Harvest Automation, a company developing practical robots for the agriculture industry, has appointed John Kawola as CEO. Current CEO Charles Grinnell will assume the role of COO. Backed by Entrée Capital, Founder Collective, Life Sciences Partners, Cultivian Ventures, and Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation, Harvest Automation is headquartered outside of Boston, Mass.

Kiadis Pharma, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for blood cancers, has raised 10 million euros ($12.8 million) in an equity financing round. The round was led by Life Sciences Partners and supported by a large investment from DFJ-Esprit. Other investors included Alta Partners, Quest for Growth and NOM.

European life sciences fundraising and investments still haven’t reached anywhere near the heady 2006 levels But news of Index Ventures most recent fundraising are sending vibes of optimism and hope for a revival of European biotech.

Prosensa, a Dutch biopharmaceutical company focusing on RNA-modulating therapeutics for rare diseases, has raised €23 million (US$29.8 million) in new equity financing. The financing was led by new investor New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and was supported by existing investors, Abingworth, Life Sciences Partners, Gimv, Idinvest Partners and MedSciences Capital. PRESS RELEASE Prosensa, the Dutch biopharmaceutical [...]

Helsinki-based healthcare company Mendor has closed on 8.1 million euros ($11.64 million) in Series B financing from Finnish entrepreneur and investor Risto Siilasmaa, Life Sciences Partners, Finnish Industry Investment Ltd., Finnish Mutual Pension Insurance Company Ilmarinen, private Finnish investment group Biothom and Finnvera Venture Capital. The company, formed in 2006, develops diabetes technologies and services.

Medical device company Nexstim Oy has raised 11.4 million euro ($15.6 million) for its noninvasive brain diagnostic and therapy technologies. New investor Lundbeckfond Ventures led the round, which included participation from new investor Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, and existing investors HealthCap, Life Sciences Partners, Sitra and Finnish Industry Investment Ltd. Founded in 2000, the Finland-based company has raised roughly 30 million euro to date.

Seahorse Bioscience, Inc., a Billerica, Mass.-based medical instrument company, closed a $5 million round of financing. Investors in the Series D round included Commonwealth Capital Ventures, FLIR Systems Inc, Rock Maple Ventures, Life Sciences Partners, Oxford Bioscience Partners, Healthcare Ventures, New Science Ventures and HLM Venture Partners.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian drugmaker Movetis is considering an initial public offering (IPO) as one of several options to raise capital needed to market its leading product, its chairman said on Friday. A stock market float by the gastrointestinal specialist, which was founded in 2006 as a spin-out from Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), could signal [...]