Category: Seattle

Dendreon Rakes in $540M to Seize Opportunity for Provenge in U.S., Europe

Seattle-based Dendreon (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said today it has pulled in $540 million in new capital, through a debt offering that can be converted into stock. Dendreon, the maker of an immune-boosting therapy for prostate cancer, will have to pay back the debt, plus about 2.9 percent interest, by January 2016, although the debt can be … Continue reading “Dendreon Rakes in $540M to Seize Opportunity for Provenge in U.S., Europe”

One Big Cancer Story from 2010, and Four Trends to Watch in 2011

Top innovative news from 2010: • Amgen’s 147 trial was the first study to ever show a delay in the onset of bone metastases in men with prostate cancer, for the denosumab (Xgeva) investigational clinical program. This result showed that you can prevent or delay skeletal metastases by making the bone microenvironment an inhospitable place … Continue reading “One Big Cancer Story from 2010, and Four Trends to Watch in 2011”

The Instapaper Effect-Or, The Dilemma of Long-Form Writing on the Web

goat-choker (n.) An article of inordinate and suffocating length, produced to gratify the vanity of the author and the aspirations of the publication. (John McIntyre) I regularly write articles that, by Web standards, are obscenely long. My November article on ShopWell was 6,500 words long, and my series last week on Google’s mobile ambitions ran … Continue reading “The Instapaper Effect-Or, The Dilemma of Long-Form Writing on the Web”

TripIt’s Short Trip to a $120M Exit: A Travelogue from CEO Gregg Brockway

San Francisco-based TripIt has some very happy investors right now. As I wrote yesterday, Redmond, WA-based travel management software company Concur (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CNQR]]) has agreed to buy TripIt for $82 million in cash and stock plus up to $38 million in contingent payments between now and 2013; the startup had raised less than $13 million … Continue reading “TripIt’s Short Trip to a $120M Exit: A Travelogue from CEO Gregg Brockway”

Dendreon Seeks $500M Debt Deal

Dendreon, the Seattle-based maker of an immune-boosting therapy for prostate cancer, said today it plans to raise $500 million in a convertible debt financing. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said it  plans to use the money to seek approval of sipuleucel-T (Provenge) in Europe, build a factory in Europe, continue investing in its U.S. manufacturing plants, … Continue reading “Dendreon Seeks $500M Debt Deal”

Travel Startup TripIt Acquired by Seattle’s Concur for As Much As $120 Million; Handsome Exit for Azure Capital

Redmond, WA-based Concur (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CNQR]]), a specialist in software that helps big companies control travel expenses, revealed today that it’s acquiring TripIt, a four-year-old San Francisco startup providing a virtual travel-assistant service for business travelers. TripIt’s free service allows travelers to create master itineraries that they can access from the Web or their mobile phones … Continue reading “Travel Startup TripIt Acquired by Seattle’s Concur for As Much As $120 Million; Handsome Exit for Azure Capital”

Corensic, Concur, and Teradici: A Mini Tech Deals Roundup

Lots going on in the Northwest tech scene today (though not as much snow as in New England, let me tell you). Let’s get right to it: —Concur (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CNCR]]), the Redmond, WA-based travel and expense management software company, said today it has agreed to buy TripIt, a mobile travel firm based in San Francisco, … Continue reading “Corensic, Concur, and Teradici: A Mini Tech Deals Roundup”

Dendreon’s European Plan, Williams Heads East, Allozyne Passes Clinical Trial, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

Biotech leaders from around the country gathered this week at San Francisco’s Union Square, and it sure seemed like folks had a little more spring in their step than they did a year ago at this same get-together. We’ll just have to see whether the hope translates into good actions in the year ahead. —Seattle-based … Continue reading “Dendreon’s European Plan, Williams Heads East, Allozyne Passes Clinical Trial, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

December Surge of Internet Deals Carries Venture Capital to Two-Year High

A wave of Internet deals helped venture funding during the fourth quarter of 2010 reach a two-year high-water mark in both the number of deals and capital invested, according to CB Insights, a New York information and data services company tracking the innovation economy. Venture capital firms poured a total of more than $6.5 billion … Continue reading “December Surge of Internet Deals Carries Venture Capital to Two-Year High”

