Syntimmune, a biotech startup formed by the veteran founders of the hemophilia drug developer Syntonix, has been acquired by Alexion Pharmaceuticals for $400 million in cash up front. Syntimmune is right in Alexion’s (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALXN]]) wheelhouse. The Boston-based firm is best known for eculizumab (Soliris), a drug for ultra-rare blood diseases. In buying Syntimmune, Alexion … Continue reading “Syntimmune Turns Drug For Rare Anemia Into $400M Alexion Buyout”
Catch CRISPR 2.0, RNA-Targeting Drugs & More At “Disruptors” on Oct. 17
These days biotechs are raising cash and going public at a record pace. But before the Wall Street buzz and the big raises, they all started somewhere—with an idea, a pitch, and perhaps a little luck. Xconomy dives into these company creation stories at “Boston’s Life Science Disruptors,” our yearly look under the hood at … Continue reading “Catch CRISPR 2.0, RNA-Targeting Drugs & More At “Disruptors” on Oct. 17”
Former Alnylam Exec Jared Gollob Named Kymera Chief Medical Officer
Jared Gollob has been appointed chief medical officer of Cambridge, MA-based Kymera Therapeutics. Gollob most recently worked at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ALNY]]) where he was vice president of clinical development and global vice president of medical affairs. Kymera is developing drugs based on protein degradation, the process cells use to rid themselves of harmful proteins.
Genentech Executive Jason Ehrlich Joins Kodiak Sciences C-Suite
Kodiak Sciences, a Palo Alto, CA, eye drug developer, has appointed Jason Ehrlich to serve as chief medical officer and chief development officer. Ehrlich comes to Kodiak from Roche subsidiary, Genentech, where he was global head, clinical ophthalmology. Recently, Kodiak filed for an IPO to finance clinical trials testing its lead drug, KSI-301, in patients … Continue reading “Genentech Executive Jason Ehrlich Joins Kodiak Sciences C-Suite”
Vividion Names Receptos Alum Fred Aslan President
San Diego biotech Vividion Therapeutics, which says it is deploying proteomics and chemistry platforms to discover and develop novel small-molecule therapeutics, announced on Tuesday it has appointed Fred Aslan as its president and chief business officer. Aslan was a co-founder of Receptos Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Celgene for about $7 billion in 2015. Most … Continue reading “Vividion Names Receptos Alum Fred Aslan President”
VelocityTX Taps 8 South America Startups for San Antonio Accelerator
San Antonio—VelocityTX has selected eight startups from South America to join its Global Accelerator Program, which offers three months of training and information on building a business in the U.S. The program requires the companies to open a satellite office in San Antonio. VelocityTX picked the eight startups from 300 candidates with the help of … Continue reading “VelocityTX Taps 8 South America Startups for San Antonio Accelerator”
WaveSense Uses Ground-Penetrating Radar to Help Driverless Cars See
Those of us keeping tabs on the mobility industry have heard a lot about the development of sensors and other computer vision technologies to help autonomous vehicles “see” and interpret the landscape around them. WaveSense, a startup spun out of MIT, is adding ground-penetrating radar to the mix, which the company says could increase navigation … Continue reading “WaveSense Uses Ground-Penetrating Radar to Help Driverless Cars See”
Two Gemphire Execs Caught in Layoffs After Clinical Trial Setbacks
Gemphire Therapeutics is laying off five, including two executives, as the company grapples with clinical trial setbacks for its lead drug candidate. Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Mathieson and Chief Medical Officer Lee Golden have left Livonia, MI-based Gemphire (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GEMP]]), though the company says Mathieson agreed to consult with the company on financial and accounting … Continue reading “Two Gemphire Execs Caught in Layoffs After Clinical Trial Setbacks”
Morphic Nets Another $80M For Integrin Drugs & First Human Tests
Morphic Therapeutic, a startup from Harvard scientist-entrepreneur Tim Springer, has reloaded with an $80 million Series B round that should get the company to its first human tests. The round includes a number of crossover investors (including Invus and EcoR1; Novo Holdings and Omega Funds co-led the financing), which back both private and publicly traded … Continue reading “Morphic Nets Another $80M For Integrin Drugs & First Human Tests”
