The BioCenter companies closed 2007 with remarkable developments achieved through partnerships, industry accolades and millions in financing. Kicking off 2008 was no different with Tacere Therapeutics closing a $145M deal with pharma giant Pfizer and Ahwahnee Technology was declared the Runner-Up to the California Clean Tech Open.

Alongside this, the BioCenter launched the 40,000 sf expansion of second stage lab spaces [5,000 – 10,000 sf/unit], doubling our footprint and client companies. In addition, the California Center for Healthcare and Biomedical Technology Hospital [CCHBT], a center of excellence dedicated to high quality, comprehensive biomedical research and patient treatment, will break ground this year and the Phase I/II contract biomanufacturing consulting project is underway. In addition, the City of San Jose has commissioned a new shuttle to take passengers from the Baby Bullet to the Edenvale Research Park so it will be easier and cleaner to commute, a tribute to the Mayor of San Jose’s Green Vision announced January 2008.

We’re also launching our Quarterly Industry Panel Series which will focus on Financing and Partnerships. The Industry Panel Series will be complemented by our Business Development and IP Workshop Series, both produced in partnership with Orrick, our Premier Legal Sponsor that provides pro-bono assistance to our client companies. Read complete details below as well as further client, sponsor and partner news.

Once again, I’d extend thanks to our valued community for providing a powerful infrastructure to help innovation reach the people who need it.

Best Regards,

Melinda Richter | CEO | The San Jose BioCenter

 

 

Client News

Tacere Therapeutics Strikes $145M Hepatitis Drug Deal with Pfizer
BioCenter tenant Tacere Therapeutics, Inc, an RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics developer, has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Pfizer Inc. to develop and commercialize its Hepatitis C virus (HCV) compound, TT-033. During the initial phase of the collaboration, Pfizer will provide Tacere with funding in order to complete the necessary IND-enabling studies for TT-033. In addition, Tacere will be eligible to receive milestone payments through successful achievement of development, approval, and commercialization milestones resulting in total potential payments to Tacere of over $145 million. Upon commercialization of TT-033 Tacere would be entitled to receive royalties on net sales by Pfizer.
~Read Press Release~
~Read Article by BioWorld~

Coming Soon: The California Center for Healthcare and Biomedical Technology Hospital
The CCHBT Hospital, a 200,000 sq ft Private-Physician Hospital, will join the BioCenter in the burgeoning Edenvale Research Park mid-2009. The CCHBT Hospital will focus heavily on patients with musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and oncology-related disorders, and provide specialization in other areas such as urology, gynecology, general surgery, podiatry, and gastroenterology. Dedicated to medical innovation, the hospital will have access to state-of-the-art surgical and imaging equipment, as well as medical procedures. “It's going to be a facility unlike any other facility. This project will redefine the delivery of healthcare and innovative medicine while closing the gap between technology and clinical practice" says Dr. James Lilja, Board Member of the CCHBT Research Foundation.
~Visit the CCHBT Hospital Website~

CCHBT Research Foundation Fast-track Emerging Therapies and Medical Technology into Clinical Use
Whereas the CCHBT Hospital will open June 2009, the CCHBT Research Foundation - operating out of its offices at the San Jose BioCenter - has started its work to support the hospital’s and the doctors’ focus on providing tomorrow's therapies today. The Research Foundation has already begun to advance clinical trials in oncology with physicians who are currently operating at local hospitals. Current technology projects include: genetic studies for screening high-risk BRACA and HNPCC carriers and intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy for peritoneal surface malignancies.
~Visit the CCHBT Foundation Website~

Ahwahnee Technology Runner-Up at Annual California Clean Tech Open
The California Clean Tech Open, the nation’s preeminent clean technology business contest, named Ahwahnee Technology as runner-up in the Energy Efficiency category. Ahwahnee develops advanced area lighting, a disruptive alternative to LEDs and fluorescents that cuts 10% of global electricity usage and greenhouse gases.
~Read Press Release~
~Read Related Article by Cleantech Media~
~Read Related Article by Greentech Media~

