At 6^th Annual Life Science Technology Venture Forum

HOUSTON – June 8, 2007 -- The Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship of Rice University recently announced the top ten most promising life science technology companies at the 6th Annual Life Science Technology Venture Forum in Houston.

Emerging life science companies showcased their new ventures for an audience of more than 425 attendees, including: investors; venture capitalists; industry representatives; business leaders; advisors/mentors; service providers; and entrepreneurs. 

The event culminated in an announcement of the Most Promising Life Science Technology Companies chosen from 34 competitors.  The winners were chosen based on the companies’ elevator pitch presentations and were selected by a hand-picked judging panel made up of investors and business leaders. 

Following are the winning companies:

Azaya Therapeutics is an emerging nanotherapy company with a novel technology platform designed to significantly improve the efficacy and safety of water insoluble pharmaceutical agents. 

Frio Pharmaceuticals is developing a portfolio of pharmaceutical mouth rinses to decrease bacterial bioburden in the oral cavity, reduce chronic inflammation, and subsequently improve systemic health.

Microtransponder has a technology portfolio that consists of a wireless micro-system that can interface with peripheral nerves and a host of biochemical micro/nano-sensors.

Monebo Technologies, Inc. is a medical technology company which has developed technology solutions that monitor, assess, and interpret the electrical activity of the heart.

Neurobiotex, Inc. is a science based company specializing in discovery and intervention in the area of zinc in biology.

OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, markets, and sells an orthodontics device that cuts treatment time for braces in half and works in combination with all existing orthodontic bracket technologies.

Pulmotect, LLC is developing ALIIS (Aerosolized Lung Innate Immune Stimulant) as a novel therapeutic that locally activates the innate immune system to protect against inhaled infections.

Regenetech, Inc. has extended NASA-invented technology to produce large number of adult stem cells in about seven days form peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood.

ThromboVision, Inc. provides easy-to-use, rapid-response, cost-effective and versatile point-of-care clinical diagnostic discoveries that advance medical diagnosis.

Visualase, Inc. is focused on product development, clinical evaluations, manufacturing, and marketing of advanced laser and image-guided technologies for minimally invasive thermal ablation markets.

Panelists included eight leading venture capitalists and investors, and the keynote speakers were B.J. Bormann, Ph.D., Vice President of Pfizer Global R&D; John Mendelsohn, M.D., President, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; and Nancy Chang, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chairman, Tanox, Inc.

The event was underwritten by Baker Botts and sponsored by Baker & McKenzie and Winstead.  The program was hosted by the Rice Alliance and co-hosted by the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and held at Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University.

About the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) is Rice University's flagship initiative devoted to the support of technology entrepreneurship.  The Rice Alliance is a collaboration among the Brown School of Engineering, the Jones Graduate School of Management, and the Wiess School of Natural Science.

Since its inception in late-1999, the Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch of over 205 new technology companies, which have raised more than $300 million in early stage funding. The mission of the Rice Alliance is to conduct research and support the creation of technology-based companies and the commercialization of new technologies.  The Rice Alliance provides entrepreneurs with a collaborative network and forum for support, education, and exchange of ideas.  It offers entrepreneurs access to the human and financial capital needed for success.

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