Cardio drug maker Portola Pharmaceuticals takes $60M extension

San Francisco-based drug company Portola Pharmaceuticals has taken a $60 million extension to its third round of funding to see it through Phase II trials for betrixaban, a drug intended to prevent blood clots.

The company is also working on an antiplatelet agent called PRT060128. If… Continue Reading

Despite censorship issues, two Chinese online video sites get large rounds of fresh funding

Despite censorship issues, two Chinese online video sites get large rounds of fresh funding

The third-largest video site in China, 56.com, has been offline for nearly a month due to what most observers believe is government censorship. But that’s not stopping rivals from raising more funding.

Youku, approximately tied with Tudou as the largest video site in the country, has… Continue Reading

Life sciences briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007

Life sciences briefing: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007

TODAY’S HEADLINES:

Topical Botox maker Revance gets $43M, option to be acquired by Medicis (release)
Reva Medical draws $42M for resorbable stents (release)
AccentCare raises $8M for senior home-care services (VentureWire, sub req’d)
Light Dimensions aims for $6M for light-based skin treatment (VW)
Carigent pulls in $2M for nanoparticle drugs… Continue Reading

Cardiovascular biotech Portola Pharmaceuticals raises $70M, eyes IPO

Portola Pharmaceuticals, a South San Francisco, Calif., biotech aiming to develop treatments for blood clots and other heart-related problems, raised $70 million in a third round of financing dominated by late-stage and public-market investors.

Among new investors in the round were Brookside Capital; AllianceBernstein; Teachers’ Private… Continue Reading

MAP Pharma raises $50M for respiratory and CNS disease treatments

MAP Pharmaceuticals, a Mountain View, Calif, developer of treatments for respiratory and central-nervous-system diseases, said it raised $50 million in a fourth round of venture funding.

See statement here.

New investor, the D.E. Shaw group, joined previous investors, including Perseus-Soros Biopharmaceutical Fund, Pequot Ventures, Brookside Capital,… Continue Reading