Biotech firm Adimab publicly launched its proprietary yeast-based antibody discovery platform. Adimab also announced separate major research collaborations with industry leaders Merck and Roche. In each collaboration, Adimab will use its discovery platform to identify fully human antibodies against targets selected by the pharma partner. Merck and Roche will have the right to commercialize antibodies generated from its collaboration and Adimab will receive various upfront payments, milestones and licensing fees.
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Medical device company Avedro successfully commenced human trials and raised a $10 million Series B funding round from new investor Flagship Ventures and existing investors Borealis, DeNovo Ventures and Prism Ventureworks. Avedro's Keraflex procedure offers a less-invasive alternative to Lasik to correct vision by reshaping the surface of the cornea with focused energy. Keraflex promises to be an attractive alternative to eyeglasses or contact lenses for correcting low-to- moderate nearsightedness.

Makeover Solutions flagship website Daily Makeover launched a new version of its Makeover Studio, making its virtual makeover technology both easier to use and more customer specific. Users can upload a picture of themselves and then try on makeup and hair styles virtually. What sets this new version apart is the use of advanced facial recognition technology which ensures the specific techniques, such as a smoky eye, are correctly superimposed on the face. Makeover Studio will also give greater specificity to differences in cosmetic brands and allow for a greater range in finishes to better mimic the look of the makeup on real skin. Makeover Studio is available on Daily Makeover's site and has also been licensed to more than 60 online beauty partners, including Avon and Mary Kay, as well as numerous web media publishers.

SpaceClaim, provider of engineering design software, recently announced a major licensing and distribution agreement with ANSYS, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANSS). Under this partnership, the companies will offer SpaceClaim 3D Direct Modeling as an option within the ANSYS Simulation Driven Product Development process. This new ANSYS offering will enable product development and design engineers who are not CAD experts to create and modify 3D geometry models. As a result, engineers can import models from any major CAD system, prep with direct modeling, and move simulation earlier in the product development process, where it can have the most impact on design and cost. Jim Cashman, president and CEO of ANSYS, Inc. said, "Through this partnership, we empower engineering analysts to create and modify 3D geometry models early in the product development process, then virtually and quickly test their operational performance. The ultimate benefit is beating the competition to market."
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Team Borealis again came out in force for the 28th Annual Prouty Century Bike Ride & Challenge Walk. Borealis was pleased to provide financial support as a Silver Wheel sponsor, but we also put some (aching) muscle to the effort by fielding 52 members of Team Borealis. By biking (and walking) through the beautiful NH and VT landscape we raised an additional $40K in support of the research and services provided by the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. Overall, nearly $2 million was contributed through this event. As importantly, it was rewarding to have other members of the extended Borealis network join us in supporting this vital community resource.

While the Prouty is our hometown ride, Team Borealis welcomes any excuse to mount up for a good cause. If you would like to join us for one of these rides- and perhaps get a spiffy Borealis Ventures bike jersey for the effort- please join our Team on Facebook.