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Press Releases St. Louis drug discovery company takes second prize in Osaka Japan bio-tech competition| St. Louis drug discovery company takes second prize in Osaka Japan bio-tech competition | | Print | |
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Developing relationships with Japanese companies since 2003 with assistance from JETRO Chicago (St. Louis, September 6, 2006) – Apath LLC of St. Louis has been awarded the Second Prize of the Bio-Tech Business Plan Competition Osaka 2006. Mr. Edward Bayham, Vice President, Business Development, was informed of the honor on August 1, by the IBPC Osaka Investment Promotion Center, which, is subsidized by the Osaka City Government. The prize includes one free exhibition booth and the opportunity to make a 20-minute seminar presentation at BIO JAPAN 2006, taking place September 13-15, at the Osaka International Convention Center. Hotel accommodations are also provided, as well as the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with a number of Japanese pharmaceutical companies. BIO JAPAN 2006 offers the chance for companies to visit Japan and develop business and technical relationships with potential international partners. Apath, LLC (www.apath.com) is a drug discovery company focused on human viral diseases. Apath has developed a proprietary antiviral screening platform based on viral replicons for the discovery and development of novel therapeutic products for the treatment of RNA viral infections. These include hepatitis C virus, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and hemorrhagic fever viruses. Apath utilizes these tools for its own drug discovery programs and sublicenses them to other pharmaceutical companies. Apath is located at 893 North Warson Road in St. Louis. Apath has been working to develop relationships with Japan and Japanese companies since 2003, with assistance from the Japan External Trade Organization’s Chicago Office (JETRO Chicago). Takashi Tsuchiya, Chief Executive Director of JETRO Chicago commented, “We congratulate Apath on their selection. Based on our experiences working with the company, we expect them to have great success in their business development plans in Japan. It is clear through this award that the City of Osaka also sees their great potential.” Takayuki Toriyama, Director of the City of Osaka Chicago office added, “The City of Osaka believes that the field of biotechnology is one of the most promising businesses of the future. For American companies, Osaka is great place to run that kind of business, with a large accumulation of medicine manufacturing-related companies and research and development organizations. Apath won second prize from a group of 13 companies because of their potential. We hope Apath will be a dynamic presence in Osaka in the future. We salute their efforts.” The 2006 Bio-Tech Business Plan Competition was developed to attract both Japanese and international bio-tech companies to the City of Osaka. Applications were accepted from global biotechnology related companies, research institutions or universities, which have first-class technology or services, and which have a business plan for setting themselves up in Osaka. Competition entries were judged on technology levels, potential growth, and feasibility for doing business in Osaka. About JETRO Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO Chicago) Contact: ### |
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