Today’s third of four installments covering the Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor Conference focuses on the medical device presenting companies. In addition, here are some links to the additional coverage:
Part I – The Dx companies [HERE]
Part II – The Biopharma companies [HERE]
Part iV – Summary [In the Works]
BiOptix – Boulder, CO-based BO has developed a highly sensitive biosensor for real-time detection of trace amounts (~pg/mm^2) of bacteria, viruses, proteins, miRNA and other nucleic acids, and antibodies. The patented biosensor design relies upon common path interferometric detection in combination with non-resonant surface Plasmon excitation – the design of which was conceived by University Colorado 2005 Physics Nobel Prize Laureate and BO Chief Scientific Advisor John Hall.
Coherex – Salt Lake City, UT-based commercial-stage CH is focused on catheter-based technologies for the treatment of certain structural heart defects. The initial focus is on a minimally invasive device to treat a common defect called Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO). The FlatStent™ PFO Closure System includes an implantable, self-expanding Nitinol stent with a polymer substrate designed to stimulate tissue growth within the PFO. AN exclusive multi-year distribution agreement with Abott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) was recently announced.
Kinetic Muscles – Tempe, AZ-based KM is a preclinical-stage medical tehnology company focusing on recovery for victims of stroke, traumatic brain injury and other neurological injury via the combination of robotic therapy technology and telemedicine to create a ‘virtual clinic’ that delivers therapy to the patients home. The company recently signed a supplier contract with Healthsouth (NYSE: HLS), the largest provider of rehabilitation services in the US.
Leap Frogg – Grand Junction, CO-based LF is a clinical-stage company developing the Frogg Dynamic Compression System, a venous augmentation system for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis prevention, pulmonary embolus prevention and edema therapy.
Medipacs – Tuscon, AZ-based MP is developing the Mini-Infuser™ a disposable infusion pump drug delivery system whose pumps utilize a polymer actuator that enables precise programmed delivery. The technology lowers manufacturing costs and enables the creation of small infusion devices that may be worn by patients.
Medivance – Louisville, CO-based MV is a commercial-stage company focused on the Actic Sun™ product, a therapeutic temperature management designed to improve patient outcomes through precise control of core body temperature after traumatic events such as cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic stroke.
Micro-Imaging Solutions – Greenwood Village, CO-based MIS has developed a technology enabling miniaturization of CMOS disposable micro-digital cameras that are low cost, high resolution and enable extreme product design flexibility in a variety of medical device applications that do or may not have previously incorporated imaging.
Numira Biosciences – Salt Lake City, UT-based NB is a specialty Contract Research Organization focusing on Virtual Histology™, a new technology for soft tissue nas skeletal imaging combining proprietary contrast agents and software with microCT imaging; and, high performance visual analytics via the graphic processing unit for accelerated image processing and analysis techniques.
Regenesis Biomedical – Scottsdale, AZ-based RB is a commercial-stage company marketing the Provant Therapy System® which delivers Cell Proliferation Induction® therapy into post-operative skin tissues to reduce pain and edema in the inflammatory phase of wound healing via triggering mitosis and gene expression of various growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins and enzymes involved in tissue repair and regenerations.
ThermImage – Salt Lake City, UT-based TI is a preclinical-stage company developing Thermaflux Scan™ for the safe and noninvasive detection of pediatric Vesicoureteral Reflux, a common and under-diagnosed condition where urine flows back to the kidneys from the bladder, exposing them to infection.
Valve Xchange – Aurora, CO-based VX is a preclinical-stage company developing the Vitality™ Exchangeable Heart Valve for adult and pediatric/congenital heart valve disease – an permanently implanted docking station and exchangeable leaflet set, when needed, using minimally invasive techniques – offering a lifetimes tissue valve alternative to mainstream heart valve patients.
Vital Access – Salt Lake City, UT-based VA a developmental-stage company focused on Vital Access Venous Window™ a fully-interventional vessel anastomosis device enabling interventionalists to percutaneously create anastomoses (connecting two different vessels) without using sutures or the need for invasive surgery. The Venous Window™ may provide quicker, easier and more reliable cannulation access to hemodialysis patient’s fistula while also potentially improving fistula longevity and patient quality of life.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tape-Delay from the RMLSIC | 3 of 4
Friday, February 01, 2008
And the CLSDF Readers Have Spoken!
