Company: Hyperion Therapeutics
Based: South San Francisco, CA
Amount: $60 million

Investors: Bay City Capital, Panorama Capital, Highland Capital Partners, NEA, and Sofinnova Ventures

Scoop: San Francisco-based Hyperion got off to a strong start in 2009. Prior to its $60 million round in January, the company announced Phase II results and an orphan drug designation for HPN-100, a potential treatment for urea cycle disorders (UCT). The investment is being used to fund Phase III trials of the drug for UCT, as well as a Phase II study in low grade hepatic encephalopathy. The company had previously raised $40 million in 2007.