Root Wireless Secures $893,063 New Financing

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=af42fa4f-55c2-4377-976a-d0aeaf100281&Preview=1 Date 1/13/2011 Company Name Root Wireless Mailing Address 11000 NE 33rd Place Bellevue, WA 98004 Company Description Root Wireless provides a full spectrum of Root Coverage solutions for the wireless ecosystem to give customers the power to choose. No matter if, you are a publisher that needs industry-changing content, or a … Continue reading “Root Wireless Secures $893,063 New Financing”

State Awards Global Health Grants

Washington state has awarded its two grants to support global health technologies. SIGN, a nonprofit in Richland, WA, and Israel-based CircMedTech each received grants worth $150,000 from the state’s new Global Health Technologies Competitiveness Fund. SIGN, which was profiled by Xconomy in September 2008, has developed technology to help doctors in developing countries properly fix … Continue reading “State Awards Global Health Grants”

615 Human Genomes? Another Cheap, Fast Sequencing Machine? Complete Genomics, Illumina Steal Show at Healthcare Meeting

Most of the major life sciences reporters in the U.S. are gathered this week in San Francisco, so you know what that means—most of us missed the big story. While pretty much everyone here at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference—me included—was listening and learning about the latest hot new drug or device, the real news … Continue reading “615 Human Genomes? Another Cheap, Fast Sequencing Machine? Complete Genomics, Illumina Steal Show at Healthcare Meeting”

Top Things to Look for in Wireless in 2011

1) 4G. 4G services will become available on a near nationwide basis in 2011. At its best (and what is called “4G” gets murkier every day), 4G offers a true mobile broadband experience. In order to be successful, 4G operators must have a comprehensive go-to-market strategy, with compelling devices, exciting and differentiated applications, and innovative … Continue reading “Top Things to Look for in Wireless in 2011”

M9 Defense Receives $1,362,685 New Funding Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=61757690-16c1-4937-953a-99517e5ae66b&Preview=1 Date 1/12/2011 Company Name M9 Defense Mailing Address 13110 NE. 177th Pl. Woodinville, WA 98072 Company Description In addition to M9’s innovative Boroclave (Advanced Hydroforming) and press technologies, M9 is an industry leader in advance composite processing and material science. Website http://www.m9defense.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,362,685 Transaction Round … Continue reading “M9 Defense Receives $1,362,685 New Funding Round”

Start Spreading the (Innovation) News With Xconomy in New York

I’ve got Frank Sinatra on endless mental replay today and I’ll tell you why: I’m looking for a stellar journalist to start spreading the news about innovation in New York, New York. (Look, nobody’s groaning louder than me about that one.  Let’s move on…) My Xconomy colleagues and I are fascinated by the stories emerging … Continue reading “Start Spreading the (Innovation) News With Xconomy in New York”

U.S. Wages Reset to Early 2008 Levels: Boston and Seattle Fit National Trend; Detroit, San Diego, San Francisco Fare Worse

The average salary for U.S. company workers rose throughout 2007 and 2008, fell during 2009, and held fairly steady in 2010. By the fourth quarter of last year, average earnings had leveled off to approximately what they were at the start of 2008. But there were some variations between different parts of the country. That’s … Continue reading “U.S. Wages Reset to Early 2008 Levels: Boston and Seattle Fit National Trend; Detroit, San Diego, San Francisco Fare Worse”

Trend Spotting: The Top 9 Rise & Falls We See in the Year Ahead

[Editor’s Note: This post was co-authored with Josh Wolfe of Lux Capital] 1. The Rise of Celebrity Science Nations, cultures, economies all get what they celebrate. Celebrate celebrities and we’ll have another generation of over-consumptive, over-indebted, overweight, underemployed citizenry. But celebrate scientists: thinkers, doers, achievers, explorers, inventors, creators and we stand a shot at restoring … Continue reading “Trend Spotting: The Top 9 Rise & Falls We See in the Year Ahead”

