Madison Vaccines Incorporated (MVI) today announced dosing has begun in a combination trial for MVI-816 (pTVG-HP), its lead prostate cancer vaccine, paired with pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®), a PD-1 inhibitor, also called a checkpoint inhibitor. A PD-1 inhibitor works by exposing cancer cells to attack by the immune system by preventing the cancer cells from blocking an effective immune response. MVI-816, already in a Phase 2 clinical trial as monotherapy, has been shown to induce persistent T-cell responses in prostate cancer patients. The combination trial will test the hypothesis that both treatments work together synergistically. The first-of-its kind combination to reach this stage will be tested in men with metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer, and will be conducted at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Carbone Cancer Center under the direction of Douglas McNeel, MD, PhD, a leading prostate cancer researcher at the university.

Read more at Business Wire.

TrackIf, a leader in online tracking and intelligent alerting for future purchase intent, today announced it has raised a $5 million Series A financing round, co-led by Origin Ventures and Grotech Ventures. Existing investor Chicago Ventures also participated.

TrackIf’s initial retail customers have seen tremendous results, with some capturing as much as $1 million in future purchase intent per day from their online visitors. TrackIf has sent over 65 million personalized emails to date, with nearly 50x better open rates and 20x greater conversion rates– results rarely seen with even the best retargeting campaigns.

Read more at Press Release Rocket.

Madison Vaccines’ backers have injected around $2 million more into the startup to help advance three clinical trials of its experimental DNA vaccines that aim to treat prostate cancer.

The Madison, WI-based drug developer today announced an expansion of its Series A funding round, upping the total from more than $9 million to $11 million, Madison Vaccines co-founder, president, and CEO Rick Lesniewski told Xconomy. The additional money comes from previous investors, including Venture Investors, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, and Venture Management, all based in Madison.

Read more at Xconomy.

Alliqua BioMedical, Inc. (“Alliqua” or “the Company”), a provider of advanced wound care products, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Celleration, Inc. (“Celleration”) for an initial purchase price of approximately $30.4 million, which is comprised of both cash and stock. The merger agreement provides for additional contingent payments in stock and cash, under certain circumstances, if stated revenue thresholds are reached over the next two years ending December 31, 2016 or if certain milestones are satisfied in connection with product sales in the U.K.

Celleration is a privately held medical device company, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, which is focused on developing and commercializing the MIST Therapy® therapeutic ultrasound platform for the treatment of acute and chronic wounds. Celleration’s MIST Therapy System is an FDA 510(k) cleared device that uses painless, noncontact low-frequency ultrasound to stimulate cells below the wound bed in order to promote the healing process. Celleration generated total revenue of approximately $8.7 million during its fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. Since Celleration’s MIST Therapy System was commercialized in 2005, MIST therapy has been performed more than 1.2 million times on over 85,000 patients in the U.S. and the U.K.

Read more at GlobeNewswire.

Esker, a worldwide leader in document process automation solutions and pioneer in cloud computing, today announces the acquisition of TermSync, a cloud-based accounts receivable platform.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, which is also home to Esker’s U.S. headquarters, TermSync develops and markets an innovative, collaborative portal enabling businesses to modernize their AR processes. Fully developed on cloud-based technology, TermSync optimizes invoice management by reducing costs, accelerating payments and reducing Days Sales Outstanding. Today, TermSync connects thousands of companies on its network, including the U.S. National Association of Credit Management, which has selected the solution as a preferred partner.

Read more at BusinessWire.com.

Shine Medical Technologies and Phoenix Nuclear Labs have signed an agreement in which Shine will fund additional refinements to Phoenix’s neutron generator technology, and Phoenix will be the exclusive supplier of the neutron generators that Shine will use to manufacture the medical isotope molybdenum-99. Shine is planning to construct a production facility in Janesville, a project aimed at helping to solve a looming medical isotopes shortage.

Read more at Xconomy.

Solomo Technology Inc., a Madison maker of software and sensor devices to connect businesses with customers, has raised $331,000 of a planned $1 million offering, according to a filing with federal securities regulators.

The company, run by tech industry veteran Liz Eversoll, in October won a $100,000 investment from AOL founder Steve Case’s investment firm.

Read more at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Phoenix Nuclear Labs LLC, a Monona maker of neutron generator technology, said Tuesday it has raised $2 million from outside investors.

The equity funding round was led by Venture Management LLC, Madison. At least six other investment groups in Wisconsin and outside the state participated. The company said it will use the money to support several key hires and to continue to scale up its manufacturing infrastructure.

Read more at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

If you pay attention to emerging biotech companies, you might have heard of Sutro Biopharma. With a new way of making therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, the Northern California company has raised more than $90 million and just struck a major deal with Celgene.

It’s a lot less likely you’ve heard of Invenra. But the Madison, WI-based company says it has a similar technology to Sutro: an antibody production system that doesn’t use genetically modified cells such as E. coli or Chinese hamster ovary cells as the factories, a break from the industry standard.

“The plan was to stay low profile until the technology was ready and avoid all the distractions,” Invenra CEO Roland Green says.

Now, with $4 million raised from friends and other angel investors, Green is ready to talk, and Invenra is just about ready to go work, first as a service company to help drug makers find therapeutic antibodies.

Read more at Xconomy.

Virent is getting increasing support from several of the world’s largest companies.

The Madison company said PlantPet Technology Collaborative — made up of The Coca-Cola Co., Ford Motor Co., H.J. Heinz Co., Nike and Procter & Gamble — has signed an “expression of interest” with Virent.

It gives those firms preferred access to Virent’s BioFormPX paraxylene, a plant-based chemical that is used instead of petroleum to create 100 percent renewable, recyclable packaging and polyester fibers.

Read more at the Wisconsin State Journal.