GIRUS Life Sciences Becomes an Eppendorf Top Tier “Certified Service Provider”
GIRUS Life Sciences and Eppendorf have entered into a Service Provider Agreement for Eppendorf’s microarray products making GIRUS an Eppendorf top tier "Certified Service Provider". According to Sven Bülow, Managing Director of Eppendorf Biochip Systems, “Girus fills a gap in our network of Certified Service Providers by offering services for our microarray systems in tandem with its cell culture and stem cell contract research capabilities...” Since 1945, Eppendorf Biochip Systems has established a network of Certified Service Providers in North America and Europe that offer consultation and experimental services on the Eppendorf microarray platform.
~Read Press Release~

Tacere Therapeutics CEO Sara Hall Talks RNA Interference Therapeutics
Companies developing RNA interference therapeutics are racing to solve delivery issues for the new class of gene silencing agents. Alnylam, Tacere and Lentigen weigh in on different approaches for clearing delivery hurdles.
~Read Story by Pharmaceutical Approvals Monthly~

BioCenter Welcomes Four New Companies!
The BioCenter is proud to announce four additions to its portfolio:

		Zikon Inc. uses proprietary REED (Reverse Emulsion Electrophoretic Display) technology to create low-cost nanotechnology-based electronic Ink for flat panel displays. Zikon’s Ink is low cost and energy efficient.
		GenePrism, Inc. is developing innovative genomic and proteomic tools to systematically and comprehensively interrogate the effects of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and their gene products in drug metabolism and drug-drug interactions.
		The Elixir Institute of Regenerative Medicine (EIRM) was founded with a vision to create one of the first non-profit, non-academic, exclusively stem cell focused research institutes in the US to accelerate progress in this nascent field.
		Primity, Inc. has developed a cell-based secondary screening platform (HT-CBS) that can perform multiple assays on a variety of cell types simultaneously.

~Review our Clients' Profiles~

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BioCenter News

BioCenter Expansion: Reserve Your Lab Now!
The BioCenter recently kicked off the expansion to 80,000sf with second stage lab spaces of 5,000 – 10,000 sf. Applications to reserve lab spaces are now available. If you’d like to be considered as a BioCenter company, please click and fill in the application form. The BioCenter does not take any IP or equity stakes. Our goal is to level the playing field for small companies by providing the same type of infrastructure that project teams in large companies have access to. For more information, please contact Gayle Fagan at [email protected] or 408.960.3805.
~Review the BioCenter Services Offering~
~Review our Criteria~

Free Shuttle Service - Getting to the BioCenter Just Got Easier
As of January 2, 2008 a free shuttle service will deliver employees from the San Jose Diridon train station and Cottle lightrail station to the BioCenter. Estimated travel from San Francisco to the BioCenter is just over an hour using the Caltrain Baby Bullet and the free shuttle service.
~Review Shuttle Map with Pick-up and Drop Off Locations and Times~

The BioCenter has a Global Reputation for Attracting Talent
World's oldest established news agency “Agence France-Presse” and World renowned Brazilian “TV Globo” crew visited the BioCenter to analyze how the City of San Jose has a proven method for attracting emerging companies and their talented scientists. The segment by TV Globo, featured on Money & Technology, showcases entrepreneurial innovation and centers of excellence around the globe. “Our goal is not only to foster the commercialization of science here in California, but also its global adoption to maximize the public’s access to new treatments and cures.” said Melinda Richter, CEO of the BioCenter.
~View Story by TV Globo~
~Read Article by Agence France-Presse~

Limited Time Offer: 25% Off on Specialized CORE Lab Trainings

For a limited time only, the BioCenter is offering 25% off on specialized Varian Trainings, including: NMR System Manager, NMR Automation, and HPLC Techniques & Troubleshooting.
~Read More~
~Contact Richard Fronko, Operation Director~

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BioCenter Events

The BioCenter has created another world-class program for 2008. Register early to secure your seat.

