No matter where you are in the world, if you want your company to be a global leader in software, you have to take on the US market. As the co-founder of a French tech startup, I’ve always known that if we wanted to be successful, we would eventually need to establish a presence in … Continue reading “Why My Company Chose Boston, Not Silicon Valley, for Its US HQ”
Unum Therapeutics Appoints Jessica Sachs Chief Medical Officer
Unum Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:UNRX]]) has promoted Jessica Sachs to chief medical officer. Sachs has served as vice president of clinical sciences at the Cambridge, MA, drug developer since 2017. Her experience also includes positions at Takeda Pharmaceutical (NYSE: [[ticker:TAK]]). Sachs, who will start her new role on July 15, is succeeding Michael Vasoncelles, who has left … Continue reading “Unum Therapeutics Appoints Jessica Sachs Chief Medical Officer”
Flatiron Taps Vasoncelles of Unum Therapeutics for Chief Medical Officer
Michael Vasoncelles has joined Flatiron Health as chief medical officer, the same position he held at Unum Therapeutics. Vasoncelles’ experience also includes posts at Takeda Pharmaceutical (NYSE: [[ticker:TAK]]), Genzyme, and Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]). At New York-based Flatiron, Vasoncelles will succeed Amy Abernethy, who left earlier this year to join the FDA as principal deputy commissioner. … Continue reading “Flatiron Taps Vasoncelles of Unum Therapeutics for Chief Medical Officer”
Bluebird Bio Sets $1.8M Price on Gene Therapy for Rare Blood Disease
[Updated 3:19 p.m.] The latest price tag for a gene therapy, a treatment meant to provide a long-lasting effect with a single dose, is now set. The treatment, Zynteglo, developed for the rare blood disease beta thalassemia, will cost roughly $1.8 million. Bluebird Bio (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BLUE]]), which just won approval of Zynteglo in Europe two … Continue reading “Bluebird Bio Sets $1.8M Price on Gene Therapy for Rare Blood Disease”
Bio Roundup: Roche-Spark Drags On, GSK Taps CRISPR, Diabetes News & More
Is one of the bigger biopharma acquisitions of the year in trouble? This past week, antitrust regulators once again delayed Roche’s planned $4.8 billion buyout of gene therapy developer Spark Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ONCE]]). The US Federal Trade Commission wants yet more information about the buyout, and overseas, the UK Competition and Markets Authority opened a … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Roche-Spark Drags On, GSK Taps CRISPR, Diabetes News & More”
Gener8tor to Make Startups From Scratch in Revamped Milwaukee Program
[Updated 6/14/19, 10:25 am CT. See below.] Gener8tor, a Wisconsin-based organization with a growing network of startup accelerators across the Midwest, is shaking up the format of its flagship Milwaukee program in a bid to catalyze entrepreneurship among locals. Instead of seeking applications from existing startups located around the world, this fall’s Gener8tor program in … Continue reading “Gener8tor to Make Startups From Scratch in Revamped Milwaukee Program”
VidMob Adds $25M Led by Austin-Based BuildGroup for Adtech Software
You’ve probably seen a VidMob advertisement, or at least an ad the company had some influence on, and not known it. The New York-based startup has helped make or optimize digital ads created for smartphones for brands ranging from Netflix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:NFLX]]) to Arby’s (“We Have the Meats!”). The company has software that lets the … Continue reading “VidMob Adds $25M Led by Austin-Based BuildGroup for Adtech Software”
Aurora Ends Affiliation with VW as it Begins Collaboration with FCA
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has arguably been quieter on the autonomous vehicle front than Ford and GM, but this week marked a significant development for the company. FCA announced it will partner with Aurora, a Bay Area startup developing self-driving technologies. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the arrangement. Wired reports that the … Continue reading “Aurora Ends Affiliation with VW as it Begins Collaboration with FCA”
Can AI Tools, $76M Lead BlackThorn to Targeted Psych Drugs?