The winner of the CLSDF Reader’s Choice Company of the Year, 2007 goes to... GlobeImmune, Inc., who took home a commanding 43% of the vote. ARCA Discovery and ValveXchange came in tied for second place. Congratulations to President and CEO Tim Rodell, MD and the other 60+ folks in Louisville who are doing outstanding work.
For those of you who do not know: GlobeImmune is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery, development and manufacturing of potent, targeted molecular immunotherapies called Tarmogens for the treatment of infectious diseases and cancer.
Tarmogens (Targeted Molecular Immunogens) are whole, heat-killed recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast genetically modified to express one or more protein targets that stimulate the immune system against diseased cells. The whole heat-killed yeast, with the antigen expressed inside, is the product that is administered to the patient. Tarmogens program the cytotoxic T cells in the patient's immune system to eliminate diseased cells containing the antigen(s). GlobeImmune's patented Tarmogen platform has a number of advantages over current approaches because Tarmogens generate a potent T cell response, are not neutralized by the host immune system upon repeated administration, do not require a custom vaccine approach and are simple to manufacture.
The Company's lead product , GI-5005 a Tarmogen for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection has completed a placebo-controlled, dose-escalation Phase Ib clinical trial. A randomized, placebo controlled Phase II trial in combination with standard of care will begin is underway. GI-4000, a Tarmogen for the treatment of various mutated Ras-mediated cancers, is in a randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase II trial for the treatment of patients with resectable pancreas cancer in combination with adjuvant gemcitabine.
Interestingly too, the $41.6M Series C financing closed in 2007 ranked among the 20 largest venture rounds in the country. Here is the full list courtesy of the National Venture Capital Association:
- Zogenix - $78.8M
- Ception Therapeutics - $77.7M
- Targanta Therapeutics - $70M
- Portola Pharmaceuticals - $70M
- AVEO Pharmaceuticals - $58.5M
- Cogentus Pharmaceuticals - $55M
- Phenomix Corporation - $55M
- Sagent Pharmaceuticals - $53M
- Microbia - $50M
- Sangart - $50M
- Ambit Biosciences - $49.3M
- Spine Wave - $45M
- Nereus Pharmaceuticals - $45M
- QuatRx Pharmaceuticals - $44M
- Novalar Pharmaceuticals - $42
- MREVA Medical - $42M
- Xcellerex - $41.84M
- Deciphera Pharmaceuticals - $41.5M
- Agensys - $41.31M
- GlobeImmune - $41.16M
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Thursday, November 01, 2007
The Envelope Please…
The finalists for this years BioWest Venture Showcase have been named. The Venture Showcase will be held on Friday 7 December at Denver’s Grand Hyatt. The winner will receive the $10,000 Faegre & Benson Venture Showcase award at the CBSA’s Annual Awards Luncheon on the same day.
I am working on embedding a poll for what company you believe will take this years Venture Showcase top prize. More to come on that. And now the finalists:
Nanodisc is a developer of nanoscale drug and vaccine delivery technology. Their proprietary system allows the presentation of proteins, small molecules and nucleic acids, stabilized and in their active form. The company is focusing its internal R&D capabilities on the highest value application – using nanodiscs to deliver membrane proteins such as receptors, enzymes and channels – to the body. Nanodisc is validating primary applications including antigen delivery, receptor delivery/ligand trap and gene therapy. Nanodisc is backed by Illinois Ventures and is seeking an institutional round of $6M - $10M. The company will continue to pursue non-dilutive sources of funding from licensing agreements, fee-for-service relationships and proceeds from SBIR and STTR grants. The company has exclusive rights to the nanodisc technology in all markets. For more information, call President and CEO Michael Artinger at 303-544-0406.
Sierra Puente is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of small molecule therapeutic products to treat multiple diseases of the brain for the medically refractory patient. Sierra is reformulating orally administered medications for placement into an implantable pump, for administration into the fluid around the brain for a platform of diseases including epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and major depression. The company is seeking to raise a Series A financing to support development of its two lead candidates through completion of Phase IIa clinical trials. Sierra has raised capital through grants and angel round financing to build a comprehensive IP foundation, proof of concept in animal models and a wide base of scientific and business advisors. For more information, call CEO Dan Abrams, MD, at 303-315-5450.
