San Diego Business Journal

SD HEALTHCARE

Recent and archived news stories on: Biotechnology, Doctors, Drugs, Health Insurance, HMO's/PPO's, Hospitals, Medical Devices, Nursing...

Qualcomm Acquires Medical Software Maker

HEALTH CARE: Firm Doubles Employment in Its Qualcomm Life UnitOne of the hottest buzzwords of health care reform is the ACO — the accountable care organization. San Diego’s Qualcomm Life, the health sciences subsidiary of telecommunications giant Qualcomm Inc., has made a bold move to enter the ACO space — by acquiring San Diego IT company HealthyCircles Inc.

By Meghana Keshavan May 13, 2013 midnight   $$ Share
Tease photo

Ambrx Closes New Deal With Bristol-Myers

BIOTECH: Funding Allows Firm Flexibility for Development

In rapid succession San Diego’s Ambrx Inc. has received sizable payouts from sizable drug companies, most recently penning a cancer drug development deal with New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Local Biotech Activity Hints at Sector’s Post-Recession Pickup

Biotechnology Column

It’s been a busy few weeks for San Diego’s biotechs. Acquisitions, partnership payouts and a number of IPOs are in the works—all signs that the sector, somewhat sluggish post-recession, is picking up its pace.

Scripps Health Wins With Bid for Hospice

HEALTH: Bankrupt Facility Will Still Be Used as Hospice

A heated auction in federal bankruptcy court last week culminated in Scripps Health making a winning $16.55 million bid for San Diego Hospice’s eight-acre Hillcrest property.

Seating Concepts Moves to a New Seat in San Diego

SDBJ Insider

Family-owned fixed auditorium seating provider Seating Concepts LLC, which was started in Mexico with just 5,000 in pesos in 1926, and moved to the U.S. in the 1980s, has announced that it has relocated its global corporate headquarters near Lindbergh Field in San Diego.

Warburg Pincus-Backed Sophiris Biosciences Plans $75M IPO

BIOTECH: Former Canadian Firm Developing BPH Treatment

Sophiris Biosciences Inc.’s story is one of immigration and, in a way, the pursuit of the American dream: It’s a Canadian-turned-American pharmaceutical company that’s using its newfound San Diego base to restructure and ramp up development plans for its drug that treats prostate enlargement.

Tease photo

Skin in the game

RESEARCH: Biotech Innovations Are Fueling Cosmeceutical Competition

A handful of San Diego companies are competing in the lucrative high-end skincare market, using a grounding in real science to produce and promote their beauty wares.

‘Garage Laboratory’ Concept Is Experiment in Reaching Out

BIOTECH: Carlsbad Facility Plans to Open Field to Citizen Scientists

Kevin Lustig has an eye for slogans. He’s the CEO of what he calls “the Amazon.com of biotechnology,” and his latest venture is opening “the world’s largest garage laboratory.”

Avalon, GSK Team Up to Be Creative Force in Drug Innovation

MEDICINE: Venture Will Find and Further Promising Research

In a unique deal that will create and bankroll 10 new San Diego drug companies, La Jolla investment firm Avalon Ventures has teamed up with British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc to funnel up to $495 million into new startups over the next three years.

OncoSec Uses Social Media Forums to Improve Clinical Trials

Biotechnology Column

Social networking helps patients with life-threatening conditions find both valuable information and peer counsel — and drug companies are finding these forums highly useful in developing clinical trials and treatments.

Topera Collects $25M in Series C Funding

San Diego-based Topera Inc. has announced a $25 million series C financing round to commercialize its medical device that treats irregular heartbeats.

CareFusion to Pay $41M

San Diego-based medical device maker CareFusion Corp. announced it will pay the government about $41 million to resolve an investigation related to the company’s sales and marketing practices.

BofI Sets Up Healthcare Finance Unit

BofI Holding Inc., the San Diego-based parent of BofI Federal Bank, said it recently launched a healthcare finance unit that will focus on financing solutions to lower and middle market healthcare providers with needs ranging from $1 million to $30 million.

Sense4Baby Receives $4M

San Diego-based Sense4Baby Inc. announced it has received $4 million in funding from the West Health Investment Fund.

Ranking Places Prime Healthcare Services in Top 15 Health Systems

Prime Healthcare Services, which includes San Diego’s Alvarado Hospital and Paradise Valley Hospital, was named one of the top 15 health systems in America by research firm Truven Health Analytics.