Category: Seattle

Drug Price Watchdog ICER Deems Amgen Migraine Drug “Cost-Effective”

As Amgen approached an FDA decision last month for its migraine-prevention treatment, concern mounted that the drug would come at premium. In setting a price thousands of dollars less than expected, Amgen has won over one of the pharmaceutical industry’s fiercest drug price critics. The non-profit Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) assessed the … Continue reading “Drug Price Watchdog ICER Deems Amgen Migraine Drug “Cost-Effective””

Biotech Roundup: ASCO Ahead, CAMP4’s Cash, Ambien Tweeting & More

For the next five days, the oncology community’s attention will focus on Chicago. The Windy City is the home for the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting, and it kicks off today. Many ASCO attendees will zero in on potential cancer drug combinations. They’re seen as the key to expanding the reach of caner … Continue reading “Biotech Roundup: ASCO Ahead, CAMP4’s Cash, Ambien Tweeting & More”

Drugs OK’d To Hit Tumor Genes Still a Basket of One. Are More Coming?

[Corrected 6/4/18, 1:53 a.m. ET. See below.] One year ago, the FDA made biomedical history. A cancer drug, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), was approved to treat tumors with a specific genetic fingerprint regardless of their location in the body. It was the first tissue-agnostic approval of a cancer drug, and it was a big shift for the … Continue reading “Drugs OK’d To Hit Tumor Genes Still a Basket of One. Are More Coming?”

IDO Don’ts: After Immunotherapy Failure, Experts Say Slow Down

One year ago, on the eve of the yearly American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, a new class of drugs called IDO inhibitors seemed poised to become the next big thing in cancer care. They were a top choice to combine with the powerful but limited immunotherapies that have emerged this decade to fight many … Continue reading “IDO Don’ts: After Immunotherapy Failure, Experts Say Slow Down”

Smart-Kitchen Startups Give Cooks Digital Help Via Internet of Things

When it comes to connected homes, the hottest spot is located in your kitchen. The Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and related technologies are being used to connect ovens, refrigerators, and other kitchen appliances to the Web. Feeling unsure about cooking that fish dish? Smart ovens can more accurately calibrate temperatures to avoid over-cooking. There’s … Continue reading “Smart-Kitchen Startups Give Cooks Digital Help Via Internet of Things”

Bio Roundup: Brii Does China, Hemophilia Updates, Right to Try & More

Sometimes disruption comes in waves. Since the 1990s, hemophilia patients have had to inject themselves with drugs a few times a week to prevent dangerous internal bleeding. That could soon change. One drug already approved, from Roche, may only need to be taken once a month by hemophilia A patients. Another experimental therapy from Alnylam … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Brii Does China, Hemophilia Updates, Right to Try & More”

Request Your Invite for Our Napa Summit, June 14-15

In two and a half weeks, Xconomy will host our seventh annual Napa Summit: The Xconomy Retreat on Technology, Jobs, and Growth. In the heart of California’s wine country, it is our most exclusive, intimate, and unique conference. There are only a few tickets left—so request your invitation today to join fellow exemplary executives, innovators, … Continue reading “Request Your Invite for Our Napa Summit, June 14-15”

Madrona Raises $300M Fund to Back Tech Startups in Seattle and Beyond

Madrona Venture Group, one of the most active venture capital firms based in the Seattle area, said Tuesday that it has raised a new, $300 million fund to support early stage technology businesses in the region and beyond. Madrona had previously raised two separate $300 million investment funds (in 2012 and 2015) as well as … Continue reading “Madrona Raises $300M Fund to Back Tech Startups in Seattle and Beyond”

What’s Hot in Seattle Biotech: Here’s the Agenda for the June 12 Event

Seattle’s innovation economy has dual identities: the technology sector that develops the hardware and software that comprise our increasingly digital lives, and the biotechnology sector that is searching for new ways to treat disease. The convergence of those fields makes the Puget Sound region a hotbed of activity. We will take a look at some … Continue reading “What’s Hot in Seattle Biotech: Here’s the Agenda for the June 12 Event”

Microsoft Snaps Up Semantic Machines to Push Conversational A.I.

[Updated 5/21/18, 3:16 pm. See below.] Microsoft said it has acquired “conversational A.I.” startup Semantic Machines, as it tries to bolster its artificial intelligence capabilities in its longstanding competition with Google, Apple, Amazon, Baidu, and other tech leaders. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed in a Microsoft blog post announcing the deal on Sunday. Semantic Machines … Continue reading “Microsoft Snaps Up Semantic Machines to Push Conversational A.I.”

