Aclara Biosciences
Mountain View, CA
Nasdaq: MGRM
IPO raised $189 million in 2000. Merged with ViroLogic in 2004 and later renamed Monogram Biosciences
Biochip company developing microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology with applications for genetic analysis, high-throughput drug screening and clinical diagnostics. Aclara has established several corporate partnerships, including a collaboration with PE BioSystems.
Angiomics
Research Triangle Park, NC
Seed stage cancer therapy spinout from Duke University. Research focused on inhibiting new blood vessel growth. Assets acquired by Protein Design Labs in 2004.
Anthera Pharmaceuticals
San Mateo, CA
Anthera Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical development company focused on the development and advancement of promising clinical products for the treatment of serious inflammatory diseases. Anthera's lead products have the potential to address a variety of inflammatory diseases including: acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute chest syndrome, acute coronary syndrome, atherosclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and psoriasis.
Arena Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, CA
Nasdaq: ARNA
IPO raised $108 million in 2000
Biopharmaceutical company that has developed a technology to accelerate the development of lead compounds targeting G-protein coupled receptors. This core technology, called CART, allows for ligand-independent, direct identification of small molecule compounds that regulate the activity of G-protein coupled receptors. Arena has entered into several research and licensing agreements, including a collaboration with Eli Lilly.
ArgoMed
Cary, NC
Company developing a proprietary, water-induced thermotherapy device and technique to address the non-surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a condition that afflicts the majority of men over 60, causing adverse changes in urinary voiding patterns. ArgoMed's initial product received FDA market approval in 1999. Assets acquired by Circon in 2002.
Athersys
Cleveland, OH
Athersys is a biopharmaceutical and regenerative medicine company that has established a pipeline of therapeutic product development programs in multiple disease areas including pharmaceutical programs focused on obesity and CNS (cognition, attention) and regenerative medicine programs focused on cardiovascular disease, stroke, hematological and immune disorders.
Bayhill Therapeutics
Palo Alto, CA
Bayhill is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the translation of research into therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Bayhill's lead product, an antigen-specific immunotherapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis is in Phase 2 trials. A second antigen-specific product for the treatment of Type I diabetes mellitus is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. A third product for the treatment of myasthenia gravis is in preclinical testing.
BioSyntech
Laval, Quebec
TSX V: BSY
The company specializes in the discovery, development and manufacturing of biotherapeutic thermogels for regenerative medicine and therapeutic delivery. Its platform technology is a family of hydrogels that can be injected or applied to specific sites and which offer beneficial properties for the local repair of damaged tissue such as cartilage, bone and chronic wounds.
BrainCells
San Diego, CA
BrainCells, INC (BCI) is a leading-edge neurogenesis-based drug discovery and development company targeting novel therapies for depression, mood disorders and other CNS diseases. The company is developing a neurogenesis platform for profiling and selecting drug candidates. BCI believes that the platform represents a major improvement in the predictive power of pre-clinical models for CNS disorders and will facilitate a paradigm shift in the way CNS drugs are discovered.
Calyx Therapeutics
Hayward, CA
Pharmaceutical company focusing on oral therapies for diabetes and inflammatory diseases. Calyx utilizes natural plant extracts with demonstrated clinical activity in humans as the source of its discovery efforts. The company isolates the biologically active molecule, determines its chemical structure, and develops small molecule analogs. This process significantly reduces the time and investment required to take lead molecules into preclinical and clinical testing.
CeNeRx BioPharma
Cary, NC
CeNeRx is developing innovative treatments for diseases of the central nervous system. The company's most advanced compound, a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase, is undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of major depressive disorder. CeNeRx is also developing a pipeline of selective cannabinoid compounds that have completed successful preclinical proof-of-concept studies for the treatment of pain, glaucoma, and obesity.
Cequent Pharmaceuticals
Cambridge, MA
Early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing new clinically compatible therapies based on RNA interference (RNAi). Cequent is focusing its efforts on the pre-clinical development of products to treat gastrointestinal diseases, including familial polyposis, inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.
Cerexa
Alameda, CA
Cerexa, Inc. was formed in 2005 as a spin-out from Peninsula Pharmaceuticals to focus on acquiring, developing, and commercializing hospital-based anti-infective therapies for the treatment of patients with serious, life-threatening infections. In early 2007, Forest Laboratories acquired Cerexa for $483 million in cash plus a potential $100-million payment in the event that U.S. product sales of Cerexa's lead antibiotic, Ceftaroline, exceed $500 million during any twelve-month period within the first five years following product launch.
