Aclara Biosciences

Mountain View, CA

IPO (2000)

Biochip company that developed microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology with applications for genetic analysis, high-throughput drug screening and clinical diagnostics.

Afferent Pharmaceuticals

Palo Alto, CA

Afferent Pharmaceuticals is focused on developing first-in-class medicines to treat chronic pain by targeting P2X3 receptors in peripheral nerves, where pain-causing stimuli are detected. As a result, it does not expect its drugs to be as prone to central nervous system side effects. The non-opiate mechanism also offers the potential to avoid dependence that limits the use of other pain medications. The company’s lead compound, AF-219, has successfully completed two Phase 1 clinical studies, and is expected to undergo efficacy testing in several pain and pain-related indications.

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 advancement of promising clinical products for the treatment of serious inflammatory diseases. Anthera's lead products are inhibitors of secretory phospholipase A2. The lead product has completed Phase 2 development for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Arena Pharmaceuticals

San Diego, CA

Nasdaq: ARNA

IPO (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.

ArgoMed

Cary, NC

Company developed 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

Nasdaq: ATHX

Athersys is a biopharmaceutical and regenerative medicine company that has established a pipeline of therapeutic product development programs in multiple disease areas. Its product portfolio consists of MultiStem, a non-embryonic stem cell-based approach for treating certain cardiovascular disorders, stroke, bone marrow transplantation and oncology support.

BaroSense

Menlo Park, CA

BaroSense focuses on the research and development of innovative, minimally invasive medical devices for the treatment of obesity - the largest global chronic disease in adults.

Bayhill Therapeutics

San Mateo, CA

Bayhill is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the translation of research into therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The company is developing DNA-antigen vaccines and oligonucleotides that are specifically designed to promote immune intolerance. Bayhill's lead compound, an antigen-specific immunotherapy aimed at treating multiple sclerosis, has completed a Phase 2 trial. The company also has a Type 1 diabetes program in a Phase 1/2 trial.

BioSyntech

Laval, Quebec

TSX V: BSY

BioSyntech is a medical device company that specializes in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of advanced biotherapeutic thermogels for regenerative medicine (tissue repair) and therapeutic delivery.

BrainCells

San Diego, CA

BrainCells (BCI) is a 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 that focused on oral therapies for diabetes and inflammatory diseases, utilizing natural plant extracts with demonstrated clinical activity in humans as the source of its discovery efforts.

CardioDx

Palo Alto, CA

CardioDx is a cardiovascular molecular diagnostics company developing tools to assist cardiologists in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Its lead test, Corus-CADx, is a gene expression algorithm-based blood test for the detection of significant atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in patients with stable chest pain.

CeNeRx BioPharma

Cary, NC

CeNeRx is developing innovative treatments for diseases of the central nervous system. Its lead product, a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase, is in a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of major depressive disorder. CeNeRx also has a pipeline of selective cannabinoid compounds for the treatment of pain, glaucoma, and obesity.

Cequent Pharmaceuticals

Cambridge, MA

Cequent is an early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing new clinically compatible therapies based on RNA interference (RNAi). The company has developed a novel, proprietary method to deliver RNAi to diseased cells utilizing modified, live, nonpathogenic bacteria. 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

Acquired by Forest Laboratories in 2007

Cerexa, Inc. is a privately owned biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing hospital-based anti-infective therapies for the treatment of patients with serious, life-threatening infections. The Company was formed in the Spring of 2005 as a spin-out from Peninsula Pharmaceuticals in preparation for the acquisition of Peninsula by Johnson & Johnson.

Cognetix

Salt Lake City, UT

Biopharmaceutical company that developed peptide therapeutics for the treatment of epilepsy, pain and anesthesia.

CoLucid Pharmaceuticals

Indianapolis, IN

CoLucid Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics to treat neurological dysfunctions. CoLucid’s lead program is based on a potent and selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist that has the potential to be useful in the acute treatment and/or prevention or prophylaxis of 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 that developed a portfolio of therapies for gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders.

EBM Solutions¹

Nashville, TN

Acquired by HealthGate Data Corp. in 2003

Evidence-based medical solutions provider that partnered high-quality health and medical information with ongoing monitoring and analysis of healthcare organizations' online initiatives. Its 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 that focused on the identification, development and commercialization of novel antimicrobial compounds that target essential gene products of pathogenic organisms. Assets acquired by Merck in 2004.

