Biotechnology company Thesan Pharmaceuticals raises $49m series B financing led by current investor Novo Ventures, and including Lundbeckfond Ventures and Novartis Venture Funds, to develop novel medicines for treating dermatological conditions such as acne.

With sales more than quadrupling in 2013, TigerText, a secure mobile messaging service for co-workers, has closed a series B funding. Shasta Ventures led the deal with corporate venturing units Reed Elsevier and Telus also taking part.

Curated sports blogging site GiveMeSport raises an undisclosed amount of series B funding from IMG Media.

Urban agriculture company BrightFarms raises $4.9m series B funding from investors including Tengelmann's Emil Capital Partners, in push to commercialise urban agriculture and keep building greenhouses near supermarkets.

Toronto life sciences spin-out Xagenic closes $20m series B ahead of FDA submission.

Hair colouring products, home delivery company Madison Reed raises $12m series B funding led by Norwest Venture Partners and including Maveron.

The Daily Mail Group Information (DMGI) on behalf of its education subsidiary Hobsons has invested $9m in India e-learning company iProf Learning Solutions India, in a series B round of funding. Existing investors Norwest Venture Partners and IDG Ventures India, the corporate venturing unit of publisher International Data Group also participated in the round.