It’s notoriously tough for experimental psychiatric drugs to succeed in clinical tests. BlackThorn Therapeutics wants to show that an AI-driven, precision approach can make it easier, and today it’s added another $76 million to get the chance to prove it. The new Series B round will give San Francisco-based BlackThorn—a startup spun out of the … Continue reading “Can AI Tools, $76M Lead BlackThorn to Targeted Psych Drugs?”
Your Tech Startup Is Probably Not Ready to Raise Money
I know, I don’t even know you. Here’s the thing. Let’s say Melanie is an early-stage investor. If she placed a bet blindly for every startup that thinks they’re ready to raise, her chips would fall on the “not ready to raise” words written in fancy script on the soft green felt of the betting … Continue reading “Your Tech Startup Is Probably Not Ready to Raise Money”
Clinical Trials in Plain English: TrialAssure Translates for Patients
Software is playing a growing role in clinical trials, and over the years it’s been introduced as a tool to help enroll patients, collect data, and analyze results. But one aspect of clinical trial record-keeping has been stubbornly stuck on paper—the reporting of data to the patients who volunteer for the studies. TrialAssure, a Canton, … Continue reading “Clinical Trials in Plain English: TrialAssure Translates for Patients”
IPO Scorecard: CrowdStrike Gains 70 Percent on First Trading Day
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike delivered the kind of market debut this week that was an unfulfilled dream for the much-anticipated IPOs of Uber and Lyft earlier this year. Sunnyvale, CA-based CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CRWD]]) priced 18 million shares of common stock at $34 on Tuesday. Trading began at $63.50 Wednesday, and reached a near-doubling of the company’s … Continue reading “IPO Scorecard: CrowdStrike Gains 70 Percent on First Trading Day”
Akrevia Taps Joseph Farmer for Chief Operating Officer Post
Joseph Farmer has been appointed chief operating officer of Akrevia Therapeutics. Farmer comes to Cambridge, MA-based Akrevia from Tesaro, a cancer drug developer that was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]) earlier this year. His experience also includes posts at Cubist Pharmaceuticals and AMAG Pharmaceuticals. Akrevia launched last year with a $30 million Series A round … Continue reading “Akrevia Taps Joseph Farmer for Chief Operating Officer Post”
Ex-Dermavant Exec Jassie Joins eGenesis as Chief Business Officer
Ariel Jassie has been appointed chief business officer and general counsel of eGenesis. Jassie most recently worked at Dermavant Sciences, where he was chief business and strategy officer. His experience also includes posts at Codiak Biosciences and Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]). Cambridge, MA-based eGenesis is researching applications of the CRISPR gene-editing technology to make pig organs … Continue reading “Ex-Dermavant Exec Jassie Joins eGenesis as Chief Business Officer”
U-M Leads 10-University Project to Tackle Equity, Inclusion in STEM
Academic researchers have long studied gender and racial disparities in STEM education, but they have not had widespread success in addressing these challenges. A University of Michigan professor and colleagues from 10 universities are hoping to change that. At public research universities like U-M, introductory courses in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) subjects are the … Continue reading “U-M Leads 10-University Project to Tackle Equity, Inclusion in STEM”
Synlogic Lands $80M from Ginkgo to Ramp Up “Living Medicines” R&D
[Updated 10:42 a.m., see below.] Synlogic, a developer of so-called “living medicines” comprised of engineered bacteria, is teaming up with synthetic biology company Ginkgo Bioworks in an effort to advance drug candidates to human testing more quickly. Under an agreement announced Wednesday, Cambridge, MA-based Synlogic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SYBX]]) will use Ginkgo’s technology to design and test … Continue reading “Synlogic Lands $80M from Ginkgo to Ramp Up “Living Medicines” R&D”
Hi Marley Raises $8M From Investors to Streamline Insurance With AI