Former Kite Pharma Exec Anthony Polverino Named Zymeworks CSO
Anthony Polverino has been appointed executive vice president of early development and chief scientific officer of Vancouver, BC-based Zymeworks (NYSE: [[ticker:ZYME]]). Polverino most recently worked at Kite Pharma, where he was interim chief scientific officer, and prior to that, vice president of research. Kite was acquired by Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GILD]]) last year. Zymeworks develops … Continue reading “Former Kite Pharma Exec Anthony Polverino Named Zymeworks CSO”
Adrian Jubb Departs Achaogen for Immune-Onc Chief Medical Post
Adrian Jubb has been appointed chief medical officer of Palo Alto, CA-based Immune-Onc Therapeutics. Jubb comes to Immune-Onc from Achaogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AKAO]]), where he was vice president and head of early development. Immune-Onc also appointed An Song to serve as senior vice president of development sciences. Song most recently worked at Genentech as a senior … Continue reading “Adrian Jubb Departs Achaogen for Immune-Onc Chief Medical Post”
Alexion Hits Study Goals, Could Expand Blockbuster Drug to CNS
Alexion Pharmaceuticals’ flagship drug has made a strong case it can treat yet another rare disease, and the company is now mapping out plans to file for approval in the U.S. and other regions. The Boston company released preliminary Phase 3 data for eculizumab (Soliris) as a treatment for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a … Continue reading “Alexion Hits Study Goals, Could Expand Blockbuster Drug to CNS”
Human Augmentation, Throwable Robots & More at X·CON, Nov. 4-6
With fall officially here, it’s time to ask some big questions about the coming year—and decade. What will be the most transformative technology areas for society and business? What should students and innovators be doing to prepare for five to 10 years from now? Who are the leaders and companies that will shape this future? … Continue reading “Human Augmentation, Throwable Robots & More at X·CON, Nov. 4-6”
Gilead to Make Generic Hepatitis C Drugs and Cut Prices Up to 75%
Many large drug companies go to extraordinary lengths to fend off generic competition and extend the life of their patents, but Gilead today announced a highly unusual move in the opposite direction. In January 2019, the company will start selling “authorized” generic versions of two of its three hepatitis C (HCV) drugs, Epclusa and Harvoni, … Continue reading “Gilead to Make Generic Hepatitis C Drugs and Cut Prices Up to 75%”
Another Precision Step for Roche as Ignyta Drug Heads to Regulators
There was more news this morning in the advancement of precision cancer drugs, which target a tumor’s genetic signature. Roche plans to file for approval of entrectinib, a drug the Swiss firm acquired when it bought San Diego, CA-based Ignyta for $1.7 billion last year. Roche’s Genentech unit provided updated data pooled from three early … Continue reading “Another Precision Step for Roche as Ignyta Drug Heads to Regulators”
Amarin Soars as Fish Oil Pill Cuts Risk of Strokes in Long-Awaited Study
Can fish oil help prevent, or reduce the risk of heart disease? Several studies have failed to show that it can. But Amarin this morning is releasing data from a massive study showing that its prescription-grade fish oil pill, Vascepa, has done that—at least for some patients. Amarin (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMRN]]), of Bedminster, NJ, and Dublin, … Continue reading “Amarin Soars as Fish Oil Pill Cuts Risk of Strokes in Long-Awaited Study”
How Groups Are Closing the Security Skills Gap, Boosting Diversity
Today, there is a massive shortage of cybersecurity talent across the globe. According to a 2015 study from Frost & Sullivan and the (ISC)² Foundation, there could be more than 1.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally by 2020. As cybersecurity attacks and data breaches, unfortunately, become a matter of not if but when, security talent … Continue reading “How Groups Are Closing the Security Skills Gap, Boosting Diversity”
Adobe-Marketo Deal Could Spur Marketing Tech Tie-Ups, New Strategies
