| San Diego Business Journal

Boutique CROs Find Themselves in Demand

BIOTECH: M&A in the Air at Contract Research Organizations

A crop of San Diego companies quietly play niche roles in drug development. But suitors have taken notice.

Dexcom Reports 53% Increase in Q4 Revenue

Dexcom in fourth quarter financials reported that revenue shot up 53 percent year-over-year to $338 million.

ResMed, Fisher & Paykel Settle Patent Infringement Litigation

A wide-ranging patent dispute between San Diego-based ResMed and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare has come to an end.

NuVasive Reports Q4 Results

NuVasive reported net income of $12.2 million, or $0.23 per share, in fourth quarter results.

Scripps, UC San Diego Health Land Opioid Treatment Grants

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego landed a $260,000 grant for opioid disorder treatment, the California Bridge Program recently announced.

Amplyx Pharmaceuticals Snags FDA Orphan Drug Designation

San Diego-based Amplyx Pharmaceuticals’ lead drug candidate received an orphan drug designation for a condition that can be life-threatening for HIV/AIDs patients and others.

AMN Healthcare Reports Fourth Quarter Results

AMN Healthcare recently reported $529 million in fourth quarter revenue, a 4 percent year-over-year increase. San Diego-based AMN is the country’s largest health care staffing agency.

Life Sciences: Oncology Conference Puts Ideas Into Action

The 350 attendees are proven men and women of action.

Gossamer Bio Goes Public with Upsized $276M Offering

Gossamer Bio — a closely watched San Diego biotech during the government shutdown — made its public debut Feb. 8 with an upsized $276 million offering.

LIfe Sciences: Analysts Skeptical of Smith & Nephew Acquiring NuVasive

A recent report stated that Smith & Nephew Plc has held talks to buy San Diego spine surgery company NuVasive. But analysts largely said the deal doesn’t make sense for the British firm.

Agriculture Biotech Cibus Postpones IPO

San Diego-based Cibus postponed its initial public offering, citing “current market and technical conditions.”

Arcturus Therapeutics Regains Full Rights to Drug Candidate

San Diego-based Arcturus Therapeutics on Feb. 12 reassumed full rights to its flagship drug candidate, after CureVac opted out of development plans.

Scripps to Build Larger Behavioral Health Unit

Through a joint venture Scripps Health has planned a 120-bed behavioral health facility in Chula Vista that will replace a smaller behavioral health unit at Scripps Mercy Hospital.

Potential Acquisition of NuVasive Draws Analyst Skepticism

A recent report stated that Smith & Nephew Plc has held talks to buy San Diego spine surgery company NuVasive. But analysts largely said the deal doesn’t make sense for the British firm.

Gossamer Bio Goes Public with Upsized $276M Offering

Gossamer Bio — a closely watched San Diego biotech during the government shutdown — made its public debut Feb. 8 with an upsized $276 million offering.

Report: NuVasive in Talks to be Acquired in $3B Deal

Smith & Nephew Plc has held talks to buy San Diego-based NuVasive, a spine surgery company that analysts have called an acquisition target.

NASH Race Has Room For Multiple Winners

BIOTECH: Five S.D. Cos. Trying for Liver Therapeutic

It’s a market forecast to reach upward of $35 billion. And it’s untapped — for now.

Gossamer Bio Goes Public with Upsized $276M Offering

Gossamer Bio — a closely watched San Diego biotech during the government shutdown — made its public debut Feb. 8 with an upsized $276 million offering.

As Deadline Looms, Biotechs Take Stock of Last Government Shutdown

The government shutdown ended Jan. 25, but lingering effects are evident in San Diego life sciences, from a halted merger to initial public offerings.

Equillium Receives Orphan Drug Designations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug designations to San Diego-based Equillium’s drug candidate for the prevention and treatment of a tissue disease.

Biotech Investors Often Bet on Familiar Faces

FINANCE: Investors See Pluses In Past Success, Experience

San Diego biotech’s growing roster of rising stars and veteran leaders helped propel the region to new fundraising heights in 2018, observers say.

Neurocrine Reports Fourth Quarter Results

San Diego biotech Neurocrine’s fourth quarter earnings largely beat analyst expectations.

From Little Known to IPO: INmune Bio Raises $8.16 Million in Trading Debut

In the first biotech initial public offering of the year, La Jolla-based INmune Bio took in $8.16 million during its trading debut. The Nasdaq listing also raised the profile of what’s been a quiet operation.

