New Zealand life science and health IT companies to showcase their products in San Francisco

New Zealand Trade and EnterpriseJan 7 2012

New Zealand is well known for its wines and stunning scenery, but the country is also a great source of innovation in the life sciences. A delegation of New Zealand life sciences companies who have reached key stages in their development are joining the throngs of international therapeutics, medical device and health IT companies in San Francisco, January 9 - 12 to showcase their products and capabilities to potential corporate partners and investors.

"New Zealand's modern life sciences industry is built upon a 150+ year heritage of applied science and engineering," said Duncan Catanach, Trade Commissioner/Director West Americas, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. "Initially focused primarily on agriculture, the country's scientific and technological capabilities have increasingly generated a wide range of human health applications including medical devices and diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, wound healing technologies, health IT, and life science research tools."

He noted that New Zealand's track record of innovation could be attributed in part to the life science industry's strong emphasis on products and international markets, as well as to a long history of fruitful, product-driven collaboration between New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes, world class universities, and entrepreneurial, as well as established, companies.

"The result has been an increasing number of New Zealand life science and health IT companies offering significant opportunities for partnering or investment on a global basis," Mr. Catanach said.

Among the companies available for meetings in San Francisco this week include:

• CoDa Therapeutics (www.codatherapeutics.com) - a biopharmaceutical company based in San Diego, CA and Auckland NZ, focused on developing wound care therapeutics that improve healing while managing inflammation and scarring. The company's lead product is currently in Phase 2 testing as a potential treatment for venous leg ulcers and is expected to enter Phase 2 for diabetic leg ulcers during 2012.
• Innate Immunotherapeutics (www.innateimmunotherapeutics.com) - a biopharmaceutical company developing a unique immunomodulator microparticle technology that can be used to induce the human immune system to fight certain cancers and infections, or turn off certain immune mechanisms involved in autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The company's lead product is currently in Phase 2 testing for progressive MS. Innate Immunotherapeutics will be presenting as part of the Biotech Showcase at the Park 55 Wyndham Hotel on Wednesday January 11, 11:45 am.
• Mesynthes (www.mesynthes.com) - a regenerative medicine company applying its proprietary Endoform™ extracellular matrix (ECM) technology and biomaterials expertise to develop and commercialize products for wound and tissue repair. The company received US 510K clearance for its Endoform Dermal Template™ in 2010.
• Pacific Edge (www.pacificedge.co.nz) - a biomedical company that discovers, develops and commercializes diagnostic and prognostic technology for the early detection and prognosis of cancer. The company has one marketed product, Cxbladder® and four products in late stage development and will complete construction of its proposed CLIA laboratory in Pennsylvania in mid 2012 to offer the Cxbladder® to U.S. urologists and physicians. Pacific Edge will be presenting as part of the Biotech Showcase, Park 55 Wyndham Hotel, on Wednesday January 11, 4:00 pm.
• PolyBatics (www.polybatics.com) - the developer of an innovative technology platform that offers the first disposable chromatography media for use in bioprocessing and research applications, as well as longer term potential for use in such diverse areas as diagnostics, vaccines and drug delivery. PolyBatics will be presenting as part of the Biotech Showcase, Park 55 Wyndham Hotel, on Tuesday January 10, 11:45 am.