Insurance tech startup Hi Marley has landed $8.7 million from True Ventures and Underscore VC to extend its conversational AI tools to help people buy and manage their policies. The Boston company is also working with insurance broker Aon (NYSE: [[ticker:AON]]) to move into more complicated sectors of business insurance through a strategic partnership, according … Continue reading “Hi Marley Raises $8M From Investors to Streamline Insurance With AI”
Oncternal Therapeutics Goes Public After Reverse Merger With GTx
Oncternal Therapeutics has joined the growing ranks of San Diego biotechs to go public, but it didn’t go through an IPO to get there. The San Diego-based company said Monday that it completed a reverse merger with GTx, a Memphis, TN biotech whose market value plummeted last fall after its lead drug candidate failed a … Continue reading “Oncternal Therapeutics Goes Public After Reverse Merger With GTx”
Celsius Therapeutics Appoints Tariq Kassum President & CEO
Tariq Kassum has been appointed president and CEO of Celsius Therapeutics. He succeeds interim CEO Alexis Borisy, who will remain chairman of the Cambridge, MA, company’s board of directors. Kassum joins Celsius from Obsidian Therapeutics, where he was chief operating officer and head of corporate development. His experience also includes posts at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and … Continue reading “Celsius Therapeutics Appoints Tariq Kassum President & CEO”
InGeneron Adds $23M to Test Stem Cell Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears
Houston — Stem-cell technology developer InGeneron has added another $23 million to a Series D financing it announced in 2017, bringing the total of the funding round to $43 million. Based in Houston, InGeneron plans to use the money for a clinical study in rotator cuff tendinopathy, a swelling of the tendons and muscles that support … Continue reading “InGeneron Adds $23M to Test Stem Cell Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears”
Insurance Tech Startup CyberFortress Starts Risk Assessment Service
San Antonio—CyberFortress, an insurance tech startup founded late last year, is graduating from the Plug and Play accelerator and launching a new service that gauges how vulnerable ecommerce businesses are to hacking. The service assesses the risk of an ecommerce business being taken down because of something like a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack or ransomware, … Continue reading “Insurance Tech Startup CyberFortress Starts Risk Assessment Service”
Roundup: Code Jam Detroit, League of Legends, Genomenon, MTRAC, More
As summer tries to make itself known between long bouts of rain, Michigan’s entrepreneurs have been busy dreaming up new products, launching programs, adding new personnel, and more. Read on for details. —Tune into a live webinar at 1 p.m. ET today from Meeting of the Minds called “When Machines Do Everything in Smart Cities: … Continue reading “Roundup: Code Jam Detroit, League of Legends, Genomenon, MTRAC, More”
CymaBay Therapeutics Stumbles in NASH Race, Shares Fall
One of the entrants in the ultra-competitive race to develop treatments for the fatty liver disease known nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) suffered a setback in clinical testing today, but the company, Cymabay Therapeutics, still believes its drug could show promise as the study continues. Cymabay (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CBAY]]), of Newark, CA, reported interim results from a Phase … Continue reading “CymaBay Therapeutics Stumbles in NASH Race, Shares Fall”
Trust No One: Edgewise Raises $11M to Segment and Secure Networks
[Updated 12:01 pm, 6/11/18. See below.] The retreat underway in cybersecurity from the ramparts of the outward-facing firewall has spurred a crop of tech startups promising answer for the threat of hackers that in many cases can no longer be denied entrance to networks. This fallback stance has been the adoption of a “zero trust” … Continue reading “Trust No One: Edgewise Raises $11M to Segment and Secure Networks”
Polco’s Tools Help Governments Coax Citizens Out of Echo Chambers
[Updated 6/11/19, 7:31 am CT. See below.] Nick Mastronardi is finding success in countering the negative trend of endless partisan bickering by helping local governments gather public sentiments through online polling. Mastronardi (pictured above) is co-founder and CEO of Polco, a company based in Madison, WI, that he says is growing thanks to its ability to … Continue reading “Polco’s Tools Help Governments Coax Citizens Out of Echo Chambers”