Halozyme Nets $30 Million Upfront in Argenx Licensing Deal

Halozyme has licensed its drug delivery technology to yet another company.

Nanomedical Diagnostics Changes Company Name

San Diego-based Nanomedical Diagnostics is now known as Cardea.

Relatively Cheap Rent in County a Sweetner for Biotechs

San Diego lab rents in the prior four years were consistently lower than the country’s two larger life sciences markets, San Francisco and Boston.

PE Firm Buys Stake In S.D.-Based BioDuro

Private equity firm Advent International bought a majority stake in San Diego-headquartered BioDuro for an undisclosed amount, according to a recent announcement.

Gossamer Bio Is Back on Track For a Traditional IPO

With the government shutdown over, Gossamer Bio will take a traditional path to an initial public offering, abandoning a plan to sidestep the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Gossamer Bio Back to a Traditional IPO Path

With the government shutdown over, Gossamer Bio is expected to take a traditional path to an initial public offering, abandoning a plan to sidestep the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Neurocrine Bags Gene Therapies for $165 Million Upfront

San Diego-based Neurocrine will pay Voyager Therapeutics $165 million upfront as part of a larger pact, it was announced Jan. 29.

Illumina Reports Q4 Results

Illumina reported an 11 percent increase in fourth quarter revenue after the market closed Jan. 29.

New CEO Named at Histogen

Histogen, a regenerative medicine biotech in San Diego, has a new CEO and chairman.

La Jolla Institute for Immunology Awarded $22 Million Contract Renewal

Through a re-upped $22 million contract, the La Jolla Institute for Immunology will keep running — and expand — a database popular with researchers developing new treatments and vaccines.

San Francisco Conference Draws Complaints; Some Call for Move

Upward of $21 for a cup of coffee. Hotels as much as $2,000 a night. And $300 for a three-hour slot at a hotel lobby table.

Genetics Organizations to Merge Platforms

LunaPBC — a Solana Beach startup that in December launched a first-of-its-kind platform that gives shares for contributing DNA data — is joining forces with a like-minded nonprofit.

Abide Therapeutics Names New COO

Abide Therapeutics – headquartered in San Diego — has a new chief operating officer: Kevin Finney.

Molecular Flu Test Ready to Compete

HEALTH: Rapid Results, Simplicity Are Selling Points

A widespread desire for quicker and more accurate flu diagnostics has buoyed San Diego’s Mesa Biotech.

ResMed Reports Second Quarter Results

San Diego’s ResMed posted quarterly earnings of 86 cents per share, with adjusted earnings of $1 per share.

LunaPBC to Merge Platform with Genetic Alliance

LunaPBC — a Solana Beach startup that in December launched a first-of-its-kind platform that gives shares for contributing DNA data — is joining forces with a like-minded nonprofit.

Gossamer Finds a Way Around Government Shutdown for IPO

Gossamer Bio will take an alternative path to going public on account of the government shutdown stalling initial public offerings, per a Jan. 23 filing.

New Chief of Staff Named at Scripps Mercy Hospital

Dr. Megan Hamreus now leads a 1,100-member physician team at Scripps Mercy Hospital’s two medical campuses.

San Diego Businesses Found Lacking in Female Board Members

Under a new law, California public companies must have at least one woman on their board by the end of 2019. It appears the biggest impact will be in San Diego.

Mirati Shines at Healthcare Conference

At the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference, major San Diego players like Illumina naturally command attention. But quietly, Mirati Therapeutics had a strong showing.

Public-Private Partnership Helps Fund Superbug Fight

Forge Therapeutics recently took in more funding — up to $11.1 million — to battle life-threatening infections called “superbugs.”

Retrophin Names New CEO

Earlier this month San Diego-based Retrophin’s board appointed a new president and CEO: Eric Dube.

Ligand’s Stock Falls as Analysts Debate Value

PHARMA: Co. Confident in Revenue, Cash and Portfolio

Ligand Pharmaceutical’s stock has lost more than half of its value since October, puzzling the company and most analysts, though a vocal minority are skeptical of the company’s pipeline.

Record Decoding of Genome May Be Big Win for Patients

MEDICINE: Rady Feat Drew on Local Biz Talent and Expertise

It was one for the record books. Researchers at Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine last February decoded a newborn’s genome in 19.5 hours.