Cognetix
Salt Lake City, UT
Biopharmaceutical company that is developing peptide therapeutics for the treatment of epilepsy, pain and anesthesia. The company's research and development efforts are focused on conopeptides which are peptides derived from the venom of predatory sea snails. Cognetix has corporate collaborations in place with Medtronic, Inc. and Elan Corporation plc.
CoLucid Pharmaceuticals
Indianopolis, IN
CoLucid Pharmaceuticals is a development stage biopharmaceutical company developing and discovering therapeutics that will be used to treat neurological dysfunctions. CoLucid develops pharmaceuticals with novel mechanisms of action to treat migraine headaches. The company also possesses a robust chemistry platform that will produce unique bifunctional neuromodulators to treat indications such as Alzheimer's disease.
Dynogen Pharmaceuticals
Waltham, MA
Clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of more effective therapies for gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders. The company is focused on capturing value in attractive and untapped markets in disease areas that severely impair a patient's quality of life, such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease and overactive bladder.
EBM Solutions
Nashville, TN
Acquired by HealthGate Data Corp. in 2003
Evidence-based medical solutions provider that partners high-quality health and medical information with ongoing monitoring and analysis of healthcare organizations' online initiatives. HealthGate's consumer health information is URAC-accredited and the evidence-based clinical guidelines are backed by independent medical review support through affiliations with Duke University Medical Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Elitra Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, CA
Antimicrobial functional genomics company focused on the identification, development and commercialization of novel antimicrobial compounds that target essential gene products of pathogenic organisms. Elitra has a research collaboration in place with Merck & Co. Assets acquired by Merck in 2004.
Emerald BioAgriculture
Lansing, MI
Bioagriculture company developing, manufacturing and marketing biological and biochemical agents to improve crop yields, enhance quality, combat disease and fight pests. The company's lead product, AuxiGro®, is the first yield increasing biochemical to be registered by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
FlowCardia
Sunnyvale, CA
Medical device company that is developing a catheter for the treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) of coronary arteries. Utilizing a technology known as high frequency mechanical recanalization, the company's CROSSER™ System safely and quickly breaks up CTOs allowing subsequent stent placement or balloon angioplasty and avoiding the trauma of cardiac surgery. Clinical trials are underway in Europe.
Genstruct
Cambridge, MA
Systems biology drug discovery company that deploys its mechanism discovery platform, Molecular Epistemics™, independently and in partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to streamline drug discovery and improve clincial trial design and implementation. Pappas Ventures II originally invested in Incellico, Inc. which was acquired in July 2003 by Genstruct.
Gentis
Wayne, PA
Gentis is a biomaterials and orthopedics company that has developed and is testing a potentially breakthrough, non-fusion technology for the treatment of spinal disc disease. Gentis's lead product is DiscCell, a proprietary, injectable, in-situ polymerizing spinal nucleus augmentation technology.
LEAD Therapeutics
San Francisco, CA
LEAD Therapeutics is a chemistry-driven small-molecule drug discovery company, pursuing validated drug targets with rapid and efficient lead-optimization strategies. The company is leveraging its highly experienced, U.S.-based scientific team with high-quality, lower-cost chemistry capabilities in China.
LipoScience
Raleigh, NC
Diagnostic company utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to measure the size and quantity of lipoprotein particles in blood. The company's NMR LipoProfile® blood test is intended to provide a better indication of the risk of developing cardiovascular heart disease than the standard cholesterol test measurements of 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol. The company currently markets and sells the NMR LipoProfile test to physicians, other healthcare professionals, diagnostic laboratories and clinical research clients.
MethylGene
Montreal, Quebec
TSE: MYG
Biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel enzyme inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. The company uses functional genomics to validate enzyme targets and uses rational drug design and medicinal chemistry to design, synthesize and optimize enzyme inhibitors.
Nereus Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, CA
Drug discovery and development company focusing on the oceans and marine environments as a source of small-molecule compounds for the treatment of inflammation, cancer, and infectious diseases. Nereus is utilizing specialized research out of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
NuVasive
San Diego, CA
Nasdaq: NUVA
IPO raised $72 million in 2004
Medical device company that designs, manufactures and markets minimally invasive spine surgery systems. Its FDA-approved system allows the surgeon to perform common open spine operations through small incisions with a proprietary, easy-to-use guidance system. NuVasive raised $72 million in a May 2004 IPO.
