Life-science briefing: Monday, March 31, 2008
TODAY’S HEADLINES:
Boston Scientific spinout TriVascular2 takes in $65M (release)
Inhaled-drug startup Transave raises $35M (release)
Triage Wireless gets $20M for vital-signs monitors (release)
Tryton Medical receives $14M for “bifurcation” stents (release)
Synthetic bio startup Codon Devices adds $11M (release)
Tracon Pharma takes in $4.5M against cancer and eye disease (VentureWire)
Antibody maker f-star swaps in equity stake by TVM (PDF release)
Drug packager MonoSol Rx withdraws IPO (IPOhome)
GE Healthcare acquires portable-ventilator maker VersaMed (release)
Boston Scientific spinout TriVascular2 takes in $65M – In 2005, Boston… Continue Reading
VisionCare’s implantable microtelescope — a bionic eye for AMD-related blindness
An implantable and odd-looking microtelescope from a Saratoga, Calif., device maker could be one of the next big things in treating a common form of blindness — assuming that patients are willing to endure arduous surgery in order to obtain their new bionic eyes.
Age-related macular degeneration — a progressive loss of sight related to physical changes in the central retina, also called the macula — is the leading cause of blindness among elderly Americans, now… Continue Reading
Boston Scientific acquires medical-wireless startup Remon Medical
Boston Scientific agreed to acquire Remon Medical Technologies, an Israeli maker of wireless technology for communicating with implanted medical devices. The companies didn’t disclose financial terms; their release is here.
Founded in 1997, Remon struck a co-development deal with Guidant in 2004. Boston Scientific acquired Guidant last year.
From the Boston Scientific press release:
“Remon Medical Technologies brings to Boston Scientific innovative sensor and wireless communication technology to Boston Scientific, which complements our Cardiac Rhythm Management product line,”… Continue Reading
Neuromodulator Intelect Medical raises $7M for brain disorders
Intelect Medical, a Cleveland developer of neuromodulation devices for the treatment of brain injury, raised $7 million in a second funding round. The company is currently exploring ways of using deep-brain stimulation, in which implanted electrodes zap particular regions of the brain with calibrated jolts of electricity, in order to rehabilitate brains damaged by injury or stroke. DBS — which is sometimes described as a “pacemaker for the brain” — is currently approved for the… Continue Reading
Asthma-device maker Asthmatx sells $50M stake to Olympus
Asthmatx, a Mountain View, Calif., developer of a bronchial device for asthma treatment, raised $50 million by selling a 15% stake to Olympus Medical Systems, a unit of Japan’s camera and precision-device maker Olympus.
Last October, Asthmatx withdrew an IPO at the last minute, citing a desire to pursue “alternative strategic options” — that is, better offers. And it seems to have found one; Dan Primack at PE Wire figures that Asthmatx’s current $280 million pre-money… Continue Reading
Boston Scientific acquires Endotex, the latest exit for serial entrepreneur Khosravi
Boston Scientic has acquired Cupertino stent maker, Endotex, for an undisclosed amount.
Endotex had raised more than $25 million in venture funding, including from Delphi Ventures, Guidant Corp., New Enterprise Associates, New Venture Partners, Onset Ventures, US Surgical and Saratoga Ventures. Boston Scientific had also owned a stake.
It is the latest accomplishment for Endotex founder Fred Khosravi, who had previously built another company, EPI, also bought by Boston Scientific. He’s founded seven medical device companies…. Continue Reading