Marketo almost didn’t get off the ground. It was 2006, and Jon Miller and his Marketo co-founders were struggling to raise money from investors for their marketing technology startup. Their pitch was to use software to help businesses automate much of the process of tracking and managing the online sales leads they were getting from … Continue reading “Adobe-Marketo Deal Could Spur Marketing Tech Tie-Ups, New Strategies”
Equillium Plans IPO to Fund Clinical Trials for Transplant Drug
Equillium, a biotech startup developing treatments for immune system disorders—including an immune response that affects some transplant recipients—is preparing for an IPO to finance tests of its lead drug. The company set a preliminary IPO target of $86 million, according to documents filed this week with securities regulators, and has applied to be listed on … Continue reading “Equillium Plans IPO to Fund Clinical Trials for Transplant Drug”
Packers, Microsoft Drop Accelerator Plans; TitleTownTech Still a Go
TitleTownTech, a soon-to-be-launched joint venture between the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and tech giant Microsoft, has hit the brakes on a startup accelerator the two organizations had previously said they planned to run together. Craig Dickman, whom the Packers named managing director of TitleTownTech earlier this week, says the goal of the joint venture—spurring digital-age … Continue reading “Packers, Microsoft Drop Accelerator Plans; TitleTownTech Still a Go”
Sigstr Snags $4M Funding Round as Marketing Tech Sector Gets Hotter
Sigstr, the Indianapolis-based marketing tech startup, announced this week that it has raised $4 million in new venture funding. The round was led by Edison Partners, with participation from past investors, including Hyde Park Venture Partners, HubSpot Ventures, High Alpha Capital, Battery Ventures, and 4G Ventures. Bryan Wade, Sigstr’s CEO, says the company plans to … Continue reading “Sigstr Snags $4M Funding Round as Marketing Tech Sector Gets Hotter”
SR One’s Brian Gallagher Jumps to Abingworth for Partner Post
Brian Gallagher is joining London-based Abingworth as a partner based in the life sciences investment firm’s Boston office. Gallagher comes to Abingworth from SR One, the venture capital arm of GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]), where was a partner. Before SR One, Gallagher was senior director of corporate development at Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by GSK … Continue reading “SR One’s Brian Gallagher Jumps to Abingworth for Partner Post”
Portola Pharma Picks Scott Garland to Succeed Bill Lis as CEO
Scott Garland will become president and CEO of Portola Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTLA]]) effective Oct. 8. Garland will also join the South San Francisco, CA, company’s board of directors. Garland is coming to Portola from Redwood City, CA-based Relypsa, where he has served as president, and prior to that, chief commercial officer. Portola began looking for … Continue reading “Portola Pharma Picks Scott Garland to Succeed Bill Lis as CEO”
Y-mAbs Upsizes IPO, Gets $96M to Test Two Pediatric Cancer Drugs
Cancer drug developer Y-mAbs Therapeutics is the latest biotech company to go public, raising $96 million in its IPO. New York-based Y-mAbs priced its offering of 6 million shares at $16 each, which was the high end of its projected range. The company had planned to sell 5.3 million shares priced at $14 to $16 … Continue reading “Y-mAbs Upsizes IPO, Gets $96M to Test Two Pediatric Cancer Drugs”
In Adobe’s $4.75B Acquisition of Marketo, a Signal for Marketing Tech
Tech giant Adobe announced Thursday it is buying marketing-software firm Marketo for $4.75 billion. The move may have a ripple effect on the realm of enterprise sales and marketing. Marketo, based in San Mateo, CA, was founded in 2006 and built its business on marketing automation—using software to track and manage potential customers’ interactions with … Continue reading “In Adobe’s $4.75B Acquisition of Marketo, a Signal for Marketing Tech”
Europe Advisory Panel Rejects Sarepta’s Duchenne Drug Once Again
Sarepta Therapeutics won one of the most controversial drug approvals in recent memory, when the FDA in September 2016 approved the Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug eteplirsen (Exondys 51) off a slim set of data. The Cambridge, MA, company isn’t having the same luck in Europe. Sarepta (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SRPT]]) said today that the Committee for Medicinal … Continue reading “Europe Advisory Panel Rejects Sarepta’s Duchenne Drug Once Again”
