Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007
Featured companies: Reliant Technologies, Leptos Biomedical, Calidora Skin Clinic
Reliant Tech seeks $95M IPO for dermatology lasers — Mountain View, Calif.-based Reliant Technologies, a developer of medical lasers for “skin rejuvenation” treatment, filed to raise as much as $95 million in an initial offering. The company currently markets two laser systems for skin treatment under the Fraxel brand name, and intends to launch a third one next year.
Oddly enough, Reliant Tech’s IPO filing comes just days after… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Friday, Aug. 10, 2007
(CORRECTED: See below.)
Featured companies: VistaGen Therapeutics, MindWeavers, Cutanea Life Sciences, Heptares Therapeutics
VistaGen raises $3.75M for stem-cell based drug discovery — South San Francisco, Calif.-based VistaGen Therapeutics, a biotech that uses human embryonic stem cells to discover new drugs, raised $3.75 million in a bridge financing as it prepares to raise up to $20 million in a fourth round, VentureWire reports (subscription required). Montaur Capital Partners provided the funding.
VistaGen, founded in 1998, isn’t your typical stem-cell company. Where… Continue Reading
Talima Therapeutics raises $19M for site-specific drugs
Talima Therapeutics, a Santa Clara, Calif., developer of techniques that limit drug delivery to specific parts of the body, raised $19 million in a second funding round. The company’s release is here.
The company is at work on localized drug-delivery techniques that could serve as alternatives to systemic drugs, potentially improving their effectiveness while limiting side effects. Its initial focus lies in dermatology, a field in which “local application” — that is, ointments, creams and lotions… Continue Reading
Neosil raises $10M in debt for hair-growth product
Neosil, an Emeryville, Calif., company focused on dermatology products, raised a $10 million in venture debt from Hercules Technology Growth Capital. The debt funding follows the company’s $32 million first-round venture financing in 2004, which involved MPM Capital and Burrill & Co.
Neosil is developing a peptide-based hair-growth product for male pattern baldness and a topical antimicrobial treatment. It describes the debt financing here.
Therative raises $9M for pimple-device ads
Therative, a Livermore, Calif., medical-device maker, raised $9 million in a third round of financing, largely to fund television ads for its consumer-oriented acne product.
Therative makes and markets a pimple-clearing device called ThermaClear, which received FDA “clearance” for direct consumer sales last year. The device releases pulses of heat designed to kill bacteria inside pimples, supposedly in a manner similar to laser treatments offered by dermatologists. The company sells ThermaClear over the Internet for $149.95.
Bessemer… Continue Reading