Arizona
Biomarker to develop cancer-screening tool, May 20, 2005, Phoenix Business Journal
A Phoenix biotech company that helps take research technology to market signed a deal to develop a women's screening tool that would detect at an early stage everything from ovarian to liver cancer. Biomarker Technologies acquired the technology from researchers at Louisiana State University -- who had run out of grant money -- and created a new company for its development.
California
$163M invested in Carmel Valley biomed ventures, June 9, 2005, North County Times
Two North County start-up pharmaceutical companies have raised a total of $163 million in venture capital funding this week, representing a huge spike in biomedical funding for the region.
Verus Pharmaceuticals Announces $98 Million Financing, June 9, 2005, Verus Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Verus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pediatric-oriented company dedicated to identifying, developing and delivering solutions to address the unmet medical needs of children and those who care for them, today announced the completion of a $98 million initial financing, including a $78 million Series A preferred stock financing. (San Diego)
Pegasus Biologics Inc. Raises $10M in Series B Financing; Breakthrough Technologies Create ``Intelligent Bioimplants'' for Orthopedic Soft Tissue Repair, June 8, 2005, Business Wire
Pegasus Biologics, Inc., a privately held medical device company developing advanced collagen-based bioimplants for the repair of soft tissue defects in orthopedic, spine and neurosurgery, announced that the company has raised $10 million in a Series B private venture funding which will enable the Company to launch its initial products and support operational growth. The financing was led by Three Arch Partners and Frazier HealthCare Ventures with participation by Life Science Angel Investors. Terms of the financing were not disclosed. (Irvine)
Neurome Receives Phase I SBIR Grant From the National Institutes of Health to Develop Technologies Aimed at Accelerating the Production of Digital Brain Atlases, June 7, 2005, Neurome Inc.
Neurome, Inc. announced today that it has received a Phase I grant from the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program to develop and validate software which will accelerate the graphical delineation of brain regions on digital images used in the production of three-dimensional digital brain atlases. (San Diego)
Pesticide firm AgraQuest lands $14.35 million, June 7, 2005, Sacramento Business Journal
AgraQuest Inc., a developer and maker of environmentally friendly pesticides, announced on Tuesday the completion $14.35 million in private financing. The deal was led by Otter Capital LLC and by new investors Texas Pacific Group and Halcyon Capital. (Davis)
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Press Release: ICOC Accepts $5 Million Private Donation, Meets with Several Legislators, June 7, 2005, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
The Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee (ICOC) for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) today accepted a private charitable gift of $5 million from Ray and Dagmar Dolby of San Francisco, met with several legislators about pending legislation including SCA-13, and approved the appointment of 11 members to serve on its Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group (Facilities Working Group).
$5 million donation for stem cell startup; Sound expert Dolby, wife will help boost program in trouble, June 6, 2005, San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco sound pioneer Ray Dolby and his wife, Dagmar, are offering $5 million to rescue the California stem cell program from startup troubles, state officials said Sunday.
Stem cell regulations face uphill climb, June 6, 2005, San Francisco Examiner
Officials at California's new stem cell institute and a state senator deadlocked this week on a compromise for legislation that would regulate the $3 billion agency, but the question of whether the bill could pass both houses of the Legislature at all still remains.
Canada
Canadian stem-cell research wins approval, June 9, 2005, Globe and Mail
Canada's first two batches of human embryonic stem cells have been approved by an international regulator, opening the way for scientists to explore potential treatments and cures for a variety of diseases.
Life sciences sector remains 'hunkered down', June 8, 2005, Ottawa Business Journal
After months of relative silence from Ottawa's life sciences sector, activity suddenly picked up last month with Zelos Therapeutics' huge VC windfall and a junior IPO by Liponex.
China
China invests more than 800 mln yuan into nanoscience, June 10, 2005, People's Daily
China has cumulatively invested a total of 830 million yuan (about 100 million US dollars) into the development of its nanometer science and technology, according to an ongoing conference on nanoscience held in Beijing.
Colorado
Fitzsimons wants developer to build bioscience park, June 3, 2005, Denver Business Journal
The Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority intends to issue a request for proposals within the next month for a private developer to build millions of square feet of research space.
Delaware
Proposed Delaware Stem Cell Research Bill Stirs up Controversy, June 9, 2005, Associated Press
The public is weighing in on a controversial stem cell research bill in Delaware.
Florida
Study to focus on life science businesses, academics in Florida, June 9, 2005, Sun-Sentinel
Florida's economic development groups will spend $200,000 for a clearer picture of the state's future in the life sciences.
India
Indian BT hits $1bn in sales, June 11, 2005, Business Standard
Backed by a solid exports effort and fast-paced vaccine sales, Indian biotechnology has become a $1 billion industry to touch $1.07 billion in sales in 2004-05. It grew at 36 per cent in 2004-05, compared to 39 per cent in 2003-04.
Massachusetts
Vertex prices stock sale, June 8, 2005, Boston Business Journal
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has priced a planned sale of 11.75 million shares of its stock, proceeds from which will fund research, clinical trials and possible acquisitions.
