VC: Elixir pockets $46M in third round

In the news recently for its work in the anti-aging field, Elixir Pharmaceuticals of Cambridge, MA announced it has raised $46 million in its third round of venture financing. The round includes $31 million in equity and $15 million in debt. The money will be used to support its program for Glufast, a small molecule for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes; pre-clinical activities to support an IND filing for EX-1314, a small molecule ghrelin agonist for a variety of metabolic disorders; lead-optimization and IND-enabling pre-clinical studies for a small molecule ghrelin antagonist for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and obesity; and R&D efforts focused on a number of novel targets in aging and metabolism. Elixir was a 2003 Fierce 15 company

- here's the release on the round

PLUS: Cara Therapeutics of Tarrytown, NY has closed on its $19 million third round. New investors participating in the round include MVM Life Science Partners and Alta Biopharma Partners.Cara says the money will get its next two drugs into the clinic. Release

ALSO: Quinnova Pharmaceuticals of Newtown, PA has raised $13.6 million in its first round of financing. Thomas, McNerney & Partners, H.I.G. Ventures and an investor syndicate led by Omnivest (Bermuda) all participated. Release

AND: Tucson, AZ based AmpliMed has raised $8.5 million in its second closing of a second round. Biotech Insight Ventures led the round. Release