BioForward Announces Winners of 2011 Bioscience Vision Summit’s Emerging Company Showcase

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Six Wisconsin bioscience companies have been selected as the winners of BioForward’s 2011 Emerging Company Showcase. The showcase is part of the 2011 Bioscience Vision Summit, being held on Thursday, September 8^th, at the Madison Marriott West in Madison, Wis. and hosted by BioForward, the member-driven state association that is the voice of Wisconsin’s bioscience industry. The Emerging Company Showcase is sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Corporate Relations, WARF, and Exact Sciences.

“These six companies characterize the diversity and innovation of technology within Wisconsin’s bioscience industry”

Each of these Wisconsin-based early stage companies were chosen because they have transitioned successfully out of research and development, with good proof of concept for their products. Each was judged to have a unique value proposition. This year’s Emerging Company Showcase winners are:

• Cellulose Sciences International (CSI), Madison, WI
  CSI's Nanoporous Cellulose is a breakthrough for cellulose based industries. It provides enhanced properties and energy savings in the manufacture of absorbent paper products, and enables low cost production of cellulosic biofuels and bio-based chemicals.

• NCD Technologies, Madison, WI
  NCD develops Nano-Crystalline Diamond coatings for microtools which are 10-100 times smaller than the width of human hair. The thinner, higher adhesion coating facilitiates the advancement of medical devices and other industries by being able to manufacture smaller, more functional parts at lower costs.

• Northstar Medical Radioisotopes, Beloit, WI
  NorthStar provides innovative solutions for material shortages in the nuclear medicine market that have plagued the industry and research. NorthStar’s main focus is to produce Technetium-99m, which is used in over 50,000 diagnostic tests daily. FDA approval is expected by year end.

• PhylloTech, Madison, WI
  PhylloTech is an agricultural biotechnology company developing new techniques for the sustainable production of high-value proteins in plants. PhylloTech is also commercializing an environmentally-friendly bio-fungicide for lawn care and crop protection.

• Restore Health, Madison, WI
  RestoreHealth^® is a vertically integrated personalized medicine company with RestoreDirect, a web-based platform, as its centerpiece. The platform provides easy, intuitive access to lab results, patient data, and e-prescribe tools.

• VACCIgen, Madison, WI
  VACCIgen is developing a vaccine for treating post-surgical prostate cancer patients. The vaccine is designed to boost the immune response delaying time-of-appearance of secondary cancerous growths. It is presently in Phase II clinical trials.

In addition to complimentary registration for the summit, the winners receive high-visibility exhibit space, recognition at one of the summit’s large plenary sessions and a complimentary year of membership in BioForward.

“These six companies characterize the diversity and innovation of technology within Wisconsin’s bioscience industry,” said Bryan Z. Renk, Executive Director of BioForward. “BioForward is committed to fostering growth in Wisconsin and these organizations represent key industries that will be at the center of future job creation.”

Registration for the Biotechnology Vision Summit 2011 is available online, with additional information at www.bioforward.org/2011bvs.php

About BioForward

BioForward^® is the member-driven state association that is the voice of Wisconsin’s bioscience industry. We advocate actively on our members’ behalf to create investment and partnership opportunities, attract and retain the very best people, and support public policy that fosters their continued growth. We also provide member-support services that include networking opportunities through a variety of conferences and events, online resources and group purchasing programs. Our members include bioscience companies, universities, non-profits, service providers, and state, regional and local government representatives.