WASHINGTON, June 29, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FierceBiotech (www.fiercebiotech.com) announced today its annual "Fierce 15" list of the top privately held biotech companies of 2009. FierceBiotech Editor-in-Chief, John Carroll, chose this year's winners based on quality of research and management teams, potential for exciting new partnerships, and venture capital rounds. This year's Fierce 15 have all proven themselves by pushing forward with ground-breaking technologies that are redefining the biotech industry amidst adverse market conditions. Some of the winning innovations include a potentially new generation of anti-bacterials, advancements in oncology treatments, and cutting-edge developments in the stem cell field.
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"The Fierce 15 award is renowned in the biotech industry for spotlighting the achievements of companies who step outside the box," said Carroll. "This year's winners help prove that if you have vision, good science, and solid management, the money is still there in this uncertain economy to execute growth strategies."
The "Fierce 15" celebrates the spirit of being "fierce" -- championing innovation and creativity, even in the face of intense competition. A profile of each of the "Fierce 15" companies is available on the FierceBiotech Web site at http://www.fiercebiotech.com.
The 2009 Fierce 15 winners are:
1. Achaogen 2. Agios 3. Aileron 4. BioVex 5. Calistoga 6. Clovis 7. Heptares 8. Ironwood 9. iZumi 10. KaloBios 11. Pacific Biosciences 12. Portola 13. Proteon 14. Vaxinnate 15. Zafgen
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