Aerovance inhales $38M for asthma drugs
Aerovance, developer of asthma medications, just brought in $38 million in a post-recapitalized third round of funding to push its lead drug candidate through a second phase of clinical trials. The company has already received $20 million, with the option of claiming the remaining $18 million as necessary.
Based in Berkeley, Calif., the company has already seen its drug, Aerovant, through the first part of second-phase trials. The company will use the new money to complete… Continue Reading
Pearl Therapeutics gathers $8M to treat breathing disorders
Pearl Therapeutics, a Redwood City, Calif.-based developer of inhaled drugs to treat respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, just landed $8 million in venture debt from Oxford Finance and Silicon Valley Bank to expand its product line.
The company licensed particle-based technology from San Carlos, Calif.-based Nektar Therapeutics to improve inhaled drug targeting and lung distribution, cutting down on negative side effects. So far, it has not disclosed whether its products are in clinical trials or… Continue Reading
Pelikan closes $25M for handheld diagnostics
Pelikan Technologies, maker of medical devices for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes, just brought in $25 million from undiclosed investors, reports VentureWire. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company spun out of Agilent Technologies in 2001 with the launch of its Pelikan Sun line, an electronic lancing device used to test blood sugar.
This round of capital brings its total raised to $145 million (it last raised $89 million at the end of 2007). Past investors (that… Continue Reading
CeNeRx takes $15M to fight depression
CeNeRx BioPharma recently raised $15 million in a second round of funding contributed by Aisling Capital, L Capital Partners and Pappas Ventures. The Cary, N.C. company specializes in treatments for central nervous system disorders. It plans to use the money to push its lead drug candidate, Tyrima — intended for treatment of severe depression — through the second phase of clinical trials.
This is CeNeRx’s first round of funding since 2005, when it raised $18.5 million…. Continue Reading
Pelikan Tech to push “finger friendly” diabetes testing
One of the constant but unavoidable challenges in trying to control diabetes is the frequent need to test blood-sugar levels by sticking a needle into a fingertip — a step that tells diabetics when they need a snack (to raise blood glucose) or a shot of insulin (to lower it). “Lancing” fingers several times a day can render the tips so tender that it restricts ordinary activity — playing the piano, for instance — for… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Monday, Oct. 15, 2007
Featured companies: Biolipox, Cellpoint Diagnostics, Corum Medical, MediKeeper, Mendel Biotechnology, NanoMed, Orexo, Rules-Based Medicine, Tengion
UPDATED: Expanded the Tengion item, and that’s about it.
Tengion raises $33M for bladder regrowth — Tengion, a Norriton, Pa., biotech focused on regenerating diseased or damaged organs, raised $33 million in a third funding round. Investors included Deerfield Partners, Bain Capital, Johnson & Johnson Development, HealthCap, Quaker BioVentures, Oak Investment Partners, L Capital Partners, Horizon Technology Finance and Oxford Finance.
Tengion is working on… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007
Featured companies: ProNAi, Rubicor
ProNAi raises $2M for IV cancer drugs — ProNAi, a Kalamazoo, Mich., biotech focused on intravenous cancer drugs, raised $2 million toward a $4 million bridge round, VentureWire reports (subscription required). The company aims to raise a $25 million second round later tihs year. Its investors include Apjohn Ventures, Sigvion Capital, Amherst Fund, Grand Angels, the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the Biosciences Research Commercialization Center and the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor.
ProNAi develops drugs based… Continue Reading