ORLANDO, Fla. (May 20, 2008) -- Five years plus five powerhouse biotech institutes that have established (or will establish) East Coast operations here has catapulted Florida into the rank as the nation’s newest life sciences hub … with global strengths in the industry-leading fields of regenerative health biotechnology, cancer, neurological and Alzheimer’s research, and biopharmaceuticals. That, coupled with world renowned life sciences research coming out of Florida top-ranked hospitals, health organizations and universities, as well as a growing crop of start-ups, has the industry and the world keeping its eye on the state.
“Florida is one of our nation’s greatest biotechnology success stories,” says James C. Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). “The state continues to attract established research institutions and supports homegrown innovation through bold funding initiatives. Its world class universities and research institutions provide an ideal growth environment for the life sciences industry. The Sunshine State set out to establish itself as a leading technology hub, and has delivered quick results.”
As the medical tech revolution continues to gain momentum in the U.S., Florida’s innovative companies and people have taken a front seat. Biotech is writing Florida’s new biography. And scientists, heads of companies, investors and Florida residents alike are buzzing about the state’s transformation and the emerging biotech industry here.
As you’re working on stories this year, consider one about Florida’s bio transformation and keep in mind the following organizations and their leaders as new sources. The latter are grouped in areas that are among the biotech industry’s fastest growing sectors. And, for more on Florida’s biotech industry and/or to receive regular news and briefings about innovative developments happening in the state, visit http://www.eflorida.com/innovationcenter.aspx?id=6198 and register at http://www.myeflorida.com/mk/get/signinform.
SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re planning to attend the BIO International Convention in San Diego starting June 17, we’ll have Florida biotech industry experts and innovators on hand (and doing special presentations at select times throughout the conference) where you can learn more about the people and things driving developments in the state. We can pre-arrange interviews or you can visit the Florida Pavilion (Booth 1911).
In the cancer treatment, biopharmaceutical arenas:
The University of Florida’s Proton Therapy Institute at the Shands/Jacksonville campus is the only center of its kind in the Southeast and one of only five centers in the nation. For a growing number of cancer patients, proton beam radiotherapy has become a treatment of choice. Unlike traditional x-ray therapy, proton therapy targets the tumor with more precision customized to the patient’s anatomy, while destroying cancer cells and minimizing damage to healthy tissue. To date, the UF Proton Institute has delivered more than 10,000 proton therapy treatments to patients with common cancers, such as cancers of the head and neck, cancer in children, lung cancer, and many more. www.floridaproton.org
M2GEN, a for-profit company formed in partnership with drug maker Merck & Co. and the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, is developing personalized cancer treatments using molecular technology. M2GEN researchers will collect tumor tissues from thousands of patients across Florida and identify the biological markers unique to each tumor. Analyzing patients’ responses to specific treatments will lead to more individualized care with fewer side effects. www.moffitt.org/Site.aspx?spid=6ED0D4F3941D4192AC17224864C3C943
Xcovery, Scripps Florida’s first spin-off company, was named one of the world’s most promising biotech companies and is creating new cancer and inflammation treatments. www.xcovery.com
Intezyne develops advanced, synthetic polymers for targeted drug delivery to diseased cells. The company expects to dramatically improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. www.intezyne.com
The Mayo Clinic, with $40 million in research dollars this year, has 200 clinical trials underway. Out of this work has emerged a drug for treating lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in Florida.
Tigris Pharmaceuticals is developing cancer-focused drugs (in clinical trials now) to treat ovarian, lung and breast cancers. Tigris is also developing three novel, targeted small molecule oncology compounds. www.tigrispharma.com
In the neurological, genetics, regenerative and cell therapy arenas:
“We have found Florida to be a terrific location for our medical technology business. The business climate is very favorable, and we find that recruiting and retaining great team members is easy. We continue to grow here and recommend Florida to any business looking for a great location.” -- Richard Allen, CEO of Xhale, Inc. (more on Richard Allen and Xhale below)
AxoGen provides surgeons a biological solution to repair and regenerate peripheral nerves, bringing relief and restoring functionality to patients who suffer peripheral nerve injuries. The company has licensed several patented technologies from the University of Florida and has received multiple rounds of venture funding. www.axogeninc.com
Scientists at the Roskamp Institute have an experimental drug that has proved successful in preventing the decline of patients who exhibit early signs of Alzheimer's disease. www.rfdn.org
The Miami Institute for Human Genomics (MIHG) was established at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to discover the genetic influences on human health (which genes predispose people to certain diseases).
Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance, director of the Miami Institute for Human Genomics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and recognized leader in human genomics research, recently led a team of researchers to the discovery (the first in 30 years) of a gene linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) that could pave the way for future research and treatment options (www.mihg.org) MIHG was recently awarded $80 million from the state to continue its leading work in genetic research.
Other notable work coming from the University of Miami includes that of Dr. Joshua Hare, who is conducting some groundbreaking trials for treating heart failure using stem cells. http://ww3.med.miami.edu/news/view.asp?id=920. Also, his team is performing the first trial of a new catheter system to inject stem cells into the heart. http://ww3.med.miami.edu/news/view.asp?id=932
With more than 5 million Americans suffering from congestive heart failure, Bioheart focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of autologous (derived or transferred from the same individual’s body) cell therapies for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage. Its lead product candidate is MyoCell, an innovative clinical therapy designed to populate regions of scar tissue within a patient’s heart with autologous muscle cells (myoblasts), or cells from the patient’s body, for the purpose of improving cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients. The core technology used in MyoCell has been the subject of human clinical trials conducted over the last six years involving 84 enrollees and 70 treated patients. www.bioheartinc.com
In the minimally invasive surgical and trauma arenas:
In a compelling tie-in between heart disease and minimally invasive surgery, a team of University of Miami scientists recently announced the successful implantation of heart valves in two patients through a minimally invasive procedure --an alternative to open heart surgery to remedy aortic stenosis. http://ww3.med.miami.edu/news/view.asp?id=925
MAKO Surgical Corp. is a medical device company that is developing advanced technologies and procedures for least invasive knee surgery. The maker of this advanced robotic arm solution and implants for minimally invasive orthopedic knee procedures recently went public and its shares are now traded on NASDAQ. www.makosurgical.com
The Ryder Trauma Center at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center excels in every aspect of trauma care, seeing close to 4,000 patients and saving thousands of lives each year. Ryder is the U.S. Army’s Trauma Training Center for all surgical teams before their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. Ryder is also at the cutting edge of trauma telemedicine, a field that merges telecommunications with robotics technology. www.surgery.med.miami.edu/x393.xml
Other significant bio and medical device leaders and developments:
Xhale was awarded a Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by the NIH National Institute of Mental Health to develop a breath-based medication adherence monitoring system for HIV/AIDS therapies. Xhale’s breath-based technology has the potential to replace current blood and urine tests while non-invasively giving quick, accurate and painless results. www.xhale.com
Xhale CEO Richard Allen is a man on the move and has had a hand in co-founding several Florida-based biotech companies, including Regenerative Technologies, Inc. and Sabine Neurotechnology. He also manages a seed-stage biomedical investment firm and is a director of a three-year-old company called Optima Neuroscience, which develops and commercializes neurological monitoring, diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. Among the most critical outcomes will be the ability to detect and predict seizure activity in patients suffering from seizure disorders. www.optimaneuro.com
VaxDesign's MIMIC™ technology was a recipient of the 2007 ‘R&D 100 Awards’ given by R&D Magazine. The MIMIC™ technology creates a model of the human immune system that fits into a space the size of a small coin. These miniature immune systems can predict the human immune response to vaccines and other products, acting as a “clinical trial in a test tube” before new products are tested in humans. www.vaxdesign.com
Discovery Technology International has developed a line-up of award-winning biomedical devices, including BioStat, which can detect free radical cells; and RoboMate, a micro or nanopositioning tool that allows precise positioning and visualization in medical applications. www.discovtech.com
The Tavistock Group, Alexandria Real Estate Equities and others are helping to attract biotech companies to the state and giving these companies the facilities they need. Tavistock is building a $50 million, 100,000-square-foot web laboratory in Orlando’s new ‘medical city,’ while Alexandria is building 160,000 square feet of office and lab space on the University of Florida campus to get start-up products and ideas to market. In addition, the Core Communities Florida Center for Innovation at Tradition (in Port St. Lucie) is developing a 120-acre research park that will include the Mann Research Center – a 400,000 square foot biomedical R&D and office complex. http://www.traditioncommercial.com/main.php?section=Research&pageID=Overview
Also, the University of Miami Life Science Park will have a planned 7.2 acre, 1.4 million square foot complex for research centers and companies. http://ww3.med.miami.edu/uminnovation/lifesciencespark/index.html
CONTACT: Jackie Kelvington / Consultant, Enterprise Florida / 407.898.8489 jackiekelvington@bellsouth.net / www.eflorida.com
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