Four Israeli biotech companies are to attend BioFusion 2005, a conference to be held in Atlanta April 10-12 that seeks to facilitate trade between the Southeast and international bioscience communities. At the conference to be held at the Georgia World Conference Center, the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce here, the Atlanta-based Shepherd Center and Marcus Foundation are to coordinate a workshop that will demonstrate the value of international partnering. The workshop is to review the collaboration between Cell Design LLC, a subsidiary of Smyrna-based Cell Dynamics LLC, and Proneuron Biotechnologies Ltd., based in Rehovat, Israel.
Proneuron Biotechnologies is developing therapies for neurological disorders, including spinal cord injuries, other central nervous system trauma and neuro-degenerative diseases. Cell Design has developed a human cell processing facility for Proneuron’s research. In 2004, the Marcus Foundation awarded the two companies a $3.2 million grant for clinical trials of treatments for spinal cord injuries and to establish the cell processing facility in Atlanta.
“The biotechnology community in Israel is one of the strongest in the world, particularly in the areas of tissue engineering, nerve regeneration and imaging,” Tom Glaser, president, American-Israel chamber, told GlobalAtlanta last week. “Israeli companies are also very strong in the development of medical devices for specific conditions, such as epilepsy and orthopedics.”
In addition to Proneuron Biotechnologies, the Israeli companies to attend are ProChon Biotechnologies Ltd., which produces orthobiologic products that repair cartilage and other skeletal disorders; Episafe Ltd., which develops devices for protection of the mouth including a product for epileptic patients and Vecta Ltd., a research and development company providing solutions for gastrointestinal disorders.
To learn more about BioFusion 2005 and to register, go to www.biofusionsouth.org To reach Mr. Glaser, call (404) 843-9426 or for more information about the chamber, call Mitch Leff at (404) 861-4769. Mr. Leff’s email is mitch@leffassociates.com