Amorfix is an emerging life science company based in Toronto, Canada that is developing diagnostics and therapeutics for neurological disorders in which aggregated mis-folded proteins may be involved.

Bio-Rad's having a great year, thanks to its presence in the fast-growing life sciences business of protein analysis, and its surprise success with a test for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Founder and CEO David Schwartz built the business based on a mix of eclectic product lines into an $800 million force in life sciences and clinical diagnostics. But as he nears 80, the company is grappling with succession issues, as well as a sense that it needs to better integrate its disparate businesses.

With concern growing about the spread of prion-based neurodegenerative diseases, the opportunity for new diagnostics tests seems clear. A number of start-ups and research labs are working on ways to diagnose these always fatal diseases, which occur in animals and, rarely, in humans. Three large in vitro diagnostics companies are teaming up with prion start-ups--indicating not only their faith in the market but also their ability to offer global distribution to small companies struggling to meet a demand that erupted abruptly.

Mad cow disease, scrapie in sheep and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are members of a class of rare degenerative disease of the brain known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. TSE-infected animals have pathologically altered proteins called prions in their brains. Now, three sicentists from the University of Zurich have formed Prionics AG, to develop a sensitive test for prions using the abnormal protein as a marker for the disease.