Tech Moves: Captura co-founder joins Point Inside; ISB; Cypress; Intrepid; etc.

mandell3

Point Inside, a Seattle startup that specializes in mapping indoor spaces, has named technology veteran Corey Mandell as CTO. Mandell most recently served as senior vice president of product engineering at Kaseya Inc.  At Point Inside, he will lead development and technical operations. “Point Inside is leading the new generation of mobile shopper engagement with indoor location… Read More…

Can ultrasound reduce blood pressure? Kona Medical lands $30M to find out

konamedical1

The Seattle area continues to be a hotbed of innovation in the field of ultrasound technology, with news today that Kona Medical has attracted a $30 million round of venture capital financing. The Bellevue company, which is developing methods to reduce high blood pressure using ultrasound, is backed by Essex Woodlands, Domain Associates, Morgenthaler Ventures and… Read More…

Kineta, UW receive biodefense grant to study ways to wipe out deadly viruses like Ebola

kineta11

The University of Washington, University of Texas Medical Branch and Kineta — a Seattle biotechnology upstart — have received an $8.1 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop drugs to combat Ebola, Marburg, Japanese encephalitis and other deadly diseases. “This award enables us to push further and work with more high… Read More…

George Rathmann, 1927-2012: Biotech pioneer led Amgen and Icos

George Rathmann

George Rathmann, the biotechnology pioneer who served as the first CEO of Amgen and Icos, has died at the age of 84 from complications from pneumonia. Rathmann joined Amgen in 1980 in its infancy, going on to lead the company as it developed treatments such as Epogen — for anemia — Neupogen – a method for… Read More…

Alder BioPharma raises $38M for cancer, migraine research

alder-bio

In one of the largest venture capital rounds in the state so far this year, Bothell’s Alder BioPharmaceuticals has raised $38 million to support ongoing research for its cancer and migraine headache treatments. Investors in the deal include Novo Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds, Ventures West, WRF Capital, H.I.G. Ventures, Delphi Ventures and TPG Biotech. As a result… Read More…

Tech Moves: RealNetworks VP joins Amazon’s Kindle team; etc.

poile11

Another day, another executive departure from RealNetworks. Yesterday, we reported that chief financial officer Michael Eggers — a 14-year veteran of the company — was stepping down. Now, we’ve gotten word that Simon Poile has left the digital media company to become director of software development for Amazon.com’s Kindle Store. Poile worked at RealNetworks for… Read More…

MicroRNA startup Groove Biopharma scores $6 million

groovebipharma1

It’s been a bit slow in Seattle venture capital circles in the past few months. But some of the region’s leading biotech investors are doing their part to pick up the pace as Groove Biopharma today is announcing $6 million in second round of financing. Backers of the company, housed at the biotech business incubator… Read More…

Venture capitalist Thong Le tapped as chair of biotech group

le-thong2

Thong Le, the managing director of WRF Capital, has been named chairman of the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association. Le was named vice chairman of the state’s leading biotechnology lobbying group in January, and assumed the new position from outgoing chairman Tom Clement recently. Le will remain employed at WRF Capital, a Seattle venture capital… Read More…

Theraclone Sciences raises $10M

theraclone11

Theraclone Sciences, a Seattle biotechnology company that’s developing a method to rapidly identify disease-fighting antivbodies, has attracted $10.6 million. Investors in the deal include ARCH Venture Partners, Canaan Partners, MPM Capital, Healthcare Ventures, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Amgen Ventures and Zenyaku Kogyo “The anticipated near-term initiation of Theraclone’s first clinical trial and our discovery collaboration with Pfizer earlier… Read More…

Atossa raises $6.6M to roll out a ‘Pap test for breast cancer’

atossagenetics

Atossa Genetics, which is developing testing technologies to detect the presence of breast cancer, has raised $6.6 million in new financing in an oversubscribed round. The Seattle company plans to use the funds to bring its MACST System to market, establish a new molecular diagnostics lab in the Northwest and hire sales professionals. MACST, which… Read More…