Early-Stage Biotech Companies Picked For MichBio Presentations

MichBio, the association for Michigan's bioscience industry, has announced the presenting companies for its Fourth Annual Biosciences Showcase, a popular feature of the MichBio Expo and Conference. 

The Showcase, which highlights up and coming bio-companies,  is set for Oct. 26, day one of the 2010 MichBio Expo, to be held at the Marriott at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti. 

The Showcase program runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features presentations by "emerging" or "pre-seed" companies taking their first steps along the commercialization pathway as well as "seed" or early-stage companies that are further along in executing their business and product development plans.

Fifteen participants in this fast-paced program will make 10-minute presentations before an audience of venture capitalists, angel and institutional investors, and others.  Many of the companies will then have tabletop displays during the Expo Opening Reception, which follows the program. 

Presenting companies are:

ADS Biotechnology -- pursuing the commercial development of a novel, first-in-class blood volume expander. (Toledo)

ApoLife -- has developed a proprietary yeast system for the highly efficient and cost effective production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. (Ann Arbor)

CytoPherx -- principal technology consists of a medical device along with a widely used regional anticoagulant to treat several large unmet medical and economic needs, such as Acute Renal Failure and Cardio-Pulmonary Bypass Surgery.  (Ann Arbor)

DataSpeaks Health Solutions -- a software company with the capability to measure the benefit and harm of prescription drugs and other exposures for individuals. (Troy)

H&T Medical Solutions -- developed the MentalNote pilot, simple, easy-to-use and customizable software for modern psychiatric care and improves compliance with industry, professional, insurance and governmental standards.  (Detroit)

MitoStem -- is developing a protein transduction technology, which will make the generation of stem cells from adult cells more practical, simple and affordable. (Detroit)

NanoVir -- is developing drug therapies for important human diseases based on a unique combination of chemistry and biology that measures antiviral activity in human cells during specific stages of the HPV life cycle. (Kalamazoo)

OPS Solutions -- has developed and patented the Light Guide System™, an intelligent light guidance technology to help guide and error proof a wide variety of standardized manual processes and training in medical device production, healthcare and wet lab applications. (Northville)

POLY Bioinformatics -- is developing innovative products, based on advanced computational algorithms and software tools, for building and sharing databases of small molecules built from the information that is currently buried in thousands of published scientific research articles and patents. (Ann Arbor)

RealBio Technology -- developing and commercializing a state-of-the-art cell and tissue technology. (Kalamazoo)

RetroSense Therapeutics -- developing a gene therapy to restore vision in patients who have been robbed of theirs by retinal degenerative disorders. (Northville)

Spinal Ventures -- has developed, patented, and will manufacture and market proprietary medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of vertebral compression fractures and interbody spinal fusions. (Whitmore Lake)                                                                         

TSRL -- focused on the discovery and development of orally available antiviral therapeutics based on its proprietary transporter-targeted drug delivery technology. (Ann Arbor)

Urobiologics -- is developing a unique lateral flow test strip for use before pregnancy to guide couples in which cycle to conceive to get a baby of desired gender as well as after pregnancy to actually know the gender of the baby. (Livonia)

ViaDerm -- developing and commercializing a novel skin access device for the delivery of life-sustaining therapies, including a stable, infection-resistant means for long-term penetration of the skin, enabling external powering of a cardiac assist device for patients in advanced heart failure. (Detroit)

Other events at MichBio include a keynote from Dr. James Kuo entitled "How to Raise Early-Stage Financings: A First-Hand Account of Life in the Trenches." In addition, two panel forums will offer perspectives on the latest investment trends, company formation principles, and the quest for capital to launch companies, plus the basics of intellectual property rules from seasoned veterans to avoid costly mistakes and protect business interests at an early stage. 

"The 2010 MichBio Expo & Conference is shaping up to be an outstanding event," according to Stephen Rapundalo, MichBio president and CEO.  "In addition to our Expo keynote speaker, Dr. Jeffrey E. Shuren, Director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, the two-day event will feature a breakfast policy forum with Michigan's gubernatorial candidates, business partnering sessions with large pharma and device OEMs, facility tours of area bioscience companies, and track sessions in medical devices, pharma, emerging business and ag/bio-based technologies. We expect to match or exceed last year's over 500 attendees for what surely will be a dynamic opportunity for networking, education and business development."

The MichBio Expo and Conference is the largest single gathering of biosciences professionals in the state, attracting more than 500 participants and more than 60 exhibitors last year. 

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