Announcing BioCenter 2008 Quarterly Industry Panel Series

• Sourcing and Negotiating Deals with Big BioPharma - Mar. 20, 2008
  From alliance to funding, Big Pharma and established biotech companies are increasingly investing in emerging companies. This Panel brings together executives from these larger companies to identify the type of deals now available to smaller companies, how to secure them, and how to manage them.
  ~Read More~
  
  
• Financing Alternatives – What Can You Get and How to Get it? - May 22, 2008
  For many life science companies, funding comes from Venture Capitals. However, traditional VCs are not the only ones making investments and there are many successful alternate financing to help companies get capital. Join us to learn about the multitude of sources Capital can be acquired from, including: Family & relatives, Banks, Government Grants & Loans, Angels, Venture capitalists, Big Pharma, Individual investors.
  ~Read More~
  
  
• Overcoming M&A; Challenges – Planning a Good Deal and Your Exit - Sep. 18, 2008
  The past few years have seen a significant increase in merger and acquisition activity in the life sciences industry. Join this panel to hear M&A; strategy perspective from the acquirer and the acquired, the investor, and the lawyer. You will learn how to identify the good target buyer, and how to approach him; how to structure the deal; what to expect after the acquisition and how to plan a successful exit; etc.
  ~Read More~
  
  
• Holiday Celebration & Trends In Financing Investor Panel - Dec. 11, 2008
  The first key to get funding is to understand where the money is. Join experts from the Investment world at our annual “Trends in Financing Panel & Holiday Party” to understand the types of financings that are occurring in your industry today– including topics such as who is getting funding, current valuations and other terms, what investors are looking for, what criteria they use to evaluate and eventually fund your company, etc. – and what is new and what to expect for 2009.
  ~Read More~
  

More Q1 2008 BioCenter Events

• How to Pick your Investor? - Mar. 5, 2008
  Raising capital is critical to growth for most companies, but getting funded by the right firm is equally if not more important that getting funded! To avoid unnecessary hassles, you need to pick your investor carefully. This primer will show you how to make the right choice.
  ~Read More~
  
  
• Anatomy of an Equity Financing Term Sheet - Mar. 6, 2008
  This workshop focuses on reviewing and discussing term sheets and how they pertain to the needs of your company. The program topics include: Liquidation preference; Right of first offer; Board composition; Voting rights / protective provisions; Conversion rights; etc.
  ~Read More~
  
  
• Anatomy of a Bridge Financing Term Sheet - Mar. 13, 2008
  This workshop focuses on reviewing and discussing term sheets for bridge financing and how they pertain to the needs of your company. The program topics include: The role of debt versus equity; Convertible Notes; Warrants; etc.
  ~Read More~
  
  
• Open House Tour - Feb. 27 & Mar. 26, 2008
  The Open House Tour is an opportunity for anyone interested in the BioCenter to tour the facility and the Core Labs, to meet the management, and learn more about the BioCenter history and its clients. The Tour starts at 2:30 and lasts around an hour depending on attendance and how curious you are!
  ~Read More~
  

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Partner News

Mayor Reed discuss the San Jose Green Vision
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed joined Forum - a live public affairs program on radio KQED - to talk about a host of issues, including the "greening" of the city.
~Listen to Forum~

BioCenter Welcomes New Sponsors and Renews 2007 Sponsorships
In addition to four sponsorship renewals, the BioCenter has selected two new sponsors based on their knowledge, service relationships, and value to the industry and in commercialization. Our 2008 sponsors include:

