Most of the cancer news this week happened at the massive ASCO meeting in Chicago. But not all, as we’ll see in a moment. Also this week, Biogen and Eisai reported good news about an Alzheimer’s drug, but with plenty of caveats. Axovant Sciences, which hit the skids last year because of a massive Alzheimer’s … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Wrapping ASCO, Dreaming IPO, Rebooting Axovant & More”
Category: Wisconsin
Solar Electricity Startup NovoMoto Wins WI Business Plan Contest
NovoMoto, a clean energy startup that sells packages of solar panels, lamps, batteries, and other equipment to rural households in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was crowned the top winner of the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest on Wednesday. One hundred households in the western provinces of Congo currently pay to use equipment provided … Continue reading “Solar Electricity Startup NovoMoto Wins WI Business Plan Contest”
Exact Sciences, Mayo Clinic Share Data on DNA-Based Liver Cancer Test
Researchers at Exact Sciences and Mayo Clinic said Tuesday they have made progress toward developing a panel of blood-based DNA biomarkers that could help detect the most common form of liver cancer when the disease is still in its early stages. The two organizations said that data from a recent 244-patient study of a blood … Continue reading “Exact Sciences, Mayo Clinic Share Data on DNA-Based Liver Cancer Test”
Motivo, Rockwell, Snippet & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Motivo, a New Berlin-based company that sells wheeled, collapsible walkers for people who need help with mobility and balance, said it raised $950,000 from investors to ramp up sales of its Motivo Tour Walker product line. The walkers, which are currently available for … Continue reading “Motivo, Rockwell, Snippet & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
ASCO Wrap: Cancer Combos, Precision Meds, Stock Movers & More
The American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, the world’s largest cancer conference, wraps up today in Chicago. Investors have dissected the data, picked winners and losers, and sent some biotech stocks soaring and others tumbling. In the days before ASCO, Xconomy previewed two major themes: the feverish and flawed race to develop cancer immunotherapy … Continue reading “ASCO Wrap: Cancer Combos, Precision Meds, Stock Movers & More”
Biotech’s Looming Talent Crisis: 5 Ways to Prepare for the Storm
Finding and keeping great talent has always been a limiting factor for building companies—and even more so in the life science industry, which requires highly specialized skills. As an executive recruiter focused solely on life sciences, I know firsthand the challenges of filling key executive roles, and I’m often the first to see signs of … Continue reading “Biotech’s Looming Talent Crisis: 5 Ways to Prepare for the Storm”
Xconomy’s Napa Summit Is June 14-15: Last Call for Invites
Just 10 days to go—but it’s not too late to request your invitation to Xconomy’s most unique and thought-provoking event of the year: our annual Napa Summit: The Xconomy Retreat on Technology, Jobs, and Growth. We only have a few spots left open, so get your wine on and request your invitation today. You will … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Napa Summit Is June 14-15: Last Call for Invites”
Price Check on Aisle 3: Retailers Turn to Robots to Manage Inventory
Inventory management is crucial to operating a successful retail operation. And as hard as it may be to believe, retailers “don’t really know what’s on the shelves,” says Sarjoun Skaff, founder and CTO of Bossa Nova Robotics. A combination of the sheer number of products a retailer like Walmart has on offer and the pace … Continue reading “Price Check on Aisle 3: Retailers Turn to Robots to Manage Inventory”
Art of the Deo: American Provenance Raises $500K to Go National
American Provenance, a Blue Mounds, WI-based startup that sells handmade deodorants, after-shave, and other grooming products, has raised a $500,000 round of equity funding to help fuel its growth, says founder and CEO Kyle LaFond. The company will use some of the proceeds from the seed funding round to create digital marketing campaigns for its … Continue reading “Art of the Deo: American Provenance Raises $500K to Go National”
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””
Ease Raises $500K to Connect Freelance Workers with Employers
Nate Harris had never worked at a tech startup prior to co-founding Ease, a Milwaukee-based technology and service provider that helps businesses find freelancers to help them in areas like website design and search engine optimization. Harris’s background is in digital marketing and restaurants; he’s a managing partner in Ugly’s, a tavern located in the … Continue reading “Ease Raises $500K to Connect Freelance Workers with Employers”
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”
Exact Sciences Needs New Study to Fully Benefit From ACS Change