Celebrating San Diego Life Sciences: Xconomy Awards Gala Slideshow
We at Xconomy were thrilled to see such a great turnout at our first-ever awards gala in San Diego. About 250 people from the local life sciences community filled a ballroom at Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa (see photos above). As Greg Huang, Xconomy’s editor in chief, said in his opening remarks before a … Continue reading “Celebrating San Diego Life Sciences: Xconomy Awards Gala Slideshow”
Salesforce to Boost Analytics Suite With $15.7B Deal to Buy Tableau
[Updated 6/11/19 10:36 a.m. See below.] Salesforce is joining forces with Tableau Software, announcing Monday it plans to acquire Seattle-based Tableau in an all-stock deal valued at $15.7 billion. The transaction would combine one of the world’s largest and best known sales-focused software vendors, San Francisco-based Salesforce, with one of the leading vendors of data visualization … Continue reading “Salesforce to Boost Analytics Suite With $15.7B Deal to Buy Tableau”
Artizan Bio Taps Synlogic’s Paul Miller for Chief Scientific Officer
Paul Miller has joined Artizan Biosciences as chief scientific officer, the same position he held at Synlogic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SYBX]]). Miller’s experience also includes senior roles at AstraZeneca (NYSE: [[ticker:AZN]]) and Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]). New Haven, CT-based Artizan Bio, a spinout of Yale University, is developing drugs that target the gut microbiome.
With Yale Tech and $12M, Artizan Aims for Root Cause of Gut Disease
A number of startups are targeting the gut microbiome as a way to potentially treat disease, but identifying specific microbes at the root of illness is a challenge. Although software that analyzes troves of biological data helps, the trillions of gut microbes make the research like looking for a needle in a haystack, says James … Continue reading “With Yale Tech and $12M, Artizan Aims for Root Cause of Gut Disease”
Merck Bags Tilos, Adding an Immunotherapy Booster to Its Arsenal
Cancer immunotherapy leader Merck continued to roll up oncology assets with a deal this morning to acquire privately held Tilos Therapeutics. Merck (NYSE: [[ticker:MRK]]) didn’t disclose how much it will pay up front for Tilos, a Lexington, MA, startup developing drugs for cancer, fibrosis, and autoimmune diseases. But the overall payout could reach $773 million … Continue reading “Merck Bags Tilos, Adding an Immunotherapy Booster to Its Arsenal”
3 Tips to Boost Security, Trust With Increasingly Remote Workforce
Employers are increasingly offering remote work options as a differentiator to attract top talent in today’s competitive hiring market. And, with modern technology at their fingertips, employees have come to expect a seamless working experience whether they’re home, in the office, or on the road. These new expectations, coupled with the increase of contract and … Continue reading “3 Tips to Boost Security, Trust With Increasingly Remote Workforce”
Tealium CEO, Founder Among San Diego’s Entrepreneurs of the Year
Two executives at software company Tealium were recognized Thursday with a regional “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from EY for their leadership of the rapidly growing San Diego-based tech firm, which recently raised $55 million in outside investment. Tealium CEO Jeff Lunsford and Mike Anderson, its founder and CTO, were jointly given the Software category … Continue reading “Tealium CEO, Founder Among San Diego’s Entrepreneurs of the Year”
Mark Your Calendars: Startup Week Detroit Kicks Off on June 17
Every year, Detroit’s entrepreneurial community comes together for a five-day event encompassing panel discussions, TED talk-style keynote speeches, bootcamps, tech demos, and networking happy hours, all of which are open to the public and free upon registration. Techstars Startup Week Detroit kicks off on June 17, but the registration process is already underway for those … Continue reading “Mark Your Calendars: Startup Week Detroit Kicks Off on June 17”
Vertex Pharma Shells Out $420M to Move Into Muscular Dystrophy