		Orrick: Life science companies have unique needs. Orrick's interdisciplinary life sciences group provides a full range of legal services tailored to the specific needs of life sciences companies.
		Fisher Scientific: a leading provider of products and services to the scientific-research community and clinical laboratories. Fisher provides an unmatched suite of more than 600,000 products and services to its 350,000 customers worldwide.
		ABD Insurance & Financial Services: Since the birth of biotechnology in 1976, ABD has been a trusted partner to biotech, medical device and healthcare companies - providing creative and cost-effective answers.
		Cornish & Carey Client Solutions:a multi-disciplinary team providing comprehensive and creative transactional and administrative solutions for companies with multiple real estate assets.
		Duran HCP, Inc.: a full service Human Resources Staffing, Contingent Workforce and HR Consulting services provider. We asked Duran why they applied to sponsor the BioCenter: “Duran became a sponsor of the BioCenter because we believe in job creation in key industry sectors, vital to our local, regional and national economy. The BioCenter is an example of an industry incubation effort partially subsidized by the City of San Jose, who understands the importance and process necessary to nurture nascent industry entrepreneurial growth in strategic areas within our local community.”
		Silicon Maps: Since 1989, Silicon Maps has published hundreds caricature style maps. The Bioscience West Map & Calendar highlights over 70 prominent California Bioscience companies. Silicon Maps is also a leader logo imprinted promotional products with over 750,000 items to promote your business.

~Review our Sponsors' Profiles~

ABD and Wells Fargo Merge
ABD Insurance and Financial Services is now a part of Wells Fargo Insurance Services and a member of the Wells Fargo family of companies. ABD will retain its name and will continue operations as a separate division of Wells Fargo Insurance Services. ABD will continue to provide the Life Science community with the same aggressive client advocacy and industry focused expertise - only now backed by one of the most respected, diversified financial institutions in the world – Wells Fargo & Company.
~Read Full Article~

Become a BioCenter Sponsor
Are you interested in becoming a BioCenter Sponsor for 2008? We work with our sponsors to provide ample opportunities to establish relationships with our clients, extended community as well as branding and visibility to the external market through programs, email campaigns and collateral distribution. We have a select number of sponsorships available per industry segment and would welcome your inquiry for 2008.
~Review our Sponsors' Brochure~
~Contact Gayle Fagan, Managing Director~

BAAC Network becomes CACO-Bay Area: California Analytical Chemists Organization
Over the last 7 years, the Bay Area Analytical Chemists (BAAC) Network has developed into a professional organization serving close to 2,000 members in analytical chemistry (mass spectrometry), drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, and related fields. BAAC Network has gained a tremendous amount of experience in organizing activities which help to augment their members’ scientific growth and career development while establishing some very valuable infrastructure and has decided to leverage this valuable experience and infrastructure to help colleagues in other regions. Hence, BAAC Network and colleagues in San Diego, are proudly announcing the formation of California Analytical Chemists Organization (CACO).
~Visit CACO-Bay Area Website~

Featured BioCenter Supporting Organizations
The BioCenter mission is to provide entrepreneurs with the resources, contacts and experience they need to commercialize their technology. Hence, the BioCenter has developed partnerships with organizations among the leading life science associations and academia, as well as events & news providers, all focused on delivering business opportunities, education, marketing services, and many other resources to the BioCenter clients. The BioCenter has selected 4 new partners sharing our values and mission:

		EBD Group, Inc.: In addition to Business Development services between U.S. and European companies and research institutes and Clinical and Regulatory support, EBD is a world-renowned Life Science Conferences organizer. After several years of successful partnerships on BIO-Europe, BIO-Europe Spring, and BioDevice Partnering, the BioCenter is now partnering with EBD for BioFusion 2008.
		Global Technology Symposium: founded in 2004 to cultivate a transatlantic network of businesspeople and policymakers interested in Russian technology. Conceived in response to Silicon Valley's interest in international investing and Russia's desire to diversify its economy beyond oil and gas, the Symposium has since broadened its focus to the changes affecting the world economy today.
		GTCbio: a conference organizer for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. GTCbio’s goal is to produce quality forums that facilitate the exchange of biopharmaceutical and biomedical intelligence between industry leaders, academic and government organizations, and the financial community.
		IBF: a conference organizer that aims to provide attendees with leading-edge information and new business contacts to achieve business objectives. IBF presents financial and business conferences on venture capital, private equity investing, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, corporate strategic investing, the commercialization of intellectual property, etc.
		The UCSF Center for BioEntrepreneurship offers programs and resources to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders in the life science industry. CBE weaves the UCSF community into the broader Bay Area community of life science innovators and entrepreneurs, company executives, investors, attorneys, and other professionals to help successfully translate discoveries from the laboratory to commercialization for the benefit of the institution and society.