Exact Sciences has already set plans in place to try to benefit from new guidelines from the American Cancer Society, which is lowering the recommended age at which patients should first get screened for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45. Fully realizing that objective, however, is still going to take plenty of time and money, … Continue reading “Exact Sciences Needs New Study to Fully Benefit From ACS Change”
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”
Propeller Health Raises $20M to Move Beyond Respiratory Disease
[Updated 5/30/18 7:53 a.m. See below.] Since launching in 2010, Propeller Health has kept its focus on developing connected devices and complementary software for patients with respiratory disease. But that could soon change, following Madison, WI-based Propeller’s announcement on Wednesday that it plans to work with Aptar Pharma to develop digital health products for treating … Continue reading “Propeller Health Raises $20M to Move Beyond Respiratory Disease”
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”
Epic, Foxconn, Thermo Fisher & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Verona-based Epic Systems and two other corporations in a case that examined whether it’s legal for organizations to require their employees to sign arbitration agreements that keep them from pursuing group claims in court. Groups of … Continue reading “Epic, Foxconn, Thermo Fisher & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
Q&A: Don Layden Talks VC Trends, Exits, Foxconn’s ‘Long Tail’ & More
Don Layden has lived and worked in greater Milwaukee long enough to feel like he’s got a pretty good grasp of the area’s strengths, weaknesses, and defining qualities. Layden graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1982, then worked his way up to partner at the law firm Quarles & Brady. He later served in … Continue reading “Q&A: Don Layden Talks VC Trends, Exits, Foxconn’s ‘Long Tail’ & More”
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”
Pfizer, Merck Lead Strata Oncology’s $26M Series B Round
In what company leaders describe as a “huge step,” Ann Arbor, MI-based precision medicine startup Strata Oncology this week closed a $26 million Series B investment round led by Pfizer Ventures and the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund. Other contributors to the round include Deerfield Management, Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, Arboretum Ventures, and Baird Capital. … Continue reading “Pfizer, Merck Lead Strata Oncology’s $26M Series B Round”
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”
Fishidy, Developer of Tech That Aids Anglers, Sold to Flir Systems
Fishidy, a startup that has developed map-based tools to help fishing enthusiasts document and share information, was acquired in April by Flir Systems, a developer of thermal imaging cameras and sensors. That’s according to Don Layden, an operating partner at Baird Venture Partners who invested in Madison, WI-based Fishidy as an individual. None of the … Continue reading “Fishidy, Developer of Tech That Aids Anglers, Sold to Flir Systems”
A.I. for Healthcare Gets Even More Crowded as GV Invests in Owkin
More money continues to flow into startups seeking to harness the massive amount of data available in healthcare using artificial intelligence and machine learning. This time, GV, the venture capital arm of Google parent Alphabet, is adding about $7 million to the Series A round for Owkin, bringing its total funding to $18 million. Owkin, … Continue reading “A.I. for Healthcare Gets Even More Crowded as GV Invests in Owkin”
Amid Housing Boom, Hometap Raises $12M to Buy a Piece of Your Home
[Updated 5/23/18, 9:40 am. See below.] Jeff Glass is back in the CEO chair at a startup, and this time he’s venturing into one of the oldest and, at the moment, hottest industries: real estate. Glass is an entrepreneur and investor who is well-known in Boston tech circles for leading m-Qube, the mobile content-delivery company … Continue reading “Amid Housing Boom, Hometap Raises $12M to Buy a Piece of Your Home”
Bloxvox’s Voice-Dampening Device Gives Users Privacy During Calls
Many people who spend a significant amount of time on the phone at work use headphones or a headset so they can go hands-free during calls and type as they talk. While they have yet to enter the mainstream, there are also devices that fit over the mouth and allow phone talkers to muffle their … Continue reading “Bloxvox’s Voice-Dampening Device Gives Users Privacy During Calls”
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”
Bright Cellars, AmFam, Coinigy & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Stay current on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Bright Cellars, a monthly wine club that seeks to help its subscribers develop more sophisticated palates, said it raised a $2.8 million funding round. Participating investors included Chicago-based Cleveland Avenue, Northwestern Mutual’s Cream City Venture Capital fund, and return backer CSA Partners. Richard … Continue reading “Bright Cellars, AmFam, Coinigy & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Aided By Facebook Ads, Wantable Carves Out Niche in Online Fashion