PHP Fog Raises $1.8M

Portland, OR-based PHP Fog said today it has raised $1.8 million from Madrona Venture Group, First Round Capital, Founder’s Co-op, and other prominent angel investors. The company, founded by developer Lucas Carlson, was established a year ago to make it easier to deploy and scale up applications of PHP, the popular programming language, via cloud … Continue reading “PHP Fog Raises $1.8M”

PHP Fog Lands $1,800,000 Series A Round

Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=28f95894-5c98-4f56-9429-86523024a6ca&Preview=1 Date 1/11/2011 Company Name PHP Fog Mailing Address 2732 SE. 18th Ave. Portland, OR 97202 Company Description The company makes it easier to deploy and scale applications of PHP via cloud computing infrastructure. Website http://www.phpfog.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $1,800,000 Transaction Round Series A Proceeds Purposes The company is … Continue reading “PHP Fog Lands $1,800,000 Series A Round”

Surprises of 2010 and What to Look for in 2011

Biggest Surprises: How risk adverse most VC’s are. I was expecting “bigger thinking” and more insight into energy and energy efficiency issues. How little debate there is in the media regarding global warming and the cause/effects: many automatically believe that the earth is getting warmer and humans are the cause, even though measured data strongly … Continue reading “Surprises of 2010 and What to Look for in 2011”

Allozyne Passes First Clinical Trial, Dreams Big About a Once-Monthly Multiple Sclerosis Drug

Allozyne can’t be accused of thinking too small. The Seattle-based startup, after taking a hard look at its first clinical trial, is daring to push ahead with a frontal attack on the world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs, Weston, MA-based Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]). The challenger’s experimental treatment, a long-lasting injection for multiple sclerosis, … Continue reading “Allozyne Passes First Clinical Trial, Dreams Big About a Once-Monthly Multiple Sclerosis Drug”

Top 4 Cleantech Headlines to Watch for in 2011

1. Cap and Trade Discarded by Congress in National Energy Policy Cascadia believes that Congress will implement a national energy policy in the coming year that focuses primarily on incenting new production of natural gas, renewable energies and nuclear; however, it will not include economic penalties for not achieving a reduction in carbon emissions. 2. … Continue reading “Top 4 Cleantech Headlines to Watch for in 2011”

See You at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference

Techies gathered last week for the annual show-and-tell/schmoozefest known as the Consumer Electronics Show. Now it’s the biotechies turn to have their big conference of the year. The madhouse known as the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference officially starts today, for the 29th year, at San Francisco’s Union Square. I’m here as always, looking forward to … Continue reading “See You at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference”

Emerald Expands UCB Alliance

Emerald BioStructures, a biotech research firm on Bainbridge Island, WA, said today it has achieved the second milestone in a collaboration with Belgium-based UCB. The milestone, in which Emerald and UCB were able to identify new drug candidates to interact with some undisclosed protein structures, prompted the two sides to expand their collaboration, Emerald said. … Continue reading “Emerald Expands UCB Alliance”

Dendreon Plans to Go It Alone in Europe, Build Provenge Factory in Germany

Dendreon took a big leap ahead last year when its new immune-boosting therapy for prostate cancer hit the U.S. market. Now in 2011, it is mapping out plans to take this new mode of treatment into the European Union for the first time. The Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:DNDN]]) said today that it plans to … Continue reading “Dendreon Plans to Go It Alone in Europe, Build Provenge Factory in Germany”

Here Are Six Features Apple Should Include in the iPad 2 (And They’re Not the Ones You Think)

Unlike most of my tech-journalism brethren, I’m not at the circus in Las Vegas this week. Neither is Apple—the hardware giant has traditionally skipped the International Consumer Electronics Show, rightly figuring that it can generate all the hype it needs just by inviting a few hundred people to the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco … Continue reading “Here Are Six Features Apple Should Include in the iPad 2 (And They’re Not the Ones You Think)”

