Free Newsletter
Top news
Westphal pulls off a rare stunt with $55M Verastem IPO
Christoph Westphal's Verastem, a preclinical-stage biotech focused on cancer stem cell research, seemingly defied gravity with an announcement late last night that its IPO raised $55 million from the sale of 5.5 million shares at $10 apiece. The price fell precisely in the middle of its range, qualifying it as a unicorn among the rare breed of companies that play in this field. And Verastem actually upped the offering by a million shares over what had originally been planned. Article
Latest News
Also Noted
@FierceBiotech: Gamers tackle enzyme makeover, beat scientists' efforts. More | Follow @FierceBiotech
@JohnCFierce: 7% of teens and adults have HPV in their mouths, explaining steady rise in oropharyngeal cancer cases--LA Times. Article | Follow @JohnCFierce
@RyanMFierce: BioMarin ($BMRN) shows how stringing together small buyouts (~$20M) in rare diseases could lead to big rewards. More | Follow @RyanMFierce
@MarkHFierce: Researchers have reproduced Alzheimer's disease neurons, in a dish, using stem cells. Could be big research step. Story | Follow @MarkHFierce
Press Releases
- BWH Researchers Develop New Drug Release Mechanism Utilizing 3D Superhydrophobic Materials
- Discovery of new vaccine approach for treatment of cancer
- Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Announces New Program for Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research Grants
- Celator Pharmaceuticals Receives EMA Orphan Drug Status for CPX-351 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- New startup out of University of Illinois, Vanquish Oncology, to Develop Personalized Therapeutics for Cancer Markets
- U.S. Food And Drug Administration Approves Pfizer’s INLYTA® (axitinib) For Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Renal
Popular Comment Threads
Special Report
The 10 biotech IPOs of 2011
Anyone hoping to see a strong year for biotech IPOs in 2011 was sorely disappointed. A paltry 10 U.S. companies went public last year, down from 13 in 2010. The biggest IPO of 2011 was Clovis Oncology, which raised $130 million to finance a pipeline of oncology drug programs. The developer debuted at the low end of its range--an accomplishment in a year when so many companies had to slash their share prices--and continues to trade in the middle of its range. Runner-up Sagent Pharmaceuticals, which markets 22 products, has also bucked the tepid-IPO trend. The developer's stock is trading above $20 after a strong start at $16. Read the report =>
Slideshow
Wheeling and dealing at J.P. Morgan 2012
FierceBiotech's news team met with a number of drug developers this week at J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, and wanted to put our readers up close to the action. So, in addition to our laptops, we toted cameras into our meetings with company chiefs (okay, most of us snapped photos with our smartphones). This slide show gives you a quick take on the status of each of the companies and pictures of the leaders as they looked on very little sleep and, in many cases, after too many meetings to count.
