Financial

Asanuma was previously a director at Yasuda Enterprise Development America, a venture firm backed by Japan-based insurers Sompo Japan Insurance and Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance.

With such sizeable funding in place, if Intarcia can carry out a successful trial it would be in a stronger position to reap the returns of what could be a blockbuster treatment worth billions of dollars per year as well as a technology potentially applicable in other areas.

Our forthcoming Powerlist covering the 100 most powerful people in corporate venturing is due for publication on November 26 and makes for a fascinating insight into who are the key decision-makers in this growing industry.

Mobile wallet company founded by telecommunications companies AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless launches product in two US cities.

Investment firm WFA Investments backs India-based personal finance company, as it is also reported to be in talks with a US-based hedge fund.

Read say: "Digital is now something like 30% of revenue [at WPP] and Paidcontent ranked us number seven in its list of the top global digital media businesses. What we are trying to do is digitise the group."