Fixing the Clinical Trial Bottleneck by Making Patients a Priority

The world of medicine and drug development has transformed dramatically over the past 50 years. Today, we have biologic medicines, genomic sequencing technologies, and digital health tools that help patients become more engaged in their care. But one part of the equation hasn’t seen very much change at all: clinical trials. Clinical trials are a … Continue reading “Fixing the Clinical Trial Bottleneck by Making Patients a Priority”

Merck’s Roger Dansey Joins Seattle Genetics as Chief Medical Officer

Roger Dansey has been appointed chief medical officer of Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]). Dansey comes to Bothell, WA-based SeaGen from Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]), where he was a senior vice president in oncology. Dansey succeeds Jonathan Drachman, who will continue working with SeaGen as a strategic advisor. SeaGen develops and sells cancer therapies based on its … Continue reading “Merck’s Roger Dansey Joins Seattle Genetics as Chief Medical Officer”

6 Simple Steps to Avoid Becoming a Cybercrime Statistic in 2018

We can all agree that 2017 was a brutal year for cybersecurity. Verizon’s Data Breach Investigation Report identified passwords as the root cause of more than 81 percent of breaches in 2016 – an 18 percent increase from the previous year. And, it’s a safe guess that this year, the percentage will grow. At last … Continue reading “6 Simple Steps to Avoid Becoming a Cybercrime Statistic in 2018”

Bio Roundup: ASCO Abstracts, Migraine Drug Prices & “Blueprint” Fallout

There’s nothing abstract about a 20 percent jump in a company’s stock price. But yeah, that happened to Loxo Oncology when it released data previews for its American Society for Clinical Oncology presentations; the meeting starts in two weeks in Chicago. Wednesday was ASCO abstract day, and we’ll round up the headliners below, all with … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: ASCO Abstracts, Migraine Drug Prices & “Blueprint” Fallout”

Amgen Migraine Drug Gets FDA Nod, First in New Class of Medicines

[Updated 5/18/18, 8:38 a.m. See below.] An Amgen migraine drug developed to head off pain before it starts has won FDA approval, the first for a new class of preventive drug candidates for the condition. The Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]) drug, erenumab (Aimovig), is a subcutaneous injection given once a month. The drug blocks the receptor … Continue reading “Amgen Migraine Drug Gets FDA Nod, First in New Class of Medicines”

Arevo Adds $12.5M to Expand 3D Printing into Manufacturing

[Updated 5/17/18, 9:45 am. See below.] Silicon Valley company Arevo, which competes with a growing number of rivals to transform 3D printing into a tool for mass manufacturing, announced today it raised $12.5 million in a Series B financing round. Arevo’s technology mix—which combines automated printing equipment with Web-based software and customized raw materials—exemplifies the … Continue reading “Arevo Adds $12.5M to Expand 3D Printing into Manufacturing”

Amgen Migraine Decision Looms, Maybe the Next Drug Price Fight, Too

For some migraine sufferers, bright lights or loud sounds are enough to touch off an attack. For others, stress sparks the onset of pain. Bright lights, loud sounds, stress: Migraine triggers vary from one patient to another. But a common element is the abundance of a pain-inducing protein in the blood. During a migraine attack, … Continue reading “Amgen Migraine Decision Looms, Maybe the Next Drug Price Fight, Too”

Verdine Picks Backers For FogPharma’s $66M Round, Keeping Firm Control

At first blush, the $66 million Series B round that startup FogPharma is announcing this morning seems standard fare, particularly this year, when private biotechs have raised gobs of cash hand over fist. But a closer look shows careful steps by an academic-turned-executive, Greg Verdine, to develop the type of company he wants. He’s amassed … Continue reading “Verdine Picks Backers For FogPharma’s $66M Round, Keeping Firm Control”

Seattle Tech IPO Watch: Avalara, nLight, Smartsheet & More

In recent weeks, a business developing industrial laser technology and another that sells software to help corporate teams collaborate are among the Pacific Northwest companies that have held an initial public offering, or filed paperwork to do so. Let’s get caught up: —Bellevue, WA-based Smartsheet (NYSE: [[ticker:SMAR]]), which develops collaborative software allowing users to track … Continue reading “Seattle Tech IPO Watch: Avalara, nLight, Smartsheet & More”

Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Nohla, Auth0, Glowforge & More

