address 4275 Executive Square La Jolla, CA 92037-1477 Company Description Evofem, Inc., formerly named Instead Inc., is dedicated to providing women with greater freedom, comfort and control of their reproductive and sexual health. We are dedicated and passionate about the struggles and issues of all … Continue reading “Evofem Lands $25,000,000 New Financing”

Tools Company Nexus Biosystems Acquires Aurora Biotechnologies

Nexus Biosystems, a life sciences tools company located 20 miles north of San Diego in Poway, says it’s acquiring another tools company in the area, Aurora Biotechnologies. The price wasn’t disclosed. Both privately held companies develop technologies for the storage and management of biological samples used to study genetic traits and human disease, among other … Continue reading “Tools Company Nexus Biosystems Acquires Aurora Biotechnologies”

Mochila Raises Half of $2M Target

Mochila, an online startup that aggregates syndicated media content and provides Web-based services to media companies, has raised about $1 million of a targeted $2 million investment round, according to a recent filing with government regulators. The Carlsbad, CA-based Internet venture has raised about $30 million since it was founded in 2001. Mochila says its … Continue reading “Mochila Raises Half of $2M Target”

Fallbrook CEO Says Latest Funding Reflects Near-Term Cleantech Prospects

Fallbrook Technologies CEO Bill Klehm was in South Korea two weeks ago, when the San Diego cleantech startup disclosed in a regulatory filing that it had raised an additional $4 million from investors. I wanted to get more information about the deal, since it has only been a year since the developer of a new … Continue reading “Fallbrook CEO Says Latest Funding Reflects Near-Term Cleantech Prospects”

Somaxon Shares Tumble as Insomnia Drug Rejected by FDA

San Diego’s Somaxon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SOMX]]) took one on the chin this morning. The company said the FDA, for the second time this year, has rejected its application to market a new insomnia medicine. Shares of the company lost about two-thirds of their value on the news. The second letter from the FDA says that … Continue reading “Somaxon Shares Tumble as Insomnia Drug Rejected by FDA”

Sapphire Energy Gets $104.5M to Build Biofuels Refinery, Larry Smarr Says Sensors Vital to Energy Conservation, MP3.com’s Founder Says Online Strategy Has Changed, & More San Diego BizTech News

Cyber Monday’s online shopping trends provided much of the electronic grist for our Xconomy news mill last week. Get your news here while it’s hot. —The Department of Energy awarded San Diego’s Sapphire Energy a $50 million grant and the Department of Agriculture provided the company with $54.5 million in federal loan guarantees for construction … Continue reading “Sapphire Energy Gets $104.5M to Build Biofuels Refinery, Larry Smarr Says Sensors Vital to Energy Conservation, MP3.com’s Founder Says Online Strategy Has Changed, & More San Diego BizTech News”