Versant Ventures, a Menlo Park, Calif. venture firm that specializes in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, has raised $500 million for its fourth fund to date. The firm has some 75 companies under management. Some of its more prominent investments to date include Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Helicos Biosciences and Phenomix. Total capital managed by Versant exceeds $1.6 billion. The firm plans on investing its latest fund on 30-35 more companies, according to its release.