A maker of a 3D laser printer and an A.I. algorithm startup are among the Seattle-area companies that have in recent weeks raised a notable funding round. Let’s catch up on some of the Emerald City deals action. —Glowforge, a Seattle-based startup that sells 3D laser printers for designers, artists, and other tinkerers, received a … Continue reading “Seattle Venture Capital Watch: Nohla, Auth0, Glowforge & More”

The Revolution in Inflammation Drug Development

Chronic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are painful and often lifelong conditions. I know this both as a scientist and a father, as my son, Jeremy, was diagnosed 12 years ago with Crohn’s disease, one type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). According to the National Institutes of Health, there are more than 80 autoimmune diseases affecting … Continue reading “The Revolution in Inflammation Drug Development”

Vesper Mics Up With $23M From Amazon, American Family, Baidu, Bose

Vesper Technologies, a high-tech microphone startup trying to ride the wave of voice-controlled devices, has summoned a $23 million investment from a group of well-known tech companies, venture capitalists, and an insurance firm. The Series B funding round was led by American Family Ventures, the venture arm of Madison, WI-based American Family Insurance. Other investors … Continue reading “Vesper Mics Up With $23M From Amazon, American Family, Baidu, Bose”

Arch’s Bob Nelsen on Big Biotech and Why Pharma Should Be Very Afraid

Arch Venture Partners co-founder and managing director Bob Nelsen is widely regarded as one of the most astute and successful life science investors and company builders in the game. The list of his portfolio company wins (if you think of raising money, going public, or being acquired as a win, which he doesn’t necessarily, read … Continue reading “Arch’s Bob Nelsen on Big Biotech and Why Pharma Should Be Very Afraid”

Trump Pledges Lower Drug Prices, But Blueprint Is Short on Details

[Editor’s note: Corie Lok co-authored this report.] In a much anticipated speech at the White House this afternoon, President Trump unveiled a long-awaited plan meant to cut the cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. The administration’s “American Patients First” plan, released via a speech and an accompanying 38-page “blueprint” document, laid out some relatively … Continue reading “Trump Pledges Lower Drug Prices, But Blueprint Is Short on Details”

“Unseen Is Unsold:” VR & Analytics Study What and Why Shoppers Buy

Humans are great about saying a lot of things. We’re not that good about actually following through. See: New Year’s diet resolutions or election polls. That tendency affects retailers as well. Big stores and brands spend millions in market research to figure out what shoppers want and then model production and creative teams to create those … Continue reading ““Unseen Is Unsold:” VR & Analytics Study What and Why Shoppers Buy”

Bio Roundup: Moderna’s Billions, Cytokine Bets, Shire Acquired & More

Cytokine therapies for cancer aren’t new but they are attracting renewed interest. Some pharmaceutical companies see drug combinations using cytokines as a way to broaden the reach of immunotherapy, which still doesn’t work for the majority of cancer patients. This week, Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]) showed how much it believes in cytokines. The Indianapolis drug maker … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Moderna’s Billions, Cytokine Bets, Shire Acquired & More”

Fuze Bags $150M as Business Communications Competition Heats Up

Another year, another $100 million-plus funding round for Fuze, the cloud-based business communications software company. Boston-based Fuze said Wednesday evening that it recently raised a $150 million equity funding round led by Summit Partners, which was joined in the investment by other previous Fuze backers, including Bessemer Venture Partners. Fuze pulled in a $134 million … Continue reading “Fuze Bags $150M as Business Communications Competition Heats Up”

ThoughtSpot Nabs $145M To Democratize A.I.-Driven Data Analysis

ThoughtSpot, which enables its clients’ ordinary staffers to conduct advanced data analysis to inform their business decisions, announced today that it has raised $145 million in a Series D funding round. The big funding infusion will help ThoughtSpot expand its global customer base, and it’s also good news for the company’s R&D and commercialization centers … Continue reading “ThoughtSpot Nabs $145M To Democratize A.I.-Driven Data Analysis”

Will New Study Cut Guesswork for Depression Medicine Prescriptions?

[Updated 5/7/18, 5pm ET. See below.] Genetic testing that helps guide more precise cancer treatment is making its way into standard practice in major U.S. medical centers. Could the same eventually be true for depression? One test maker thinks it has finally gathered enough evidence to convince psychiatrists to order its product and make more … Continue reading “Will New Study Cut Guesswork for Depression Medicine Prescriptions?”

