A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. This month's profile group, New Drugs for Myocardial Infarction, features profiles of ArgiNOx Pharmaceuticals, ParinGenix and VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals. Plus these Start-Ups Across Health Care: AngioScore, Hamilton Pharmaceuticals, Ikaria, Light BioScience and Potentia Pharmaceuticals.

Ischemia-induced damage isn't the only harmful effect of heart attacks, and a number of recently founded companies are investigating new mechanisms to protect the heart.

VasoGenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. is developing a naturally occurring cardioprotectant as a front-line treatment for myocardial infarction. Its calcitonin gene related peptide drug is designed not only to restore blood flow, but also to also actively protect cardiac tissue.