Wednesday, September 27, 2006


FDA Approves Amgen's Vectibix
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that the agency has approved Thousand Oaks-based Amgen's Vectibix treatment for colorectal cancer. Vectibix is a human monoclonal antibody for treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-(EGFr) expressing metastatic colorectal cancer. Amgen said that Vectibix is expected to be commercially availabile in early to mid October. Vectibix is expected to compete with Erbitux, a drug from ImClone Systems.
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Digital Orchid Buys Game Developer
San Diego-based Digital Orchid has acquired Blue Tech, a European mobile game developer based in Madrid, Spain. Digital Orchid did not disclose the purchase price for the firm. Blue Tech develops branded mobile games and wireless applications based on the Java programming language. Digital Orchid is a provider of wireless applications, wallpapers, games, ringtones, and other services for major sports and entertainment brands. Digital Orchid is backed by NeoCarta Ventures, Qualcomm, and Shepherd (More info...)
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Interview with Scott Farrell, Founder of Kevo
A venture capitalist reader recently turned us on to a new company with a new angle on the social networking and user-generated content space, Thousand Oaks-based Kevo (www.kevo.com). Kevo is developing an online, wiki-based consumer service focused on content about celebrities. We spoke to the founder of Kevo, Scott Farrell, about the company. Ben Kuo: Tell us a bit about Kevo and your online service? Scott Farrell: Kevo is a social platform to house, track, collect, and share collective (More info...)
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Teleflip Raises Series A
Santa Monica-based Teleflip, a company that operates a service that allows business or consumer users to send an email that shows up as a message on a cell phone, has raised a Series A venture funding from GRP Partners, socalTECH has learned. Tony Davis, the firm's CEO, confirmed the funding last night, saying that the funding will be used to ramp the company. Amount of the funding was undisclosed. Teleflip has patented technology that allows anyone to send a email to teleflip.com, and have that (More info...)
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MSN, Network LIVE Team On Live Content
Redmond, Washington-based MSN and Los Angeles-based Network LIVE (now renamed Control Room) said late Tuesday that they have entered into a multiyear, global live content distribution agreement. MSN will be the exclusive online provider of Control Room's live and on-demand live events. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. MSN will provide live concerts from Control Room's live music programming on MSN, as well as through other Microsoft platforms, including Xbox Live, MSN Messenger, M (More info...)
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Conexant Pockets $100M In Jazz Semi Merger
Newport Beach-based Conexant is reporting that it will receive approximately $100M in cash from its 42 percent ownership of Jazz Semiconductor, due to the company's merger with Acquicor. Acquicor and Jazz Semicondutor said yesterday that the companies would merge in a transaction worth $260M. Jazz was spun out of Conexant in March 2002. Conexant said that the proceeds woudl significantly strengthen the firm's balance sheet and provide it with improved liquidity.
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MySpace Gets Out The Vote
Los Angeles-based MySpace.com has launched itself into voter registration outreach, saying this morning that it has partnered with Declare Yourself, a nonpartisan youth campaign to encourage users to register to vote in the upcoming 2006 elections. MySpace will make Declare Yourself's online voter registration tools available on the site. The outreach is targeted at over-18, adult MySpace Community.
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RazorGator Rolls Out Ticket Management Service
Los Angeles-based RazorGator has introduced a new ticket management service that the firm said can be used by companies that purchase tickets for sponsorships. The company said its new TicketOS platform allows companies to use RazorGator to manage their ticket inventories as an investment. The firm's new platform allows companies who sponsor events in sports and entertainment to track ticket inventory, manage client-guest usage, employee requests, parking, and other related items. The firm also (More info...)
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Envision Scores OppenheimerFunds
Irvine-based Envision Financial Systems,a provider of software for the financial industry, has scored a win with OppenheimerFunds. OppenHeimerFunds will use Envision's software to help manage its 529 plans and Institutional Money Market business. Envision's software serves the institutional and mutual fund market. Envision said it recently incorporated 529 plan capabilities into its PowerAgent platform.
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SEMDirector Partners With Omniture
SEMDirector, Omniture Partner San Diego-based SEMDirector and Orem, Utah-based Omniture said Tuesday that the two companies have foremd an alliance to provide a portfolio of integrated software. The two companies said they will integrate Omniture's Web analytics products with SEMDirector's search analytics solutions. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The firms have previously provided custom integration of their software for clients such as iVillage. SEMDirector's products provid (More info...)
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