MedPanel, which provides online research and analysis tools, will use the backing to improve its Web site, hire staff and expand sales and marketing efforts. Investors were not disclosed.

"These new resources will provide current and future pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients with faster and more precise access to the current thinking of physician opinion leaders," said Will Febbo, MedPanel's CEO.

MedPanel was founded in 1999 and is privately held. Its clients include Amgen, Bear Stearns, Boston Scientific, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Morgan Stanley, and Wyeth Ayerst.

Optodot, a developer of optical switch array equipment, received its backing from investors including Seed Capital Partners of Buffalo, N.Y., an early-stage investor affiliated with Japanese Internet investor Softbank. Privately held Optodot is in the early stages of development and has not yet launched its product.