7th Annual Medical Investments Northwest Conference to be Held In
Seattle Aug. 11-12
Meeting Features Presentations by 22 Biotech and Medical Tech Companies, Keynote Address by
Robert Day, and CEO Panel Discussion
SEATTLE, June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 20 biotechnology and medical technology companies from the Northwest
region will participate in Medical Investments Northwest (MINW), an annual conference for institutional investors. The event
will be held at the Madison Renaissance Hotel in Seattle from Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 11 through Wednesday, Aug. 12.
In its seventh consecutive year, the invitation-only conference is intended to inform analysts and institutional investors about the
unique investment opportunities available within the medical community in the northwest. This year, the meeting follows
Immunex's analyst briefing, which concludes Tuesday morning.
The MINW conference will open with a CEO panel discussion on ''Challenges and Opportunities of Product Development in
the Biomedical Industry.'' The panelists include Edward Fritzky, Immunex; George Rathmann, ICOS; Dennis Fill, ATL
Ultrasound; and Stewart Parker, Targeted Genetics.
The meeting also will feature a keynote address by Robert W. Day, M.D., former Director, President and CEO of the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Dr. Day will discuss ''Early Stage Cancer Screening and Its Impact on Mortality.'' Dr.
Day served as President and CEO as well as Director of the Hutchinson Center from 1981 until his retirement in June 1997.
He remains at the Hutchinson Center as President and Director Emeritus and as a member of its Division of Public Health
Sciences.
The companies hosting the conference include:
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Toronto: ANP - news) is a Canadian pharmaceutical company engaged in the business of
developing and commercializing new treatments for chronic inflammatory and angiogenesis-dependent diseases including
rheumatoid arthritis, restenosis, cancer, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.
AnorMED, Inc. of Langley, BC, is a leader in the discovery and early stage development of metal-based therapeutics,
specializing in the pharmaceutical applications of metal and metal binding compounds for the treatment of a variety of diseases.
The Company's business strategy also includes establishing corporate partnerships for late stage clinical trials, manufacturing
and marketing.
ATL Ultrasound, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATLI - news) is the worldwide leader in all-digital, diagnostic medical ultrasound. With
headquarters in Bothell, Washington, ATL has annual revenues of $431.2 million and serves customers in more than 100
countries.
Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTII - news) focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule
drugs that selectively regulate the metabolism of oxidized lipids and phospholipids relevant to the treatment of cancer and
inflammatory and immune diseases.
Corixa Corp. (Nasdaq: CRXA - news) is focused on the discovery and early clinical development of proprietary vaccine
products that induce specific and potent T cell responses for the treatment and prevention of cancer and other infectious
diseases.
Epitope, Inc. (Nasdaq: EPTO - news) an Oregon corporation, develops and markets medical diagnostic products. Epitope has
the only FDA approved oral diagnostic testing system available and manufactures the OraSure(TM) oral specimen collection
device.
ICOS Corp. (Nasdaq: ICOS - news) located in Bothell, Washington, is discovering and developing new pharmaceuticals by
seeking points of intervention in the inflammatory process that may lead to specific and efficacious drugs. ICOS is evaluating
four product candidates in Phase 1 and 2 trials in nine disease indications.
ID Biomedical Corp. (Nasdaq: IDBEF - news) is a North American biotechnology company emerging as a leader in two fields
of medicine: rapid gene-based disease detection and subunit vaccines. The company's gene detection technology is called
Cycling Probe(TM) Technology (CPT).
InControl, Inc. (Nasdaq: INCL - news) develops implantable devices for the diagnosis and long-term control of irregular
heartbeats (arrhythmias) and related conditions. The company's investigational METRIX(TM) System is the first implantable
atrial defibrillator.
LifeSpex, Inc. is a private medical technology company that designs and manufactures point-of-care diagnostic devices used
for the early detection of cervical, skin and oral cancers.
NeoRx Corp. (Nasdaq: NERX - news) of Seattle, Washington, develops therapeutic products to treat cancer and
cardiovascular diseases. Lead products in development include Avicidin(R) cancer therapy and the Biostent(R) product for the
prevention of restenosis after balloon angioplasty.
Ostex International, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTX - news) is engaged in the discovery and commercialization of products associated
with osteoporosis and other collagen-related diseases. Ostex has formed collaborative relationships with leading diagnostic and
pharmaceutical companies to aid in the commercialization of its lead product, Osteomark(R).
OXIS International, Inc. (Nasdaq: OXIS - news) based in Portland, Oregon, is a drug discovery and diagnostics company
focused on the development of novel therapeutic molecules and supportive technologies to treat diseases associated with
damage from free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), i.e., diseases of oxidative stress.
PathoGenesis Corp. (Nasdaq: PGNS - news) develops drugs for treating serious infectious diseases where there is a significant
need for improved therapy. The company markets an inhaled antibiotic in the U.S. and is developing drug candidates to treat
lung infections in cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and tuberculosis patients.
ProCyte Corp. (Nasdaq: PRCY - news) of Redmond, Washington, is a healthcare company which develops, manufactures
and markets products for wound care, skin health and hair care which incorporate its patented copper peptide technology.
QLT PhotoTherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: QLTIF - news) is a world leader in the development and commercialization of
proprietary pharmaceutical products for use in photodynamic therapy. QLT's innovative science has advanced photodynamic
therapy beyond applications in cancer towards potential breakthrough treatments in ophthalmology, autoimmune conditions and
cardiovascular disease.
Ribi ImmunoChem Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: RIBI - news), a biopharmaceutical company in Hamilton, Montana, is developing
immunomodulators for use in preventing and treating infectious disease and cancer. During 1998, regulatory milestones will be
reached for Melacine(R) melanoma vaccine and a genital herpes vaccine containing a Ribi adjuvant.
SonoSight, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONO - news) is a developer of handheld ultrasound devices for primary imaging applications at the
examining table, the bedside and in the field. Previously a division of ATL Ultrasound, SonoSight was spun off in April 1998.
Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNUS - news) in Bothell, Washington, is a leader in the research and development of
ultrasound contrast agents and drug delivery systems based on its proprietary liquid emulsion and fluorocarbon chemistry
technologies.
SpaceLabs Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLMD - news) in Redmond, Washington, is a leading developer and worldwide distributor
of information technologies for patient care, including vital signs monitors, diagnostic cardiology devices, clinical information
systems and information system integration technologies.
StressGen Biotechnologies Corp. (Toronto: SSB - news) in Victoria, BC, is dedicated to creating and commercializing
innovative immunotherapy products to treat cancer and prevent infectious disease. The Company's proprietary technology uses
particular proteins -- stress proteins -- to potently activate the immune system.
Targeted Genetics Corp. (Nasdaq: TGEN - news) is focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of
cutting-edge gene and cell therapy products. The company has assembled one of the broadest technology platforms in the gene
therapy field, comprising three diverse, yet complimentary, viral and non-viral based technologies for in vivo and ex vivo gene
delivery and a powerful approach to cell therapy.
''This year's Medical Investments Northwest conference has been broadened to include a significant number of medical
technology companies, as well as biotech firms,'' said Katharine A. Russell, president of Russell-Welsh, Inc. ''Investors will
have the opportunity to learn about the dynamic contributions of a range of companies in the northwest biomedical community.''
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