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(Reuters) – Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N) Centocor unit has acquired British inhaled drug specialist Respivert, landing one of its backers — Imperial Innovations (IVO.L) — a 9.5 million pounds ($13.9 million) cash windfall. Respivert, which was founded by former GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) executives and respiratory experts from London’s Imperial College, is also backed by SV Life […]

Clovis Oncology has signed a development and commercialization agreement for Avila Therapeutics' epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant-selective inhibitor (EMSI) program, which is in pre-clinical development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Avila will receive up to $209 million in up-front and clinical milestone payments, plus possible royalty and sub-licensing fees. Clovis Oncology last year raised $146 million in Series A funding from Domain Associates, New Enterprise Associates, Versant Ventures, Aberdare Ventures, Abingworth, Frazier Healthcare Ventures and ProQuest Investments. Avila Therapeutics has raised over $51 million from The Novartis Option Fund, Abingworth Management, Advent Venture Partners, Atlas Venture and Polaris Venture Partners.

Off & Away, a Seattle-based auction site where travelers bid for luxurious accommodations and related goods, said that it has raised an undisclosed amount of Series A funding from Madrona Venture Group.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Two tech company IPOs received a mixed reception on Thursday, as shares of Convio Inc (CNVO.O) rose while those of Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Ltd (AOSL.O) fell. The shares of Convio, which sells marketing and management software to nonprofit organizations, closed 13.8 percent above their initial public offering price at $10.24. […]

Mersana Therapeutics Inc. has signed an exclusive research and licensing agreement with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., to develop and commercialize a novel fumagillin analog for the treatment of all indications, including cancer. The deal could be worth upwards of $334 million. Cambridge, Mass.-based Mersana Therapeutics has raised around $36 million in VC funding from Fidelity Biosciences, Harris & Harris Group, PureTech Ventures, ProQuest Investments and Rho Ventures.

Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a San Diego-based drug and diagnostics company, has signed an oncology research collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG. The deal could be worth upwards of $160 million in up-front and milestone payments. Prometheus is in registration for a $100 million IPO, and has raised around $73 million in VC funding from DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (21.4% stake), Split Rock Partners (17.4%), New Leaf Ventures (12.5%), Apax Partners (11%) , Wachovia Capital Partners (11%) and Brentwood Venture Capital (7.5%).

Konarka Technologies Inc., a Lowell, Mass.-based developer of flexible solar energy technology called “Power Plastic,” has raised $20 million in strategic funding from Konica Minolta. The two companies also signed an R&D collaboration deal, to jointly develop and distribute organic thin-film photovoltaics. Konarka previously raised around $175 million from 3i Group, Ardesta, Angeleno Group, Chevron Technology Ventures, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Good Energies, Massachusetts Green Energy Fund, NGEN Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Presidio STX, Siemens Venture Capital, Total Gas & Power and Vanguard Ventures.

Navigenics, a Foster City, Calif.-based personalized genomics company, has raised around $18 million in new VC funding. Procter & Gamble was joined by return backers Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and MDV. The company previously raised around $25 million.

SolarCity Corp., a Foster City, Calif.-based provider of solar energy system installation and design, has secured $60 million from PG&E Corp. The deal is described as "tax equity financing" for solar installations for U.S. homes and businesses. SolarCity previously raised around $74 million from firms like First Solar Inc. and Draper Fisher Jurvetson.

John LaMattina, former president of Pfizer's global R&D efforts, has joined PureTech Ventures as a senior partner. PureTech also announced the promotions of Eric Elenko and Steve Muniz to partner.