Cell Therapeutics isn’t going down without a fight. The Seattle-based biotech company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CTIC]]) said today that data from a clinical trial of Zevalin, its drug for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, along with an editorial by a leading lymphoma doc who urged his peers to “encourage wider appreciation and … Continue reading “Cell Therapeutics, Still Fighting, Gets Zevalin Data Published In Cancer Journal”
Huntington Capital and Other Venture Lenders Thriving, Despite Credit Crunch
Unlike a lot of bankers these days, Tim Bubnack of San Diego’s Huntington Capital is pretty upbeat about his business. “It’s an exciting time for us,” Bubnack said between meetings yesterday. “While the credit markets are seizing up, we’re providing growth capital that allows companies to continue to expand, grow their businesses, and in some … Continue reading “Huntington Capital and Other Venture Lenders Thriving, Despite Credit Crunch”
Infinity Starts Trial of Hedgehog Pathway Blocker
Infinity Pharmaceuticals, the Cambridge, MA-based developer of cancer drugs, said today it has started an early-stage clinical trial of 30 to 50 patients with advanced solid tumors, or those that have spread. The company (NASDAQ: [[ticker:INFI]]) will test IPI-926, an orally-given blocker of the hedgehog pathway, which researchers say can play a central role in … Continue reading “Infinity Starts Trial of Hedgehog Pathway Blocker”
Predictive Biosciences Closes $21.75 Million Round to Help Detect Cancer From Urine
No sooner did Rebecca note the recent dearth of life sciences venture financings than we got word of a sizable one: Lexington, MA-based Predictive Biosciences, which has a small office in San Diego and is out to help build a new era of personalized medicine, announced today that is has secured $21.75 million in Series … Continue reading “Predictive Biosciences Closes $21.75 Million Round to Help Detect Cancer From Urine”
1366 Opens Plant in Lexington
1366 Technologies, a solar-cell manufacturing startup commercializing research by MIT mechanical engineering professor Emanuel Sachs, is holding a grand-opening reception today at its Lexington, MA, pilot plant. Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the event, which will also include tours of the facility. 1366, … Continue reading “1366 Opens Plant in Lexington”
Seattle Has Global Health Muscle, But Needs More Education, Industry Partnerships
What does the global health community in Washington need in order to firmly stake our claim as a world leader in this endeavor? That question will be a central topic next week when nearly 250 leaders from the Seattle area gather at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum for the Seattle Chamber’s annual Regional Leadership Conference … Continue reading “Seattle Has Global Health Muscle, But Needs More Education, Industry Partnerships”
Founder’s Co-op Gets Warm Reception, Wants Startups That Will Survive Cold Recession
Andy Sack’s favorite coffee drink is a 12-ounce, single-shot, non-fat latte. But if you’re meeting with him to pitch your latest technology startup idea, be advised that he’s probably on his second or third cup already. These days, his schedule is filled with meetings and networking—most of it pretty informal. “I’ll have coffee with anyone,” … Continue reading “Founder’s Co-op Gets Warm Reception, Wants Startups That Will Survive Cold Recession”
Biogen Idec Makes Controversial Tysabri Decision, Boston Scientific Explains Stock Sales, Charles River Heads to China, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News
There was not one venture financing among Boston-area life sciences firms that I could find this week, but plenty of news nonetheless. —Luke took a look at Provasculon, the second company to be taken under Biogen Idec’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) wing at its Cambridge, MA-based incubator. Formed around research from Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Provasculon … Continue reading “Biogen Idec Makes Controversial Tysabri Decision, Boston Scientific Explains Stock Sales, Charles River Heads to China, & More Boston-Area Life Sciences News”
Allozyne, Developer of Multiple Sclerosis Drug in Fewer Shots, Poised to Enter Clinical Trials
Allozyne will find out soon whether it has a disruptive technology for treating multiple sclerosis. The fledgling Seattle biotech company plans to start its first clinical trial within the next six months, which will give it an early glimpse into whether it can do something that giant companies have been unable to do. It plans … Continue reading “Allozyne, Developer of Multiple Sclerosis Drug in Fewer Shots, Poised to Enter Clinical Trials”
First Inhalable TB Vaccine Being Prepped for Clinical Trials By Harvard, MEND Scientists
David Edwards, a biomedical engineering professor at Harvard University, thinks he may have a better vaccine against tuberculosis in the works. He’s negotiating with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other international nonprofits to pump enough cash into a clinical trial to get an early glimpse into whether he’s really onto something. Edwards, through … Continue reading “First Inhalable TB Vaccine Being Prepped for Clinical Trials By Harvard, MEND Scientists”