Venture Firms to New York Wedding Startup Zola: ‘I Do’ to $100M

Most wedding registries are focused on the lead-up to the day of the ceremony. New York startup Zola also sees opportunity in connecting with—and making a sales pitch to—married couples years after they’ve tied the knot. Zola is an “e-commerce business disguised as a wedding company,” said Shan-lyn Ma, the startup’s founder and CEO, in … Continue reading “Venture Firms to New York Wedding Startup Zola: ‘I Do’ to $100M”

Bio Roundup: IDO Fallout, Express Scripts Dumps Amgen, Isaly Out & More

Here’s a case study of how fast things can change in biopharma. For a few years, a type of cancer drug called an IDO inhibitor was all the rage, a promising path to expanding the reach of immunotherapy. Major drug makers were dealing, too. Through acquisitions and alliances, they rolled out a spate of large-scale … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: IDO Fallout, Express Scripts Dumps Amgen, Isaly Out & More”

Carbon Black Raising $152M as Tech IPOs Stage Comeback

Into the breach goes Carbon Black. The Waltham, MA-based cybersecurity company said Thursday night that it is raising $152 million in an initial public stock offering by selling 8 million shares of its common stock at $19 per share. That gives Carbon Black an implied valuation of more than $1.2 billion. Carbon Black said its … Continue reading “Carbon Black Raising $152M as Tech IPOs Stage Comeback”

Cord-Cutting for Kids: Video App Kanopy Adds Free Children’s Shows

If you’ve already liberated yourself from a cable subscription in favor of streaming video services over the Internet, you’re parcelling out your dollars to get the content you want most from services such as Netflix, Hulu, and N.B.A. League Pass. A lesser-known option, Kanopy, offers an unusual streaming subscription deal: Pay nothing, because your university … Continue reading “Cord-Cutting for Kids: Video App Kanopy Adds Free Children’s Shows”

California’s Top Court Sets Tougher New Rules on Hiring “Gig Workers”

California employers who classify their workers as independent contractors will be consulting their lawyers today, says A. Mark Pope, an attorney who helped persuade the state’s highest court to establish sweeping new restrictions on hiring so-called “gig workers.” The California Supreme Court on Monday set new standards that will make it harder for companies in … Continue reading “California’s Top Court Sets Tougher New Rules on Hiring “Gig Workers””

Three Lessons Punk Rock Teaches Us About Being a Business Leader

Inspiration comes in many forms, and as an entrepreneur, I found mine early on in an unusual place: punk rock. There are strong parallels between the business of punk rock and startups. When you’re starting a new business venture, you wear many hats—leader, innovator, developer, marketer, HR rep—with very little budget or certainty. You might … Continue reading “Three Lessons Punk Rock Teaches Us About Being a Business Leader”

Why “Micro-Learning” is the New Diploma For Today’s Jobseekers

You’d be hard-pressed to find a workplace today where using technology isn’t an integral part of the job, whether it’s an AI-powered recruiting tool, special coding software for app development, or even just Google Sheets that help workers keep track of budgets. Whether you’re applying for a position in marketing or in the field of … Continue reading “Why “Micro-Learning” is the New Diploma For Today’s Jobseekers”

City Staffers Share Innovation Insights at Smart Cities Accelerator

In cities across the United States, the benefits of bike-sharing and electric scooters that can be easily rented with a smartphone app have often been overshadowed by controversy. In Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, for example, complaints flooded into city offices earlier this year about the proliferation of “dockless” bikes cluttering sidewalks, handicap parking, … Continue reading “City Staffers Share Innovation Insights at Smart Cities Accelerator”

Diagnostics Developer Nanopore Wins Agtech and Food Startup Showcase

In both humans and farm animals, time is crucial when diagnosing illness. An early diagnosis means treatment can be given before the disease worsens. In some forms of aquaculture, the diagnostic time line stretches out a little longer. Fish farmers need to take a boat to the offshore cages where salmon are raised. Samples are … Continue reading “Diagnostics Developer Nanopore Wins Agtech and Food Startup Showcase”

Alder BioPharmaceuticals Appoints Erin Lavelle to New COO Role

Alder BioPharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALDR]]) has named Erin LaVelle to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Before joining Bothell, WA-based Alder, Lavelle was the general manager of the Taiwanese affiliate of Amgen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMGN]]). Alder says Lavelle will lead strategy and planning as the company prepares to bring its migraine drug, eptinezumab, to the … Continue reading “Alder BioPharmaceuticals Appoints Erin Lavelle to New COO Role”

