Highlights from recent Life Science venture capital news.

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North America 

June 7th, 2012 – San Diego, CA

Astute Medical Completes $40.4 Million Series C Financing

Astute Medical, Inc., a developer of novel, biomarker-based medical diagnostics, today announced the completion of a $40.4 million Series C financing led by MPM Capital and including new investor Kaiser Permanente Ventures. The Company intends to use the proceeds to begin commercializing its first product, as well as to advance and expand its research, development and validation of biomarker-based laboratory tests. 

http://www.astutemedical.com/news/news060712.php

June 4th, 2012 – Redwood City, CA

SentreHEART Secures $26M Series C Financing

SentreHEART, Inc., a privately-held medical device company announced that it has recently completed a $26 million Series C financing led by Vivo Ventures with participation by its existing investors US Venture Partners and Prospect Ventures.

http://www.sentreheart.com/media/sentreheart-secures-26-million-series-c-financing-commercialization

June 5th, 2012 – Malvern, PA 

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals Books $23M in Third Tranche of Series B

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it raised $23 million in additional Series B financing from its investors to support development of drugs to treat diabetes, metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease. The Malvern, Pa., company has now raised $48.4 million from Series B investors, including New Enterprise Associates, which led the round, as well as Astellas Venture Management, Fletcher Spaght Ventures, Hatteras Venture Partners and Johnson & Johnson Development Corp. This is the third tranche of the round, which initially closed in December 2009.

http://pevc.dowjones.com/article?an=DJFVW00020120605e865trtxr&from=alert&pid=32&ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%2fpevc.dowjones.com%3a80%2farticle%3fan%3dDJFVW00020120605e865trtxr%26from%3dalert%26pid%3d32

June 5th, 2012 – Menlo Park, CA

Auxogyn Raises $18M in Series B

Auxogyn, Inc., a privately-held company advancing women’s reproductive health, today announced it raised $18 million through a Series B financing. The financing was led by new investor SR One and includes participation from all Series A investors, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, TPG Biotech and Merck Serono Ventures. In connection with the financing, Simeon J. George, M.D., partner at SR One, and Nilesh Kumar, Ph.D., director of Merck Serono Ventures, will join the board of directors.

http://www.auxogyn.com/assets/press-releases/2012-06-05.series-b-financing.pdf

June 4th, 2012 – Bridgewater, NJ

Seldar Pharma Raises $13M Series A

Venture-backed Drais Pharmaceuticals Inc. has formed its second partnership with Astellas Pharma Inc. this year, an agreement to transfer an Astellas treatment for irritable bowel syndrome into a new, virtual company that has just raised a $13 million Series A round to develop that drug. InterWest Partners and Sutter Hill Ventures co-led the round for Seldar Pharma Inc., a new company run by Drais management.

http://pevc.dowjones.com/article?an=DJFVW00020120604e864rev6i&from=alert&pid=32&ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%2fpevc.dowjones.com%3a80%2farticle%3fan%3dDJFVW00020120604e864rev6i%26from%3dalert%26pid%3d32

Europe

June 7th, 2012 – Strasbourg, France

ProTip Closes $4.7M Financing

ProTip SA, a Strasbourg, France-based emerging medical device company, has raised $4.7m in Series C financing (approximately €3.8m). The round was led by new investor Seventure, with participation from existing investors Fonds Lorrain des Materiaux (FLM), the Berchet family-office, Alsace Amorcage and other private investors.

http://www.finsmes.com/2012/06/protip-closes-4-7m-financing.html

June 4th, 2012 – Lyon, France

Alize Pharma Closes €3.3M Funding

Alize Pharma, a Lyon, France-based group of companies developing drugs for the treatment of metabolic diseases and cancer, has completed a €3.3m funding round. Backers include existing shareholders Sham, OCTALFA, CEMA Inc., and Thierry Abribat. The company intends to use this capital, which brings the total amount raised to date to €8.3m, to take AZP-531, its UAG (UnAcylated Ghrelin) analog for the treatment of the Prader Willi syndrome and type II diabetes, into Phase I clinical trials.

http://www.finsmes.com/2012/06/alize-pharma-closes-e3-3m-funding.html

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