UK Spinout Companies Have Strong Presence at 'BIO'
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 28, 2011) — University of Kentucky life sciences spinout companies and Commercialization & Economic Development staff are promoting UK technology and partnerships at the 2011 BIO International Convention, June 27-30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The largest global event for the biotechnology industry is organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), and features key policymakers, scientists, CEOs, and celebrities, and hundreds of sessions covering biotech trends, policy issues and technological innovations.
UKCED, the spinout companies listed below, and Commerce Lexington are joining the University of Louisville, economic development groups and biotech companies from around the state in the Kentucky pavilion at the world's largest biotechnology exhibition – the BIO Exhibition. UK is also co-sponsoring a reception hosted by Governor Steve Beshear for invited guests to learn more about partnering opportunities.
The following UK life sciences spinoff companies are part of the Kentucky pavilion at BIO:
Enzymax is a protein and DNA engineering company that provides various molecular and biochemical services, purified tool enzymes and proteins, and a variety of purified specialty enzymes and proteins for biological/biomedical research needs, drug screening and the cosmetics industry. Enzymax is based on the research of Zhigang Wang in toxicology.
Naprogenix harnesses plant genomics and proprietary high-throughput pharmacological screens to develop novel active natural products. Naprogenix is targeting pharmaceuticals in the areas of cancer, alcoholism, neurodegenerative disease and depression, and nutraceuticals for macular degeneration. The technology is based on the research of John Littleton in the Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center.
Scout Diagnostics and CoPlex Therapeutics are working on issues related to Alzheimer's disease. Scout is developing a new early-stage diagnostic tool using technology based on the discovery of an aberrant protein complex found only in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients. CoPlex is developing a new treatment for Alzheimer's based on the discovery that the aberrant protein complex is neurotoxic, suggesting this complex may be part of the disease pathology. The research for Scout and CoPlex was developed by co-founders Mark Lovell and Bert Lynn, chemistry, and the UK Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. Lovell has a joint appointment in the UK College of Medicine. Co-founder John Beran is CEO for both companies.
Coldstream Laboratories Inc., located at UK's Coldstream Research Campus, is Kentucky's only sterile small-batch pharmaceutical development and manufacturing facility. CLI services include GMP manufacturing, lyophilization, formulation development, analytical chemistry and microbiology services.
The UK Office for Commercialization & Economic Development is the university's nexus for commercializing UK technology and creating spinoff companies and jobs. The office manages UK's patent and technology portfolio, and includes ASTeCC-AgTeCC campus incubators, Coldstream Research Campus, Kentucky Small Business Development Center, Kentucky Technology Inc., Lexington ICC and the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Deb Weis, (859) 257-8296; Carl Nathe, (859) 257-3200