Bioo Scientific Awarded SBIR Grant for Development of Targeted RNAi In Vivo Delivery Technology

Bioo Scientific, an Austin, TX based biotechnology company, announced today that it has been awarded a $500,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation for the development of a targeted in vivo RNA Interference (RNAi) delivery technology. RNAi is an invaluable technique to characterize gene function and is being evaluated for the treatment of numerous human diseases. According to Lance Ford, Bioo Scientific’s VP of Research and Business Development, “While technologies are widely available for RNAi agent delivery into cells grown on plastic dishes in specially designed incubators, to fully understand gene functions and cellular pathways, in vitro results must be validated in animals. Currently, there are no commercial technologies for the targeted, in vivo delivery of RNAi agents and Bioo Scientific intends to fill this gap”. This grant will enable Bioo Scientific to develop kits and reagents based on the patent-pending Targeted Transport Technology (T3).

T3 involves conjugating an RNAi agent carrier to a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to produce a conjugate, which is then loaded with an RNAi agent such as siRNA and miRNA molecules. The RNAi agent loaded conjugate is administered to an animal where it binds to and is internalized by cells recognized by the mAb. The RNAi agent is then released to reduce the expression of its intended target. T3 will propel the validation of animal experimentation, leading to a better understanding of cellular pathways, the identification of novel drug targets, and the ability to more efficiently deliver RNAi agents as drugs.

Top 10 Trends in Life Science Marketing Webinar

Please join us for this free, 45-minute webinar and learn about the top 10 trends that are changing the face of life science marketing. Constrained budgets, technological advancements, and changes in customers’ expectations are a few of the drivers of these trends. This session will provide a summary of these key trends and discuss how to use them to connect with life scientists.

What you will learn:

• How to effectively deploy webinars for increased brand awareness and pipeline fortification


• Three simple suggestions for gaining immediate benefit from social marketing


• The rise and importance of virtual trade shows


• Online advertising options that generate optimal results


• Leveraging mobile technology for life science marketing

The webinar will be held on May 28th at 12:00 Eastern Time

Register now

Bioo Scientific Receives Grant for the Development of Novel Anti-Viral Therapeutics

When a virus uncoats its genome after it infects a cell, the cell theoretically has a golden opportunity to attack the unprotected genome before it starts the process of making viral-specific products that cause problems in the cell. Researchers at Colorado State University have recently discovered a mechanism by which several viruses specifically suppress aspects of the cell in order to stabilize their nucleic acids to promote an efficient infection. This finding has revealed a prospective 'Achilles' heel' for viruses that has significant therapeutic potential. In a partnership with Colorado State and the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Diseases, Bioo Scientific recently received a $1.25 million, 5 year grant award to develop novel methodologies and compounds that will specifically overcome this viral suppression mechanism and allow cells to effectively attack viral nucleic acids.

“We are pleased to be able to contribute our expertise in drug discovery and development to this project” said Dr. Lance Ford, Bioo’s VP for Research and Development. “We are also very much looking forward to working with the cadre of biodefense-oriented microbiologists in the Rocky Mountain region. One aspect of the project that we find particularly exciting is that the treatments we will be developing could then be used to treat infections with multiple viruses of biodefense significance. Theoretically, the therapeutics could even be effective against rapidly evolving viruses like influenza.”

Venture capital boot camp and forum for women-led life science companies

Springboard Enterprises, a national non-profit organization, is currently taking applications from women-led life science companies for the AllThingsLifeSciences 2009 Venture Capital Forum. The companies selected to present at AllThingsLifeSciences 2009 will participate in Springboard Enterprises’ boot camp coaching program. These companies will also be paired with a dedicated team of life science experts and investors who will assist the entrepreneurs with refining the content and delivery of their investor presentation.

To apply or for more information visit Springboard Enterprises. Good luck!

PR Essentials — Getting Effective PR Coverage

1. Develop a professional website
   Make it easy for PR professionals to find your newsworthy information and to contact you.


2. Write and distribute press releases
   Regularly send out press releases of any newsworthy information through distribution channels and targeted media lists.


3. Establish yourself as an expert in your field
   Two of the best ways to do this are by speaking at conferences or writing articles for trade publications.


4. Develop relationships with the media
   Know which writers (including bloggers) cover your area and make sure they know you. Send them your press releases personally and let them know that you are available to answer their questions.


5. Incorporate social media into your PR campaigns
   In today's PR environment social networks, online expert sources and web-induced stories are changing the nature and speed of public relations; therefore, social network marketing should be incorporated into all of your PR campaigns.


6. Monitor what is being said about you
   Google Alerts, Blogdigger and Technorati are just a few of the free tools available for monitoring what people are saying about your company.

Happy Birthday Charles Darwin

Do you think that Charles Darwin ever imagined what type of effect his Theory of Evolution would have on the world? It was obvious even in his lifetime that Darwin's theory revolutionized the study of biology. But now, 200 years after his birth (and 150 years after he published On the Origin of Species), he is still making newspaper headlines. There are few scientists that can say that! Happy birthday Charles Darwin! I hope that you are still as popular 200 years from now (although hopefully not as controversial).

Here are some of the latest articles published in Science and Nature concerning evolution:

1. A new find pushes origins back 100 million years to an ice-encased Earth. http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/204/1


2. Human hunting alters organisms' size and breeding schedule three times faster than natural forces. http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/112/3


3. The idea that natural selection acts on groups, as well as individuals, is a source of unending debate. Marek Kohn reports on what the two sides disagree about — and why it matters to them. http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081119/full/456296a.html


4. While not new research, here are 15 wonderfully written examples published by Nature over the past decade or so which illustrate the breadth, depth and power of evolutionary thinking. http://www.nature.com/nature/newspdf/evolutiongems.pdf

Timing PR for Startups

Timing the release of your first PR campaign should be determined by your company’s goals. Typically launching a PR campaign before your product is ready to deliver is a bad idea. Customers can become disappointed and irritated if they try to purchase a product that is not available. This also tends to upset the employees who have direct contact with the disgruntled customers. Additionally, it will tip off the competition to your plans and give them time to prepare for your launch.

However, there are a few situations where an early PR campaign can benefit a startup.

• Some startups want to launch a PR campaign before their product is ready to sell in order to build buzz for a product launch. This should only be done if you can accurately predict when your product will be available and if your competition cannot quickly copy your product.


• Startups trying to obtain financing can benefit from using a PR campaign to catch the attention of venture capitalists, angel investors, or other investing partners.


• Startups in rapidly developing areas can use early PR campaigns to establish themselves as experts in their field.


• Startups with products that have long purchase cycles may want to contact potential customers as early as possible to stay competitive.