VivoPath

Echelon Biosciences is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Near Infrared Substrates for Imaging Autotaxin Activity In Vivo. Their project aims to synthesize ATXRed, an in vivo imaging agent that is specifically activated by the enzymatic activity of autotaxin. Autotaxin is an extracellular enzyme that generates the phospholipid growth factor lysophophatidic acid (LPA). LPA is involved in a variety of biological functions, such as angiogenesis, wound healing, brain development, immunological competence and the regulation of blood pressure. Both LPA and autotaxin have also been implicated in numerous diseases, especially metastatic cancer. Autotaxin was identified as one of the 40 most induced genes in aggressive breast cancer. The broader impacts of this research are the discovery and commercialization of tools that easily highlight specific biological pathways in living organisms. ATXRed will be welcomed by basic researchers in many fields associated with autotaxin and LPA. However, the utility extends beyond the basic research sphere. ATXRed smart probes could also aid pharmaceutical researchers searching for pharmacological inhibitors of autotaxin and LPA receptor agonists and antagonists. ATXRed would be a powerful tool in many rodent models of human cancer. In vivo autotaxin imaging probes could also aid in the clinic by helping to identify and monitor disease progression and treatment. Ultimately, ATXRed could help guide surgical resection of tumorstumors previously identified by the smart probe to have elevated autotaxin activity. In total, ATXRed probes have the potential to impact basic research, drug discovery and the clinic as a prime example of molecular medicine applied from bench to bedside.

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.

Snowdon, Inc., is a drug discovery and development company that is focused on three major therapeutic areas - cancer, acute and chronic pain and infectious diseases. In each of these therapeutic areas, Snowdon has discovered prospective drug candidates. The company employs a battery of computational tools to rapidly identify high-value molecules which can then be procured for initial biological proof of concept evaluation studies.

Pathfinder Pharma focuses on drug discovery research from invention through clinical proof of concept. They specialize in viral diseases and related cancers.

Melior Discovery has develops an optimized, high throughput pharmacology platform that is able to systematically identify indications for pre-clinical and development stage drug candidates. Melior also applies this expertise to the provision of a range of essential pre-clinical and discovery services for clients in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, including pharmacokinetic evaluations, efficacy models and bioanalytical testing.