Bill Gates on Saving Babies, Educating Kids, and Picking a Major

On a sunny spring afternoon, William Henry Gates III strolled into the Harvard University science center. Several hundred students and invited guests were waiting for him in the auditorium. Security was tight, but not overly so (he’s used to it). Gates was there Thursday for a conversation with Frank Doyle, Harvard’s dean of engineering and … Continue reading “Bill Gates on Saving Babies, Educating Kids, and Picking a Major”

Bio Roundup: CRISPR Tests, Parkinson’s Questions, Opioid Bills & More

Politics is more partisan than ever these days, but the opioid crisis might be one of the few issues where elected officials find common ground. This week, members of Congress exercised a bipartisan effort in both chambers to advance dozens of measures proposing various approaches to fighting the opioid epidemic. A Senate committee voted unanimously … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Tests, Parkinson’s Questions, Opioid Bills & More”

DARPA Enlists Insects in R&D Effort to Protect the Food Supply

Farmers spend a lot of time and money trying to keep insects from damaging their crops. But the U.S. military sees some of these bugs as potential friends, not foes. A government-funded research project is studying how to use insects to deliver a targeted therapy to a crop following an outbreak of disease, a disaster, … Continue reading “DARPA Enlists Insects in R&D Effort to Protect the Food Supply”

What President Trump Gets Wrong About Amazon’s Effect on the Economy

For the past week or so, President Trump has been deriding Amazon as a destroyer of jobs and the main reason many retail companies are failing. Unfortunately, this is a very one-sided and uninformed view of how Amazon is changing our economy. I run a retail operation that sells almost exclusively on Amazon. Since its … Continue reading “What President Trump Gets Wrong About Amazon’s Effect on the Economy”

Aspect Venture’s Jennifer Fonstad on Hot Areas of Tech, Diversity, & More

Jennifer Fonstad and Theresia Gouw launched Aspect Ventures with their own money in February 2014—and have hardly looked back. “We closed our first investment that first week,” Fonstad says. The pair went on to make a number of investments that first year before deciding to raise funds more formally from outsiders, like a conventional venture … Continue reading “Aspect Venture’s Jennifer Fonstad on Hot Areas of Tech, Diversity, & More”

Techstars Alexa Firms Address Settings Where Voice Is ‘Most Natural’

Smart speakers are becoming increasingly common in our homes. Users can instruct these devices to order takeout, give the weather forecast, or turn on or off various Internet-connected devices. The Consumer Technology Association estimates that nearly 44 million voice-enabled assistants will be sold this year in the United States. Unit sales rose 279 percent from … Continue reading “Techstars Alexa Firms Address Settings Where Voice Is ‘Most Natural’”

Using Analytics, Fitcode Aims to Connect Shoppers to Jeans That Fit

There are few things more universal in wardrobes the world over than blue jeans. But they are also the number one item that is returned by online shoppers, says Rian Buckley, founder and CEO of Fitcode. “Fit is the number one purchase driver and reason to return,” she says. For many of us, the idea … Continue reading “Using Analytics, Fitcode Aims to Connect Shoppers to Jeans That Fit”

Bio Roundup: Hope for Lungs, Bradner’s Complaint, FDA Nods & More

The biggest news this week was in oncology, hands down. Merck showed that its immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda) might become a common option for many patients newly diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, but the bigger picture is that the field is moving fast. While pembrolizumab notched the headline-grabbing data, others are also working to develop options … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Hope for Lungs, Bradner’s Complaint, FDA Nods & More”

Want to Find Stellar Software Engineers in the Midwest? Here’s How

It may seem obvious that companies in the Midwest face challenges attracting and retaining talent, given our weather and location far from the coasts. One need only to look at college football recruiting, after all, to see how the average annual snowfall on campus matters almost as much as last season’s win/loss record. To some … Continue reading “Want to Find Stellar Software Engineers in the Midwest? Here’s How”

Techstars Anywhere Inaugural Class Takes Virtual Graduation Walk

[Corrected 4/20/09, 5:35 am. See below.] From Adelaide to Toronto, the Techstars accelerator that began in Boulder, CO, runs 39 programs in 27 cities around the world—with the prerequisite that admitted startups must relocate, if necessary, to the city where their three-month program is based. Today, however, the inaugural class of the 40th program—Techstars Anywhere—is … Continue reading “Techstars Anywhere Inaugural Class Takes Virtual Graduation Walk”