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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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…. Continue Reading