Cancer drug maker BiPar sells to Sanofi-aventis for $500M

Cancer drug maker BiPar sells to Sanofi-aventis for $500M

BiPar Sciences, maker of tumor-targeting cancer treatments, will be acquired by public global pharmaceutical company Sanofi-aventis. The two companies have signed a binding agreement that could deliver more than $500 million to BiPar, divided into varying milestone payments.

Based in Brisbane, Calif., BiPar creates therapies, primarily for breast and ovarian cancer patients, that use inhibitors to kill cancer cells by preventing them from repairing their own DNA. Its lead compound in this area, BSI-201, is currently… Continue Reading

BiPar snags $20M for inhibitor-based cancer therapies

Pharmaceutical firm BiPar Sciences just brought in $20 million in private equity and venture debt to advance its lead therapy, targeting breast cancer, to phase-three clinical trials. The investment will double the Brisbane, Calif.-based company’s cash on hand, a huge vote of confidence for its treatment methods based on inhibitors that kill cancer cells by preventing them from repairing their own DNA, BiPar says.

Its lead compound, currently in phase-two tests, could also be used to… Continue Reading

Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007

Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007

Featured companies: BioVex, FullTurn Media, Humanetics, N Spine, Novitas Capital, Reliant Technologies, Symbios, Vaxart, Virtual Radiologic, Winston Laboratories, Zosano Pharma

EXPANDING ITEMS: Stay tuned.

Vaxart receives $3.3M for oral vaccines — San Francisco’s Vaxart, a biotech developing novel adenovirus-based vaccines, raised $2.7 million in a first funding round. Vaxart also received a $600,000 small-business innovation grant from the NIH to assist in developing the company’s vaccine platform.

Vaxart’s vaccine technology involves a non-replicating adenovirus engineered to produce a particular bacterial… Continue Reading

Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007

Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007

Featured companies: AstraZeneca, Atlantis Components, Cara Therapeutics, CardioMems, Corium International, New Ortho Polymers, Osprey Pharmaceuticals, Othera Pharmaceuticals, StrataGent Life Sciences

Corium acquires Stratagent, raises $25.1M for “transdermal” drugs — Corium International, a Menlo Park, Calif., biotech focused on drugs that can be delivered through the skin, said it will acquire StrataGent Life Sciences of San Jose, Calif., for an undisclosed sum. At the same time, Corium raised $25.1 million in a third funding round, and said it… Continue Reading

StrataGent closes $16M round for needle-free injections

StrataGent closes $16M round for needle-free injections

StrataGent Life Sciences, a San Jose developer of needle-free “microjet” injection systems, said it closed a $16 million second round of financing. The company has so far received $6.65 million of that round; the remainder should become available next year if and when StrataGent meets certain milestones.

The round was led by Essex Woodlands Health Ventures. Other investors include Quantum Technology Partners and Aphelion Capital.

StrataGent’s own description of what it’s up to in its funding release… Continue Reading

BiPar Sciences raises $35M for cancer therapies

BiPar Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing cancer therapies, said it has raised $35 million in a second round of financing.

The round was led by Domain Associates. Existing investors participated, including Vulcan Capital, Canaan Partners, PolyTechnos Venture-Partners, Asset Management Company and Quantum Technology Partners.

BiPar said Jesse Treu, a partner at Domain Associates, and Wende Hutton, a venture partner at Canaan Partners, have joined the board of directors.

From the statement:

BiPar is developing multiple compounds designed… Continue Reading