Another attempt to use a combination of drugs to improve upon the current treatments for age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly, has failed. The news is a setback for Tarrytown, NY-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:REGN]]), which is trying to fend off the competition for its most successful drug, a … Continue reading “As AMD Race Tightens, Regeneron’s Second Eye Drug Combo Falls Short”
Xconomy’s Diversity Award Winners Show How to Foster an Inclusive Workforce
How did Joan Reede, Harvard Medical School’s head of diversity, decide to pursue a medical career? Credit television. As a young girl, Reede says she was interested in nursing. Her aunt was a nurse and she thought nursing was a woman’s job. But while in junior high, she stumbled upon the popular 1960s TV medical … Continue reading “Xconomy’s Diversity Award Winners Show How to Foster an Inclusive Workforce”
After Successful Pilot, Apprenti Expands Tech Training Program
Those of us who keep tabs on the tech world hear a lot about the challenges of hiring and retaining IT talent. According to a forecast by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 1.3 million new computer programming and computer support specialist jobs will be created across the country by 2022, and as businesses … Continue reading “After Successful Pilot, Apprenti Expands Tech Training Program”
ClimaCell Bags $15M to Predict Weather from Wireless Network Signals
Local meteorologists might avoid being the butt of so many jokes, if the latest crop of weather technology startups have their way. A number of young companies are trying to improve the methods for tracking and predicting the weather. Some are tackling the problem from space, like Spire Global, whose network of small satellites gather … Continue reading “ClimaCell Bags $15M to Predict Weather from Wireless Network Signals”
Health IT Firm Cariloop Expands to Include Wider Group of Caregivers
Dallas—A little over a year ago, Michael Walsh rethought his assumptions in using technology to disrupt the eldercare market. He switched the objective of his company, Cariloop, from connecting seniors to appropriate care centers—using analytics software to make the match—to focusing on the family members around them who were navigating a new process figuring out … Continue reading “Health IT Firm Cariloop Expands to Include Wider Group of Caregivers”
Keyo’s Identity Verification Tools Highlight Latest Gener8tor Class
Smartphone makers like Apple, Google, and Samsung have in recent years introduced services allowing users to pay for coffee, food, and other items using their mobile devices. But several upstart companies, including Chicago-based Keyo, are betting that consumers will ultimately gravitate toward technologies that allow them to make purchases without having to take their wallets … Continue reading “Keyo’s Identity Verification Tools Highlight Latest Gener8tor Class”
Cytokinetics Pivots to Another ALS Drug After Phase 3 Failure
Cytokinetics’ bid to offer a new drug for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was dealt a setback after the company’s lead experimental treatment for the disease failed in a late-stage clinical trial. The results mean the end for tirasemtiv, one of the drugs furthest along in clinical development for the muscle-weakening condition also known as Lou … Continue reading “Cytokinetics Pivots to Another ALS Drug After Phase 3 Failure”
Cardiovate Adds $650K for Device Aiming to Replace Clogged Arteries
San Antonio — Medical device maker Cardiovate has closed a $1 million seed round of funding from an existing group of investors to help it begin a year-long animal study on a scaffold that the company believes can regenerate vascular tissue—which is especially useful for repairing blocked arteries. Founded in 2012 by a student and … Continue reading “Cardiovate Adds $650K for Device Aiming to Replace Clogged Arteries”
Biogen Finds Clancy’s Replacement, Names Capello New CFO
Biogen (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]) has named Jeffrey Capello its new executive vice president and chief financial officer. Capello, a former Boston Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]), Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, and PerkinElmer (NYSE: [[ticker:PKI]]) executive, will start on December 11. Biogen has been searching for a CFO ever since Paul Clancy, who spent more than 16 years at the company, … Continue reading “Biogen Finds Clancy’s Replacement, Names Capello New CFO”
Two Weeks Til What’s Hot in Cybersecurity: Startups Can Win Tickets!
We are only two weeks away from “What’s Hot in Cybersecurity”—and we’re offering you a chance to save $145 on regular registration. Join us for an afternoon of spotlight talks, fireside chats, and panel discussions that will delve into a variety of cutting-edge cybersecurity topics. It all takes place on Tuesday, December 5, at WGBH’s … Continue reading “Two Weeks Til What’s Hot in Cybersecurity: Startups Can Win Tickets!”
