Thursday, April 2, 2009LensX Lasers Raises $22MAliso Viejo-based LensX Lasers, a maker of cataract surgery devices, has raised $22.36M in a funding round, according to a recent regulatory filing. According to the filing, the funding came on March 19th, and included investors Versant Ventures, Interwest Partners, and SV Life Sciences. According to InterWest, LensX is developing a next generation femtosecond laser that can operate inside the eye to make cataract surgery safer and more effective. The firm's team founded IntraLase.
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AudioMicro Ships iPhone AppLos Angeles-based AudioMicro, which operates an online marketplace for stock audio, said Thursday that it has shipped its first iPhone application. The firm's CEO, Ryan Born, said that the new software allows users to access a collection of 500 professional sound effects. The new app costs 99 cents, and is available on Apple App Store. AudioMicro is venture backed by DFJ Frontier.
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Move CFO Plans DepartureWestlake Village-based Move, which operates the Move.com, Realtor.com, and other related web sites, announced Thursday afternoon that the firm's Chief Financial Officer, Lew R. Belote, III is planning to leave the firm. According to the company, Belote will continue with the firm, until the company appoints a successor. Move said that it has engaged search firm Spencer Stuart on a search. No reason for the move was made, however, Belote said in a statement that he looks forward to spending more (More info...)
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Livestrong.com Taps Regard For Blackberry AppLos Angeles-based Demand Media's LIVESTRONG.com web site, the online health and fitness information web site run in conjunction with Lance Armstrong, said this week that it has rolled out a new 'Calorie Tracker' aplication for the RIM BlackBerry. The new application--developed by Los Angeles-based wireless development firm REGARD SOlutions--allows users to track how much they eat and exercise each day. The new app is being sold on RIM's new application marketplace, Appworld. Demand Media is run (More info...)
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Aspyra Reorganizes, Delays 10-K Calabasas-based Asprya, a provider of clinical information management systems for the healthcare market, said today that it has reorganized its management team. According to the firm, Bruce Miller, Chief Technology Officer of the firm and original founder of Creative Computer Applications, the predecessor firm to Aspyra, has departed the company after 31 years. The firm said the moves would help "define greater communication and efficiencies" at the company. Separately, the publicly held company (More info...)
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Traversa Therapeutics Lands $5M In Second RoundLa Jolla-based Travera Therapeutics, which is developing biopharmaceuticals based on RNA interference (RNAi) technology, said Thursday that it has raised $5M in a Series B financing round. The round was led by Morningside Venture Investments Ltd., and also included Mesa Verde Venture Partners and existing investors. The firm said the funding will go towards advancing its oncology drugs into clinical trials. The firm explained that the funding will provide it with two years of operating cash, and (More info...)
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TorreyPines Therapeutics Lops Employees, Looks For BuyerLa Jolla-based TorreyPines Therapeutics, a biopharmaceuticals firm focused on small molecule compounds, said this week that it has reduced its work force to just three employees. The firm said the move came as it looks to evaluate strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the firm. The firm said its CEO, CFO, and VP/General Counsel remain to assist the firm's board in strategic transactions.
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THQ Completes Cost CuttingAgoura Hills-based video game maker THQ announced this morning that it has "substantially completed" its latest business realignment, which will save the firm $220M in annual costs. THQ announced in February that it was cutting 600 people, or 24 percent of the workforce. THQ said that it will record approximately $45M in business realignment expenses for its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter, plus approximately $41M in impairment charges related to cancellation of titles and studio closures.
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SoCal Investments Totals Around $700M In Q1Southern California Venture capital totals were up slightly in Q1 of this year from last quarter, to around $718M in deals, according to an analysis of socalTECH.com's proprietary venture database. According to numbers derived from socalTECH's venture database, there was $717.96M invested in Southern California in the first quarter, up from only $465M in Q4 of 2008. However, venture funding totals were still well off the first quarter of 2008's nearly $1.2 billion in funding. socalTECH tracks d (More info...)
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Nomadix Wins $3.3M In Patent RulingNewbury Park-based Nomadix, a provider of wireless technology, revealed this morning that it has received $3.3M in a patent enforcement action against Second Rule LLC. According to DOCOMO interTouch, the parent firm of Nomadix, the Federal Court in the Central District of California ruled on March 31st that Second Rule infringed on five Nomadix patents. Nomadix said that it was awarded $3.3M in damages plus attorney fees, and gained a permanent injunction against Second Rule, which makes the IP3 (More info...)
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