Compendia Bioscience, an Ann Arbor, MI, company focused on oncology drug development, has received a $2.4 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fast Track Award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The money will go toward commercialization of the company’s flagship product, Oncomine, an online platform that performs cancer gene-expression analysis. Oncomine aggregates cancer profiling data so that target expression across a large volume of cancer types, subtypes, and experiments can be assessed online in seconds. This enables users to discover and prioritize potential cancer targets and biomarkers, improving efficiency, strengthening product pipelines and increasing the likelihood of success. The…
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Austin, TX-based Apollo Endosurgery, an early stage company developing devices for surgical procedures conducted through natural orifices, has secured $11.5 million in Series A financing. The round — participated in by PTV Sciences, H.I.G. Ventures, and individual investors — will be used to complete product development and conduct U.S. human trials for the company’s NOTES Access System. Apollo develops disposable devices that facilitate both endolumenal and translumenal surgical procedures (also known as NOTES). In addition to avoiding the scars caused by abdominal incisions, these procedures are expected to result in less pain, require less sedation, and lead to faster recovery…
Vermillion (formerly Ciphergen Biosystems), a Fremont, CA-based molecular diagnostics firm, has closed a $20.6 million equity financing with new and existing investors. The financing, which comes two weeks after the company received a non-compliance letter from Nasdaq, will be used to further Vermillion’s three leading development candidates. The company’s most established development program is an ovarian tumor triage test, designed to distinguish between benign and malignant pelvic masses. Based on an analysis of over 2,500 clinical samples, the Ov CA Assay utilizes a panel of novel biomarkers to help identify women who have ovarian cancer so that they can be…