MetaVia Inc

AVI BioPharma is a biopharmaceutical company that develops drugs to treat life-threatening diseases using its patented third generation antisense technology. It has completed clinical trials with its NeuGene antisense drugs in more than 300 subjects, addressing cardiovascular restenosis, infectious diseases, cancer, polycystic kidney disease and drug metabolism. Its most advanced cardiovascular program is for restenosis, where it has completed Phase II trials, evaluating its drug, Resten-NG. AVI BioPharma is also in a Phase II clinical trial with a drug for Hepatitis C infection and its influenza A drug candidate has been confirmed to have efficacy against avian influenza H5N1 in preclinical studies. AVI BioPharma maintains a location in Portland, Ore.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals is engaged in the discovery and development of therapeutic products aimed at treating patients with an array of diseases, including hematologic and cardiovascular disorders, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Alexion's two primary product candidates, pexelizumab and eculizumab, are currently undergoing evaluation in several clinical development programs with the Federal Drug Administration. Alexion is engaged in discovering and developing a pipeline of additional antibody therapeutics targeting severe unmet medical needs, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alexion Antibody Technologies. During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005, eculizumab was in Phase III clinical development for treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria , a chronic hematologic disease, and pexelizumab was in clinical development for two acute cardiac indications. Alexion is also pursuing additional potential indications for eculizumab and has other product candidates in earlier stages of development. Alexion Pharmaceuticals is based in Cheshire, Conn.

Fresenius Medical Care North America is part of Fresenius Medical Care, one of the world's largest, integrated providers of products and services for individuals with chronic kidney failure, a condition that affects more than 1.5 million individuals worldwide. Through its network of over 2,220 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, Fresenius Medical Care provides dialysis treatment to 172,227 patients around the globe. Fresenius Medical Care is also the world's largest provider of dialysis products, such as hemodialysis machines, dialyzers and related disposable products. Fresenius Medical Care can trace its roots back to 1462, when The Fresenius family assumed ownership of Hirsch Pharmacy in Frankfurt, Germany. Approximately two-thirds of the company's research and development activities are based in Germany and one-third in North America. The company holds rights to more than 1,100 patents and patent applications relating to dialysis technology in major markets and own trademarks throughout the world.