U.K. biotech Circassia has the first potential cat allergy vaccine to reach advanced clinical studies in Europe and the U.S., funded by a large round of VC financing completed in 2011. Its allergen-free technology could revolutionize the treatment of allergies.

Despite the unpredictability and fluctuation of the world's financial markets last month, a surprising number of pharmaceutical companies secured private investments, and the total amount raised rose, a Scripanalysis has found.

Each month, Start-Up presents a comprehensive review of young, private life science companies that have received venture funding during the month, including companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and research instrumentation & reagent sectors.

A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. This month's profile group: A New Perspective on Cancer Immunotherapy, features profiles of Apthera, Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Pique Therapeutics and Vaxon. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: Acceleron Pharma, CTG Pharma, ImVisioN, and Innovent Medical.