Microbiome Startup uBiome Expands into Drug Research with $83M
Biotech company uBiome started as a “citizen science” project that collected and studied microbiome samples in order to learn how the trillions of bacteria living in and on people’s bodies affect human health. Six years and 250,000 samples later, uBiome is now moving beyond simply helping people understand their microbiomes. The San Francisco company has … Continue reading “Microbiome Startup uBiome Expands into Drug Research with $83M”
San Antonio Makes Pact to Commercialize Military, Academic Research
San Antonio — Life science groups, city officials, and research institutes in San Antonio are organizing an effort to commercialize more scientific developments coming out of the city’s military organizations. The goal of the project is to develop an alliance between researchers at San Antonio’s numerous military medical units, the two University of Texas institutions in … Continue reading “San Antonio Makes Pact to Commercialize Military, Academic Research”
Bio Roundup: Little Rhody, More for Migraine, Opioid Bills & More
The U.S. Senate had a rare moment of agreement, overwhelmingly passing a package of opioid-related bills. Up the East Coast, life-science players in Rhode Island are working to bring different local factions together and boost the state’s economy. Across the country, a similar effort is underway in Los Angeles. There were also plenty of headlines … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Little Rhody, More for Migraine, Opioid Bills & More”
Convoy Reloads With $185M For Its Freight Shipment Marketplace
Convoy, an online marketplace that connects shippers with freight truck fleets and independent drivers, announced today it raised $185 million in a Series C fundraising round led by CapitalG, the growth equity investment fund of Alphabet, Google’s parent company. With its new funding, Seattle-based Convoy plans to continue expanding its network of customers and truckers … Continue reading “Convoy Reloads With $185M For Its Freight Shipment Marketplace”
MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge to Honor Winners at Detroit Event
Technology has been transforming the way we work for decades, and MIT believes figuring out how to leverage it to rethink jobs and community prosperity is a grand technological challenge of our time. To respond to what the university calls an “economic and moral imperative,” it created the Inclusive Innovation Challenge (IIC), which lands in … Continue reading “MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge to Honor Winners at Detroit Event”
Elanco IPO Raises $1.5B as the Animal Health Biz Spins Off from Lilly
Elanco is now a standalone company after raising $1.5 billion in its stock market debut. Greenfield, IN-based Elanco (NYSE: [[ticker:ELAN]]) sold 62.9 million shares at $24 apiece, which topped the $20 to $23 range it had initially targeted. Investors showed their appetite for the animal health company, driving its stock price up more than 39 … Continue reading “Elanco IPO Raises $1.5B as the Animal Health Biz Spins Off from Lilly”
Rapid7 Launches Security Automation Tools to Take On IBM, FireEye
[Updated 9/20/18, 1:04 pm. See below.] Cybersecurity software firm Rapid7 is rolling out new and updated products geared toward helping customers automate more of their security processes and tie together the patchwork of defense mechanisms many of them have purchased from various vendors. The announcement fits into two big trends in security of the past … Continue reading “Rapid7 Launches Security Automation Tools to Take On IBM, FireEye”
Packers, Cool Products, Cellectar & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
Catch up on news from Wisconsin’s innovation community with these recent headlines: —The NFL’s Green Bay Packers said Craig Dickman has been named managing director of TitleTownTech, a joint venture between the team and Microsoft that’s aimed at spurring digital-age economic activity in northeastern Wisconsin. Dickman is the founder and former CEO of Breakthrough Fuel, … Continue reading “Packers, Cool Products, Cellectar & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
Mi Padrino Builds Event-Planning Hub for Latino Communities in U.S.
