England's Northwest region is a hotbed of biotechnology growth. It's Bionow's job to make the region even hotter -- and turn it into the center of biomanufacturing in Europe. Funded by the Northwest Development Agency, Bionow promotes and encourages growth in the area, which is already home to a plethora of biomanufacturing facilities for companies such as AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Chiron Vaccines. Bionow offers information on companies, facilities, and services in the region, promotes educational and networking events, and organizes overseas trade missions. The Northwest also has several academic research centers in Liverpool and Manchester.

ReNeuron wants to renew damaged brain cells with stem cell therapy. Founded in 1997 by leading scientists at the London-based Institute of Psychiatry, the company is researching the feasibility of transplanting stem cells into patients with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, type 1 diabetes, stroke, and other neurological disorders. ReNeuron also is studying the possible use of stem cells to treat brain tumors and in non-therapeutic areas with its ReNcell drug development platform. Investors include Merlin Ventures, a leading UK biotechnology investor.

Trius Therapeutics is an early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing antibiotics to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. Torezolid phosphate, its most important drug in development, is an IV- and orally-administered antibiotic with a potential to treat antibiotic-resistant strains of staph infections, known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Until the company is able to sell torezolid phosphate to hospitals and other health care providers, the company is primarily funded by government grants, research contracts, and collaboration agreements. The company filed for an initial public offering in November 2009.

SomaLogic helps in the hunt for proteins. Its aptamer arrays bind to proteins in such a way that multiple protein targets can be identified at once. Life sciences researchers use the company's arrays to identify proteins related to angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and inflammation. Data gathered from this work could be used to develop new drugs and diagnostics for a variety of diseases. SomaLogic has partnered with Quest Diagnostics to develop diagnostics that can measure many proteins at once. As part of the arrangement, Quest Diagnostics made a $15 million investment in the company.

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. company was founded in 2003 and is based in New York, New York. ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc., a development stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of proprietary small molecule drug candidates that are related to cancer therapeutics. Its primary product includes Palifosfamide (Zymafos or ZIO-201), which is in phase II randomized controlled trial for the treatment of metastatic or unresectable soft tissue sarcoma as front- or second-line therapy. The company’s products in Phase I and/or II studies include Darinaparsin (Zinapar or ZIO-101), a novel anti-mitochondrial agent for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and for various other cancers; and Indibulin (Zybulin or ZIO-301), a novel small molecular-weight tubulin polymerization inhibitor. It has collaboration agreement with Harmon Hill, LLC to provide consulting and other services related to the company's development and commercialization of oncology therapeutics.

GlaxoSmithKline Argentina has manufacturing and supply operations, as well as units devoted to consumer healthcare (dermatological, analgesic, oral care, gastrointestinal relief, and vitamin products) and to pharmaceutical products (anesthetic, antibiotic, oncologic, respiratory, and other drugs, as well as vaccines). A unit of GlaxoSmithKline, GSK Argentina also conducts research and pharmaceutical trials for its parent. Areas of focus include rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, diabetes, oncology, and Alzheimer's. The company's manufacturing and supply operations operate a production facility and export GSK goods to other parts of Central America.

Brothers Charles and Theophil Gebauer founded the company in 1898. Gebauer's Salivart will make your mouth water. Seriously, that's what it's designed to do for people who suffer from xerostomia, better known as dry mouth. That's not all Gebauer makes, however. The company offers medications for topical use, including Ethyl Chloride for the treatment of pain; Instant Ice, for the relief of muscle spasms, strains, bruising, and other injuries; and Spray and Stretch, for myofacial pain and minor sports injuries. Gebauer also provides contract manufacturing as well as project planning, packaging and labeling, and distribution services for other drug makers.

MY Medicare wants to help with your medical care. Mingyuan Medicare Development, or MY Medicare, makes medical diagnostic products for the Chinese market. Its HealthDigit subsidiary produces biochips that detect certain proteins in the body and are used to diagnose and monitor cancer as well as track treatment efficacy. The company has agreements with major Chinese insurance companies, including Taiping Life, China Life, and Ping An Life, that use the chips in medical checkups. MY Medicare also makes a testing kit used to detect cervical cancer. It offers consultation for clinical and technical research and conducts training and seminars from research centers and plants in Shanghai and Beijing.

Perlegen deciphers genetic signatures. The biotech research company performs whole genome scans to help drugmakers improve drug safety and efficacy and optimize clinical trials. The company also researches the genetic causes of disease and drug response. Using DNA probe arrays from Affymetrix, which owns some 20% of the firm, Perlegen examines multiple whole genomes at a time, looking for variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) that are responsible for disease. SNPs and groups of SNPs, known as haplotypes, are also responsible for the response, or lack of one, to a drug. Drugmakers hope to use this information to develop genetically targeted medicines.

Cambridge Laboratories Limited company was founded in 1987 and is now owned by its board of directors. Cambridge Laboratories develops and distributes pharmaceuticals to treat the central nervous system, cancer, vitamin deficiency, and other niches. Its product line includes ImmuCyst (for treatment of superficial bladder cancer), Nabilone (chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting), and Gelclair (oral ulcers and inflammation). Cambridge Labs has distribution alliances to market its products in over 40 countries.

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