Incyte

Amura is a structure-based drug discovery business specialising in diseases such as osteoporosis, bone metastasis, autoimmunity, chronic pain and malaria. Amura has a scaffold (AMcore) that aims to provide a turnkey solution for the discovery of small-molecule inhibitors against cysteine peptidases (e.g. cathepsin enzymes); which are commercially attractive therapeutic targets

Trana Discovery, a drug discovery technology company, aims to help its partners find classes of drugs for the treatment of serious viral, fungal, and bacterial infectious diseases. The technology identifies compounds that work through a mechanism of action: inhibition of the target pathogen's ability to use transfer RNA (tRNA) essential for protein synthesis or replication. The use of Trana Discovery technology can unlock the value " scientific, human, and financial " hidden in drug compound libraries, expedite the discovery of drugs, and provide opportunities for exclusive rights to drug classes.

Welichem Biotech Inc. ("Welichem", TSX-V: WBI) is engaged in the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics. Using its Symbiochem technology platform, the Company has developed a robust pipeline of patent-protected compounds that target autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and cancers. Welichem's lead drug candidate, WBI-1001, targets autoimmune/inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis and eczema. A phase I clinical trial of WBI-1001, done in Montreal, in patients with psoriasis has shown a very good safety profile and promising efficacy. As well, the application of WBI-1001 cream against atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) in a phase IIa clinical trial also has been completed in Canada, with the final report pending in the third quarter of 2008. Welichem plans to all the necessary Phase II Clinical Trials against psoriasis and eczema in the near future. In the company's pipeline, WBI-1001 related compounds are being evaluated also for their therapeutic potential against other autoimmune diseases such as, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Welichem's other lead drug candidate, WBI-2100, selectively targets certain types of hard-to-treat cancerous tumours. This is achieved in part through inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis. Animal tests have shown that WBI-2100 is effective as a monotherapy and also in increasing the effectiveness of several commonly used chemotherapeutic products. The uniqueness of this small molecule cancer chemotherapeutic is that in pre-clinical studies it increases the number of neutrophils in the peripheral blood. The boosting of neutrophils in animal studies in the presence of the cancer therapeutic, cyclophosphamide, supports its potential therapeutic application for chemotherapy induced neutropenia. With its proven Symbiochem; technology platform, Welichem will advance its pipeline of drug candidates at a rate and time commensurate with resources and target need, and is in a strong position to contribute effectively to productive drug discovery and development partnerships.

Active Pass is a Canadian biotechnology company that is engaging in genomic-based drug discovery and is developing drugs that inhibit ABC transporters. ABC or (ATP binding cassette) is a term that describes the interconnected group of molecular engines or pumps that function as a transportation system which moves compounds across the biological membranes. These ABCs are very closely associated with human diseases like Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. The Active Pass management team is an accomplished group with experience in many aspects of drug discovery and development. Besides employing full time pharmaceutical development professionals, Active Pass has made wise use of a group of several key partnerships with different pharmaceutical groups. The company cultivates these partnerships in order to access new capabilities or expertise to advance the company's own technologies. More specifically, these partnerships include the Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Organization as well as the National Institute of Health). The company hopes to add new personnel to cover emerging areas of emphasis like clinical and regulatory affairs, business development and finance as they grow.

Bionucleon is a drug discovery company with a technology platform to produce olibo-based therapeutics. Bionucleon's business strategy is based on a three-branch approach:nnUsing its technology, the company aims to build its own pipeline of therapeutics for inflammatory diseases and angiogenic disorders. Bionucleon collaborates with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to create new oligo-based therapeutics against targets of the partner's choosing. Bionucleon generates products for out-licensing at different research and development stages. Collaborative partnerships and out-licensing provide upfront and milestone payments, and generate downstream revenue through product royalties. This approach maximizes the return on the company's nknow-how and technical capability. Through drug discovery partnering in addition to developing its own product pipeline, Bionucleon aims to build corporate value and aims to reduce the financial risk as it moves forward.

Heptares Therapeutics focuses on the discovery and development of novel drugs acting at G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Heptares StaR (Stabilized Receptor) technology enables thermo-stabilization of GPCRs, a breakthrough allowing X-ray crystallography of conformationally-constrained receptors, thereby facilitating structure-based drug design at GPCRs that have been resistant to traditional methods of drug screening.