Genomenon Creates Automated, Evidence-Based Cancer Gene Panel
Genomenon, a University of Michigan spinout developing analytics and data visualization software for the genomics industry, last week announced it has created an evidence-based cancer gene panel using automated machine learning techniques. Gene panels are used by clinicians to analyze mutations in patient samples. Genomenon’s panel was produced using its software tool, the Mastermind Genomic … Continue reading “Genomenon Creates Automated, Evidence-Based Cancer Gene Panel”
Promentis, Stem Cells, Foxconn, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist
A recently launched clinical study, highway lanes for autonomous vehicles, and a ruling in an intellectual property-focused court case are among these recent headlines from Wisconsin’s innovation community: —Promentis Pharmaceuticals, a Milwaukee-based developer of drugs designed to modify brain chemistry to treat central nervous system disorders, said it has started a Phase 1 clinical study … Continue reading “Promentis, Stem Cells, Foxconn, & More: This Week’s WI Watchlist”
What Steps Should NY Biotech Take in 2018? Share Your View on Dec. 11
Change takes time. Particularly in the life sciences, where a single drug’s journey from idea to market can consist of more than a decade of small, yet critical steps. For New York, then, aspirations to become a region known for its biotech industry are—and always have been—a long game in which every year and bit … Continue reading “What Steps Should NY Biotech Take in 2018? Share Your View on Dec. 11”
Acorda Scraps One Parkinson’s Drug, Puts Its Cash Behind Another
Acorda Therapeutics said Monday that it will stop work on an experimental treatment for Parkinson’s disease, spelling the end for a drug the Ardsley, NY, company added to its pipeline last year in a $363 million deal. The announcement follows the recent emergence of safety problems for the Acorda (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACOR]]) drug, tozadenant. Acorda said … Continue reading “Acorda Scraps One Parkinson’s Drug, Puts Its Cash Behind Another”
Locus Robotics Gets $25M to Help Warehouse Owners Compete With Amazon
As we head into holiday shopping season, here’s some news on the e-commerce warehouse front. Locus Robotics, based in Wilmington, MA, says it has secured $25 million in Series B funding led by Scale Venture Partners. The new money brings Locus Robotics’ total venture haul to at least $33 million. Founded in 2015, Locus Robotics makes … Continue reading “Locus Robotics Gets $25M to Help Warehouse Owners Compete With Amazon”
Lacking Details, Roche Touts Drug Combo’s Success in Lung Cancer
[Corrected 10:15 a.m., 11/20/17. See below.] Roche’s Genentech division reported this morning that its cancer immunotherapy drug, atezolizumab (Tecentriq), has succeeded in a clinical study that could help change the standard of care for people with a certain type of lung cancer. The South San Francisco, CA-based Genentech said late Sunday night that in a … Continue reading “Lacking Details, Roche Touts Drug Combo’s Success in Lung Cancer”
Ed Kaye on Sarepta’s Duchenne Quest, Rising to CEO & His New Startup
[Updated, 2:45 pm ET, see below] Ed Kaye never thought he’d run a biotech —until waking up one day in 2015 realizing not only that he could, but that Sarepta Therapeutics, where he was chief medical officer at the time, may fall apart if he didn’t. In March 2015, Kaye (pictured) was one of many … Continue reading “Ed Kaye on Sarepta’s Duchenne Quest, Rising to CEO & His New Startup”
Adams Pivots From Advisory Role, Takes on Head Seat At Gamida Cell
Julian Adams, the former Infinity Pharmaceuticals R&D chief who famously helped shepherd along the multiple myeloma drug bortezomb (Velcade), has re-emerged as a full-time senior executive at a biotech company. Adams has been named the chairman and CEO of Jerusalem-based immunotherapy developer Gamida Cell, one of the portfolio companies of Israeli venture firm Clal Biotechnology … Continue reading “Adams Pivots From Advisory Role, Takes on Head Seat At Gamida Cell”
Cengage Defends Value of Digital Course Materials Amid Print Decline
Textbook publishers are making progress on shifting their businesses from print to mostly digital products. Now comes the hard part: figuring out how to reverse revenue declines when your business is built on digital course offerings that are generally much cheaper than books. Take Cengage, one of the largest education publishers. Digital products now comprise … Continue reading “Cengage Defends Value of Digital Course Materials Amid Print Decline”
Intel Deepens Move into Sports Tech with ScoreStream Investment
ScoreStream, a five-year-old startup that created a social media platform for crowd-sourcing local sports scores, has raised $3.7 million in a Series A round that includes Intel Capital as an investor. According to a recent ScoreStream statement, San Diego’s Avalon Ventures, a longtime ScoreStream investor, led the round, and was joined by Sinclair Broadcasting, Verizon … Continue reading “Intel Deepens Move into Sports Tech with ScoreStream Investment”