Some Prognostications on Biotechnology in 2011

After consulting with the Oracle at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, here are a few of the trends I was told to watch for in 2011… Two revolutionizing pharmaceutical frontiers are on the horizon—RNA therapeutics and stem cell therapies: —RNA therapeutics will become a big reality in 2011. Mipomersen, a LDL lowering drug from … Continue reading “Some Prognostications on Biotechnology in 2011”

The Next Generation Silicon for Computing: OpSIS Kickoff Featuring Intel CTO Justin Rattner

The University of Washington’s new Institute for Photonic Integration is organizing a big event on Feb. 1 about OpSIS, which it describes as a system for developing “cutting-edge silicon photonic systems by allowing the community to share the cost of fabricating complex chip-scale systems across many projects.” Featured speakers include Justin Rattner, the chief technology … Continue reading “The Next Generation Silicon for Computing: OpSIS Kickoff Featuring Intel CTO Justin Rattner”

SAP Cuts Deal With Intellectual Ventures

Intellectual Ventures, the Bellevue, WA-based invention and patent licensing firm, said today it has reached an agreement in which it has granted SAP a long-term license to the IV patent portfolio for “defensive use.” Germany-based SAP (NYSE: [[ticker:SAP]]) is one of the world’s largest software companies, specializing in business applications. The deal essentially provides SAP … Continue reading “SAP Cuts Deal With Intellectual Ventures”

Allon Starts Trial for Brain Disease

Allon Therapeutics, a Vancouver, BC-based developer of drugs for neurological disorders, said today it has started enrolling patients in a pivotal clinical trial of its lead drug candidate. The trial will look at whether Allon’s davunetide offers any benefit for patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare and deadly brain disease. Allon has also … Continue reading “Allon Starts Trial for Brain Disease”

Less Changey, But Still Hopey About 2011

Last year at year end, I wrote about technology trends. Those trends, like the merger of the cloud and mobile devices, personalized medicine, reprogramming of human cells to cure disease, and the re-emergence of nanotechnology, still hold. Startups are breaking down impossible barriers in computing, biology, energy, and materials science. The USA is leading and … Continue reading “Less Changey, But Still Hopey About 2011”

Seattle Genetics Gets $8M From Pfizer

Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) said today it has licensed its technology for making “empowered antibodies” to Pfizer, the world’s largest drugmaker. Seattle Genetics will receive an $8 million upfront payment, could get more than $200 million in milestone payments, and stands to collect royalties if Pfizer can develop a product. In exchange for the cash, … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Gets $8M From Pfizer”

Biogen Idec’s New R&D Boss, Doug Williams, Spurns Corner Office for a Return to Big Science

Doug Williams spent more than 20 years working his way up from bench scientist to CEO, and long after reaching the top, a realization hit. What he wanted most was to go back to his true passion—getting his hands dirty in a big and strong R&D organization with potential to create new drugs. “Having done … Continue reading “Biogen Idec’s New R&D Boss, Doug Williams, Spurns Corner Office for a Return to Big Science”

The Immunex Alumni, Hood Wins Russ Prize, Williams Grabs Biogen Gig, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News

‘Twas the week before JP Morgan and all through the house…OK you get the idea. Not much biotech news was stirring this week as everybody is prepping for the big industry confab next week in San Francisco. I’ll be reporting there as always. —We rang in the New Year on the biotech desk with a … Continue reading “The Immunex Alumni, Hood Wins Russ Prize, Williams Grabs Biogen Gig, & More Seattle-Area Life Sciences News”

Ann Arbor’s Mobiata, After Expedia Takeover, Seeks to Put Travel Info on Your Handheld

Ann Arbor-based Mobiata got a good second birthday present, even if it was a day late. The mobile app developer was acquired by Internet travel empire Expedia.com in November, in a deal that was referred to as Expedia’s “most significant investment to date in addressing the mobile travel market.” The acquisition came one day after … Continue reading “Ann Arbor’s Mobiata, After Expedia Takeover, Seeks to Put Travel Info on Your Handheld”

