Mark C. Leavitt

Synageva BioPharma's ultimate goal is to improve patient lives by providing access to breakthrough novel, next generation (i.e. significantly improved), and certain follow on protein therapeutics. Synageva's proprietary platform technologies, including SEP™, provide a number of sustainable competitive advantages for developing and commercializing these therapeutics including: high expression levels, more efficient purification processes, significantly reduced costs of production, rapid scalability, and consistency of end product. Its platform has already demonstrated its ability to produce a wide array of human therapeutic proteins including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cytokines, and other biotherapeutics. It has multiple compounds in development, including 2 monoclonal antibodies with enhanced ADCC activity, novel therapeutic proteins, and several cytokines including one with unique efficacy advantages. The commercialization strategy for these product candidates is designed to maximize its ability to rapidly develop and bring them to market so that they can address patients' unmet medical needs. The key elements of the strategy are to: 1. Establish partnerships to co-develop and commercialize select product candidates in large specialty markets 2. Independently develop and commercialize select novel product candidates that target high value orphan specialty markets 3. Establish partnerships to express proteins from other companies wanting to leverage the unique glycosylation advantages and other characteristics of the SEP™.

Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC develops and distributes therapeutic products. It provides therapeutic products which are used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, central nervous system diseases and disorders, neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, immunological disorders, pharmaceutical preparations and other diseases. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

iTherX is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for Hepatitis C. This is a disease that affects almost 3% of the world's population, and is the major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure and primary liver cancer. Currently there is only a single mode of therapy and less than 5% of patients can be successfully treated. The company continues to carry out focused research in their areas of expertise to provide sustainability of product pipelines. In an era of managed care and increased regulatory scrutiny, it is easy to yield to the temptation of producing 'me too drugs'. However, they think that innovation in the development of pharmaceutical products is important because it is the only way to improve the outcomes for patients. As such, they also think that innovation can ensure the financial returns that investors in health care deserve for the risks that they take. Their innovative approach is evident in their pipeline of Hepatitis C drug candidates. As new and better treatments are being sought, most companies involved in this effort are targeting the enzymes responsible for viral replication: polymerases and proteases. While these are important targets, there is a great deal of duplication of effort in these initiatives. At iTherX, they are pioneering the development of a novel class of HCV antivirals by targeting the steps involved in the entry of the hepatitis C virus into liver cells. Their Host Cell Receptor Target Program engenders small molecule compounds that target a liver cell membrane protein, SR-B1, which recognize and dock the virus. Their lead compound, ITX5061, has extensive safety data in over 250 patients, and shows picomolar potency in inhibiting HCV infection in vitro. They plan to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial in HCV patients in Q2 of 2009. They have also used medicinal chemistry to develop back-up compounds for this program, and a clinical candidate has been selected for development. Another innovative program is novel cell receptor, which develops antagonists (including biologics) against a novel liver cell membrane protein required for infectivity of the virus.