WASHINGTON, April 11, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- FierceBiotech (www.fiercebiotech.com) today announced its "Fierce 15" list of the top biotech companies of 2006. This year's winners are young, cutting-edge businesses from across the globe whose innovative technologies are redefining the biotech industry. Some of these innovations include a new generation of peptide drugs, highly focused kinase inhibitors, and the first identification of the 3-dimensional crystal structure of a human cytochrome P450 enzyme.
FierceBiotech, an internationally recognized email newsletter for the biotech industry, evaluated numerous privately-held firms based on the quality of their research and management teams and their potential for exciting new partnerships, venture capital rounds and IPOs.
"This is our fourth annual Fierce 15, and each year, the field of biotech innovators raises the bar," said John Carroll of FierceBiotech. "These companies are driving the future of biotech in key areas such as new techniques for myeloid cell receptors, reversing arterial plaque accumulation and stamping out methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Not surprisingly, these young companies have caught the attention of investors and pharma giants alike, with recent licensing and investment deals ranging from $15 million to $520 million."
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 in today's issue of FierceBiotech and on the FierceBiotech Web site at http://www.fiercebiotech.com.
The 2006 Fierce 15 winners are:
1. Affymax (Palo Alto, CA) 2. Ambit Biosciences (San Diego) 3. ARCA Discovery (Denver, CO) 4. Astex Therapeutics (Cambridge, UK) 5. BioXell (Milan, Italy) 6. Bruin Pharmaceuticals (Los Angeles) 7. Cerexa (Alameda, CA) 8. Domantis (Waltham, MA, and Cambridge, UK) 9. KAI Pharmaceuticals (South San Francisco) 10. Microbia (Cambridge, MA) 11. Neuromed Pharmaceuticals (Conshohoken, PA) 12. Optimer Pharmaceuticals (San Diego) 13. PIramed Ltd. (Slough, UK) 14. Replidyne (Louisville, CO) 15. Trubion Pharmaceuticals (Seattle)
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