Kim Gamez, CEO and co-founder of the Ann Arbor, MI-based startup Mi Padrino, is a self-described “all-American Gringa” who grew up in farm country. She fell in love with Hispanic culture as she got to know her husband Hugo, a native of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. One of her favorite traditions was that of the … Continue reading “Mi Padrino Builds Event-Planning Hub for Latino Communities in U.S.”
Amicus Shells Out $100M For Celenex And Dives Into Gene Therapy
Fresh off finally winning an FDA nod for its first product, Amicus Therapeutics is getting in on the gene therapy renaissance. This morning, Cranbury, NJ-based Amicus (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FOLD]]) agreed to pay $100 million up front to buy a privately held company, Celenex, spun out of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio. The acquisition gives Amicus a … Continue reading “Amicus Shells Out $100M For Celenex And Dives Into Gene Therapy”
3 Life Science Startups Join San Diego’s Ad Astra Accelerator
Three San Diego life science startups have been selected to go through the Ad Astra Ventures accelerator program, a relatively new addition to the San Diego scene. Ad Astra, which means “to the stars” in Latin, was founded this year by three local entrepreneurs and investors interested in bolstering the efforts of women-led companies. Earlier … Continue reading “3 Life Science Startups Join San Diego’s Ad Astra Accelerator”
Real Estate Startup Bungalo Launches with $225M, Could Land $1B More
Austin—An Austin real estate investment company has launched a buyer-focused, online residential home search business called Bungalo Technologies. Amherst, a business that uses data and analytics to invest billions of dollars into public securities and residential and commercial real estate, is launching Bungalo with $225 million in funding upfront, and says it will invest another … Continue reading “Real Estate Startup Bungalo Launches with $225M, Could Land $1B More”
Jamf Buys Austin, TX-Based Enterprise Software Firm Orchard & Grove
Jamf, an enterprise IT company based in Minneapolis but with roots and employees in Eau Claire, WI, said Wednesday that it has acquired Orchard & Grove, an Austin, TX-based software developer. Jamf helps businesses set up and manage Apple (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AAPL]]) computers and mobile devices that employees use to do their jobs. Orchard & Grove … Continue reading “Jamf Buys Austin, TX-Based Enterprise Software Firm Orchard & Grove”
Aduro Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer Sacks to Resign in October
Natalie Sacks will resign from her position as chief medical officer of Aduro Biotech (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADRO]]) effective Oct. 1, the cancer immunotherapy developer announced Wednesday. Berkeley, CA-based Aduro gave no reason for the resignation, but said that Sacks will continue to advise the company through a consulting agreement. Sacks joined Aduro in 2016. Last year, … Continue reading “Aduro Biotech’s Chief Medical Officer Sacks to Resign in October”
Aegerion’s Jeffrey Bloss Joins Tarveda as Chief Medical Officer
Jeffrey Bloss has been appointed chief medical officer of Tarveda Therapeutics. Bloss comes to Watertown, MA-based Tarveda from Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, where he was chief medical officer and senior vice president, medical affairs. His experience includes senior roles at Astellas Pharma (OTCMKTS: [[ticker:ALPMY]]), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: [[ticker:GSK]]), Genentech, and Eli Lilly (NYSE: [[ticker:LLY]]). Last year, Tarveda raised … Continue reading “Aegerion’s Jeffrey Bloss Joins Tarveda as Chief Medical Officer”
May Mobility Rolling Out Self-Driving Shuttles in Ohio’s Capital
May Mobility, the Detroit-based startup putting self-driving shuttles on urban streets, today announced it will soon begin operations in a new city: Columbus, OH. May has operated autonomous shuttles in downtown Detroit since June, providing transportation to employees of Bedrock, a private company. By contrast, May’s Ohio shuttles will be open to the public, says … Continue reading “May Mobility Rolling Out Self-Driving Shuttles in Ohio’s Capital”
