CBSA's March FOCUS Newsletter Features Covidien's New R&D Innovation Center

FOCUS Newsletter Page 2 Company Spotlight: "Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, recently announced the opening of a 63,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Research & Development (R&D) Innovation Center in Boulder, CO.

In the last five years, Covidien has doubled R&D investments and introduced more than 100 new products. The Company’s goal is to continue to increase R&D spending to 5%-to-6% of sales, as it launches more than 50 products during the next two years. The opening of the Innovation Center in Boulder will be a catalyst for the expansion of R&D capabilities, spurring collaboration and creativity, while decreasing product time-to-market."

Other March FOCUS content includes:

From CBSA President Holli Riebel - Page 1
Medical Device Liability Protection - Page 3
Biotech Pharma Symposium - Page 4
Upcoming Events - Page 5

Link to the March FOCUS Newsletter pdf

New Report Released: 'Research in Your Backyard' - Developing Cures, Creating Jobs in Colorado

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) commends PhRMA and the We Work for Health initiative for drawing important attention to the 1,400+ clinical trials for chronic diseases currently being conducted in Colorado, of which more than 280 are actively recruiting patients suffering with chronic conditions such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental illness and stroke. The announcement is made by Holli Riebel, CBSA President & CEO, who today joined with colleagues from both the public and private sectors, including Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, at a State Capitol News Conference to applaud the release of PhRMA's new report: “Research in Your Backyard.”

In addition to providing new avenues of care for chronic disease sufferers, Riebel explains: “The biopharmaceutical industry in Colorado is a vital part of Colorado’s economy. This sector includes approximately 300 companies employing over 5,410 with average salaries of $93,000. Not only are these high paying high tech jobs but each are working on the innovative life saving medicines of the future.“

In Colorado, according to the report, "biopharmaceutical companies have the luxury of having trials conducted at the states’ well-respected university medical schools, comprehensive cancer centers and clinical trial research centers. According to U.S. News and World Report, University of Colorado-Denver School of Medicine ranked 38th among this year’s top 100 research-oriented medical schools in the United States."

“Research in Your Backyard” is a comprehensive look at pharmaceutical clinical trials in Colorado. Biopharmaceutical research companies are conducting or have conducted more than 3,000 clinical trials of new medicines in collaboration with the state’s clinical research centers, university medical schools and hospitals. Of the more than 3,000 clinical trials, 1,427 target or have targeted the nation’s six most debilitating chronic diseases – asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental illnesses and stroke.

For more information, link to the report:

http://www.cobioscience.com/resources/2012_Colorado_ResearchInYourBackyard.pdf

Governor Hickenlooper's remarks about Bioscience and Clinical Research in Colorado:

http://youtu.be/m7NUhWBskOA

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

MedCity News: 'Mayo Clinic Ventures’ chair leaving to bolster bioscience efforts in Colorado'

Quoting from the website dedicated to covering news from the country's elite medical cities:

"A Colorado redevelopment authority charged with developing a bioscience district near the University of Colorado campus in Aurora has appointed the head of Mayo Clinic Ventures as its new leader.

Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority announced that Steve VanNurden will become the group’s new president and CEO starting in late May. FRA was created in 1996 as a partnership between the University of Colorado and the city of Aurora. Now, FRA in partnership with the University, the city of Aurora and the Children’s hospital and other public entities have acquired land that is part of an ambitious effort to transform the area from an old army medical center into a thriving bioscience hub."

Link to the news posting

Rochester Post-Bulletin: 'Van Nurden departs Mayo'

Quoting from coverage today by Jeff Kiger:

"The head of a Mayo Clinic branch that commercializes its patents and inventions is moving on to a new position with the city of Aurora, Colo.

Steve Van Nurden, the chair of Mayo Clinic Ventures, has been hired as the president and chief executive officer of the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority in Aurora. That means he will be in charge of developing the 180-acre Colorado Science + Technology Park.

He will start his new job in May."

Link to the news item

Kiger also blogged about the news yesterday in the posting 'Mayo Clinic Ventures leader leaving for Colorado gig' - link to read

Twin Cities Business Journal: 'Mayo executive named CEO of Colorado life science group'

Quoting from yesterday's posting on the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal site:

"Mayo Clinic executive Steve VanNurden has been named CEO of the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, which supports life science companies in Colorado.

VanNurden is chairman of Mayo Clinic Ventures, which is responsible for patenting and commercializing Mayo’s discoveries, inventions and other intellectual property.

More than 45 startups based on technology from Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo have formed under VanNurden's leadership."

Link to the news item

DBJ: 'Mayo Clinic exec to lead Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority'

Quoting from Heather Draper's news posting yesterday:

"The Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA) has named Mayo Clinic executive Steve VanNurden as its new president and CEO, beginning in late May...

VanNurden will be working with universities, local economic development agencies, state and local governments, and the bioscience industry to promote the development of the 180-acre Colorado Science + Technology Park, adjacent to the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

The Colorado Science + Technology Park is the center of The Fitzsimons Life Science District, one of the nation’s largest bioscience developments. The FRA directs the commercial developments in the Fitzsimons Life Science District, along with its partner, Forest City Science + Technology Group."

