DiagnoCure Acquires Cancer Tests for $3 Million

DiagnoCure, a Quebec City company that sells cancer diagnostics, has acquired Worcester, MA-based Catalyst Oncology and its lead prognostic tests for breast, colon and potentially other cancers. DiagnoCure, which will pay $3 million upfront followed by future milestone payments, will take over development of...

West Michigan Life Sciences Sector on the Rise

According to The Grand Rapids Press, “West Michigan is on its way to attaining prominence in the life sciences industry.” The paper, reporting this week on a just released study on attracting investment to the region, says, “Grand Rapids’ growing medical research capabilities,...

New Spine-Surgery System Launched Nationwide

Innovative Spinal Technologies, a Mansfield, MA, company that makes motion-preservation treatments for spinal disorders, has officially launched its Paramount VBR System for minimally invasive spine surgery. The system, cleared by FDA in January 2007 and available in limited release since February, is now...

SyntheMed Closes $2.8 Million Equity Financing

SyntheMed, an Iselin, NJ-based biomaterials company, has completed the initial closing of a $2.8 million equity financing. The money will help fund the U.S. launch of the company’s REPEL-CV Bioresorbable Adhesion Barrier, planned for the fourth quarter. REPEL-CV is placed over the heart at the end of...

Three Pittsburgh Firms Split $350K

Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG), a regional organization dedicated to nurturing startup life sciences companies in Southwestern Pennsylvania, has invested $350,000 in three local firms — Falcon Genomics, Glucose Sensing Technologies, and Celsense. The funding comes on the heels of three...

SurModics Acquires BioFX for $22.7 Million

In an all-cash deal that could be worth up to $22.7 million, Eden Prairie, MN-based SurModics, which provides surface-modification and drug-delivery technologies to medical-device and pharmaceutical firms, has acquired a company that will expand its offering to clients developing diagnostic tests. SurModics...

GeneNews Secures $2 Million for Prostate Tests

GeneNews (formerly ChondroGene), a Toronto-based molecular diagnostics firm, has secured $2 million in funding through an agreement with an Asian Biomedical consortium. GeneNews’ most advanced product is ColonSentry — a non-invasive test that seeks to replace uncomfortable screening procedures...

Madison, WI, Named Big Cheese of Startup Cities

The on-stands issue of Fast Company includes a “Fast Cities” feature, in which 30 urban centers are acknowledged as good places to start and run businesses. Broken down by category, the list highlights four “Startup Hubs,” including Madison, WI, which is plugged for all it has to...