Misgav Newsletter Q3 2008
CONFIDENCE FOR THE LONG TERM
We enter the New Year in a time of economic uncertainty as the markets continue to roil in response to the financial crisis in the United States. Yet, despite the short-term uncertainty, we can be confident that there will continue to be a strong demand for improved medical treatments for many years to come. And if those treatments also save money, then there is no doubt that demand will continue to grow, irrespective of the bumps in the financial markets along the way.
Our objective at the Misgav Venture Accelerator is to develop products that will improve people's lives and health, while doing so cost-effectively. By achieving these two goals, we believe we will inevitably create value for our shareholders and for the shareholders of our portfolio companies.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, an investor, a healthcare practitioner, or just someone interested in the best young medical technology companies coming out of Israel, we invite you to join us on our mission.
And we wish you much health, success, and peace for the coming year.
Steve Rhodes, CEO
Misgav Venture Accelerator
COMPANY NEWS
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST PORTFOLIO COMPANY: REALVIEW MEDICAL
Realview Medical is developing a device for monitoring bladder cancer. Haim Akerman, a former VP at Given Imaging, serves as Realview's CEO. One of the three founders, Uri Neeman, brings extensive project management experience from the information and communication industry. Gershon Goldenberg, also a founder, has experience in pharmaceuticals, medicine, and product development. The Company's medical advisor and third founder is Dr. Amos Neheman, a urologist at Carmel Hospital in Haifa.
CANCER DRUG DEVELOPER BIOSIGHT RAISES $3.5 MILLION
BioSight has obtained $3.5 million from two Israeli scientists that will be used for ongoing research and to meet milestones on a focused drug to treat cancer. BioSight has raised $7 million since it was founded in 1999. Learn more about BioSight.
IMMUNOVATIVE BEGINS CLINICAL TRIALS ON ITS CANCER DRUG
Immunovative Therapies began clinical trials on its immune cell therapy product, Allostim™, at the National Cancer Institute in Bangkok, Thailand. The Phase I/II trials, which began in early September, are being conducted under the direction of Dr. Wirote Lausoontornsiri, Head of the Clinical Trial Division of the National Cancer Institute of Thailand. Results are being closely watched and monitored.
In other news from Immunovative ... At the end of September, the Company received a U.S. patent on its unique allogeneic cell therapy. Learn more about Immunovative.
VACCINE DEVELOPER VACCIGUARD SIGNS JOINT PROJECT AGREEMENT
VacciGuard has signed an agreement with a unit of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. The agreement focuses on a joint project based on VacciGuard's vaccine platform.
In other news from VacciGuard ... The Company has been selected as one of five companies representing Israel's life science sector at the upcoming Prime Minister's Conference (November 12-13). Company CEO Anat Eitan and inventor Professor Irun Cohen will represent the company. Learn more about VacciGuard.
FLEXICATH EXHIBITS IN THE UNITED STATES
Flexicath was among the exhibitors at the 22nd annual AVA (Association for Vascular Access) conference held in Savannah, Georgia, September 11-14. The AVA is a multidisciplinary organization for those involved in the medical field of vascular access.
In other news from Flexicath ... The Company is negotiating with specialty distributors in the United States and elsewhere regarding the launch of its advanced FDA-cleared catheter system. Learn more about Flexicath.
VIRTUAL PORTS AND ENZYSURGE TO LAUNCH U.S. OPERATIONS
Virtual Ports and EnzySurge are among eight Israeli companies that have agreed to launch United States operations from the Virginia Biotech Research Park in Richmond.
Virtual Ports recently completed a $575,000 funding round and performed highly successful first-in-man clinical trials. The Company expects to launch its first products into the market in mid-2009. Learn more about Virtual Ports and EnzySurge.
NEW DIRECTORS JOIN 4 MISGAV COMPANIES
Strong governance is a critical component of building successful companies. In keeping with this philosophy, four Misgav companies have named new outside directors.
- Headway: Isaac Rodan, former CEO of Card Guard Europe
- HTL: Bertold Fridlender, Ph.D., former CEO of Phytomedics
- JetGuide: Eitan Friedman, a 30-year veteran of the medical device industry
- NeuroQuest: Muriel Zohar, Ph.D., formerly the VP of business development at Ofer Hi-Tech VC fund
3 MISGAV COMPANIES FEATURED IN ISRAEL 21c
PRO-IV MEDICAL SENDS ITS FIRST QUARTERLY UPDATE
In July, Pro-IV Medical sent its first quarterly update to shareholders and others. The two-page update featured information about the company's device prototypes, IP status, strategic partner progress, and a recap of CEO Pierre Sharvit's TV appearance. Pro-IV has developed a system to prevent errors in infusing, transfusing, and administering IV medications. Learn more about Pro-IV Medical.
EVENTS
3 MISGAV COMPANIES PARTICIPATE IN MARKETREACH AMERICA -- INVESTMENTS ON THE WAY
Headway, NeuroQuest and Pro-IV Medical were among the 12 participating companies at MarketReach America Life Sciences & Medical Devices 2008.
The conference, held in Baltimore on September 10 and 11, is a venue for Israeli companies to accelerate their market activities in the United States. (MarketReach America is a partnership of the Maryland Israel Development Center and The Trendlines Group.)
CEO Tamir Levital represented Headway. Esti Adan, VP business development, presented NeuroQuest. Pro-IV was represented by CEO Pierre Sharvit.
Congratulations to Headway and Pro-IV, both of which received investment commitments at the conference. Steve Rhodes, Misgav CEO, was also on hand at the conference.
MarketReach America Life Sciences and Medical Devices 2008 was the sixth MarketReach America conference. Other Misgav companies that have participated in MarketReach America since 2004 include ETView, Flexicath, Immunovative, Lavi Cardiatec, PerAssist, Share Manage, and Tagra.
MISGAV APPEARS ON GLOBES TV
The Misgav Venture Accelerator will be among the features on Globes TV. These short videos highlight technologies making news in Israel and are available online for approximately three months. They currently appear in Hebrew only.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW FATHER, LIOR YANKELSON
Congratulations to Lior Yankelson, Misgav's VP business development, and his wife Ron, on the birth of their first child, a girl, born September 27.
MISGAV SIGNS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH KATAN ASSOCIATES
Stan and Seth Yakatan, the co-founders of Katan Associates, spent a week visiting Misgav and 15 of its portfolio companies in mid-September. Katan Associates is a global strategic consulting firm and corporate finance advisory group focused on life sciences. Misgav has engaged Katan Associates to assist with strategic partnering opportunities in the United States, focused on successful commercialization of company technologies and products. Learn more about Katan Associates.
NEW POSTAL CODE FOR MISGAV
The Misgav Venture Accelerator has a new postal code: 20174. The address remains the same (Misgav Business Park, M.P. Misgav).
©2008 The Misgav Venture Accelerator. All rights reserved
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