My Three Predictions for 2011

In 2011, the U.S. economy will come roaring back as our businesses and their customers gain confidence that the electorate has come to its senses and chosen not to grow governments but economies instead. In 2011, the last jihadist jerk will accidently blow himself up, at home without harming anyone else. In 2011, the progress … Continue reading “My Three Predictions for 2011”

Biogen Idec Nabs Doug Williams as R&D Head, Steve Holtzman as BD Chief To Fill Out Management Team

Biogen Idec, after a long search, has found a new scientist to spearhead its R&D group—Doug Williams, the former CEO of Seattle-based ZymoGenetics. The Weston, MA-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]), the world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs, also added another heavy hitter from the Boston biotech scene to its management team—Steve Holtzman, the former … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Nabs Doug Williams as R&D Head, Steve Holtzman as BD Chief To Fill Out Management Team”

Omeros Gets Drugs for Bleeding

Omeros (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OMER]]), the Seattle-based biotech company, said today it has obtained an exclusive license from the University of California to a series of new drug candidates for controlling traumatic bleeding and surgical bleeding. The compounds, which are known as antifibrinolytic agents, are supposed to be safer than Bayer’s aprotinin (Trasylol), which was withdrawn from … Continue reading “Omeros Gets Drugs for Bleeding”

Elemental Teams Up With Intel, Looks to Improve Video Delivery to Devices

Interesting news from the video world today. Portland, OR-based Elemental Technologies says it has been working with Intel (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INTC]]) for the past year to make its video-processing software run on the chip giant’s new “Sandy Bridge” microprocessors, which blend traditional processing with graphics capabilities. The two companies are demoing the technology at the Consumer … Continue reading “Elemental Teams Up With Intel, Looks to Improve Video Delivery to Devices”

Oren Etzioni, Leading UW Computer Scientist and Entrepreneur, Comments on “Cyber Stalking” Suit

Oren Etzioni, the Internet search expert at the University of Washington and founder of Farecast, has been sued by a Seattle attorney who accuses him of cyber stalking in connection with a divorce case, according to a report by The Seattle Times. Etzioni sent a series of anonymous e-mails to attorney Mabry DeBuys, who represented … Continue reading “Oren Etzioni, Leading UW Computer Scientist and Entrepreneur, Comments on “Cyber Stalking” Suit”

Five Technology Trends to Watch in 2011

“Real” 4G Mobile broadband. Verizon recently launched its 4G LTE network (via laptop modem cards). The Verizon network speed dwarfs the “4G” networks being advertised by Sprint and T-Mobile. Verizon’s 4G will be users’ first taste of true mobile broadband and will further drive mobile data usage and the percentage of time users spend on … Continue reading “Five Technology Trends to Watch in 2011”

AVI Partners With Karolinska

AVI Biopharma (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AVII]]), the Bothell, WA-based developer of RNA-targeted therapies, said today it has formed a collaboration with leading scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden to find new treatments for extensively drug resistant forms of tuberculosis known as XDR-TB. Funding and research support is provided by both parties, and intellectual property resulting from … Continue reading “AVI Partners With Karolinska”

Five Things To Look For In The Coming Year In Healthcare/Life Sciences

1. Data‐Driven Healthcare. In 2011 and into this next decade, the rate of data generation from biological measurement will continue to accelerate. Making sense of this deluge of data from sources as disparate as electronic medical records, biometric sensors, population statistics, environmental factors, and genomics will be the interesting part! Nimble start‐ups that can aggregate … Continue reading “Five Things To Look For In The Coming Year In Healthcare/Life Sciences”

Genentech Licenses AMRI Compounds

AMRI (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMRI]]), the Albany, NY-based pharmaceutical service provider, said today that biotech giant Genentech has taken a license to a number of drug candidates AMRI has derived from natural product sources. Genentech, the South San Francisco-based unit of Roche, will get exclusive rights to develop multiple antibacterial product candidates, which an AMRI spokeswoman says … Continue reading “Genentech Licenses AMRI Compounds”