Eve Elizabeth Slater

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, which focuses on the clinical development, and commercialization of drug candidates for both oncology and rare disease indications. The company was founded by Paul C. Zamecnik, Sudhir A. Agrawal, and James B. Wyngaarden on May 25, 1989 and is headquartered in Exton, PA.

iTherX is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for Hepatitis C. This is a disease that affects almost 3% of the world's population, and is the major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure and primary liver cancer. Currently there is only a single mode of therapy and less than 5% of patients can be successfully treated. The company continues to carry out focused research in their areas of expertise to provide sustainability of product pipelines. In an era of managed care and increased regulatory scrutiny, it is easy to yield to the temptation of producing 'me too drugs'. However, they think that innovation in the development of pharmaceutical products is important because it is the only way to improve the outcomes for patients. As such, they also think that innovation can ensure the financial returns that investors in health care deserve for the risks that they take. Their innovative approach is evident in their pipeline of Hepatitis C drug candidates. As new and better treatments are being sought, most companies involved in this effort are targeting the enzymes responsible for viral replication: polymerases and proteases. While these are important targets, there is a great deal of duplication of effort in these initiatives. At iTherX, they are pioneering the development of a novel class of HCV antivirals by targeting the steps involved in the entry of the hepatitis C virus into liver cells. Their Host Cell Receptor Target Program engenders small molecule compounds that target a liver cell membrane protein, SR-B1, which recognize and dock the virus. Their lead compound, ITX5061, has extensive safety data in over 250 patients, and shows picomolar potency in inhibiting HCV infection in vitro. They plan to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial in HCV patients in Q2 of 2009. They have also used medicinal chemistry to develop back-up compounds for this program, and a clinical candidate has been selected for development. Another innovative program is novel cell receptor, which develops antagonists (including biologics) against a novel liver cell membrane protein required for infectivity of the virus.

VaxGen, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company, owns a state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility that can be used to make cell culture or microbial biologic products. The company has ended all product development activities and sold or otherwise terminated its drug development programs. It is seeking to maximize the value of its remaining tangible and intangible assets through a transaction or series of transactions, including the sale of the manufacturing facility. The company was founded on November 01, 1995 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, CA.

AnorMED is a chemistry-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of new therapeutic products in the areas of hematology, HIV and oncology. The Company has four products in clinical development and a research program focused on a novel class of compounds that target specific chemokine receptors known to be involved in a variety of diseases.

Phase Forward, Inc. developed e-process software solutions for accelerating global pharmaceutical development. The company was founded by Paul A. Bleicher and Augustine in 1997 and was headquartered in Waltham, MA.

Part of Warner Bros. The private company is based in New York, NY. Discovery, Inc., Health is a renowned source for evidence-based health and wellness information. For over 40 years, Health has helped millions of readers cut through medical jargon, providing information in an easy-to-understand and culturally competent way to help readers take the next step in their health. Health is the trusted source for all things relating to wellness, offering solid, science-backed advice on physical and mental health, exercise, skin care and beauty, nutrition, and much more, empowering its wide, multi-generational audience of more than 18 million across platforms. Additional information can be found at health.com.