Emerald BioAgriculture²

Lansing, MI

Emerald is a bioagriculture company developing, manufacturing and marketing biological and biochemical agents to improve crop yields and quality, combat disease and fight pests.

FlowCardia

Sunnyvale, CA

FlowCardia is a medical device company commercializing products for the treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) of coronary and peripheral 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. FlowCardia's products are marketed throughout much of the United States.

Genstruct

Cambridge, MA

Genstruct is focused on the application of computational systems biology to drug discovery and development. The company is developing disease-specific mechanistic models that are used to discover the mechanisms underlying disease, drug action, and drug efficacy. Pappas Ventures originally invested in Incellico, Inc., which was acquired by Genstruct in July 2003.

Gentis

Wayne, PA

Gentis is a biomaterials and orthopedics company that has developed and is testing a breakthrough, non-fusion technology for treatment of spinal disc disease. Its lead product, DiscCell, is a radio-opaque implant designed to restore normal biomechanical function of a degenerated or surgically treated intervertebral disc by augmenting or replacing the worn-out gel-like tissue at its center (the nucleus pulposus).

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. LEAD’s pipeline in oncology consists of a PARP inhibitor program and a Cyp17 inhibitor program. LEAD also has a glycopeptide program for infectious diseases.

LipoScience

Raleigh, NC

LipoScience is a 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 compared with standard cholesterol tests that measure '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.

Liquidia Technologies

Research Triangle Park, NC

Liquidia utilizes a proprietary technology platform to design and manufacture highly precise micro- and nanoparticles that allow for the delivery of biological and small molecule therapeutics. Initial programs include siRNA delivery, inhaled therapeutics, and vaccines.

MethylGene

Montreal, Quebec

TSX: MYG

MethylGene is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of inhibitors for enzymes involved primarily in oncologic and infectious disease indications. 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 (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.

Optherion

New Haven, CT

Optherion is an early-stage biotechnology company that is developing therapeutics and diagnostic tools for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and orphan renal diseases strongly influenced by components of the alternative complement system. Optherion's technologies are based on recent genetic discoveries linking certain genes to these disorders.

Panacos Pharmaceuticals

Watertown, MA

Reverse merger in 2005

Panacos engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule drugs to treat or prevent serious infectious disease. Its lead antiviral product is PA-457, the first in a new class of drugs to treat HIV infection.

Peninsula Pharmaceuticals

Alameda, CA

Acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2005

Pharmaceutical development company focused on in-licensing and developing clinical stage pharmaceutical products, including those aimed at treating infectious diseases.

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

Plexxikon is a leader in the discovery and development of novel, small molecule pharmaceuticals. The company has utilized its proprietary discovery platform to successfully develop a portfolio of clinical and preclinical stage programs in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardio-renal disease, CNS, inflammation, metabolic disease and oncology. To date, Plexxikon has signed major collaborations with Roche and Wyeth.

Reprogenesis

Cambridge, MA

Nasdaq: CRIS

Merged with Ontogeny and Creative BioMolecules to form Curis (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

Sensys is developing a non-invasive blood glucose monitor that uses near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. 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 that developed 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. The company is currently in multiple Phase 2a trials with its histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) for breast cancer, lung cancer, and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Syntonix Pharmaceuticals

Waltham, MA

Acquired by BiogenIDEC (2007)

Syntonix was formed to discover and develop novel therapeutic proteins for treatment of chronic diseases such as hemophilia, anemia, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune disorders.

TargeGen

San Diego, CA

TargeGen is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on vascular biology, which includes controlling vascular leakage (responsible for organ damage) and angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth). The company is in a Phase 1 trial with its Jak2 inhibitor for treatment of myeloproliferative disease.

TyRx

Monmouth Junction, NJ

TyRx is a 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 (2000)

Pharmacogenomics company with proprietary gene variance detection technology anticipated to streamline drug development.

X-Ceptor Therapeutics

San Diego, CA

Acquired by Exelixis in 2004

Genomics-based drug discovery company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics across various therapy areas, including metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.