Goldfinch’s Kidney Genome Atlas may yield novel therapies for diabetic kidney disease and orphan renal indications, with Gilead holding option rights. Spectrum licenses IP from ImmunGene that could safely harness the potential of interferon therapy in cancer.

This Month's Profile Group, New Technologies Drive Growth In Orthopedic Extremities, features profiles of Cartiva, Conventus Orthopaedics, and Nextremity Solutions. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: Arvinas, Flower Orthopedics, ImmunGene, and NeuroRecovery Technologies.

Interferon has proved helpful in treating many diseases, but its usefulness has always been limited by side effects that arise from the drug's inherent ability to stimulate the immune system. Start-up ImmunGene Inc. thinks it has figured out a way to engineer interferon so that it has little potency unless and until the protein binds to a tumor, only then displaying an active form of interferon capable of provoking inflammation and triggering cell death.

Recent executive-level hires and director appointments at venture capital firms and biopharma and medtech start-ups.