Joan M. Robbins

Mast Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company, which engages in developing novel therapies for serious or life-threatening diseases with significant unmet needs. It leveraging Molecular Adhesion and Sealant Technology, platform, derived from over two decades of clinical, nonclinical, and manufacturing experience with purified and non-purified poloxamers to develop vepoloxamer, which also known as MST-188. The company was founded by Warren C. Lau in December 1995 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

iTherX is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for Hepatitis C. This is a disease that affects almost 3% of the world's population, and is the major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure and primary liver cancer. Currently there is only a single mode of therapy and less than 5% of patients can be successfully treated. The company continues to carry out focused research in their areas of expertise to provide sustainability of product pipelines. In an era of managed care and increased regulatory scrutiny, it is easy to yield to the temptation of producing 'me too drugs'. However, they think that innovation in the development of pharmaceutical products is important because it is the only way to improve the outcomes for patients. As such, they also think that innovation can ensure the financial returns that investors in health care deserve for the risks that they take. Their innovative approach is evident in their pipeline of Hepatitis C drug candidates. As new and better treatments are being sought, most companies involved in this effort are targeting the enzymes responsible for viral replication: polymerases and proteases. While these are important targets, there is a great deal of duplication of effort in these initiatives. At iTherX, they are pioneering the development of a novel class of HCV antivirals by targeting the steps involved in the entry of the hepatitis C virus into liver cells. Their Host Cell Receptor Target Program engenders small molecule compounds that target a liver cell membrane protein, SR-B1, which recognize and dock the virus. Their lead compound, ITX5061, has extensive safety data in over 250 patients, and shows picomolar potency in inhibiting HCV infection in vitro. They plan to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial in HCV patients in Q2 of 2009. They have also used medicinal chemistry to develop back-up compounds for this program, and a clinical candidate has been selected for development. Another innovative program is novel cell receptor, which develops antagonists (including biologics) against a novel liver cell membrane protein required for infectivity of the virus.

Chiron Corp. provides nucleic acid test for blood screening. Its products include tigris system, target capture system, reagent preparation incubator, and many more. The company was founded in 1981 by William J. Rutter, Edward E. Penhoet & Pablo Valenzuela and is headquartered in Emeryville, CA.

Tocagen, Inc. is a clinical-stage, cancer-selective gene therapy company, which engages in the development of product candidates designed to activate a patient's immune system against their own cancer. It is in the business of discovery, development, and commercialization of products for the treatment of cancer. The company was founded by Thomas E. Darcy, Harry E. Gruber, Douglas J. Jolly, and Dennis N. Berman in August 2007 and is headquartered San Diego, CA.