Isis Pharmaceuticals’ Second Drug Aims to Block Marker of Heart Disease, Inflammation
Isis Pharmaceuticals CEO Stanley Crooke gets asked a lot about mipomersen, a drug his company is developing to treat dangerously high cholesterol in the blood. It is Isis’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ISIS]]) lead drug candidate and generated a huge partnership with Genzyme worth $325 million in cash upfront, with a lot more to come if this drug … Continue reading “Isis Pharmaceuticals’ Second Drug Aims to Block Marker of Heart Disease, Inflammation”
Predictive BioSciences Lands $21,750,000 Series B Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=2ed2f836-8b50-4d54-87cb-7def05b1cfec&Preview=1 Date 10/16/2008 Company Name Predictive BioSciences Mailing Address 128 Spring Street, 400 Level, B Annex Lexington, MA 02421 Company Description Predictive Biosciences is a molecular diagnostics company headquartered in Lexington, MA. Launched in 2006 with a $10 million Series A financing, the company was jointly founded by leading healthcare investors, experienced … Continue reading “Predictive BioSciences Lands $21,750,000 Series B Financing”
Micronics Inc. Garners Series C Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=ed048863-bd83-4583-accc-2f1e4247a583&Preview=1 Date 10/16/2008 Company Name Micronics Inc. Mailing Address 8463 154th Avenue NE, Building G Redmond, WA 98052 Company Description Micronics provides comprehensive development services to clients worldwide that bring complementary technologies and/or chemistries for incorporation into a disposable device. Micronics’ services include state-of-the-art rapid prototyping, reagent printing, ability to integrate MEMs, … Continue reading “Micronics Inc. Garners Series C Financing Round”
TrackSimple Inc. Lands $2,500,000 Series A Financing Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=add39a60-11d7-4d66-87e7-43d2594c660c&Preview=1 Date 10/16/2008 Company Name TrackSimple Inc. Mailing Address 558 1st Avenue S Seattle, WA 98104 Company Description Tracksimple Inc. is a developer of a platform that captures customer events. Its technology works from a clients’ perspective, server perspective or both via cookies and/or javascripts tags, aggregating data in near real-time. Website … Continue reading “TrackSimple Inc. Lands $2,500,000 Series A Financing Round”
Ray Flame Entertainment Inc. Receives $800,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=1f8064ff-6c96-4a51-9c61-2f143e398499&Preview=1 Date 10/16/2008 Company Name Ray Flame Entertainment Inc. Mailing Address 9481 Cherwell Court Cypress, CA 90630 Company Description Founded in Nov 2007, Ray Flame Entertainment Inc. is striving to redefine and expand the American and European online gaming market by bringing free to play and yet most intriguing browser based and … Continue reading “Ray Flame Entertainment Inc. Receives $800,000 Series A Round”
Adura Technologies Obtains $5,000,000 Series A Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=c3771212-13c1-4412-8193-845f3ee4fcab&Preview=1 Date 10/16/2008 Company Name Adura Technologies Mailing Address 101 Second Street San Francisco, CA 94105 Company Description Adura Technologies is a clean energy technology venture applying low-power wireless mesh networking to the lighting controls market. We design, manufacture and commission our lighting management solutions. Our mission is to provide cost effective … Continue reading “Adura Technologies Obtains $5,000,000 Series A Round”
Siri Lands $8,500,000 Series A Financing
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=285f5809-0889-4867-9768-a0d7b1ecf37e&Preview=1 Date 10/16/2008 Company Name Siri Mailing Address 1 Almaden Boulevard San Jose, CA 95113 Company Description Siri’s initial technology along with IP was provided by SRI International. The later led $200 million CALO (Cognitive Agent that Learns and Organizes) artificial intelligence project which was funded by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects … Continue reading “Siri Lands $8,500,000 Series A Financing”
Mobile Northwest Conference
The second annual Mobile Northwest Conference is a one-day educational seminar and networking event featuring leading regional and national mobile executives who will share their insight on the successful applications, trends, and opportunities in the mobile commerce arena. Hear the latest success stories in this dynamic industry and take advantage of networking with presenters and … Continue reading “Mobile Northwest Conference”
Science Educators Win $1.4M NIH Grant
The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research has received a $1.35 million award for science education programs from the National Institutes of Health. The five-year grant, one of 16 given nationally, will help secondary school teachers and students learn about the science and ethics of how biomedical research is conducted, the nonprofit group said in a … Continue reading “Science Educators Win $1.4M NIH Grant”
Panel Discussion: Combination products from the medical and biopharma sectors.
