The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research blazes new trails in bioscience. The organization, funded by both the public and private sectors, investigates such diseases as Parkinson's and cancer and dives into the depths of biology, genomics, and genetics to gain new understanding about disease and health. The Whitehead Institute contributed to the international effort to map the human genome, and is actively researching stem cells. Other achievements include discovering a system for multiplying adult stem cells and creating the first genetically defined human cancer cell. The institute was founded in 1982 by philanthropist Edwin "Jack" Whitehead and draws researchers from MIT.

Elixir Pharmaceuticals concocts treatments targeting metabolic diseases and disorders. Dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of treatments for such diseases as diabetes and obesity, the company has taken a dual approach to its work: licensing products from other pharmaceutical companies for development and pursuing proprietary products. Product candidates currently under development include Glinsuna and Metgluna as treatment for type 2 diabetes and a ghrelin antagonist as a treatment for a range of metabolic disorders (all in phase III testing). The company is also exploring the use of sirtuin modulators to treat metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative disease.

AstraZeneca Czech Republic is a subsidiary of the international pharmaceutical behemoth known as AstraZeneca. It markets products such as heartburn reliever Nexium, local anesthetic Xylocaine, and endometriosis treatment Zoladex in the Czech Republic. It also conducts clinical trials on potential drug candidates in other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, such as Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia. It focuses its research efforts primarily on the medical fields of gastroenterology, gynecology, and oncology, as well as bone and joint, cardiovascular, infectious, and respiratory diseases.

Intarcia Therapeutics (formerly BioMedicines) sniffs out the competition for its drugs. The development-stage company identifies potential drug candidates in other firms' pipelines, then buys the rights to products it believes can be developed more efficiently or can be effective in treating different indications. Lead drug candidate Atamestane, acquired from Schering AG (now Bayer Schering ), is in clinical trials as a potential treatment for metastatic breast cancer. The company's pipeline also includes omega interferon (purchased from Boehringer Ingelheim), which is being developed to treat hepatitis C; and Biomed 101 (from G.D. Searle), which may have applications for melanoma and kidney cancer.

When new drugs are tested, someone has to go first and Chiltern (Early Phase) Ltd. (formerly Drug Development Solutions) will help find that person. A contract research organization (CRO), the company specializes in bridging the gap between preclinical studies and the early stages of clinical trials in humans for drug candidates. Its clients include large multinational companies as well as small biotech startups. The company's facilities are based inside a major hospital with access to emergency medical care if needed. The company was spun off from the University of Dundee in 1982 and then acquired by CRO giant Chiltern International in 2008.

Labcyte Inc. company sells automated dispensing systems, plate assemblers, microplates, and labware supplies. Labcyte's products are built around a liquid management technology it calls Acoustic Droplet Ejection (ADE) which uses sound energy to move miniscule bits of liquid without any physical contact during transfer. ADE is useful where cross-contamination would compromise quality or data and it reduces the waste created by disposable liquid handling supplies. Labcyte's customers include pharmaceutical and biomedical research labs. The company has expanded distribution of its products into Europe and Asia.

Imperial Ginseng Products company cultivates more than 550 acres of North American ginseng root used in traditional Chinese medicine. The company operates a farm in Ontario, Canada, where the root is grown for three or four years (each year increases yield and value), harvested, and dried. Imperial Ginseng Products sells the dried root to buyers in North America and Asia, who then turn it into prepared remedies. CDS & Co owns 55% of the company, while co-chairmen Hugh Cartwright and Stephen McCoach and director Maurice Levesque together hold nearly 40%.

GlaxoSmithKline S.p.A. (GSK Italy), the Italian unit of global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. GSK Italy promotes and sells the therapeutic products of its parent company in the Italian market. The company also makes antibiotics, vaccines, and other injectable drugs at its manufacturing facilities in Parma and Verona, and it has a Milan-based division that sells consumer health care products and over-the-counter drugs. In addition, GSK Italy boasts a research and development unit in Verona that targets neurological drug development, including treatments for depression, addiction, schizophrenia, and sleep disorders.

Paddock Laboratories, Inc. company was founded in 1977 by Chairman Bruce Paddock. Paddock Laboratories, Inc. company develops and manufactures bioequivalent generic pharmaceuticals and OTC specialty products. Paddock's product line includes suppositories, diabetes treatments, topical powders, enemas, injectables, and dermatological offerings, as well as compounding bases and charcoal products. Its manufacturing facilities are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition to the US market, some of Paddock's products are sold in Europe and the Asia/Pacific region through distributors.

Semafore Pharmaceuticals is signaling its arrival on the oncology drug making scene. The development-stage drug discovery company is targeting the PI3K cell signaling pathways to create anti-cancer drugs. Its PI3K Inhibitors induce the death of cancerous cells in the treatment of tumors and could potentially treat brain, lung, and hematological cancers. Once administered, its lead candidate SF1126 attacks proteins expressed in tumors, but ignores healthy cells. Semafore has brought on a consulting firm to help shepherd SF1126 through its next stage of development.

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