Reports + Research
San Diego Life Science Cluster Gaining on Bay Area
According to an editorial posted on Forbes, San Diego’s life science industry has rapidly expanded over the past five years, giving the Bay Area a run for its (venture capital) money. In this time, life science employment has grown more than 20%, and since 2016, 2.7 million square feet of new life science facilities has been constructed. However, the Bay Area (San Francisco and San Jose) attracts the majority of venture capital funding.
Gossamer Bio Raises $276 Million in IPO
After the government shutdown had Gossamer Bio looking for alternate ways to go public, the company last week completed an upsized offering (NASDAQ: GOSS) of 17.3 million shares at $16 per share. According to Xconomy, the proceeds for the financing will be used to test antibody drugs for Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders.
UC San Diego Begins Testing New Alzheimer’s Drug Candidate
UC San Diego is one of dozens sites in the United States taking part in a study called T2 Protect AD, which will test Biohaven’s drug candidate called troriluzole. KPBS reports that the study will enroll approximately 350 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s to determine if troriluzole can protect against, slow down, and potentially improve memory and thinking problems that increase as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
Contest to Award $1 Million to Advance Health for San Diego’s Vulnerable Populations
Alliance Healthcare Foundation is accepting applications through February 15 for its Innovation Imitative (i2) Funding Challenge. The challenge seeks to award a $1 million prize to advance health in vulnerable populations in San Diego and Imperial Counties. According to the San Diego Business Journal, the organization is seeking “innovations that demonstrate a sustainable way to reduce health costs, improve outcomes, improve the quality of care and increase the capacity for care.”
Read + Listen
POW: Podcast of the Week
On J&J Innovation Podcast, Melinda Richter discusses how she built one of the world’s largest health incubator networks.
It’s Happening Here
February 26-28:
Biocom Global Life Science Partnering Conference will take place February 26-28 at The Lodge at Torrey Pines.
March 2-10:
San Diego’s Festival of Science and Engineering will take place March 2-10. Take part in Expo Day at Petco Park as well as STEM Week to engage kids in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
March 3-5:
Terrapin is bringing the inaugural Festival of Biologics to San Diego on March 3-5 at the Grand Hyatt. The Festival of Biologics bring together 250 speakers across four conferences: Americas Antibody Congress, World Immunotherapy Congress USA, World Biosimilar Congress USA, Clinical Trials Americas.
Tags: Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Health, Life Sciences, Medicine
