Versant Ventures related stories
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VC-backed Glaukos Corp files for IPOLaguna Hills, California-based Glaukos Corporation, a developer of treatments for glaucoma, has filed for an IPO. The number of shares that will be sold as well as the IPO's pricing terms have yet to be set. The company plans on trading the stock on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "GKOS." J.P. Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch and Goldman, Sachs & Co are serving as the lead underwriters. Glaukos' backers include OrbiMed Advisors, Frazier Healthcare Ventures, InterWest Partners, Domain Associates, Fjord Ventures, Montreaux Equity Partners and Versant Ventures
- Ceterix Orthopaedics to receive up to $35 mln from CRG
CRG has agreed to provide up to $35 million in financing to Ceterix Orthopaedics. Based in Menlo Park, California, Ceterix is a developer of surgical tools for physicians who treat soft tissue injuries.
- NVCA appoints True Ventures' Callaghan as chairman
The National Venture Capital Association has named Jon Callaghan chairman of its board of directors. A founder and general partner of True Ventures, Callaghan is succeeding Scott Sandell, general partner of New Enterprise Associates. In addition to this appointment, ten new board members were announced at NVCA's annual meeting held in San Francisco. Among them are Mike Carusi, general partner of Lightstone Ventures; Jeff Clavier, founder and managing director of SoftTech VC; Michael Dixon, a partner at Sequoia Capital; and Mary Meeker, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
Ontario Pension Board helps top up Northleaf Venture Catalyst FundNorthleaf Venture Catalyst Fund, a venture fund of funds managed by Northleaf Capital Partners, has added the Ontario Pension Board to its investor base. With the new commitment from Ontario Pension Board, as well as increased commitments from BDC Capital and the Ontario government, capital committed to the Northleaf fund now totals $264 million. Since its initial close in January 2014 /canada/2014/01/21/first-vcap-fund-of-funds-northleaf-venture-catalyst-fund-nets-218-mln-in-initial-close/ the fund has made commitments to the latest partnerships of Georgian Partners, Golden Venture Partners, Relay Ventures, Versant Ventures, Version One Ventures and XPV Capital. It has also made direct investments in Canadian startups eSentire, FreshBooks, Silanis, Vision Critical and Wattpad.
- Northleaf collects C$264 mln for venture fund of funds
Northleaf Capital Partners has raised $264 million for its venture catalyst fund. Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund's investors include Ontario Pension Board. NVCF, the first fund of funds to be established under the Canadian government's Venture Capital Action Plan, has made 11 investments so far.
Celgene invests $30 mln in VC-backed Northern BiologicsNorthern Biologics Inc, a Canadian biotechnology company founded last year with an investment /canada/2014/12/10/newly-formed-northern-biologics-receives-10-mln-from-versant-ventures/ by U.S. venture capital firm Versant Ventures, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Celgene Corp. As part of the collaboration, Northern Biologics received US$30 million in funding to advance the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics that benefit patients with cancer and fibrosis. Under the deal's terms, the company will have the right to receive additional payments, while Celgene will have options to in-license drug candidates and the right to acquire Northern Biologics upon conclusion of the partnership. Northern Biologics is located in the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.
- CRISPR Therapeutics raises $64 mln
CRISPR Therapeutics said Wednesday it raised $64 million in financing, including $35 million in a Series A and $29 million in a Series B. Strategic investors, SR One and Celgene Corp., led the rounds while new investors New Enterprise Associates and Abingworth, alongside the Company’s founding investor, Versant Ventures, also participated. CRISPR Therapeutics, of Basel, Switzerland, is a biopharmaceutical company.
- Celgene Corp to buy VC-backed Quanticel for up to $485 mln
Celgene Corporation has agreed to acquire San Francisco-based Quanticel Pharmaceuticals Inc, a provider of genomic analysis of human cancer, for up to $485 million. Quanticel is backed by Versant Ventures.
- VC-backed OpGen files for IPO
OpGen Inc has filed for an IPO. The number of shares that will be sold as well as its pricing terms have yet to be set. The company plans on listing its stock on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "OPGN." Maxim Group LLC is serving as sole underwriter. Based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, OpGen is a molecular diagnostics company. OpGen's backers include CHL Medical Partners, Highland Capital Partners, Mason Wells Biomedical and Versant Ventures.
- Laguna Pharmaceuticals grabs $30 mln Series B, also appoints CEO
Laguna Pharmaceuticals, formerly known as ChanRx, has closed $30 million in Series B financing. Versant Ventures and Frazier Healthcare led the round with participation from BioMed Ventures and previous backer Sante Ventures. In addition to the financing, Dr. Jerel Davis of Versant Ventures and Dr. Jamie Topper of Frazier Healthcare have been added to Laguna's board of directors. Also, Laguna Pharmaceuticals has hired Bob Baltera as CEO. Previously, Baltera was CEO of Amira Pharmaceuticals. Laguna Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on treating atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.