Xconomy’s own Robert Buderi will moderate this panel discussion about the latest innovations and trends in combination products in the medical and biopharma sectors. Panelists include Ann Merrifield, President of Genzyme Biosurgery; Edward Kerslake, VP for Corporate R&D, Boston Scientific; and Iain Simpson, Senior Consultant, Team Consulting, UK. To request an invitation email Matthew Campion … Continue reading “Panel Discussion: Combination products from the medical and biopharma sectors.”
2008 US-China Clean Technology Exchange Conference
Presented by the New England Chinese Information and Networking Association (NECINA) to launch the NECINA Clean Technology Initiative (NCTI). The keynote is by Christina Lampe-Onnerud, founder and CEO of Boston-Power, who will speak on The US-China Clean Technology Opportunity. More information on the event web site.
The Second Annual MIT $100K Elevator Pitch Contest
Okay, here’s the pitch. In fact, here’s five hours of pitches from hopeful entrepreneurs, each pitch no more than 60 seconds long. As part of the festivities, the Next Big Thing—a Tech Expo and Networking Session—will showcase research being performed across Harvard and MIT. More details at the event web site.
Sonosite Ousts CFO, Brings Back Former Finance Chief Mike Schuh
Sonosite has ousted its chief financial officer, just a couple weeks before it is due to report third quarter earnings. The Bothell, WA-based maker of hand-carried ultrasound machines said that Bernard Pitz, 47, has left “at the request of the company” and is being replaced by his predecessor, Michael Schuh. Sonosite (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SONO]]) didn’t give … Continue reading “Sonosite Ousts CFO, Brings Back Former Finance Chief Mike Schuh”
Appeals Court Gives Qualcomm a Repreive
Qualcomm says the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. has vacated a finding by the International Trade Commission that the San Diego wireless company induced other companies to infringe a Broadcom patent that helps reduce power consumption. The case is among several patent disputes between the two companies. A San Diego Union-Tribune report on … Continue reading “Appeals Court Gives Qualcomm a Repreive”
Eventful Celebrates $10M Financing Event; Aims to “Cement” Lead in Online Events Services
Eventful is celebrating its own financing event as it closes a $10 million Series C round, the company announced today. San Diego-based Eventful, a four-year-old firm that enables users to promote and track local events online, says the capital infusion came from new investor and Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica (NYSE:[[ticker:TEF]]) and previous venture backers Draper … Continue reading “Eventful Celebrates $10M Financing Event; Aims to “Cement” Lead in Online Events Services”
Winshuttle Acquires ADAR, Launches French Office
Bothell, WA-based Winshuttle, maker of data-entry software and download tools for businesses, announced today it has acquired ADAR, a French distributor of data-management tools. Winshuttle’s new French operations will be based in Paris and will provide sales and technical support to customers such as Bouygues Telecom, Yves Rocher, and Solvay.
San Diego’s Startup Pace Strong Despite Economic Chills
A survey of technology startups in San Diego County shows 76 new companies were launched here during the second quarter of 2008, suggesting entrepreneurs kept busy despite broader economic declines locally and nationwide. The study released by Connect, a local non-profit that supports innovative technology and life science businesses, found that San Diego County ranked … Continue reading “San Diego’s Startup Pace Strong Despite Economic Chills”
Genzyme Starts Fabrazyme Trial
Genzyme, the maker of drugs for rare genetic diseases, said today it has started enrolling patients in a study of patients with mild Fabry disease to see if a low dose of Fabrazyme will help. Data from the study could enable the company to apply for expanded approval of the drug for early treatment of … Continue reading “Genzyme Starts Fabrazyme Trial”
Seattle Genetics Collects Payment From Progenics
Seattle Genetics, the developer of targeted cancer drugs, said today it has received a milestone payment from Progenics Pharmaceuticals. Bothell, WA-based Seattle Genetics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SGEN]]) got the payment because Progenics bought a license to the Seattle Genetics antibody-drug linking technology, and has used it to develop a drug candidate that has entered the first stage … Continue reading “Seattle Genetics Collects Payment From Progenics”
Jive Software Jarred by Layoffs
Layoffs are hitting the Northwest tech community this week—first Redfin, now Jive Software. TechCrunch’s Michael Arrington reports that Portland, OR-based Jive, a maker of social software for businesses, laid off about one-third of its staff, or about 40 people, yesterday. Among those who left the company are a vice president of engineering and a vice … Continue reading “Jive Software Jarred by Layoffs”
Charles River Opens Pre-Clinical Labs in Shanghai
Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:[[ticker:CRL]]), a Wilmington, MA-based provider of drug development services, announced the opening of a 60,000-square-foot pre-clinical facility in Shanghai. The company says that the facility is intended to support the global drug-development needs of its clients.
