Selected Start-Ups (7/01)

In Vivo summarizes the technologies of these recently founded companies: Aviva Antibody Corp. will produce monoclonal antibodies for the post-genomics research efforts of future corporate partners. Corus Pharma Inc. will focus on the rapid clinical development and regulatory approval of small-molecule drugs for sleep disorders and respiratory diseases. Isogenica Ltd.'s Covalent Display, is an in vitro library technology for rapidly identifying polypeptides with high affinity and specificity for any given target. Liposonix Inc. will use high-intensity ultrasound to remove unwanted subcutaneous fat. Scienion AG will develop "future-oriented" biochips for use in genomics and proteomics research, DNA diagnostics and the drug discovery and development. Xcellsyz Ltd.'s platform for drug discovery and development is based on conditionally immortalized cell lines that retain many of the properties of primary cells.

Summarizing the technologies of companies founded within the last year

Aviva Antibody Corp.

Address:11568 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 9

San Diego, CA 92121

Phone:[phone]

Fax:[phone]

E-Mail:[email protected]

Web Site:www.avivaantibody.com

A June 2001 spinout of Aviva Biosciences Corp. , Aviva Antibody Corp. will use screening technology developed by Aviva Biosciences to produce monoclonal antibodies for the post-genomics research efforts of future corporate partners. Weipang Yang, PhD, is CEO of the new company, which will be headquartered in San Diego with a production facility in China.

Corus Pharma Inc.

Address:2025 1st Avenue, Suite 800

Seattle, WA 98121

Phone:[phone]

Fax:[phone]

E-Mail:[email protected]

Web Site:www.coruspharma.com

Corus Pharma Inc. will focus on the rapid clinical development and regulatory approval of small-molecule drugs for sleep disorders and respiratory diseases. Founder and CEO A. Bruce Montgomery, MD, is the former EVP of R&D of PathoGenesis Corp. , now part of Chiron Corp. Corus is starting out with $18.5 million from Burrill & Co., JPMorgan Partners, OrbiMed Advisors, Cascade Investment and others.

Isogenica Ltd.

Address:Babraham Hall

Babraham Cambridge, CB2 4AT, UK

Phone:[phone]

Fax:[phone]

E-Mail:[email protected]

Web Site:www.isogenica.com

Kevin J. FitzGerald, PhD, will head British start-up Isogenica Ltd. which launched in January 2001 to develop new drug discovery tools. The company's initial platform, Covalent Display, is an in vitro library technology for rapidly identifying polypeptides with high affinity and specificity for any given target.

Liposonix Inc.

Address:c/o Innovation Factory

2750 Premiere Parkway, Suite 200

Duluth, GA 30097

Phone:[phone]

E-Mail:[email protected]

The market opportunity is beyond hyperbole: Liposonix Inc. is developing a non-invasive method for the removal of unwanted subcutaneous fat. In a very early stage of development, the device uses high-intensity focused ultrasound to ablate adipose tissue. Liposonix received a first round of $1.4 million from Versant Ventures, The Carlyle Group, Schroder Ventures and the Weldon Family Foundation.

Scienion AG

Address:Volmerstrasse 7a

Berlin, D-12489, Germany

Phone:[phone]

Fax:[phone]

E-Mail:[email protected]

Web Site:www.scienion.de

An April 2001 spinout of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics , Scienion AG will develop "future-oriented" biochips for use in genomics and proteomics research, DNA diagnostics and drug discovery and development. Scienion's biochips have a coating that allows bioactive molecules to adhere to their surface without any change in their bioactive properties.

Xcellsyz Ltd.

Address:London, UK

Phone:[phone]

E-Mail:[email protected]

Web Site:www.xcellsyz.com

Xcellsyz Ltd. 's platform for drug discovery and development is based on conditionally immortalized cell lines that retain many of the properties of primary cells; an improvement, the company believes, over existing models. Xcellsyz will license its technology to pharmaceutical partners as well as use it in-house to discover targets for obesity and diabetes. The company is headed by Peter Shepherd, PhD, and headquartered in London with offices in Barcelona and Newcastle.