Versant Ventures said today that it completed the closing of the Vensana Capital fund, a venture capital and growth equity investment firm dedicated to the medtech sector with more than $200 million in committed capital. Vensana Capital intends to use its $225 million in funding to partner with medtech companies in their clinical development and […]
Versant Ventures
Bayer, Versant close $225m Series A to launch stem cell company
Bayer (ETR:BAYN) and Versant Ventures said today that the 2 groups closed a $225 million Series A financing round to launch BlueRock Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine company focused on developing induced pluripotent stem cell therapies. The funds are estimated to support the company for 4 years as it advances cell therapy clinical programs for cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. “Accessing […]
Mazzo suspended at Versant Ventures after insider trading indictment | Personnel Moves

Versant Ventures and James Mazzo agreed that Mazzo will "suspend any activities" at the venture capital shop following his indictment last month on insider trading charges.
BSX loses $309M judgment in patent war with the family of Dr. Michel Mirowski | Medtech legal news for the week of September 29, 2014

Boston Scientific loses $309 million judgment in Mirowski patent war
September 24, 2014 by Brad Perriello
Ex-Advanced Medical Optics CEO Mazzo indicted in insider trading case
HistoSonics pulls in $14M | Medtech funding for the week of May 19, 2014
Ceterix Orthopaedics raises $18M for surgical tools

California-based Ceterix Orthopaedics plans to boost its marketing efforts with the help of $18 million in new financing.
The company hopes to widen the reach of its surgical tools, which help physicians place stitches in hard-to-reach places while protecting other tissue. Ceterix’s technology is currently in use by more than 100 physicians in the U.S., according to a company statement.
DOD hands out $99.6 million in contracts to Hologic, GE, PositiveID | Medtech funding stories for the week of Apr. 7, 2014
Sequent Medical raises $20M Series D for brain aneurysm device

Sequent Medical said it raised a Series D round worth $20 million from its slate of previous investors, led again by Delphi Ventures.
Domain Associates, US Venture Partners and Versant Ventures also participated, Sequent said.
Versant Ventures is raising $250M for medtech VC

Medical device investment group Versant Ventures is looking to raise a new $250 million fund, the group’s 5th fund so far.
The funding round should be a short one, although the 1st sale has yet to occur, according to regulatory filings. The group is offering pooled investment fund interests.
MassDevice.com Q&A: James Mazzo on his move to Versant Ventures

James Mazzo has put 35 years into the optics and ophthalmology business, so it was no surprise that he got involved with AcuFocus and its device for treating presbyopia. Mazzo, who stepped down from leading Abbott Medical Optics earlier this year, added another title to his resume that’s more of a departure: He’s the 1st "operating partner" at Versant Ventures.