NewHavenBIZ

n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 1 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 5 BY THE NUMBERS A r o u n d t h e R e g i o n BlackRock. Existing investors also partici- pated, IsoPlexis said. e latest infusion brings the Yale spin- out's lifetime fundraising, including grants, to $203.5 million, according to Crunchbase. e company announced a $45 million Series C round in Jan. 2020. IsoPlexis specializes in single-cell pro- teomics, developing products that allow researchers to analyze individual tumor cells and characterize them based on the proteins they secrete. e data can help doctors develop personalized treatments for cancer and other diseases and predict how patients will respond. Biohaven acquires fellow Elm City biotech Growing New Haven bioscience firm Bio- haven Pharmaceuticals recently got bigger. e migraine drugmaker has acquired fellow Elm City biotech Kleo Pharmaceu- ticals and its 10,000-square-foot lab at 150 Munson St., where it has launched a new chemistry and discovery research arm called Biohaven Labs at Science Park. Biohaven, which already held a 42% stake in the five-year-old immuno-oncol- ogy startup, said it acquired the remaining shares of the company on Jan. 1, in a stock deal valued at $20 million. Trumbull's CooperSurgical acquires Illinois firm A Connecticut purveyor of women's healthcare products and services has ac- quired a company that helps fertility clinics educate patients on how to manage frozen embryos, eggs and sperm. Trumbull-based CooperSurgical did not disclose terms of its deal to buy Embryo Options, based in Naperville, Ill. Embryo Options says it partners with IVF (in vitro fertilization) clinics to provide automated billing and streamlined manage- ment of cryo-preserved embryos, eggs and sperm. It also helps IVF centers educate and provide online resources to patients regard- ing their options for storing, discarding or donating the specimens. More than 1 million cryopreserved embryos are currently being stored in the United States, according to CooperSurgical. BioXcel agitation drug calms dementia patients in trial New Haven's BioXcel erapeutics has unveiled clinical trial results showing its experimental anti-agitation drug could suc- cessfully and quickly calm patients suffering from dementia. BioXcel said BXCL501, its mint-flavored, quick-dissolving thin-film version of an older Pfizer drug, met all of its primary and secondary objectives in the Phase 1b/2 study. No serious adverse effects were reported. "Based on the results observed, we believe BXCL501 has a broad potential for treat- ment of the full spectrum of agitation in patients with dementia," CEO Vimal Mehta said. He said the positive results pave the way for a late-stage study, following dialogue with the Food and Drug Administration. Mehta said despite decades of research, there are still no effective treatments that directly target agitation commonly seen in dementia, which affects around 4 million people in the U.S. Splash Car Wash acquires NY, Vermont businesses e Milford-based Splash Car Wash chain has acquired Eco Car Wash, which has two locations, including in Plattsburgh, New York and Williston, Vermont. e two new locations offer express exterior car wash services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mark Curtis, CEO of Splash Car Wash Inc., and business partner Chris Fisher launched Splash Car Wash in 1981 with a single Greenwich location. Over the past three decades, the chain has grown and currently includes 27 car wash tunnels in Connecticut, Vermont and New York. Some of the sites include other services like car detailing, oil changes and a laundromat. Forklift dealer expands into central NY with acquisition Tri-Li Inc., a New Haven-based dealer of forklis and other material handling equipment, is making a push into central New York with the acquisition of a company based in Syracuse. e 53-year-old family-owned Tri-Li said it has acquired Vantage Equipment LLC's material handling group, whose terri- tory covers 18 counties in central New York. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Vantage has been the Cat Li Trucks and Jungheinrich Forkli dealer in those coun- ties, according to Tri-Li. Tri-Li said the combination will expand its Cat Li Trucks and Jungheinrich service territory footprint, which currently covers Connecticut, western Massachusetts, Ver- mont and eastern New York state, including Long Island and New York City. $432M The amount of money New Haven biotech Arvinas Inc. recently raised through an initial public offering. $24.5M The recent sale price of a Wallingford industrial property at 29 Research Parkway that is anchored by e-commerce giant Amazon. 13.3% The average apartment rent increase in New Haven County in December, per a report from Realtor.com. 3,400 The number of jobs Connecticut lost in December, according to the state Department of Labor. Chemistry company launches petroleum alternative P2 Science Inc. has launched a new line of plant-based biodegradable ingredients that can be used in cos- metics and toiletries. e new patented line, Citrolatum, is billed as an alternative to petro- latum, as it has a similar consistency. P2 Science, a renewable chemistry company, has a manufacturing plant in Naugatuck and a research lab in Woodbridge, and its products are typically used in the flavor, fragrance and cosmetics markets. e company anticipates commercial production of the new product line will start shortly at its Naugatuck facility. Neil Burns, CEO of P2 Science, said the company developed the product line in response to customer requests. State's largest office-lease deal announced at former Union Carbide HQ in Danbury A hospital system will relocate 500 people from New York to Danbury in what was touted as the largest office-lease deal in the state for 2020. Nuvance Health Systems will lease 220,000 square feet at e Summit at Danbury, the former Union Carbide world headquarters at 100 Reserve Rd. e lease with Nuvance, formerly Western Connecti- cut Medical, extends for 12 years with an option to expand up to 300,000 square feet. e deal was brokered by Summit Devel- opment of Southport, Crestline Investors of Fort Worth and the Rizzo Companies of Danbury. Nuvance, which operates seven hospi- tals in Connecticut and New York, will consolidate offices in Connecticut and bring 500 jobs from locations in New York. e Danbury location will become its executive headquarters. Labor Dept: CT lost 3,400 jobs in December Connecticut lost 3,400 jobs in Decem- ber, more than double the number of jobs it shed in November, marking the second consecutive month of net decline in the state's labor market since the first peak of COVID-19 last April. e Constitution State's unemployment rate, which now stands at 8%, dipped by 0.2% since November, the state Department of Labor said. Statewide employment is now 102,700 (-6.1 percent) positions lower than a year ago at 1,590,800 jobs. DOL Commissioner Kurt Westby said the worsening jobs numbers occurred as the restaurant and hospitality industries continue to hemorrhage business, but that some of those jobs could return when COVID-19 is in the rearview. In Dec. 2020, manufacturing, construc- tion, and finance were growth sectors, while Biohaven Pharmaceuticals A Splash Car Wash location. P2 Science Inc. makes plant- based cosmetics ingredients. A Tri-Lift Inc. forklift. 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