Cell Biosci takes $15M to examine cell pathways
Cell Biosciences, maker of software and other tools to learn more about how cells move and interact, has brought in $15 million of an anticipated $17.6 million fourth round of funding, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in Santa Clara, Calif., the company is backed by Domain Associates, Latterell Venture Partners, Vertical Group, Wellcome Trust, Novo A/S and the Royal Bank of Canada.
Onyx Pharma set to buy Proteolix for up to $851M
Onyx Pharmaceuticals, developer of treatments for liver and late-stage kidney cancer, has moved to acquire Proteolix, provider of a technology that can accelerate the death of cancer cells, for as much as $851 million. Emeryville, Calif.-based Onyx says it wants to incorporate this component, which has proved less toxic and more effective in patients, into its current offerings.
When the deal closes, South San Francisco-based Proteolix will receive $276 million in cash, with the option of… Continue Reading
Sans IPO, Bayhill secures $350M in Genentech licensing deal
Months after giving up on its IPO hopes last year — when the market was especially brutal for lifescience companies — Bayhill Therapeutics has landed a licensing deal worth $25 million in upfront cash and equity with Genentech. It could bring in as much as $325 million more if it hits certain sales and regulatory milestones, joining the ranks of several biotech firms that ditched public offerings for lucrative equity deals, VentureWire reports (citing Elixir… Continue Reading
Cell Biosciences to launch new tech with $10M
Cell Biosciences announced that it’s just brought in $10 million in a third round of funding to launch its new protein analysis technology used to track cellular pathways. It plans to sell its products to labs and research institutions that are developing medications and chemical diagnostics for cancer, diabetes and other diseases.
The Palo Alto, Calif. company has scheduled the launch for its new technology at the end of this month. A previous version of the… Continue Reading
Pathway Medical lands generous $40M to treat arterial disease
Pathway Medical Technologies, maker of a non-invasive catheter capable of removing all kinds of artery blockages and build-up, says it just scored $40 million in a fourth round of funding — a pretty high figure for a life science device manufacturer these days. Only about 11 percent of these companies have raised more than $25 million in the last two years. The Kirkland, Wash. company says it will use the money to grow its sales… Continue Reading
Neuraltus scores $17M to treat degenerative brain disease
Neuraltus Pharmaceuticals, developer of drugs used to treat degenerative neurological diseases, brought in $17 million in a first round of funding from Latterell Venture Partners, VantagePoint Venture Partners and Adams Street Partners. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company says it’s currently working on therapies for conditions ranging from Lou Gehrig’s Disease to Parkinson’s Disease.
The money should be enough to push drugs for both these diseases through the first two phases of clinical trials, Neuraltus says.
OncoMed nabs $93M for stem cell programs
OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, a company working to fight cancer using stem cells, added a $93 million tranche to a second round of funding that now totals $154 million. The money will be used to push its lead antibody candidate through phase-two clinical trials.
The Redwood City, Calif. firm specializes in developing treatments to target cancer stem cells — the cells that cause tumor growth and renewal. They are unique in their resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments…. Continue Reading
ForteBio raises $25M for life science analytical instruments
ForteBio is a Menlo Park, Calif. company that makes instruments for biomolecular analysis in the life sciences. Its instruments can measure proteins, DNA, RNA and other small molecules without the use of labels.
Label-free measurement dispenses with the chemical markers that most techniques use, allowing for faster and cheaper analysis.
The company took $25 million from OrbiMed Advisors, MPM Capital, Alloy Ventures, Latterell Venture Partners, Versant Ventures and Vertical Group. This was ForteBio’s third funding; in its… Continue Reading
Proteolix raises $79M for cancer treatment
Proteolix, which is developing drugs to treat cancer by disrupting key cell functions, has raised $79 million in a third round of funding, according to VentureWire. That’s the third largest biotech funding this year.
Nomura Phase4 Ventures, a new investor, led the round, with participation from new backer Westfield Capital Management and existing investors Advanced Technology Ventures, Delphi Ventures, Latterell Venture Partners, U.S. Venture Partners and Vertical Group.
The new funding should allow South San Francisco-based Proteolix… Continue Reading
Life-science briefing: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
TODAY’S HEADLINES:
Luminous Medical raises $24M for automated glucose monitoring (release)
Alimera Sciences gets $30M for eye-disease drug (release)
Vaccine maker LigoCyte draws $28M (release)
Heartbeat tracker CardioNet trims IPO, aims for listing today (IPOhome)
Axial Biotech takes in $6M for spinal diagnostics (release)
Insulin bioengineer enGene receives $6.4M (release)
GlucoLight raises funding for, well, glucose monitoring (release)
Germany’s InflaRx gets seed funding for sepsis work (release)
Cell imager Amnis pulls in $3.5M (VentureWire)
Korea Bone Bank gets funding for bone transplants (release)
Luminous Medical raises… Continue Reading
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
Stent maker CardioMind raises $33M
CardioMind, a secretive Sunnyvale, Calif., developer of stents designed to prop open blocked arteries, raised $33 million in a third round of funding, VentureWire reports (subscription required). From the VentureWire story:
CardioMind, with 30 employees, is developing small-diameter drug-eluting stents and delivery devices for cardiovascular and neurological indications and has been largely operating in stealth mode for the past five years.
SV Life Sciences and De Novo Ventures led the round, joined by InterWest Partners, Latterell Venture… 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
Lung-device maker Pulmonx draws in $20M
Palo Alto, Calif.-based Pulmonx raised $20 million in a second-round funding, VentureWire reports (subscription required).
The startup is one of several device makers hoping to pioneer new medical techniques in the field of “interventional pulmonology.” Much like interventional cardiology, in which non-surgeons perform procedures such as angioplasty and stenting to open blocked arteries, interventional pulmonology aims to give lung specialists new tools to treat lung problems such as emphysema in their offices. Patients, of course,… Continue Reading
Ovalis, catheter company, raises $6.6M
Ovalis, a Mountain View, Calif. developer of catheter-based products for repairing cardiac defects, has raised around $6.6 million in Series B funding, according to a regulatory filing cited by PE Week. Return backers include Abbott Labs, De Novo Ventures and Latterell Venture Partners.
(Originally posted 1/16)