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Neurodyn Inc. (neurodyn.ca) is a Canadian biotechnology company using a portfolio approach to identifying, validating and developing natural bioactives into both prescription drugs and natural products for the early treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and other neurodegernative disorders. 

Memogain® is a patented pro-drug of an existing major Alzheimer's cognition enhancement drug, offering improved side effect profile and increased bioavailability. Initial Phase 1A results have been positive, showing no significant side effects and improved working memory in young and elderly volunteers. Memogain may qualify for a new US FDA accelterated pathway or Eu equivalent.

Cerbella™ is a treatment for early stage Parkinson's disease which has demonstrated in-vivo pre-clinical efficacy in acute models as well as Neurodyn's proprietary chronic model of Parkinson's disease. A product is expected to launch in Canada, USA or other countries in 2015.

NeuroPro® is a professionally-oriented supplement launched in October 2013, designed for neuroprotection and bansed on 5 years of animal model research.

Nerve Pain Treatment (PN34) is a rare first-in-class neuromodulator, being prepared for a topical orphan status nerve paincondition, with clinical trials to begin in 2015.

Progranulin (ND602) is a novel therapeutic demonstrating in-vivo pre-clinical efficacy in ALS, PD< Alzheimer's disease and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The company is in its third year of collaboration (late stage pre-clinical evaluation) with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

PlantForm Corporation is a Canadian company formed in 2008 to commercialize a low-cost, plant-based manufacturing platform for monoclonal antibodies, protein drugs and vaccines for cancer and other critical illnesses.

The company’s technology platform provides several advantages over mammalian cell culture and other fermentation systems used to produce most biologic drugs on the market today: it’s fast, efficient, highly versatile (for new product development) and easily scalable. Best of all, it’s capable of reducing manufacturing costs for life-saving drugs by up to 90 per cent.

PlantForm licenses its technology from the University of Guelph, where it was developed by Dr. J. Christopher Hall, a PlantForm founder and the company’s Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Hall held the Canada Research Chair in Recombinant Antibody Technology from 2002 to 2014 and is a leading authority in the field. All relevant intellectual property is protected by patent filings.

PlantForm’s pipeline features both innovator and biosimilar products, including:

• biosimilar trastuzumab, a plant-produced version of the $6-billion breast cancer drug Herceptin® (animal studies successfully completed, human clinical trials scheduled for 2014, market entry anticipated 2017)

• biosimilar versions of two additional oncology drugs with combined annual global sales of $11.4 billion (2010)

• innovator antibodies for HIV/AIDS, funded by the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

• recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (rBuChE), an enzyme used as preventative medicine for people vulnerable to attack by nerve agents, organophosphates or other stimulants ($1.8-million contract with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and $800,00 contract with Defence Canada)

5AM Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on building next-generation life science companies. The firm has offices in Menlo Park, CA and Waltham, MA. Formed by successful industry executives and experienced venture capitalists, the 5AM team takes a focused, hands-on approach to company building.  In addition to leading investments and contributing as board members of its portfolio companies, 5AM is directly involved in company strategy, management recruiting, business development and fundraising and often takes on short-term operating roles.

The 5AM portfolio, built on advanced life science technologies, is diversified by two key categories: sector & type.  In the sector category, companies are diversified by innovative platform technologies, corporate spin-offs, and products with shorter development cycles.  In the type category, companies are diversified by product discovery, drug development, and medical technologies.

Life Science Nation (LSN) is the premier sourcing platform for market intelligence and prospect pipeline development in the life science arena. LSN enables life science professionals to generate a list of qualified global targets that are a fit for their company’s products, services, and fundraising efforts. The ability to generate these Global Target Lists (GTLs) makes life science professionals more effective and efficient. 

Longitude Capital is a private equity group founded in 2006 with offices in Menlo Park, California and Greenwich, Connecticut. The firm has $700 million in assets and has raised two funds, with the most recent fund closing at $385m in 2012. Longitude makes both venture-stage and growth-stage equity investments, which are typically in the $10-30 million range. Longitude Capital primarily invests in North America and the European Union but may also consider opportunities in the Middle East.

Medtronic was founded in 1949 and is based in Minneapolis Minnesota. Medtronic makes strategic investments and acquisitions in the medical device sector and is focused on cardiovascular diseases diabetes diseases of the nervous system (including Parkinson's disease and dystonia) and musculoskeletal conditions. The firm has acquired a number of medical technology and biotechnology companies. Medtronic is also interested in orthopedic products sports health products and telehealth/connected medical devices (particularly consumer apps for health management). Medtronic also makes grants to non-profit organizations. Instructions on applying for investment or grants can be found at Innovate With Medtronic: http://www.medtronic.com/innovation/innovate-with-medtronic.html

JT Pharma, the Pharmaceutical Division of Japan Tobacco (Akros Pharma, US; Torii, Japan) has broad therapeutic interests with a focus on cutting edge, innovative science and orally active small molecule therapeutics in diabetes, lipid regulation, osteoporosis (small molecule anabolic agents), HIV, HBV, fibrosis, pain, autoimmune diseases, inflammation (RA and OA), urological diseases, allergy, and new drug discovery and development tools. Torii, the marketing division of JT Pharma Division, is interested in late stage, i.e. late Ph3, close to registration drugs for the Japanese market. Torii’s areas of interest are: renal diseases including CKD and complications from hemodialysis, dermatology, atopic dermatitis (preferably given orally), psoriasis, allergy, i.e. antigen-specific immunotherapy, asthma, and rhinitis. JT Pharma and Torii are looking for commercializable technologies or products for collaborative R&D deals or in- licensing deals. 
JT Pharma seeks partnering opportunities, i.e., research and/or development collaborations, contract research and licensing arrangements, to enhance its own internal R&D efforts. Also, Japan Tobacco’s marketing division, Torii Pharmaceuticals, seeks late-stage clinical opportunities for the Japanese Market.
JT Pharma has an interest in early-stage, novel small molecule therapeutics focusing on diabetes,lipid regulation, HIV, HBV, autoimmune disease, inflammation (RA, OA, asthma, allergy), fibrosis, osteoporosis, overactive bladder, and pain (non-CNS) as well as new drug discovery and development tools. Compounds must have composition of matter patents.

Torii Pharmaceuticals is seeking drugs in clinical trials for licensing and marketing in Japan with a focus on dermatology (eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, onychomycosis, ), allergy, and kidney diseases.

JT Pharma is dedicated to the discovery, development, and sales of novel human therapeutics. In addition to the North American facilities mentioned above, most of JT Pharma’s new drug discovery and development work is performed within its Central Pharmaceutical Research Institute, located in Osaka. They also have a molecular biology research laboratory in Yokohama and a toxicology research facility in Hadano, Japan.