ImageMoverMD Installs New Leadership Team Aimed at Boosting Sales
ImageMoverMD, a Madison, WI-based startup whose products include software allowing healthcare providers and patients to securely transmit photos and videos taken with their smartphones, has recently made a series of leadership changes in a bid to ramp up the company’s revenues, executives say. K. Thomas Pickard, whom ImageMoverMD brought on as CEO in 2015, says he left … Continue reading “ImageMoverMD Installs New Leadership Team Aimed at Boosting Sales”
U.P.’s Orbion Space Technology Wins $500K Accelerate Michigan Prize
Midtown Detroit hosted two events this week that are among the biggest in the Southeast Michigan startup community: the Michigan Venture Capital Association’s annual awards gala, and the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, where 36 early-stage tech companies competed for nearly $1 million in cash and prizes, including a $500,000 grand prize. Although both events have … Continue reading “U.P.’s Orbion Space Technology Wins $500K Accelerate Michigan Prize”
Ionis Pharma Promotes Brett Monia to Chief Operating Officer
Brett Monia, a founder of Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IONS]]), is set to become chief operating officer of the Carlsbad, CA, company. Monia is currently head of drug discovery, where his oversight includes inotersen, a potential treatment for transthyretin amyloidosis. The rare disease causes the buildup of amyloid protein in the body’s organs and tissues. Earlier … Continue reading “Ionis Pharma Promotes Brett Monia to Chief Operating Officer”
Celgene Oncology Exec Pehl Named Immunomedics President and CEO
Michael Pehl has been appointed president and CEO of cancer drug developer Immunomedics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IMMU]]). Pehl comes to the Morris Plains, NJ, company from Celgene (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CELG]]), where he was president, hematology & oncology. He will start his new position at Immunomedics on Dec. 7. Immunomedics is moving forward with sacituzumab govitecan, a breast cancer … Continue reading “Celgene Oncology Exec Pehl Named Immunomedics President and CEO”
Stratim CEO Sees Future with Costly Driverless Cars, but Low Ride Fares
Like many tech entrepreneurs, Sean Behr had a young business that was popular with consumers, but was also losing money. So in February of 2016, he decided to refocus his San Francisco startup on the small, but unexpectedly profitable aspect of his service that could operate in the black. That pivot put Behr in a … Continue reading “Stratim CEO Sees Future with Costly Driverless Cars, but Low Ride Fares”
Five Questions For … Barbary Brunner, Austin Technology Council CEO
Austin—Barbary Brunner says Austin has always felt like home. She has made career stops in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver, but says the Texas capital was a lodestar. “Every time I’d come visit, it felt like Austin was calling out to me,” Brunner says. “When I lived in Seattle, it’s the place I’d come to … Continue reading “Five Questions For … Barbary Brunner, Austin Technology Council CEO”
Bio Roundup: ICER Eyes Cost, Azar at HHS, Gates’s ALZ Cash & More
In our roundup this week, Alzheimer’s disease is in the news, thanks to billionaire Bill Gates and his personal pledge of $100 million toward R&D. That could equal the amount one startup hopes to raise in an IPO to develop drugs for Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases. If a treatment became available, could our health … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: ICER Eyes Cost, Azar at HHS, Gates’s ALZ Cash & More”
Propeller, Express Scripts Partner to Monitor Asthma, COPD Patients
Propeller Health, a startup developing Internet-connected inhalers and complementary software to help people with respiratory disease manage their conditions, announced a new partnership with Express Scripts Thursday aimed at monitoring sensor-captured data to ensure patients are taking their medications as prescribed. Madison, WI-based Propeller’s tools are designed for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary … Continue reading “Propeller, Express Scripts Partner to Monitor Asthma, COPD Patients”
Healthcare + A.I. in Boston: The Photos
Our first forum focused on the intersection of healthcare and artificial intelligence was a truly standout event. We struck a nerve with this topic and timing, as healthcare and pharma companies are all trying to figure out (and implement) their A.I. and machine learning strategies. And it’s not easy. There’s no way to summarize the … Continue reading “Healthcare + A.I. in Boston: The Photos”
FDA Approves Genentech Hemophilia Drug, But Adds Safety Warning
The FDA has approved a Genentech drug meant to prevent or reduce bleeding in hemophilia A patients who have developed an immune response to currently available treatments for the condition. But Thursday’s approval of emicizumab-kxwh (Hemlibra) comes with a warning about severe blood clots. In clinical trials testing the drug from Genentech, the South San … Continue reading “FDA Approves Genentech Hemophilia Drug, But Adds Safety Warning”
