Rodney Pearlman

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.

Nuon Therapeutics Inc. develops therapies to treat inflammation and neurological diseases. The company focuses on the development and commercialization of new therapies for autoimmune disease and inflammation includes rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Nuon Therapeutics was founded by Kim Puloma Kamdar, Marc Feldmann, Lawrence J. Steinman and Michael Selley in 2006 and is headquartered in San Mateo, CA.

Valentis lead drug candidate, Deltavasc, may treat peripheral arterial and ischemic heart disease with a gene that spurs new blood vessels to form (a process known as angiogenesis). In early stages of development are DNA vaccines for HIV, hepatitis C, and other viral infections. Another drug candidate, eNOS, could prevent tissue rejection in transplant recipients. The company licenses its technology -- include the GeneSwitch platform, which can turn off or on gene therapies -- to other drugmakers. These licensees include Genzyme, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Saegis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. developed drug therapeutics. Its phase II SGS742 clinical drug treated diseases such as mild cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Its second SGS742 clinical trial provided coronary artery bypass surgery. The company was founded in 1999 and was headquartered in Half Moon Bay, CA.