MORRISVILLE, NC-Viamet Pharmaceuticals Inc.has raised $25 million in equity financing, according to a regulatory filing. The company focuses on enzymes  that contain a metal, typically zinc or iron. About ten percent of current drugs target these “metalloenzymes.” Viamet’s technology makes those drugs more effective and safer, the company has said. (more…)

ACT TODAY - Pre-registration closes at midnight!  Scheduled for February 21-22, 2011 in downtown Raleigh, NC, CED’s Biotech/Life Science 2011 features industry experts, presenting companies in biotech and medtech, leading pharmaceutical and investment organizations, workshops, and partnering sessions.  Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from and network with the regions’s top life science executives.  The conference is presented in partnership with the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and North Carolina Biosciences Organization (NCBIO).

 Pre-registration closes tonight at 11:59PM, visit www.cednc.org/lifescience to register online.

ATLANTA, GA - An Atlanta-based medical research and development startup company has received $5.1 million jointly from an Irish and an Israeli company to test and further develop a new product used during cardiac surgery. (more…)

DURHAM, NC – Chimerix, a company developing orally available broad spectrum antiviral therapeutics, has closed a $45 million sixth round of financing.  New Leaf Venture Partners, Pappas Ventures and Morningside Group, as well as existing investors Canaan Partners, Sanderling Ventures, Alta Partners, Asset Management Company and Frazier Healthcare Ventures all participated in the funding. (more…)

ROANOKE, VA - ELENZA Inc., a company developing the world’s first Electro-active AutoFocal Intraocular Lens, has raised $24 million Series B round of financing from from its original investors, The Carlyle Group, Washington, DC, and Delphi Ventures, Menlo Park, CA,, as well as new investors, the Itochu Corp., Tokyo, Japan and a strategic corporate investor from the ophthalmic industry. (more…)

ATLANTA, GA - Led by Ziegler Meditech Equity Partners, Florida-based OrthoSensor raised $21 million in a Series B round of financing. The devicemarker’s OrthoSensor Surgical products are disposable, sensor-enabled devices that give feedback to surgeons while they’re placing orthopedic implants. (more…)