At Seattle Children’s, Another Piece of Ambitious CAR-T Plan in Place
The researchers and doctors at Seattle Children’s are embarking upon a complicated quest, involving multiple clinical studies of cutting-edge CAR-T cell therapies, to help kids and young adults with an aggressive form of leukemia. As of today, one key part of their plan can begin, thanks to a green light from the FDA. New clinical … Continue reading “At Seattle Children’s, Another Piece of Ambitious CAR-T Plan in Place”
After Quadrupling in Size, Lessonly Raises $8M Series B
Lessonly, the Indianapolis-based startup focused on team training software, this week announced it has raised an $8 million Series B funding round. Led by Boston’s OpenView Partners, the round also drew contributions from Rethink Education, High Alpha Capital, and Allos Ventures. Max Yoder, Lessonly CEO and co-founder, says the company has quadrupled in size over … Continue reading “After Quadrupling in Size, Lessonly Raises $8M Series B”
New Understory Tie-Up Aims to Help Insurers Reduce Claim Costs
A little over a year after Understory began working with Pacific Specialty Insurance Company, the two organizations are now announcing a collaboration aimed at lowering the amount of money insurers pay policyholders for weather-related property damage. Madison, WI-based Understory, a weather technology startup, says it worked with Palo Alto, CA-based Pacific Specialty to reduce the … Continue reading “New Understory Tie-Up Aims to Help Insurers Reduce Claim Costs”
Xconomy Peers into Biotech Future with Vividion’s Diego Miralles
What’s new in San Diego life sciences? Diego Miralles, who was named just three months ago as the CEO of San Diego-based Vividion Therapeutics, has a lot to say on that topic. Miralles, an immunologist who previously served as the CEO at Adaptive Therapeutics and before that led innovation and West Coast R&D for Johnson … Continue reading “Xconomy Peers into Biotech Future with Vividion’s Diego Miralles”
IRobot’s Colin Angle on the Home Run of Robotics (It’s Not A.I.)
When it comes to consumer robotics, iRobot has to be the poster child. It was born 27 years ago out of MIT, founded by legendary roboticist Rodney Brooks, now professor emeritus, and two of his students, Helen Greiner and Colin Angle. Over the years, the company has made many forays into various products—including the My … Continue reading “IRobot’s Colin Angle on the Home Run of Robotics (It’s Not A.I.)”
Balter Steps Down as Mylestone CEO, Shifts to Chairman
[Updated 11/16/17, 10:47 am. See below.] Dave Balter, a serial entrepreneur and startup investor in the Boston area, has stepped down as CEO of one of his latest ventures, Mylestone. Balter has shifted to the role of chairman, and Mylestone head of product Drew Condon is now the chief executive, Balter announced in a blog … Continue reading “Balter Steps Down as Mylestone CEO, Shifts to Chairman”
X4 Pharma Pulls In $27M for Immune Drug in Cancer, Rare Diseases
The immune system can’t fight disease if its cells don’t reach their targets. In some cancers and rare immune deficiency disorders, immune cell levels are too low. X4 Pharmaceuticals has developed drugs that it says can help restore these counts to normal, and the company now has $27 million to test them in key clinical … Continue reading “X4 Pharma Pulls In $27M for Immune Drug in Cancer, Rare Diseases”
Self-Driving Stampede: Why Mobility Startup Prices Keep Going Up
When automotive supplier Delphi forked over approximately $450 million to buy Boston-based software startup NuTonomy last month, it was the latest in a spate of high-dollar acquisitions involving companies that develop self-driving technologies. NuTonomy, founded by MIT researchers, was only four years old and had raised $16 million in a Series A round the previous … Continue reading “Self-Driving Stampede: Why Mobility Startup Prices Keep Going Up”
Vanu Bose Tribute, Plus Latest Boston Tech Headlines
We start this week’s Boston tech watch on a somber note: Vanu Bose, a local technology executive and MIT alumnus, passed away Saturday from a sudden pulmonary embolism, according to an announcement from MIT. He was 52. Bose was the founder and CEO of 19-year-old wireless networking company Vanu, which recently donated some of its … Continue reading “Vanu Bose Tribute, Plus Latest Boston Tech Headlines”
C is for Cash: Cookie Deliverer Tiff’s Treats Good Enough for $25M
Austin—The product is warm cookies, and the service is delivering those made-to-order sweets within 90 minutes. That can only happen with customized proprietary software, says Tiff’s Treats co-founder Leon Chen. “The technology is the brains behind each of our locations,” says Chen, who founded the cookie maker and delivery company with his now wife, Tiffany … Continue reading “C is for Cash: Cookie Deliverer Tiff’s Treats Good Enough for $25M”
SendGrid Goes Public for $131M in First Techstars Accelerator IPO