When it comes to advertising on the Web, Google remains king. But second-place Facebook has rapidly been narrowing the gap. From 2012 to 2017, Facebook’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FB]]) ad revenues increased 833 percent, to $39.9 billion, according to Statista.com. That’s compared with a 118 percent growth rate in Google’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GOOGL]]) online ad sales over the … Continue reading “Aided By Facebook Ads, Wantable Carves Out Niche in Online Fashion”
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”
FluGen to Study Versatility of Its Universal Flu Vaccine Candidate
The U.S. is coming off the worst influenza season in nearly a decade, highlighting the potential benefit of a universal flu vaccine that could protect against multiple strains of the disease. One company developing an experimental universal flu vaccine is FluGen, a Madison, WI-based startup that on Wednesday announced it had kicked off a clinical … Continue reading “FluGen to Study Versatility of Its Universal Flu Vaccine Candidate”
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”
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”
Venture Investors To Raise As Much As $100M To Fund Health Startups
Venture Investors plans to raise up to $100 million for a new, healthcare-focused venture capital fund, the Madison, WI-based firm said in a document recently filed with federal securities regulators. VI is the oldest and largest venture capital fund in Wisconsin. It created a new business entity, “Venture Investors Health Fund 6 Limited Partnership,” under … Continue reading “Venture Investors To Raise As Much As $100M To Fund Health Startups”
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”
LearnVest, SmartUQ, gBETA & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist
Keep up with news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —Northwestern Mutual said it has temporarily shut down LearnVest, a financial advisory service the Milwaukee-based life insurance giant acquired in 2015 for a reported $250 million-plus. Northwestern Mutual said LearnVest will cease providing financial planning services to consumers, and will also discontinue its … Continue reading “LearnVest, SmartUQ, gBETA & More: This Week’s Wisconsin Watchlist”
“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”
Exact Sciences CEO Conroy Talks Growth, Foxconn, Startups & More
Kevin Conroy left a law firm job in his early 30s, right after he had just made partner, to work for a venture capital-backed startup in California called Outcomes. The outcome was not what Conroy had hoped. About a year later, the business ran out of money and went bust. Even so, Conroy, now the … Continue reading “Exact Sciences CEO Conroy Talks Growth, Foxconn, Startups & More”
Tome, Trek, Ford Collaborate on Bike-to-Vehicle Safety Standards
Last fall, Royal Oak, MI-based software startup Tome teamed up with Ford and Wisconsin’s Trek to work on B2V (bike-to-vehicle) technology that will help self-driving cars to better perceive cyclists on the road. Tome CEO Jake Sigal, a passionate cyclist who spends much of his free time biking, says teaching cars to see and anticipate … Continue reading “Tome, Trek, Ford Collaborate on Bike-to-Vehicle Safety Standards”
Medical Engineering Innovations Raising $1.2M for Cancer Removal Tools
[Updated 5/16/18 8:14 a.m. See below.] Medical Engineering Innovations, a Madison, WI-based developer of medical devices that use radio frequency energy to remove cancer from the liver, is in the process of raising a $1.2 million Series A funding round, says Richard Schmidt, the startup’s president and CEO. Champaign, IL-based Serra Ventures is leading the equity funding round, … Continue reading “Medical Engineering Innovations Raising $1.2M for Cancer Removal Tools”
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?”
Renaissance Learning to Get New Private Equity Owner, Change CEOs
A California private equity firm that has previously bought and sold education software businesses has agreed to acquire Wisconsin Rapids, WI-based Renaissance Learning, the company said Thursday. Renaissance is being sold by one San Francisco-based private equity firm (Hellman & Friedman) to another (Francisco Partners), Renaissance said. The company did not include any specific financial … Continue reading “Renaissance Learning to Get New Private Equity Owner, Change CEOs”
Under New Leaders, Name, PegEx Raises $8M for Waste Removal Software
In recent decades, everything from business cards to monthly bills and bank statements to medical charts detailing patients’ health histories have gone paperless. But one industry that still relies heavily on paper documents is regulated waste remediation, which involves removing hazardous materials from factories and other sites. That’s according to Eric Apfelbach, president and CEO … Continue reading “Under New Leaders, Name, PegEx Raises $8M for Waste Removal Software”
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”