Biotech council backs its leader amid industry concerns, June 7, 2005, Boston Globe
The chairwoman of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council vowed yesterday to stand behind the council president, Thomas M. Finneran, despite his indictment on perjury and obstruction of justice charges, even as industry officials worried that their most prominent public figure could face serious credibility questions.
Critical Therapeutics aims to raise $54.5M in private placement, June 7, 2005, Boston Business Journal
Critical Therapeutics Inc. in Cambridge will hold a private placement to raise $54.5 million to help launch products and further clinical development programs.
Minnesota
Work to Begin on Rochester Bioscience Center, June 6, 2005, Associated Press
Construction of a new bioscience center to be operated by Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota is expected to begin in Rochester this week.
Missouri
Kelly Gillespie Named Executive Director of Missouri Biotechnology Association, June 4, 2005, Kansas City InfoZine
Prior to his appointment as MOBIO's Executive Director, Gillespie was vice president of governmental affairs with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
New Jersey
Survey: Jobs down, but payroll up at NJ drug, device makers, June 9, 2005, Associated Press
Drug and medical technology companies in New Jersey saw payrolls climb last year despite job cuts, according to an annual survey released Thursday by an industry group.
Orchid BioSciences, Inc. to Change Its Name to Orchid Cellmark Inc., June 9, 2005, Orchid BioSciences Inc.
Orchid BioSciences, Inc., a leading worldwide provider of identity DNA testing services, today announced that its stockholders approved a proposal to change the company's name to Orchid Cellmark Inc. The proposal was approved yesterday at Orchid's annual meeting of stockholders. The name change to Orchid Cellmark Inc. will become effective on June 15, 2005. Orchid's shares will continue to trade on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "ORCH".
New York
Medical device firm files for IPO, June 6, 2005, Crain's New York Business
Irvington, N.Y.-based Electro-Optical, a maker of a non-invasive medical device used to detect skin cancer, plans to use the proceeds to fund research and development, including clinical studies, to develop sales and marketing strategies, and for general corporate purposes.
Pennsylvania
Report Shows Biotech Booming in Greater Philadelphia, June 6, 2005, PR Newswire
The 19th annual Ernst & Young industry report showed Greater Philadelphia had 13 public biotech companies in 2004. That's up 26 percent from the previous year, and positions Greater Philadelphia as the number 10 region in terms of public biotech firms.
Singapore
A-Bio secures major deal with a global pharmaceutical company, May 30, 2005, A-Bio Pharma Pte Ltd.
A-Bio Pharma Pte Ltd (A-Bio) today announced that it has entered into a multi-year Master Service Agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO). Under the agreement, Novo Nordisk will engage A-Bio for process development and GMP clinical supply of biologics in its pipeline of biopharmaceutical projects.
Texas
Stem cell advocates plan strategy in Texas, June 9, 2005, Associated Press
Scientists gather routinely at the Texas Medical Center to share research. But they are meeting this weekend in enemy territory for a war-room session on political strategy.
TC gets grant for new biotechnology program, June 8, 2005, Associated Press
Temple College will partner with Scott & White Hospital and Texas A&M Medical School for the program. School administrators believe it's a combination that will produce well trained students ready for the workforce.
UK
Morria Biopharmaceuticals Plc Announces Completion of a Private Placement Financing Round-A in the Amount of £2.1m, June 8, 2005, PharmaLive
Morria Biopharmaceuticals, Plc, a biopharmaceutical company focused on anti-inflammatory drug therapies, announced today the successfully completion of a £1.9 million private placing of 3,172,700 ordinary shares at a price of £0.60per share. The round was led by its Financial Consultants Charles Street Securities (CSS) of London and follows a £200,000 private bridge financing.
Utah
Thais say thanks to Sorenson Genomics, June 3, 2005, Salt Lake City Tribune
Thailand, overwhelmed last December when the Indian Ocean tsunami left thousands of badly-decomposed bodies to identify, turned to Utah's Sorenson Genomics. On Thursday, a high-ranking delegation from the Southeast Asian nation's Ministry of Justice visited the company's laboratories to say thanks - and to lay the groundwork for building Thailand's first internationally certified DNA identification program.
General
EU science budget threatened, June 8, 2005, The Scientist Daily
A leading scientist has called on Europe's research community to speak out against proposals to substantially cut a planned increase in the European Union research budget for 2007-2013 ahead of a key EU summit on June 16.
Plant biologists explore biotech crop options, June 8, 2005, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
In an effort to feed the world's growing population, some countries are considering planting rice that has been genetically modified to resist pests or contain higher nutrient levels. China is expected this year to become the first nation to approve genetically modified rice despite critics' concerns about possible environmental and health impacts.
Biotech is outshining pharma at turning research into drugs, June 3, 2005, San Francisco Business Times
The scientific distinctions between biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies appear to be blurring, but the cultural ones remain clearer.
Biotech-high tech links are changing research, May 27, 2005, San Francisco Business Times
Where molecular biology transformed medicine in the last quarter century by giving rise to biotechnology, the present and future are being radically changed by the marriage of biology and the quantitative sciences -- information technology, physics, and engineering. The result is a world of medicine that is far faster in diagnosing disease and much more accurate in developing therapies.