Reflections On A Feast
By Rohit Shukla, CEO, Larta Institute

On May 30, 2008, Larta Institute's Venture Forum, recast for the life sciences in 2008, wowed audiences and participants alike. Some thoughts on the Forum, its future and the buzz around it…

What can you say about a 14 year-old event, which has continued to evolve and morph over its history? That it keeps raising expectations? That it continues to define the path to market for early-stage companies? That it focuses attention on innovations that otherwise may not see the light of day? That, in so doing, it has created a platform unlike any other for early-stage innovators both from around the U.S. and the world? more

Regulatory Gap in the Life Sciences
By Wanda J. Jones, President, New Century Healthcare Institute, San Francisco, California

California is demonstrating, once again, that it will willingly lag behind useful science under the rubric of protecting the public's safety, but unwittingly show itself to be blind to public benefit. The San Francisco Chronicle reported this week² that the State's Health Department regulators are requiring a review of compliance on the part of two life science companies that market genetic tests directly to customers, saying that only physicians can order such tests, and that the fulfillment of these test requests be done only in a licensed clinical lab, not withstanding that the tests do not require use of wet reagents and the judgment of a trained lab technologist, as they use automated processing. (Requiring a physician's order on something where the customer is not a patient is the medical guild system protecting its own prerogatives.) ... more

The Masdar Solar Quest
By Lee Bruno, Editor, Innovation Pipeline

In a landscape of endless sand and brilliant sunlight, Abu Dhabi has embraced a solar ambition to match its towering skyline and ultra modern skyscrapers.

For the past 50 years, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been known as a powerhouse for oil production. But over the next half century, it wants to become known as a global leader in sustainable energy technologies. Its recent plan and $2 billion investment in renewable solar thin film technology will place the kingdom in the elite solar class as part of this ambitious quest... more

Published in partnership with Innovation Pipeline.

Webinar: “Pursuing Federal Dollars—BEYOND standard grant programs”

All interested companies, including past companies from Larta’s NIH commercialization assistance program are invited to register for this webinar delivered Dr. Wendy Shelton and Ms. Danielle Organ of Fabiani & Company. They will provide tips for pursuing federal dollars outside of the SBIR route.

Date: Tuesday, 7/15, 2pm PDT, and Thursday, 7/17, 2pm PDT.

Points of discussion will include:

• Current trends in government funding
  
• Benefits of federal funding
  
• Finding the right federal funding sources/programs for drug, vaccine and device development
  
• Federal budgets for medical research, development and procurement
  
• Relationship building with the federal government

Participation is limited. Please email Judy Hsieh, jhsieh@larta.org, to RSVP for this special web seminar. For more information please download the flyer.

Larta Institute Partners with Singapore’s Technology Transfer Network

Larta Institute has entered into a partnership as an affiliate member of Singapore’s Technology Transfer Network (TTN). The Technology Transfer Network is a collaborative alliance of Technology Transfer Offices formed to enhance the effectiveness in the transfer of technology to the industry. The core activities of the TTN include collaboration on IP Cluster Mapping, Training & Certification of TTO professionals, Joint Marketing & Events, Technology Advisory Services, Industry Collaboration and regular dialogue and sharing of best practices. Exploit Technologies and seven Singapore institutions of higher education were the founding members of TTN, in February 2008.

More details to come in a forthcoming press release announcement.

Office Space and Workstation Availability
At Larta Institute’s Los Angeles Headquarters

A number of office space and workstation sublease opportunities are now available within Larta Institute’s downtown LA location. Includes use of common areas such as large/small conference rooms, kitchen, and communications/copy room. Location: City National Bank Building on 6th and Olive Streets across from the Biltmore Hotel and Pershing Square. Click here for images of the available space. Please direct all inquiries to: Carlos Gutierrez, cgutierrez@larta.org, direct: 213-538-1453.

Watch this space for exciting news as Larta gets around in the world!
 

Our picks of companies that are making the news and already on their way to making it big!

Larta institute is proud to introduce the companies that won the Best of Show award at the 2008 Life Sciences Venture Forum:

Bionext Produtos Biotecnologicos Ltda., based in Brazil, has specialized in producing Microbial Cellulose (MC), a versatile biomaterial with broad applications in industries as diverse as food, electronics, and paper products. Our first product is a highly-effective wound-dressing material which improves the healing process for burns and for chronic and acute wounds. Our other important offerings involve MC membranes for internal use and biostents coated with biosynthetic cellulose, which is 100% biocompatible and is effective in controlling restenosis following coronary angioplasty. (Left to right, Gerardo Mendoza, Bionext; Bruce Halpryn, P&G)

Azano Pharmaceuticals will develop a proprietary C-reactive protein (CRP) product (Az-121) to treat patients with severe lupus nephritis. The potential of CRP to treat human lupus nephritis is based upon peer reviewed results in mouse models where a single dose of CRP has been found to provide dramatic reversal of disease and increased survival. Product sales related to this first indication are expected to exceed $300M annually in the United States. We will also explore the potential of Az-121 to treat other manifestations of systemic lupus and other autoimmune disorders. Azano will be led by former senior management of MGI PHARMA.

eHuman, and parent company Brown & Herbranson Imaging, are leading providers of 3-D interactive anatomical software applications, services and human datasets for dental, medical and consumer markets. Our core products, already in use within 50% of U.S.-based dental schools, bring the latest volumetric computing, interactive visualization and learning solutions to the spatially complex field of dentistry. Based upon the educational and economic value of our initial products, we are developing the industry's first Web-based, haptics-enabled surgical simulator and digital curriculum platform, enabling a first-in-class, 21st-century dental pedagogy. Additionally, working with partners including the Stanford School of Medicine, Smithsonian and Max-Planck Institute, our eHuman.com subsidiary is developing the most comprehensive, research-class anatomical imaging, reference and digital learning library for broader health care applications. (www.ehuman.com)

Dow Chemical hiking prices 25% (CNN)
Chemical company cites soaring energy costs for new price boost, following a 20% jump three weeks ago.

24June 2008

Computers in use pass 1 billion mark (Reuters)            

The number of personal computers in use around the world has surpassed 1 billion, with strong growth in emerging markets set to double the number of PCs by early 2014, research firm Gartner said on Monday.
23 June 2008