Kathleen Glaub

Cell Genesys is a development-stage biotechnology firm focuses on gene-modification technologies to treat cancer. The company's lead product technology is its GVAX vaccine platform. Cell Genesys is working on GVAX vaccines for lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, as well as for leukemia and multiple myeloma, another blood cancer. Its oncolytic viral therapy platform uses specially engineered adenoviruses (such as the common cold) to kill cancer cells; the firm's lead candidate from this platform targets prostate cancer.

Genentech, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for life-threatening medical conditions. It studies various areas including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, ophthalmic diseases, microbial pathogenesis, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and opportunistic areas. The company was founded by Herb W. Boyer and Robert A. Swanson in 1976 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, CA.

Plexxikon, Inc. provides clinical and medical drug discovery and development services. The company was founded by Joseph P. Schlessinger, Thomas Richard Kassberg, Sung-hou Kim and K. Peter Hirth in 2001 and is headquartered in Berkeley, CA.

Afferent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops selective drugs for the treatment of debilitating neurogenic disorders. It offers programs for respiratory, cardiovascular, chronic pain, biology, and clinical trials. The firm offers drugs for osteoarthritis pain, treatment-refractory chronic cough, and interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome. The company was founded by Anthony P. Ford in December 2009 and is headquartered in San Mateo, CA.

IO Biotech ApS operates as a clinical stage biotech company. It develops immunotherapy for cancer by targeting a mechanism used by tumour cells to evade immune responses. The company was founded by Mai-Britt Zocca, Mads Hald Andersen, Inge Marie Svane, Anders Ljungqvist and Per Thor Straten and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.