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is committing $420 million in a pair of deals that expand the company’s research scope to experimental genetic treatments for two forms of muscular dystrophy. Boston-based Vertex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) announced late Thursday that it reached an agreement to pay $245 million up front to acquire Exonics, a company using gene editing techniques to … Continue reading “Vertex Pharma Shells Out $420M to Move Into Muscular Dystrophy”
Boston Tech Watch: IKEA and Ori, Skyworks and Huawei & Massport and Turo
[Updated 6/7/19, 9:50 am. See below.] Quite a range of topics in this week’s batch of Boston technology news: robot furniture, male fertility, airport car rental spats, as well as the usual deals and acquisitions. Read on for more: —Boston-headquartered robotics startup Ori Living and IKEA are collaborating on a line of furniture for small … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: IKEA and Ori, Skyworks and Huawei & Massport and Turo”
Bio Roundup: ASCO Wrap, Bluebird’s EU Tap, CRISPR Baby Risk & More
Welcome to conference week. That’s not an official moniker, but is there any busier time on the biopharma calendar? As the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting wrapped up in Chicago, the annual BIO conference kicked off in Philadelphia, and a deep dive into diabetes begins today in San Francisco. With half the biopharma world, … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: ASCO Wrap, Bluebird’s EU Tap, CRISPR Baby Risk & More”
Agtech Startup GroGuru Gets Audience Kudos at EvoNexus Demo Day
Three wildly different startups among those incubating at EvoNexus, a La Jolla, CA-based nonprofit organization that supports early-stage tech companies, earned top marks from the audience at a pitch contest this week. EvoNexus typically hosts a “Demo Day” event twice per year to highlight the top startups currently housed in its incubator. The event is … Continue reading “Agtech Startup GroGuru Gets Audience Kudos at EvoNexus Demo Day”
Grail’s Cook Steps Down, Former Juno Executive Bishop Named CEO
Grail CEO Jennifer Cook has stepped down from the cancer diagnostics developer and its board of directors. Menlo Park, CA-based Grail said Thursday that Cook left due to “family health reasons.” Hans Bishop, a Grail director since last August, was appointed Cook’s successor in the chief executive role. He will also remain on Grail’s board. … Continue reading “Grail’s Cook Steps Down, Former Juno Executive Bishop Named CEO”
Synapse Banks $33M to Grow its Automated Back Office for Fintechs
Prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has jumped in to back San Francisco startup Synapse, which has assembled a plug-in infrastructure to process financial transactions for banks as well as fintech startups. Andreessen led a Series B fundraising round that yielded $33 million for Synapse, which handles payments from checking accounts and credit cards, … Continue reading “Synapse Banks $33M to Grow its Automated Back Office for Fintechs”
Agios Chief Scientific Officer Scott Biller to Retire at End of Year
Scott Biller, chief scientific officer of Agios Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AGIO]]) since 2010, is retiring at the end of this year. The Cambridge, MA-based company said that Biller will continue as an advisor through the end of 2020. Agios, which develops drugs to treat cancer and rare diseases, is searching for Biller’s successor. Last year, Agios … Continue reading “Agios Chief Scientific Officer Scott Biller to Retire at End of Year”
BlueRock’s Lodie Joins Gamida Cell as Chief Scientific Officer
Gamida Cell (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GMDA]]) has appointed Tracey Lodie to serve as its chief scientific officer. She succeeds Tony Peled, who will move to the newly created chief technology officer position. Lodie comes to Gamida Cell from BlueRock Therapeutics, where she was senior vice president, translational immunology. Gamida Cell, which is based in Israel and maintains … Continue reading “BlueRock’s Lodie Joins Gamida Cell as Chief Scientific Officer”
Michigan-Israel Biz Group’s Website Maps State’s Startup Ecosystem
Efforts by Michigan’s economic development officials to strengthen ties to Israeli companies over the past few years have apparently borne fruit. The Great Lake State is the first in the nation to partner with Israel’s Start-Up Nation Central on a free website that aims to map Michigan’s startup ecosystem and build bridges to the Israeli … Continue reading “Michigan-Israel Biz Group’s Website Maps State’s Startup Ecosystem”
