Life Sciences
Open Biosystems, Inc.
Huntsville, Alabama
Open Biosystems, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets genomic research tools to scientists and researchers in corporate, academic and government laboratories. These research tools provide investigators with standardized high-quality genes, RNAi and antibodies for interrogating gene function in relation to oncology, neuroscience and metabolic disorders.
Ischemia Technologies
Denver, Colorado
Ischemia Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets new diagnostic tests for cardiovascular and acute care medicine. Ischemia’s flagship product has received FDA clearance and is the first newly approved blood test for evaluation of heart attacks since 1994.
Co-investors include Crawley Venture Group, KB Partners, Murphree Ventures, Quest Capital Partnership, Roser Venture Partners, Sequel Venture Partners, White Pines Ventures and Wolf Ventures.
AquaGene, Inc.
Alachua, Florida
AquaGene has developed proprietary technologies to manufacture biologically active, therapeutic proteins in genetically engineered, or transgenic, fish. A transgenic organism is created by introducing a foreign gene into the organism’s genome using a variety of recombinant DNA techniques. The new gene, which provides instructions to make a specific protein, will be passed on to the organism’s offspring. The company’s strategy is to manufacture and market, in partnership with suitable pharmaceutical companies, proteins with significant commercial potential for either human or veterinary medical applications. The company’s first product is human Factor VII, a blood-clotting protein used to treat hemophilia.
Kona Bay Marine Resources
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Kona Bay Marine Resources is a marine biotechnology company with advanced technology in the production of SPF (Specific Pathogen Free) shrimp broodstock and hard clam seed. Since 1996, Kona Bay has been a leader in using advanced technology to efficiently produce high quality SPF shrimp broodstock and bivalves. The location of Kona Bay at NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority), Keahole Point, Hawaii allows the Kona Bay’s systems to be supplied with pristine, disease free, deep ocean water from the Natural Energy Lab offshore pipelines. Hawaii is the most geographically remote location in the world and Kona Bay leverages these natural resources and the company’s proprietary technology to produce the highest quality products available.
Radiation Therapies, LLC
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Radiation Therapies has developed a medical technique designed to reduce restenosis, a condition in which blood vessels constrict following balloon angioplasty. The procedure involves the administration of a very low level radioactive charge to the walls of an artery, via a source wire inserted through a catheter. The company holds exclusive patents to this technology, which has been endorsed by some of the world’s leading cardiologists.
Gala Biotech, Inc.
Middleton, Wisconsin
Gala Biotech, Inc. has developed enabling technology for the production of pharmaceutical proteins. The company’s Transgametic technology introduces reengineered retrovectors to cattle to create transgenic embryos that ultimately result in cows that express the desired protein in their milk.
After receiving start-up financing from venture capital firms including Advantage Capital Partners and operating for nearly three years, the Company entered into a strategic relationship with Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH), the leading provider of products and services supporting the health care industry, to fully leverage Gala’s proprietary gene insertion technology. Upon the formation of the relationship, Cardinal Health invested $12 million in the company to expand Galas operations and accelerate its business development efforts. Subsequent to its initial investment after Gala met certain milestones Cardinal agreed to acquire the remaining portion of the company that it did not own as part of its ongoing strategy to grow and enhance its range of innovative drug development services.
TomoTherapy
Madison, Wisconsin
TomoTherapy has developed, manufactures and sells the Hi-Art® system, one of the most advanced and versatile radiation therapy systems commercially available for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. TomoTherapy markets the Hi-Art® system to university research centers, hospitals, private and governmental institutions and cancer treatment centers in North America, Europe and Asia. The company had its Initial Public Offering in May 2007 and trades on NASDAQ (TOMO).