Something rare happened this morning: A company that has gone through an accelerator program, SendGrid, has hit the public markets. SendGrid raised $131 million by selling 8.2 million shares for $16 apiece, according to research firm Renaissance Capital. Both figures were higher than expected for the Denver, CO-based company, which is now trading on the … Continue reading “SendGrid Goes Public for $131M in First Techstars Accelerator IPO”
CarGurus Stock Up After First Report to Wall Street: 3 Takeaways
CarGurus’ stock price is up around 10 percent Wednesday after the company delivered positive financial results in its first quarterly report since going public. The Cambridge, MA-based software company’s stock (NASDAQ: [[ticker:CARG]]) was trading just under $33 per share as of this writing Wednesday morning, up from Tuesday’s closing price of $29.82. CarGurus released its … Continue reading “CarGurus Stock Up After First Report to Wall Street: 3 Takeaways”
Acorda Takes Another Hit, Reports Patient Deaths in Parkinson’s Study
Acorda Therapeutics’ rebuilding plan just suffered another setback, leaving the fate of one of the experimental Parkinson’s disease drugs that is closest to market unclear. Ardsley, NY-based Acorda (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ACOR]]) said Wednesday morning that it has seen troubling safety problems in a Phase 3 trial of its experimental Parkinson’s disease drug tozadenant. Acorda reported cases … Continue reading “Acorda Takes Another Hit, Reports Patient Deaths in Parkinson’s Study”
ClearMotion Buys Bose’s Car Suspension Tech to Deliver Smooth Rides
A Bose side project in the automotive industry will get new life in the hands of a new owner. ClearMotion, a heavily funded MIT spinout working to commercialize technology aimed at making bumpy car rides go more smoothly, announced Wednesday it has acquired related technologies developed by Bose. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. Framingham, MA-based … Continue reading “ClearMotion Buys Bose’s Car Suspension Tech to Deliver Smooth Rides”
Logz.io Collects $23M Round Led by OpenView, Will Double Boston Staff
The flood of data flowing from machines keeps rising, and that means more demand for companies like Logz.io that aim to help IT departments effectively monitor all that information. Now, investors are pouring more money into the software firm to help accelerate its growth. On Wednesday, Logz.io announced it raised $23 million in a Series … Continue reading “Logz.io Collects $23M Round Led by OpenView, Will Double Boston Staff”
Inozyme Gets $49M From Sanofi, Novo to Tackle Rare Infant Disease
Sanofi and Novo Nordisk this morning have put their venture arms to work. The two joined up with two venture firms to back a $49 million round for a fledgling startup, Inozyme Pharmaceuticals. The company aims to develop a therapy for an ultra-rare infant disorder—and possibly some more prevalent diseases too. The startup, based in … Continue reading “Inozyme Gets $49M From Sanofi, Novo to Tackle Rare Infant Disease”
Is Co-Working Played Out? Bamboo Detroit Report Shows Otherwise
Co-working spaces may be old hat in places like San Francisco and Boston, but in Detroit, they can be a vital gateway into the local startup ecosystem—particularly for women and people of color. That’s one of the takeaways from a new report released by Bamboo Detroit, the city’s first co-working space located in the heart … Continue reading “Is Co-Working Played Out? Bamboo Detroit Report Shows Otherwise”
Raken Aims for Growth in Mobile App for Construction Site Reporting
When it comes to disrupting an industry, Raken founder and CEO Kyle Slager says it would be hard to find a sector that is more resistant to spending money on new technologies than the construction business. As Slager puts it, even bankers and insurers spend more on technology as a percentage of revenue than building … Continue reading “Raken Aims for Growth in Mobile App for Construction Site Reporting”
Q&A: EatStreet’s Alex Wyler on 30 Under 30, Facebook, Kanye, & More
Alex Wyler and Matt Howard, two co-founders of the Madison, WI-based food ordering startup EatStreet, were named to Forbes’ annual “30 Under 30” list, in the consumer technology category. Launched in 2010, EatStreet has raised more than $40 million from investors and currently has about 1,000 employees. The software company serves about 1.7 million customers … Continue reading “Q&A: EatStreet’s Alex Wyler on 30 Under 30, Facebook, Kanye, & More”
Autodesk Leads $12M Round for Assemble Systems in Latest Boston Deal
Autodesk, the 3D design and engineering software giant, is continuing its investing spree in Boston-area technology startups. The latest beneficiary is Assemble Systems, which on Tuesday announced it received a $12 million Series A funding round led by Autodesk’s Forge Fund. Earlier backers Satterfield Vintage Investments and Assemble Investments also chipped in, according to a … Continue reading “Autodesk Leads $12M Round for Assemble Systems in Latest Boston Deal”