Rocket Engines & Startup Fuel: NM, Abodo, & More WI Headlines
It’s time to catch up on recent Wisconsin innovation news, including more funding for startups and expanded production of rocket engines in the Madison area. Read on for more details. —Northwestern Mutual said it’s pumping $150 million into its second in-house venture capital fund. The Milwaukee-based insurance and wealth management services giant invested $50 million … Continue reading “Rocket Engines & Startup Fuel: NM, Abodo, & More WI Headlines”
Immunovant Hires Salzmann Away From Eli Lilly for CEO Post
Veteran Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]) executive Pete Salzmann has been appointed CEO of Immunovant. Salzmann has spent 20 years at Lilly, most recently as global clinical development leader for baricitinib (Olumiant), the rheumatoid arthritis drug that won FDA approval last year. Immunovant, which splits its operations between New York and Basel, Switzerland, is a subsidiary … Continue reading “Immunovant Hires Salzmann Away From Eli Lilly for CEO Post”
LabCorp CEO David King to Retire, Adam Schechter Named Successor
David King, president and CEO of LabCorp (NYSE: [[ticker:LH]]) since 2007, is retiring. The Burlington, NC-based diagnostics and laboratory testing company said that after King retires on Oct. 31, he will become executive director of the company’s board of directors. LabCorp’s current lead independent director, Adam Schechter, will succeed King as president and CEO on … Continue reading “LabCorp CEO David King to Retire, Adam Schechter Named Successor”
Cerf, Kahn, Perlman, Hillis & More at Net@50: Get Tix to Historic Event
How did the internet arise to change the world—and where is it heading? Given the state of technology and society, what are the best ways to curtail the spread of misinformation (among other challenges) and the harm it can bring? At the World Frontiers Forum and Xconomy, we can’t promise to cover everything, but we … Continue reading “Cerf, Kahn, Perlman, Hillis & More at Net@50: Get Tix to Historic Event”
Novartis’s Hirawat to Join Bristol-Myers as Chief Medical Officer
Samit Hirawat is joining Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) to become chief medical officer, global drug development. Hirawat was most recently executive vice president and head of oncology development at Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]). He’ll start his new role after Bristol completes its acquisition of Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]). In other C-suite moves, Bristol said that Tom Lynch, … Continue reading “Novartis’s Hirawat to Join Bristol-Myers as Chief Medical Officer”
Carmera Scores Lear Partnership, Adds Ex-Waymo Exec to Advisory Team
The month of May was big for Carmera, a startup in New York City developing high-definition maps for use in autonomous vehicles. The company rolled out a new development partnership with auto supplier Lear, and it landed a big name advisor and investor with Shaun Stewart, the former chief business officer of self-driving technology business … Continue reading “Carmera Scores Lear Partnership, Adds Ex-Waymo Exec to Advisory Team”
Ex-Vertex Pharma Exec Patricia Hurter to Join Lyndra as CEO
Patricia Hurter is joining Lyndra Therapeutics to become the Watertown, MA, company’s CEO. She will start her new role on Sept. 3. Hurter’s experience includes serving as senior vice president of pharmaceutical and preclinical sciences at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]). Lyndra’s current CEO, Amy Schulman, will become executive chair of the company’s board. Lyndra is … Continue reading “Ex-Vertex Pharma Exec Patricia Hurter to Join Lyndra as CEO”
ASCO 2019: The Long Game, Targeted Pills, First-Ever Buzz & More
The American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago has wrapped up for another year. Last week, we featured two stories that you wouldn’t find at the ASCO frenzy: Immunotherapy’s lack of progress in treating breast cancer, and one woman’s risky bet of tens of millions of dollars from her personal fortune to speed drug … Continue reading “ASCO 2019: The Long Game, Targeted Pills, First-Ever Buzz & More”