{In Vivo} summarizes the technologies of several medical companies founded recently, including Belgium's [AlgoNomics NV], a new entrant in the biocomputing and bioinformatics arena. [CoPharma Inc.]'s mission is to develop drug and biological products through joint ventures with discovery firms. Launched in February 2000 with $2 million from Sanderling, Alta Partners and Graystone, [Cythera Inc.] will develop therapies based on the transplantation of functional human cells grown{ in vitro}, offering an alternative to the use of donated human tissues. [Embolic Protection Inc.] has developed a device, consisting of a guide wire and filter mechanism, to remove embolic debris. Denmark's [NsGene A/S] is a joint venture of NeuroSearch A/S and the University of Lund. [WebEBM] will offer evidence-based clinical guidelines for 400 diseases or conditions on its website.

Myelos Corp. was applying its novel derivatives of neurotrophic factor prosaposin to the difficult problem of nerve damage caused by diabetes and other diseases, when it discovered, through serendipity, the pain-relieving potential of its compound.

Spectacular failures in stroke and neurodegenerative diseases have given drug developers a black eye, but along the way, the insights they've gleaned in neurobiology have revealed new targets for pain. Unfortunately, the targets keep moving.