Tuesday, June 02, 2009

PA Keeps Fast Company

Finally getting caught up on accumulated reading, in this case the March - June issues of Fast Company. March and April were interesting but no notable PA mentions. However, there were some in May and June. With a few exceptions (held for future posts), here are things that caught my eye.

Local Companies

Radnor-based PolyMedix (www.polymedix.com, a publicly traded firm), is working on defense proteins "defensins." As part of the May 2009 article, "Raid!" by Elizabeth Svoboda, we learn:

In PolyMedix's Phase I safety trial of its anti-Staphylococcus aureus compound, concluded this past December, no subjects suffered severe side effects, even when they had concentrations of the drug in their blood sufficient to kill staph bacterias. A Phase II efficacy trail may begin by the end of 2009.


Hershey's hired House Party to have influentials hand out Bliss chocolates at parties. (see May 2008, "Three successful viral marketing campaigns")

In the June 2009 issue, Dr. Anthony Atala of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is highlighted as one of the 100 most creative people in business (Atala's entry by Chuck Salter). Note this passage:
Money is now pouring into the field. Tengion, a Philadelphia startup, has licensed Atala's technology (he is chairman of its scientific advisory board) and has already completed the first Phase II clinical trials for bladders, one step closer to FDA approval.


Tengion is located in East Norriton. It is privately held.

Fast Cities

Philadelphia's mortgage foreclosure protection program is highlighted as one of "12 ideas to build on" (Abha Bhattarai, May 2009)

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