Most promising life science technology companies announced at Rice Alliance Life Science Venture Forum
Sixteen companies from Texas among those recognized at Rice University
BY MARY LYNN FERNAU
Special to the Rice News
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship announced the most promising life science companies earlier this month at its eighth annual Life Science Technology Venture Forum, the largest life science venture capital conference in the Southwest. Life science companies from all across the U.S. showcased their new ventures for a Houston audience of more than 420, including investors, venture capitalists, industry representatives, business leaders, advisers/mentors, service providers and entrepreneurs.
”This is one of the most mature groups of health-care-related company presentations that I have reviewed in Houston, and I intend to follow their progress closely,” Cynthia Doerr, partner, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, said of the presenters.
The one-day event culminated in an announcement of the most promising life science companies chosen from more than 40 competitors and judged by the Rice Alliance Life Science Advisory Board. The winners were chosen based on the companies’ elevator pitch presentations, which simulate meeting an investor on an elevator and having only 90 seconds to convince them to invest in a company.
In addition, five other new life science technology companies were preselected to present their 10-minute business plans at the forum. These companies were also named most promising life science technology companies.
Rice Alliance Managing Director Brad Burke announced the winners of the Most Promising Life Science Company awards at the event. ”It is rewarding to see companies that hold such promise to improve people’s lives by curing cancer, treating chronic pain, improving neonatal care, diagnosing previously undetected hypertension and addressing other diseases,” he said.
The top five most promising life science technology companies, based on their business plan presentations, were:
Barinetics, Kerrville, Texas: developing an implantable neurostimulation system as a therapy for clinical obesity
MicroTransponder, Dallas: developing a wireless neurostimulation system for the treatment of chronic pain and several other neurological indications
Nano3D Biosciences, Houston: developing a three-dimensional, in vitro cell-culturing platform with applications in research, drug discovery and regenerative medicine
Stabiliz Orthopaedics, Wynnewood, Pa.: developing active screws and plates for use in orthopedic applications
The most promising companies, based on their elevator pitch presentations, were:
PDS Biotechnology Corporation, Lawrenceburg, Ind.: commercializing immunotherapies in large markets with unmet needs
CB2 Pharma, Austin, Texas: commercializing M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s patent-pending library of CB2 agonists and inverse agonists
ThromboVision, Houston: commercializing versatile point-of-care clinical diagnostic discoveries that advance medical diagnosis
Power Lung, Houston: developing products to help people breathe better using a platform that trains people to breathe properly and strengthens muscles used in breathing
Stellarray, Austin, Texas: commercializing a new X-ray source made using flat-panel-display technology
Respiratory Research, Austin, Texas: commercializing the first noninvasive breath test for acid reflux cough
Lono Medical Systems, Dallas: developing a passive fetal-heart monitor to detect the heart rate of the fetus as well as uterine contractions
Sironics, Austin, Texas: developing a monitoring platform for atrial fibrillation using a combination of a micro-implant and patient-monitoring device coupled with a service to deliver the results to physicians
VMH Health, College Station, Texas: developing a novel urine-based in vitro diagnostic for essential hypertension
TheraVasc, Shreveport, La.: developing novel vascular therapies with decreased risks through the repositioning of drugs with known safety profiles
Smart Imaging Technologies Company, Houston: developing software that automates analysis and sharing of large volumes of imaging data for biomedical and industrial applications
ProteoMicro, Galveston, Texas: commercializing a system to quickly and accurately separate, quantify and isolate uniquely expressed proteins that may underlie disease
ViroXis Corporation, San Antonio: developing botanically derived compounds satisfying therapeutic needs in areas of infectious disease and cancer
The forum was supported by Baker Botts LLP, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, Winstead Attorneys and Oracle, with media sponsors Houston Business Journal and the BusinessMakers Radio Show.
— Mary Lynn Fernau is marketing director for the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship.
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