~Review our Supporting Organizations' Profiles~

BioCenter Advisor Releases Book About The Hottest Jobs in Science, and How to Land Them
As the life science industry has grown by leaps and bounds, so too have career opportunities. But the choices can be daunting. Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development, a new book written by BioCenter Advisor Toby Freedman, Ph.D., provides an overview of careers in the life science industry, advice on tailoring a job search, and guidance on making the transition.
~Read Press Release~
~Read Sample Chapter~

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Partner Events

BioCenter Members will gain a marketing visibility through the BioCenter or are entitled to a discount for the partners events listed below. Please contact Aurélie for more information on these discounts.

Incubating Life Science Companies - February 19, 2008 - a FountainBlue life science entrepreneurs' forum - Palo Alto, CA

Performance Limitations of Cu/low-? Interconnects and Possible Alternatives - February 19, 2008 - an IEEE event - Santa Clara, CA

5th Cancer Drugs Research & Development - February 21-22, 2008 - a GTCbio conference - Phoenix, AZ

Clean Tech: What Corporate & Venture Investors Really Want To See - February 24, 2008 - a SVASE BIG event - Palo Alto, CA

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Highly Experienced Biotech CEOs Tell It Like It Was, Is and May Be Going Forward!! - February 27, 2008 - a BayBio CEO Roundtable - Foster City, California

Alternative Financing - February 28, 2008 - a BayBio therapeutic breakfast - Menlo Park, CA

Generating Energy: Solar Solutions - March 3, 2008 - a FountainBlue clean energy entrepreneurs' forum - Palo Alto, CA

How to Pick your Investor? - March 5, 2008 – a BioCenter Business Development Primer - Menlo Park, CA

5th Anti-Infectives Partnering & Deal-Making Summit - March 5-7, 2008 – a GTCbio conference - Philadelphia, PA

Anatomy of an Equity Financing Term Sheet - March 6, 2008 – a BioCenter Business Development Workshop - Menlo Park, CA

Advances in Cardiac Care - March 11, 2008 - a BayBio medical device breakfast - Palo Alto, CA

Anatomy of a Bridge Financing Term Sheet - March 13, 2008 – a BioCenter Business Development Workshop - Menlo Park, CA

3rd Imaging in Pre-clinical & Clinical Drug Development - March 17-18, 2008 – a GTCbio conference - San Diego, CA

Atomic Scale Modeling of Electron Transport in MRAM - March 18, 2008 - an IEEE event - Santa Clara, CA

Sourcing and Negotiating Deals with Big BioPharma - March 20, 2008 – a BioCenter Industry Panel - San Jose, CA

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and Microdosing, with John Vogel - March 21, 2008 - a CACO seminar luncheon - Foster City, CA

Combination Products - March 27, 2008 - a BayBio therapeutic breakfast - Menlo Park, CA

BIO-Europe Spring 2008 - April 7-9, 2008 - an EBD & BIO conference - Madrid, Spain

Transporters, with Jeff Silverman (Sunesis) - April 8, 2008 - a CACO-BAADME joint workshop - Foster City, CA

Staging of CMC Requirements throughout the Clinical Development Cycle - April 8-9, 2008 - a CASSS conference - Paris, France

Potential Community Impacts of Nanotech - April 15, 2008 - an IEEE event - Santa Clara, CA

BayBio2008 - April 17, 2008 - a BayBio conference - South San Francisco, CA

4th Stem Cell Research & Therapeutics - April 17-18, 2008 – a GTCbio conference - Boston, MA

BioFusion 2008 - May 5-6, 2008 – an EBD & BIO conference - Atlanta, GA

3rd Protein Kinases in Drug Discovery - May 5-6, 2008 – a GTCbio conference - San Diego, CA

Reimbursement - May 13, 2008 - a BayBio medical device breakfast - Palo Alto, California

Nanotech: From Promise To Reality. Nanoscale Electronics below 45nm - May 20, 2008 - an IEEE event - Santa Clara, CA

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