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.
Sapphire Energy launches algae-powered hybrid
Sapphire Energy, maker of an algae-based replacement for gasoline and jet fuel, unveiled its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle today in front of San Francisco’s city hall — combining several promising technologies aimed at slashing carbon emissions.
The car, aptly dubbed the “Algaeus” — built into the shell of a Toyota Prius — will take off today on a 10-day nationwide tour, stopping first in Sacramento, where governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is planned to pour a vial of… Continue Reading
Pacific Biosciences takes $68M as genome sequencing becomes more competitive
Pacific Biosciences, one of the companies working to advance DNA sequencing technology, just brought in $68 million in new financing — bringing its total raised over the last year to a staggering $188 million. The Menlo Park, Calif., firm says it plans to use the money to prepare its new real-time sequencing system for commercial launch in 2010.
Its ability to raise such a substantial amount of money is significant for several reasons. Not only is… 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
Sapphire Energy getting the green for its algal biofuel
Well-known but still young biofuel company Sapphire Energy has more than doubled its funding to more than $100 million for its “green crude,” a fuel it says will mimic the best characteristics of the oil we drill for today.
Sapphire’s plan, which I covered in depth back in May, is to grow tailored strains of algae on waste water. Algae is criticized because it often uses open pools of water, which evaporate quickly in hot climes,… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008
TODAY’S HEADLINES:
Satoris gets $5M for Alzheimer’s test (VentureWire)
Endotis Pharma pulls in €25M for clot-busting and cancer drugs (release)
Germany’s Direvo Biotech strikes drug-development pact with MedImmune (release)
OrthoAccel gets $1.3M for device to speed orthodonture (VW)
Medical-management software co. Accuro Healthcare files for $144M IPO (Edgar)
Psilos Group raises more than $250M in third life-science fund (VW)
Softscope Medical Tech names John Schellhorn as CEO (release)
Endotis Pharma pulls in €25M for clot-busting and cancer drugs — Endotis Pharma, a French… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Friday, Jan. 18, 2007
TODAY’S HEADLINES:
Ulthera receives $23M for cosmetic ultrasound devices (release)
Senexis raises £2.9M for Alzheimer’s drugs (PDF release)
Elixir Pharma postpones IPO (IPO Home)
Cancer Therapeutics names Randall Riggs as CEO (release)
Ulthera receives $23M for cosmetic ultrasound devices — Ulthera, a Mesa, Ariz., startup developing ultrasound systems for cosmetic procedures, raised $22.5 million in a second funding round. Investors included New Enterprise Associates and 3i.
Ulthera, whose Web site is still a stub, aims to use its ultrasound devices… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007
TODAY’S HEADLINES:
Fovea Pharma sees €30M for eye drugs (release)
Ascendis Pharma raises €18M for time-release drugs (PDF release)
Arcion draws $9M for topical pain drugs (VentureWire, sub req’d)
Saladax Biomedical raises $8M for chemotherapy diagnostics (VW)
MedAssets prices IPO at top of range, raises up to $221M (IPO Home)
Pequot spin-off Longitude seeks $250M for life-science investments (VW)
Third Rock Ventures adds three new partners (release)
Ultrasound surgical co. ProRhythm files for bankruptcy protection (release)
The Hartford Financial Services Group acquires healthcare-benefit administrator… Continue Reading
Life sciences briefing: Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007
Featured companies: Cyntellect, Lectus Therapeutics, NeoMatrix, Nexstim, Pearl Therapeutics, Proteon Therapeutics, SupplyScape
(UPDATED at 10am PT: See below.)
Airway-disease specialist Pearl Therapeutics raises $15.5M — Redwood City, Calif.-based Pearl Therapeutics, a drug-formulation company focused on respiratory disease, raised $15.5 million in a first funding round. Investors included New Leaf Ventures, Clarus Ventures and 5AM Ventures.
Pearl doesn’t appear to have a working Web site yet, but according to its release, the company aims to treat unspecified airway diseases using “particle… Continue Reading
Xtera raises $52M for optical technology for broadband providers
Xtera, an Allen, Texas company that supplies optical transport technology to broadband service providers, said it has raised $52 million in new financing.
The round was led by existing investors New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and ARCH Venture Partners and by new investor Wellcome Trust of London. Wellcome Trust made up about half of the investment.
Here’s the statement.
Xtera says it offers a offers a “multi-reach OADM transport solution with the headroom to deliver abundant high-quality video, data… Continue Reading