UCSD Supercomputing Center Looks to Create More Business Partnerships
The new five-story building that doubles the size of the San Diego Supercomputer Center is more than just concrete, steel, and glass. As Fran Berman, SDSC director (and an Xconomist) said yesterday, the new building also represents the next generation in supercomputing—and she wants to ensure that San Diego’s emerging companies feel like they’re part … Continue reading “UCSD Supercomputing Center Looks to Create More Business Partnerships”
Highland’s Paul Maeder Taking Firm Into Energy Investments—Targeting Efficiency, Not “Science Projects”
Three or four years ago, Highland Capital Partners made one cleantech investment—in Amp Resources, a Nevada geothermal company that was sold last year to Italian power company Enel. That’s been it for Highland’s cleantech or energy deals. But all that is about to change: Highland general partner Paul Maeder, who traditionally has focused on information … Continue reading “Highland’s Paul Maeder Taking Firm Into Energy Investments—Targeting Efficiency, Not “Science Projects””
Arch, In an Earlier Warning, Told Companies To Buckle Down, Brace For the Worst
Sequoia Capital may have been late to the punch. The legendary Silicon Valley venture firm made headlines last week when it called an emergency meeting to warn entrepreneurs to brace for hard times, but it turns out Arch Venture Partners began advising its portfolio companies to start cutting back more than two weeks ago when … Continue reading “Arch, In an Earlier Warning, Told Companies To Buckle Down, Brace For the Worst”
Scenes from the Solar Power International Conference
One measure of the burgeoning interest in solar energy and the cleantech industry is the record turnout this week for Solar Power International 2008, which is being held at the San Diego Convention Center. Organizers say more than 20,000 people are expected to register for what’s billed as “the largest solar energy industry event in the … Continue reading “Scenes from the Solar Power International Conference”
Brightcove Aims at the Mainstream: Talking with CEO Jeremy Allaire
Tuesday brought two big pieces of news in the Internet video industry: The relaunch of New York-based Joost as a Hulu clone and the official launch of the newest video hosting platform from Cambridge, MA-based Brightcove. The former development was probably of more interest to consumers, who get an increasing portion of their video entertainment … Continue reading “Brightcove Aims at the Mainstream: Talking with CEO Jeremy Allaire”
Dendreon Sells $20M in Stock, Microsoft Teams Up with Scripps, Monster Buys BitWine, & More Seattle-Area Deals News
Heading deep into the battles of October (hang in there, Red Sox), dealflow has been fairly strong. The Northwest saw plenty of action in mobile, biotech, health care, and seed-stage tech funds in the past week. —Redmond, WA-based MobUI, a mobile software developer, acquired Bellevue, WA-based Action Engine, as Ryan reported. MobUI also raised new … Continue reading “Dendreon Sells $20M in Stock, Microsoft Teams Up with Scripps, Monster Buys BitWine, & More Seattle-Area Deals News”
Soliant Energy, Inc. Obtains $21,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9da44aef-c479-4836-b262-6d72e8b38ecb&Preview=1 Date 10/15/2008 Company Name Soliant Energy, Inc. Mailing Address 133 N. San Gabriel Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107 Company Description Soliant Energy, Inc. designs and manufactures concentrating photovoltaic modules for commercial applications. Our goal is to dramatically reduce the price of solar electricity for consumers and enhance the performance of photovoltaic systems. … Continue reading “Soliant Energy, Inc. Obtains $21,000,000 New Funding”
Eventful, Inc. Lands $10,000,000 Series C Funding Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e90856c3-17a5-4576-a028-c22335793b04&Preview=1 Date 10/15/2008 Company Name Eventful, Inc. Mailing Address 9171 Towne Centre Drive San Diego, CA 92122 Company Description Eventful’s underlying technology: a software and data platform for exchanging, searching, indexing, and publishing millions of events, venues, calendars, and related information worldwide. Website http://www.eventful.com Transaction Type Venture Equity Transaction Amount $10,000,000 Transaction … Continue reading “Eventful, Inc. Lands $10,000,000 Series C Funding Round”
Cytori Therapeutics Garners $15,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=630ed075-4f50-4800-88c6-fae07fac0190&Preview=1 Date 10/15/2008 Company Name Cytori Therapeutics Mailing Address 3020 Callan Road San Diego, CA 92121 Company Description Cytori Therapeutics’ (Nasdaq: CYTX) goal is to be the global leader in regenerative medicine. Cytori is dedicated to providing patients with new options for reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, developing treatments for cardiovascular disease, and … Continue reading “Cytori Therapeutics Garners $15,000,000 New Funding”