Solix Biofuels is commercializing the technology for the production of algae-based biofuels. The company built its first generation technology in the summer of 2006 and subsequently raised its second round of capital in September 2006. The company’s $3 million in funding has allowed it to operate its second generation production systems and to engineer its beta-test field reactor for operation in the first half of 2008 at New Belgium Brewery. Solix has filed patent applications and provisionals that include design elements of photo-bioreactor design, panel design, control systems and chemical conversion processes. Solix is in the midst of raising approximately $2MM to $3.5MM as a bridge loan and recently closed with its lead investor on this round. The Company will look to raise a preferred round in the beginning of 2008. For more information, call CEO Doug Henston at 303-885-7143.
ValveXchange holds patented technology on a two-piece bioprosthetic tissue valve that resolves the compromises between conventional mechanical and tissue heart valves. The company’s technology is easily adopted by surgeons with a clear regulatory path and a $1.2 billion market opportunity. ValveXchange has exclusively licensed its core technology, invented by founder Ivan Vesely, PhD, from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Thus far, the company has been financed by seed funding from the founder and three SBIR grants. That funding has allowed for prototypes developed with proof of concept, two-piece exchangeable tissue valve, functional & mechanical tests, in vitro testing of prototypes, validated performance and in vivo testing. Going forward, the company is initiating recruitment of Angel and Series A Financing of $2.5 million to bring it to the Clinical Trial stage. For more information, call Dr. Vesely, Founder and CSO, at 323-481-9643. or go to.
Ventrus Biosciences is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the late-stage development and commercialization of gastroenterology products. Strategically, Ventrus will concentrate on licensing late-stage GI products in select areas of unmet medical need with targeted sales potential of $200 to $500 million. The development strategy for each asset will focus on the most efficient path to approval, with expansion to full potential achieved with additional post-marketing indications. Ventrus has secured the rights to three late-stage GI products. The current company pipeline has a combined annual net sales potential of $1 billion. Ventrus is entering Series A financing with one phase II and two phase III products. The company has been seed funded by Paramount Bioscience. – For more information, call President and CEO Thom Rowland at 720-528-4090.
mBioSystems The technology is a low-cost, high sensitivity, multi-pathogen companion detection system for therapeutics. Detection is based on fluorescence and takes advantage of the parent company’s experience in low cost, high precision micro-optics and laser detection. The company has in-licensed a suite of patents for biosensors. Development has been ongoing for two years and a successful study of 30 clinical patients was recently completed. In addition, the company has two proprietary diagnostic products in development: first, a multi-disease diagnostic focusing on HIV and common co-infections; a second product is a low cost cytometer for counting CD4 positive T-cells for the management of HIV therapy. It is anticipated that the products will be developed under NIH and foundation funding. For more information, call CEO Chris Myatt at 303-444-9948.
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Friday, October 26, 2007
Home Sweet Fitz!
In addition to the buzz and the mounds of dirt mysteriously moving from one end of the pitch to the other, sometimes over night, there now exists a supply center of mammoth proportions. The amount of building material that is queue-ing up there puts the biggest of the big box supply stores to shame. Why this stack (shown below) must be thirty feet high and occupy a few football fields.
Today’s picture theme is the supply depot. How exciting to have the privilege to continue to watch and document this city within a city emerge. More pics (here).
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
ValveXchange: Bard Bioscience Winner!
Congratulations to ValveXchange for taking top honors in the bioscience category and third place overall in the Bard Center for Entrepreneurship at the University Colorado, Denver and Health Sciences Center 6th Annual Business Plan Competition. Way to go Dr. Vesely!
ValveXchange is a medical device company developing a bioprosthetic heart valve with a percutaneously-exchangeable leaflet set that provides lifetime service without anti-coagulation therapy. ValveXchange is a Fitzsimons BioBusiness Partners portfolio company
It was also wonderful to hear from Jerry Rifkin, founder and President of Tensegrity Prosthetics, another Fitzsimons BioBusiness Partners portfolio company who won the overall competition in 2006. Great progress Jerry!
