Growing Nodality strikes drug-development deal with Pfizer

Nodality Inc. scored a deal Thursday to help Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drug maker, better develop drugs. The multi-year deal, financial terms for which weren't disclosed, initially will focus on autoimmune diseases, particularly lupus. Plus, Pfizer has an option to use Nodality's technology to develop companion diagnostics.

Ultragenyx raises $15 million

Ultragenyx Prsident and CEO Emil Kakkis.

Orphan drug developer Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. has gathered $15.1 million toward a goal of raising $30.1 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday. The Novato company, started by former BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. Chief Medical Officer Emil Kakkis, has won orphan drug designation for two drugs from the Food and Drug Administration as well as from European drug regulators.

New wave of Bay Area companies tame DNA data storm

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Andreas Sundquist is no medical doctor, but his expertise in electrical engineering and computer science places him and technologists like him on the cusp of solving some of the knottiest human medical problems.
Sundquist’s DNAnexus Inc. is one of at least a half-dozen young Bay Area companies using computational biology and genetics to unleash exabytes of stored genome sequencing data into everyday health care. By blending their computer algorithms and software with medical know-how, experts say, clouds full of cheaper and cheaper DNA data could rain down treatments and new drugs for previously mysterious and common medical conditions.
The burgeoning industry of genome analysis — at the intersection of the Bay Area’s high-tech and biotech expertise — could make some visionaries very rich. On the other hand, easy-to-use genetic data could turn today’s diagnostics industry upside down.
But to Sundquist and other pioneers, their companies’ value lies in volume and the ability to turn Big Data into big-time answers.
“You can argue that social networks are for rich kids, that Twitter is for value seekers,” Sundquist said. “But everybody has DNA.”

Auxogyn raises $20 million

Auxogyn Inc., a Menlo Park startup aimed at helping in vitro fertilization clinics select fertilized eggs with the best chances to survive inside the mother, closed the final tranche of a $20 million Series A financing.
Spun out of the Stanford University lab of Renee Reijo Pera, Auxogyn’s algorithm-based Eeva system is designed to help IVF clinics place embryos into mothers on the third day after fertilization, rather than day five.

Veracyte thyroid test gets boost with Genzyme deal

When biotech drug developer Genzyme Corp. said Friday that it will market a thyroid nodule analysis test, South San Francisco-based Veracyte Inc. got a big boost.
Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, Genzyme’s promotion means the Afirma test from Veracyte will get higher visibility. Genzyme, which was bought last year by French drug developer Sanofi, markets Thyrogen for patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer.
After a Johns Hopkins study last year found that Afirma’s use could save money for the health care system, I spoke with Veracyte co-founder and CEO Bonnie Anderson.

DNAnexus raises $15M from Google Ventures, TPG, others

DNAnexus has closed a $15 million second round of funding led by Google Ventures and TPG Biotech, the company said Tuesday.
Also joining in the round were institutional investors First Round Capital, SoftTech VC, K9 Ventures, and Felicis Ventures.