BAROnova pulls in funds for weight-loss tech
Medical technology company BAROnova announced today that it brought in $7.5 million in a second round of funding led by pharmaceutical firm Allergan. It plans to use the money to continue developing a weight loss device called the TransPyloric Shuttle.
Basically, the shuttle is installed at the pylorus, the opening of the small intestine located at the bottom of the stomach (it’s inserted endoscopically). The goal of the mechanism is to cause users to feel full… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007
Featured companies: Allergan, Athenahealth, Atria Genetics, Celera, Esprit Pharmaceuticals, Vida Diagnostics
(NOTE: This item was posted on Friday, 9/21/07. I’ve backdated its timestamp to preserve the chronological order of the briefings.)
Celera buys Atria Genetics for $33M — Rockville, Md.-based Celera, the onetime genomics pioneer still working to turn itself into a diagnostics company, agreed to pay $33 million to acquire Atria Genetics of South San Francisco, Calif. (Atria doesn’t seem to have a Web site, and if… Continue Reading
Vivo Ventures aims for Asia investment with $275M fund
Vivo Ventures plans its first in Asian life-science investments now that it has closed a new fund, VentureWire is reporting (subscription required). The Palo Alto, Calif., outfit, formerly known as BioAsia Investments due to its former association with Asian investors, just closed a $275 million healthcare fund, its sixth.
From the VentureWire story:
Vivo expects to invest this fund in 14 to 18 companies, with a particular emphasis on those with drugs or medical devices in clinical… Continue Reading