JS-Kit Obtains $3,600,000 Series B Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=6506ded2-b531-4a83-8a61-3dbce81ba639&Preview=1 Date 10/15/2008 Company Name JS-Kit Mailing Address 1765 Crockett Lane Hillsborough, CA 94114 Company Description JS-Kit web services are highly customizable to ensure a seamless fit within your site. Each of our basic web services – Comments, Ratings, Polls – is available free of charge. Website http://www.js-kit.com Transaction Type Venture Equity … Continue reading “JS-Kit Obtains $3,600,000 Series B Funding”
Sonoa Systems Secures $10,000,000 Series C Round
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=e294b846-6f1d-47ea-b4ae-6228697b278e&Preview=1 Date 10/15/2008 Company Name Sonoa Systems Mailing Address 2380 Walsh Ave Santa Clara, CA 95054 Company Description Sonoa Systems is an exciting Silicon Valley startup that is creating an innovative approach to deploying applications to simplify IT infrastructure and significantly reduce the Total Cost of Ownership. Website http://www.sonoasystems.com Transaction Type Venture … Continue reading “Sonoa Systems Secures $10,000,000 Series C Round”
Solid Information Technology Corp. Secures $21,000,000 New Funding
Feed Type Link http://www.venturedeal.com/Search/SearchResultTransactionDetail.aspx?TransactionId=9da44aef-c479-4836-b262-6d72e8b38ecb&Preview=1 Date 10/15/2008 Company Name Solid Information Technology Corp. Mailing Address 20400 Stevens Creek Blvd Cupertino, CA 95014 Company Description Solid was founded in 1992 in Helsinki Finland with the vision to provide innovative data management solutions that allow data to be as ubiquitous and always available to network users as the … Continue reading “Solid Information Technology Corp. Secures $21,000,000 New Funding”
Biogen Turns Down Dying Patient’s Request For Tysabri—and Explains Why
Biogen Idec has turned down the requests of the family and high-profile friends of a dying patient at the Mayo Clinic to provide an emergency dose of Tysabri to try to combat the man’s cancer—an unapproved use of the drug. It’s a vivid example of the ethically treacherous zone that companies must traverse when patients … Continue reading “Biogen Turns Down Dying Patient’s Request For Tysabri—and Explains Why”
Targanta Preps For FDA Advisory Panel on New Antibiotic
Targanta Therapeutics is getting ready for a day next month that will go a long way toward determining whether it can sell its first marketed product. The Cambridge, MA-based biotech company, said it has been asked to appear before an FDA advisory committee on Nov. 19 to make its case for why regulators should approve … Continue reading “Targanta Preps For FDA Advisory Panel on New Antibiotic”
Redfin Layoffs Bode Ill for Real Estate Startups
Is this the beginning of the end for online real estate companies? Yesterday, Seattle-based Redfin announced it had laid off roughly 20 percent of its employees, leaving it with a staff of about 75 spread across Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Chicago. The news comes as a serious blow to a company that … Continue reading “Redfin Layoffs Bode Ill for Real Estate Startups”
Novell Buys Managed Objects
Waltham, MA-based Novell said today that it will acquire McLean, VA-based Managed Objects for an undisclosed cash sum. Managed Objects makes “business service management” software that monitors the performance of corporate IT systems. Novell said in a statement that the acquisition would “complement and extend Novell’s existing workload management and virtualization solutions by adding flexible … Continue reading “Novell Buys Managed Objects”
Dionne Takes Surface Logix Helm
Boston-based drug Surface Logix announced today that Keith Dionne taken the reins as president and CEO of the privately held developer of small-molecule drugs. Dionne was previously CEO of Alantos Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by by Amgen for some $300 million; he also spent 7 years in various roles at Cambridge, MA-based Millennium Pharmaceuticals.
Northstar Gets OK For Second Depression Study
Northstar Neuroscience, a Seattle medical device company, said today the FDA has given conditional approval to run a second study of its brain-stimulation device against depression. Northstar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NSTR]]) said it plans to start enrolling the first of 24 patients in the study, called Prospect II, before the end of the year. Preliminary results should … Continue reading “Northstar Gets OK For Second Depression Study”
Harvard Spins Off Brand Monitoring Startup Crimson Hexagon
Harvard’s Office of Technology Development has been grabbing headlines this week. On Sunday, it went public with news about a Beverly, MA-based spinoff called SiOnyx that hopes to commercialize “black silicon,” a highly light-absorbant form of the material discovered in a Harvard physics lab. And today it took the lid off Crimson Hexagon, which plans … Continue reading “Harvard Spins Off Brand Monitoring Startup Crimson Hexagon”