In Boston’s Shadow, Rhode Island Fights for Life Science Jobs, Respect
[Updated 9/19/18, 3:40 p.m. See below.] Tiny Rhode Island and its capital city Providence have always punched above their weight, for better or for worse. Better: Little Rhody’s founder Roger Williams, fleeing religious persecution in 17th-century puritanical Massachusetts, was one of America’s first abolitionists and created the concept of the separation of church and state. … Continue reading “In Boston’s Shadow, Rhode Island Fights for Life Science Jobs, Respect”
Boston Tech Watch: Akili, Smartsheet, Tamr, Takeoff, Nanoramic & More
[Updated 9/19/18, 2:08 pm. See below.] It’s time to catch up on some recent Boston-area tech happenings: —Takeoff Technologies, a Waltham, MA-based developer of robotic systems for grocery order fulfillment, recently raised $24 million from investors, the company said in an e-mail to Xconomy. The Series B funding round was led by Forrestal Capital and brings … Continue reading “Boston Tech Watch: Akili, Smartsheet, Tamr, Takeoff, Nanoramic & More”
NIH Using Vaccines from Madison Startup FluGen in New Clinical Trial
Researchers are testing a flu vaccine developed by FluGen, a Madison, WI-based startup, to determine whether it can protect recipients against strains of the virus that vary from the predominant flu strain predicted by health experts each year. Many people get a flu shot this time of year in hopes that it will help them … Continue reading “NIH Using Vaccines from Madison Startup FluGen in New Clinical Trial”
Biocom Opens New Bay Area Office, Forms Advisory Group
San Diego’s Biocom industry group announced Monday the latest development in its steady northward expansion. Biocom, which promotes and lobbies on behalf of life science companies, said it has opened a new office in the San Francisco Bay Area and formed an advisory board of local executives. The association, which represents more than 1,000 companies … Continue reading “Biocom Opens New Bay Area Office, Forms Advisory Group”
UiPath Snags $225M To Expand Robotic Workforce for Businesses
Top venture capital firms continue to pour money into software robotics companies that promise to automate monotonous business operations, like processing mortgage applications, that are often performed by humans. New York-based UiPath is the latest such company to score a haul, announcing Tuesday it raised $225 million in a Series C funding round co-led by … Continue reading “UiPath Snags $225M To Expand Robotic Workforce for Businesses”
San Antonio’s Filestack Buys SF-based Content Marketing Service Tint
San Antonio—Software-as-a-service business Filestack is acquiring one of its customers, Tint, which makes software that aggregates social media posts and other online content for large corporations and organizations to use in marketing. Tint is based in San Francisco, and has an application programming interface (API) that lets a brand or business display content, which has … Continue reading “San Antonio’s Filestack Buys SF-based Content Marketing Service Tint”
15 San Diego Companies Chosen for Defense Innovation Program
A federally funded pilot program will provide 15 local defense contractors with free consulting services and six monthly “boot camp” workshops as part of a regionwide effort to help such companies better prepare to navigate changes in federal defense funding. Technology developed in San Diego for defense purposes has helped to seed the region’s private … Continue reading “15 San Diego Companies Chosen for Defense Innovation Program”
NorthStar Names Merrick CEO, Appoints Hendricks as Board Chair
NorthStar Medical Technologies, which is seeking to become the first U.S. company in decades to domestically produce a widely used medical radioisotope, said it has appointed Stephen Merrick as CEO. Merrick joined Beloit, WI-based NorthStar in 2016 as the company’s chief operating officer and was later given the title of president, which he’ll continue to … Continue reading “NorthStar Names Merrick CEO, Appoints Hendricks as Board Chair”