Six SC Launch Companies Selected Among Top Life Science Companies in Southeast by SoutheastBIO Investor Forum (SEBIO)

CHARLESTON, SC – November 13, 2009 – SCRA, a global leader in applied research and commercialization services, announced today that six SC Launch Companies will be participating in the Early Stage and BIO/Plan competitions at the SEBIO Investor Forum in Charleston. SEBIO is scheduled for December 3 and 4, 2009, at the Charleston Place Hotel in Charleston, SC. The following SC Launch companies are among the Early Stage Companies selected by SEBIO to participate in the conference:

Immunologix, Inc.  is a human antibody discovery and development company specializing in transforming naïve B-cells to produce fully human antibodies in vitro that can target any and all antigens. 

“Because Immunologix was fortunate enough to be a part of the SEBIO Business Plan Competition last year, our strategic groundwork realized great strides,” said Dr. Ryan Fiorini, Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Immunologix. “Through that competition, we received invaluable mentoring and guidance. We’re happy to have been selected for this year’s SEBIO Forum, which will further springboard us into the biotechnology community.”

Ion Surgical Technologies, Inc. has created new methods and products for arthroscopic ACL and rotator cuff repair as well as an interactive e-commerce distribution system.

“We are fortunate and grateful to be a participant in the SEBIO Investor Forum.   This event provides a conduit to key members of the life science investment community,” said Brian Dross, President and Founder of Ion Surgical Technologies. “SEBIO is a great opportunity to demonstrate how our unique products will benefit the health care sector and how investment in Ion Surgical Technologies, Inc.  will produce positive results.” 

KIYATEC, LLC captures high value information that reduces the time and cost associated with life science research, drug discovery and personalized medicine by commercializing advanced three-dimensional cell culture plasticware and cell-based diagnostics.

“As KIYATEC moves ahead in applications development and proving our product’s value in strategic markets, the timing is perfect to engage a wider investor community,” said Dr. Matt Gevaert, KIYATEC CEO.  “We appreciate the benefit of having distinct viewpoints offered by the various serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and legal professionals selected to mentor our company in the early-stage competition at SEBIO.”

MicroVide develops and manufactures microdialysis and microfluidics applications for medical diagnostics and therapeutics that provide a continuous and real-time method to measure pathways and drug effects in patients. This approach provides a practical means for personalized medicine whereby patients can be administered a drug for maximal therapeutic benefit with minimal side-effects. 

The following SC Launch companies have been selected as finalists in the SEBIO BIO/Plan competition:

EpiEP has novel technology that allows physicians to safely access the pericardial cavity to treat cardiac conditions such as Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) and Atrial Fibrillation (AF).

“I am delighted that I have the opportunity to share the EpiEP, Inc. story in the SEBIO Plan competition this year,” said Pam Bunes, EpiEP CEO. “I have been a participant at SEBIO for the past two years and have realized tremendous value through interaction with venture capital investors, entrepreneurs, and service providers that attend the annual meeting,” she said. “I believe that this organization offers more benefits to the entrepreneurial community than any similar organization in the southeast. Bunes said she looks forward to competing in the BIO/Plan presentation along with interaction among the numerous professionals that offer support and expertise to the growing base of entrepreneurs in the Southeast.

Restorative Physiology Group LLC is actively engaged in the design and development of minimally invasive implantable devices for treating diseases of the human spine. The company’s proprietary Thermal Method™ technology makes it possible to implant surgical devices that are significantly larger than the access required to place them.

 SEBIO provides an important platform to demonstrate how medical discoveries made locally can result in technology development and new business opportunities that will potentially benefit millions of patients worldwide. said Dr. Francis Spinale, MicroVide Founder.

“We are pleased to be associated with the SC Launch companies who have been recognized by SEBIO this year,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. “Their entrepreneurial successes demonstrate the tangible results that come from supporting and facilitating knowledge-based businesses in South Carolina.”

SEBIO is the Southeast’s premier life sciences venture capital conference, connecting emerging life science companies with potential investors in a forum that provides meaningful networking opportunities. Attracting more than 400 attendees, including investors from the Southeast and around the world, SEBIO presenting companies have raised more than $2,500,000,000 since 1999.

About SC Launch
SC Launch, an SCRA affiliate, assists entrepreneurial start-up companies with up-front counseling, seed-funding, and access to a powerful resource network. The SC Launch mission is to help generate knowledge economy jobs in South Carolina, enhance the state’s quality of life and provide opportunity for all South Carolinians in the new economy.

About SCRA
SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with offices in South Carolina, Ohio and in the Washington, D.C. area. SCRA collaborates to advance technology, providing technology-based solutions with assured outcomes on behalf of industry, government, and research universities in SC, the US and globally.

SC Launch! is a trademark of SC Launch, Inc.   SCRA is a registered trademark of SCRA.