Freed From Merck Deal, Portola Set To Move Betrixaban Forward With $89M Funding

Without a partner for its anticoagulant in an increasingly complex market, privately-held Portola takes $89 million in late-stage money to conduct Phase III trials on its own.

Eight months after Merck & Co. Inc. terminated its partnership with anticoagulant drug developer Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc. , the privately-held company has obtained a new round of venture funding and is preparing to take its lead program into Phase III on its own.

Two new investors, Eastern Capital Ltd. and , joined existing Portola investors in an $89 million Series D round. The...

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