Merck was founded in 1668 as a pharmacy and is the oldest pharmaceutical business in the world. The Merck family owns about 70% of the company. Merck is leaving its mark on the global pharmaceutical market. Through a network of nearly 200 companies in over 60 countries, the Merck develops, makes, and sells pharmaceutical and chemical products for global consumption. Name-brand prescription drugs include treatments for cardiovascular disease, cancers, infertility, and neurological disorders; the company also makes over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Aside from drugs, the firm makes specialty chemicals, including laboratory reagents and cosmetic ingredients, as well as liquid crystals for televisions.

Cardiome Pharma Corp. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Cardiome Pharma Corp., a life sciences company, focuses on developing drugs to treat or prevent cardiovascular diseases. Its product Vernakalant (iv), which has completed Phase III (ACT 4) and in Phase III (European Comparator) trial is used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation; Vernakalant (oral) that has completed Phase IIa Pilot and Phase IIb study is used for atrial fibrillation; GED-aPC, an ongoing Phase I study product for multiple disease states; and Artesian Programs, which is in pre-clinical studies to attenuate the deleterious effects of the excessive neurohormonal activation that occurs in diseases of cardiac dysfunction.

Semafore Pharmaceuticals is signaling its arrival on the oncology drug making scene. The development-stage drug discovery company is targeting the PI3K cell signaling pathways to create anti-cancer drugs. Its PI3K Inhibitors induce the death of cancerous cells in the treatment of tumors and could potentially treat brain, lung, and hematological cancers. Once administered, its lead candidate SF1126 attacks proteins expressed in tumors, but ignores healthy cells. Semafore has brought on a consulting firm to help shepherd SF1126 through its next stage of development.

SEQUENOM, Inc. company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California with additional offices in Queensland, Australia; Beijing, China; and Newton, Massachusetts. Sequenom, Inc. provides products, services, diagnostic testing, applications, and genetic analysis products that translate genomic science into solutions for biomedical research, translational research, molecular medicine, and agricultural and livestock applications. It offers MassARRAY system, a high performance nucleic acid analysis platform that measures genetic target material and variations. The company offers its MassARRAY system for various DNA/RNA analysis applications, including single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), genotyping detection of mutations, analysis of copy number variants, and other structural genome variations, as well as quantitative gene expression analysis, quantitative methylation marker analysis, comparative sequence analysis of haploid organisms, SNP discovery, and oligonucleotide quality control. Sequenom also provides the iPLEX multiplexing assay reagents and chips, which permits multiplexed SNP analysis using a similar amount of reagents and chip surface area. In addition, the company engages in the research, development, and the commercialization of various non-invasive molecular diagnostic tests for prenatal genetic disorders and diseases, oncology, and infectious diseases. It offers its products through direct sales and support personnel to clinical research laboratories, bio-agriculture, bio-technology and pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and government agencies worldwide. Sequenom has a collaboration agreement with the Immune Tolerance Institute to develop an advanced newborn screening test for severe combined immunodeficiency.

Response Genetics Inc. company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Response Genetics, Inc., a life sciences company, engages in the research, development, marketing, and sale of clinical diagnostics and pharmacogenomic tests for use in the treatment of cancer in the United States, Europe, and Japan. It offers ResponseDX: Lung test suite, which comprises KRAS Mutation and EGFR Amplification tests. The KRAS Mutation test identifies tumors that have low probability of response to EGFR-directed therapy. The EGFR Amplification test assesses the probability of benefit from EGFR-directed therapy. The company also offers ResponseDX: Colon test suite that includes ERCC1, KRAS Mutation, and TS tests. The ERCC1 test is a test for the probability of response to platin-based therapies and the analysis of RRM1 tests for the probability of response to gemcitabine-based therapies. The TS test measures the probability of response to 5-fluorouracil -based chemotherapy. In addition, Response Genetics, Inc. is developing tests of other types of cancer that identify genetic profiles of tumors that recur after surgery. The company has collaboration agreements with Shanghai BioChip Company, Ltd. to provide pharmacogenomic testing services in China using the company's RGI-1 extraction technology; and Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. to use its techniques to extract genetic information from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. It offers its services in the areas of oncology for oncologists, hospitals, and physician offices through the sales force.

Coating Place, Inc. is a privately owned contract manufacturing organization specializing in pharmaceutical grade Wurster fluid bed coating services for encapsulation/microencapsulation of solid particulate materials such as powders, granules, crystals, and capsules. Services offered include pharmaceutical GMP contract manufacturing, process validation, technology transfer, scale-up, formulation development, feasibility studies, and GMP analytical laboratory support.Applications include controlled oral delivery such as enteric, delayed, or sustained release, taste, odor masking, and moisture or oxygen barrier application for Rx prescription, OTC, and controlled substance markets. Facilities are permitted for solvent applications; thus, allowing solvent, aqueous, and hot melt Wurster processing.

K-V Pharmaceutical Company (KV) is a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, acquires and markets branded and generic/non-branded prescription pharmaceutical products. The Company has a range of dosage form capabilities, including tablets, capsules, creams, liquids and ointments. KV conducts its branded pharmaceutical operations through Ther-Rx Corporation (Ther-Rx) and its generic/non-branded pharmaceutical operations through ETHEX Corporation (ETHEX). Through Particle Dynamics, Inc. (PDI), the Company also develops, manufactures and markets value-added raw material products for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, personal care, food and other markets. The Company has developed a variety of drug delivery and formulation technologies, which are primarily focused in four principal areas: SITE RELEASE; tastemasking; oral controlled release, and oral quick dissolving tablets.

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited is a Japan-based holding company mainly engaged in the manufacturing and sale of pharmaceuticals. The Company has two business segments. The Pharmaceuticals segment is involved in the research, development, manufacturing and sale of pharmaceuticals, as well as the provision of intermediates and basic materials for pharmaceutical making. The Others segment is involved in the real estate leasing, the insurance agency business, as well as the provision of human affairs and accounting services.

NicOx S.A. company researches nitric oxide-donating drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic ailments, inflammation, and pain. NicOx is researching the combination of nitric oxide with various compounds to treat a variety of diseases, including osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis (vascular inflammation), hypertension, ophthalmic conditions, and respiratory diseases. Its drug development efforts are partially conducted through co-development and licensing agreements with larger drug companies.

Xceed Molecular is working to exceed the expectations of researchers performing gene expression tests. The company's flow-thru chip technology allows biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to conduct genetic screening research. Its Ziplex system is used for automated gene expression analysis. Other products include assay reagent kits, sample preparation reagents, and its TipChip disposable microarrays. The company also produces chips to detect specific diseases and is working to speed up the time needed to process samples. Xceed Molecular, which was established in 2001, has facilities in Canada and the US.

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