Targeted Genetics is putting the bull's-eye on disease. The drug developer is working in the promising (though as yet unproven) field of gene therapies, drugs that deliver particular DNA sequences into targeted cells to encourage (or sometimes inhibit) the production of proteins associated with disease. The company's drug candidates -- targeting conditions such as retinal dystrophies, lateral sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, heart failure, and Huntington's disease -- employ proprietary technology using bio-engineered viral cells (called vectors) to deliver the genes. The company is working on its own to develop therapies for certain candidates and with development partners on some other programs.

TECHNE Corporation was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. TECHNE Corporation, along with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the development, manufacture, and sale of biotechnology products and hematology calibrators and controls. The Company’s activities are conducted, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Research and Diagnostic Systems, Inc. (R&D Systems), and BiosPacific, Inc. (BioPacific). The Company distributes the biotechnology products in Europe, through its wholly owned United Kingdom-based subsidiary, R&D Systems Europe Ltd. (R&D Europe). The Company distributes biotechnology products in the People’s Republic of China, through its wholly owned subsidiary, R&D Systems China, Co. Ltd. (R&D China). The Company operates in three business segments: biotechnology, R&D Europe and hematology.

Tekmira Pharmaceuticals is giving diseases the silent treatment. The biopharmaceutical company is attempting to develop therapies that inhibit or "silence" certain disease-causing genes through ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi), a mechanism that disrupts the production of proteins that can lead to cancer, metabolic, and infectious diseases. Tekmira's lead candidates are being developed to treat tumors and high cholesterol. It also partners with other pharmaceutical companies, such as Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Roche, to advance additional RNAi products using Tekmira's stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) RNAi drug delivery technology.

Tengion, Inc., a regenerative medicine company, focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing a range of replacement organs and tissues, or neo-organs and neo-tissues to address unmet medical needs in urologic, renal, gastrointestinal and vascular diseases. It creates these functional neo-organs and neo-tissues using a patient’s own cells, or autologous cells, in conjunction with the company’s Organ Regeneration Platform. The company’s lead product candidate, the Neo-Urinary Conduit, is an autologous implant that catalyzes regeneration of native-like bladder tissue for bladder cancer patients requiring a urinary diversion following bladder removal, or cystectomy. Its product pipeline also includes various candidates in early stage development, such as Neo-Kidney Augment for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, or CKD. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in East Norriton, Pennsylvania.

Tercica, Inc. company was founded in 2002 and is based in Brisbane, California. As of October 16, 2008, Tercica Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Ipsen S.A. Tercica Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in the development and commercialization of therapeutics for the treatment of endocrine and metabolic diseases. Its products include Increlex, an rDNA origin injection for the long-term treatment of children with short stature due to severe primary IGFD; and Somatuline Depot, a lanreotide injection for the treatment of adults with acromegaly. Tercica Inc. has strategic partnerships with Genentech and Ipsen SA.

Thallion Pharmaceuticals develops products for the treatment of cancer and infections. Thallion has three leading products in various developmental stages. The Shigamabs drug candidate is targeted to treat Shigatoxin producing E. coli infections. The company's TLN-232 is being evaluated as a treatment of a number of cancer conditions. Its TLN-4601 is another oncology focused treatment. Thallion was considering the possible sale of the company until it received a nearly $9 million capital infusion through an arrangement with Premium Brands. Though Thallion's operations didn't change, and it's still owned by the same shareholders, the move did take the company public.

Founded in 1929, the not-for-profit organization is a leading researcher of human diseases, their causes, and their potential cures. Much of its research into mammalian genetics is focused on mice, which share a similar genetic makeup to humans. In addition to its own research in areas such as cancer, immunology, and metabolic disease, the organization maintains colonies of mice and supplies them under the brand name JAX to other laboratories around the globe. Additionally, The Jackson Laboratory offers educational programs -- including internships, workshops, and predoctoral programs -- for both current and future scientists.

The Micron Group delves deeply into the world of drug discovery. Composed of companies based in the UK, the US, and South Africa -- including Micron Research, the group's flagship unit -- the group provides consulting services for pharmaceuticals research, development, and delivery companies. With expertise in Phase I-IV drug discovery trials, clinical research, data delivery, medical education, and medical communications, the group's services range from clinical development and research to marketing, strategic planning, and report publishing. The Micron Group also offers its SILK software for managing pharmaceutical R&D and marketing processes. Clients include Bristol-Myers Squibb and the World Health Organization.

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (Sanger Institute) is a leading research center dedicated to analyzing and understanding genomics. Best known for its work on the Human Genome Project (the institute is responsible for sequencing one-third of the human genome), the Sanger Institute is applying genomics to the study of organisms that cause diseases such as malaria, typhoid, and tuberculosis. The institute was founded in 1993 by the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, and has been funded by a $430 million grant from the Wellcome Trust since 2001.

Theratechnologies is pepped up on peptides. The Canadian company develops peptide sequences to treat endocrine and metabolic conditions such as growth hormone deficiencies. Lead drug candidate tesamorelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide that Theratechnologies believes can combat a variety of problems, including HIV-related lipodystrophy (the metabolic syndrome characterized by changes in distribution of adipose tissue), muscle wasting associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep maintenance insomnia, and immune dysfunction in elderly patients.

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