Ribozyme CEO To Explain Company's Prospects At Healthcare/Biotech Forum Oct. 23 in Philadephia
PHILADELPHIA--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 11, 1999--Can a Nobel Prize-winning technology develop into a prized commercial success as well?
That's the mission at Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:RZYM), one of presenting companies at Informed Investors' Philadelphia Healthcare/Biotechnology Stocks Forum on Saturday morning Oct. 23. CEO Ralph Christopherson will offer investors insight normally only available at analysts' meetings closed to individual investors.
The Forum runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Center City. Cost is $25 prepaid. Register at www.informedinvestors.com or call 800/992-4683.
Ribozyme was founded to commercialize products and services based upon the significant potential of "ribozymes," a discovery of Professor Thomas Cech of the University of Colorado, Boulder, for which he shared a Nobel Prize. Ribozymes are naturally occurring pieces of RNA that act as enzymes and perform numerous functions. Using the techniques of modern molecular biology, ribozymes can be designed as human therapeutics to recognize, bind and digest any disease-causing mRNA sequence.
Ribozyme's business focus is to use this technology to develop a new class of drugs to treat or prevent human disease. Ribozyme is in various stages of clinical trials and preclinical development for two lead product candidates, Angiozyme for the treatment of solid tumor cancers and Heptazyme for the treatment of Hepatitis C.
Collaborators include Chiron (CHIR) for Angiozyme and Eli Lilly (ELI) for Heptazyme. Ribozyme also has gene function identification and target validation agreements with Schering AG, Roche Bioscience and GlaxoWellcome. Ribozyme recently Phase Ib clinical trials in cancer patients for Ang iozyme and expects to commence Phase II trials before the end of 1999. Also, the company expects to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Heptazyme later in 1999 and commence clinical trials in 2000.
In addition to Ribozyme, the other presenting companies are: Integra LifeSciences (IART); AVAX Technologies (AVXT); Corvas International (CVAS) and Lifemark (LMRK) of Phoenix. Other presenting companies are pending.
The Forum's keynote speaker is Alex Zisson, Managing Director and Senior Analyst/Pharmaceuticals at Hambrecht & Quist, who will overview the sector. He covers the larger pharmaceuticals companies and has a special emphasis on the smaller, emerging drug companies and drug delivery.
Since 1993, Sacramento-based Informed Investors has featured hundreds of quality companies and scores of industry experts at its Forums.
CONTACT:
Informed Investors Inc.
Steve Chanecka/Tim Quast, 916/448-8222 or 800/992-4683 |