Optherion
New Haven, CT
Optherion, Inc. is an early-stage biotechnology company that is developing products to treat and diagnose dry and wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and other chronic diseases involving the alternative complement system. Optherion's proprietary technologies are based on recent scientific discoveries linking certain genes to AMD.
Panacos Pharmaceuticals
Watertown, MA
Nasdaq: PANC
Merged with V.I. Technologies in 2005
Panacos is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule drugs to treat or prevent serious infectious disease. The Company has an expanding pipeline of promising anti-infective drug candidates for major markets with significant, unmet medical needs. The Company's lead antiviral product is PA-457, the first in a new class of drugs to treat HIV infection discovered by Panacos scientists currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.
Peninsula Pharmaceuticals
Alameda, CA
Acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2005
Pharmaceutical development company focused on in-licensing and developing clinical stage pharmaceutical products. Initially, the company is pursuing opportunities that treat infectious diseases, a category that is attractive because of the high probability of clinical success following Phase 1, lower development costs, and shorter clinical development timelines. Peninsula has licensing agreements in place with Shionogi & Co. and with Takeda Chemical Industries.
Plexigen
Cary, NC
Company developing an innovative, proprietary 3-D biochip to significantly enhance the capacity, efficiency, accuracy and automation of gene screening. The technology was originally developed at North Carolina State University.
Plexxikon
Berkeley, CA
Drug discovery company that utilizes a structural proteomics approach to discover novel pharmaceuticals. Using high-throughput X-ray crystallography, the company screens for novel chemical backbones known as scaffolds. The scaffolds are then co-crystallized with drug targets leading to high quality drug leads. Plexxikon has collaborations in place with Genentech, Inc. and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
Reprogenesis
Cambridge, MA
Nasdaq: CRIS
Merged with Ontogeny and Creative BioMolecules to form Curis in 2000
Company developing in vivo tissue augmentation/repair products. Reprogenesis merged in July 2000 with Creative Biomolecules and Ontogeny to form Curis, a public company focused on regenerative medicine. Curis is developing products that are designed to recreate the conditions that support the growth of cells and tissue.
Sensys Medical
Chandler, AZ
Developer of non-invasive technology for blood glucose monitoring. Once cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, the technology will provide a painless method to collect data for proactive use in controlling diabetes.
Signase
Houston, TX
Cancer therapeutics company developing novel, small molecule inhibitors of a critical cell replication pathway to inhibit tumor growth. Signase was spun out of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Assets acquired by Systems Medicine Inc. in 2005.
Spherics
Mansfield, MA
Pharmaceutical company focused on applying its oral drug delivery platform to develop products with improved therapeutic profiles
Syndax Pharmaceuticals
Waltham, MA
Syndax is an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company that is developing novel therapies in optimized, mechanistically driven combination regimens.
Syntonix Pharmaceuticals
Waltham, MA
Syntonix, Inc. was founded in 1999 to discover and develop novel therapeutic proteins for treatment of chronic diseases such as hemophilia, anemia, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune disorders. Biogen Idec acquired Syntonix in early 2007 for $120 million, including an up front payment of $40 million and milestone payments of up to an additional $80 million based on clinical progress of the lead compound.
TargeGen
San Diego, CA
Biopharmaceutical company focusing on treatments for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The company is developing small molecule kinase inhibitors that suppress vascular permeability and vascular proliferation associated with these diseases.
TyRx
Monmouth Junction, NJ
Medical device company developing a range of drug-eluting implantable devices based on proprietary tyrosine polymer technology licensed from Rutgers University. The company's lead product is AIGIS-Rx™, an antibiotic-eluting mesh envelope into which pacemakers and defibrillators can be inserted prior to surgical implantation, thereby reducing the risk of post-procedure infection.
Variagenics
Cambridge, MA
Nasdaq: NUVO
IPO raised $70 million in 2000. Merged with Hyseq Pharmaceuticals to form Nuvelo in 2003
Pharmacogenomics company with proprietary gene variance detection technology anticipated to streamline drug development. The company identifies clinically relevant variants in genes that affect drug action and applies this information to the design of clinical trials.
X-Ceptor Therapeutics
San Diego, CA
Nasdaq: EXEL
Acquired by Exelixis in 2004
Genomics-based drug discovery company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics across various therapy areas. The company is leveraging its fully integrated gene-to-drug platform to fuel the growth of its proprietary drug pipeline. Exelixis' development pipeline currently covers cancer and metabolism. Pappas Ventures I was part of the founding investor group that originally invested in X-Ceptor Therapeutics, Inc., which was acquired in October 2004 by Exelixis, Inc.