Link to the Denver Business Journal

Breaking News: 'Colorado's Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority Names New President & CEO'

Posted online yesterday by Margaret Jackson and in this morning's print edition (page 7B: 'Mayo leader comes to Fitzsimons'). Quoting the coverage:

"Following a nationwide search, the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority has named Steve VanNurden as its new president and chief executive

VanNurden currently is chair of Mayo Clinic Ventures, the invention arm of the Mayo Clinic. The division is responsible for patenting and commercializing Mayo's discoveries, inventions and other intellectual property. More than 45 startups based on Mayo technology have formed under VanNurden's leadership...

The third phase is hiring new management to replace Denise Brown, who has been serving as acting executive director. VanNurden starts his new job in May."

Link to denverpost.com

Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority Names New President & CEO

Aurora, CO, March 14, 2012 - Following an extensive national search, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA) has named Steve VanNurden as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, beginning in late May. The announcement is made by John M. Shaw, Chair of the FRA Board of Directors, who said: "Steve, a seasoned leader in the life science/bioscience space, comes to us from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota."

The appointment of Mr. VanNurden is further evidence of the FRA's continued commitment to support the development of life science companies in Colorado in partnership with the State’s research institutions. He will be working with universities, local economic development agencies, state and local governments, and the bioscience industry to promote the successful development of the 180 acre Colorado Science + Technology Park, which is adjacent to the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

Steve Hogan, Mayor of the City of Aurora and FRA Board member stated, “Steve is the partner we need to fulfill the promise of the bioscience industry park. His working relationships span nationally and internationally, which will be a great advantage for us.”

Steve VanNurden is currently Chair of Mayo Clinic Ventures, the invention arm for Mayo Clinic. Under Mr. VanNurden’s direction, this division is responsible for patenting and commercializing Mayo’s discoveries, inventions and other intellectual property. Since 1986, Mayo Clinic Ventures has successfully commercialized over 2,000 technologies and has been granted more than 1,200 patents. Under the guidance of Mr. VanNurden, Mayo’s technology based ventures efforts have paid off, resulting in the formation of 45+ Mayo Clinic start-up companies.

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

Link to the PR Newswire Release

PharmExecBio: 'VC Funding Floods Colorado Biotechs'

Quoting from today's posting by Marylyn Donahue:

"Biotechs in Colorado, US, are enjoying a windfall of funding from Venture Capitalists who have to date invested $66.1 million in six of the state’s companies working in the fields of biofuel, medical devices and biopharma, according to a report released Feb 21 by OnBioVC, a Boulder-based tracker of investments in the life science industry.

The increase in money invested in the Colorado companies parallels a national trend. OnBioVC counted 305 companies received a total of $6 billion in 2011, up from 281 companies that collected $5.2 billion the previous year."

Link to PharmExecBio

Aurora Sentinel: 'Don Elliman taking the reigns of CU Denver & Aurora campuses with continued focus on expanding mission of Anschutz & Fitzsimons'

Quoting from the February 29 article:

"This month, Elliman, 67, took on the role of University of Colorado Denver’s interim chancellor for the university’s Aurora and Denver campuses, an administrative post that puts him in charge of two bustling academic centers. When it comes to the university’s medical campus in Aurora, the former chief operating officer for Gov. Bill Ritter sees a very specific route forward, a path tied closely to the looming changes in national health care...

As he steps into his new role, Elliman said he’s bringing all of this experience to bear. What’s more, he’ll have help at Anschutz from Vice-Chancellor Lilly Marks, a top dean for finance and administration at the university’s School of Medicine and the executive director of University Physicians Inc. who started in her current role in 2010...

'I intend to be involved at the Anschutz campus. It’s something that I care deeply about,' Elliman said. 'I don’t intend to be a stranger. Lilly and I are both on the FRA board, which I will continue to do.'"

Link to the Aurora Sentinel

Castle Pines Connection: 'Raining cats and more cats'

Quoting from the February 28th article:

"Are you an animal person? More specifically, are you a cat person? There are many lovable kitties who are sadly homeless, just waiting for a new family to come along and call them their own. Cat Care Society (CCS) in Lakewood is one such shelter, and it is where Castle Pines resident and devout cat lover Kyle Herbertson has been volunteering for the past ten years. She helps her feline friends find new homes.

One of many shelters and rescues in the Denver metro area, CCS is a shelter for homeless, injured and abused cats. CCS provides a temporary refuge for up to 45 adult cats until an appropriate and permanent home can be found. The cats are provided with veterinary care, good food, and plenty of loving human interaction. Potential adopters are carefully screened, and special effort is made to match the adopter with just the right feline for their family."

Link to the article

Group photo ID (L-R): Abbi Collins (staff), Judy Williams (volunteer), Kyle Herbertson (volunteer), Dave Genco (staff), Wesley Phillips (volunteer) and Dorothy Ruxton (staff). The kitty on the counter is Abigail.

Denver Post YourHub: 'Parker Girl Scout troop helps cat food bank' at Denver's Cat Care Society

Quoting from the Parker, CO, YourHub:

"A Parker Girl Scout Troop’s journey of discovering about animals led to the girls making toys and dropping off supplies for Cat Care Society’s Nibbles & Kibbles Cat Food Bank in [Lakewood].

The food bank serves food and cat litter to cats whose owners cannot provide food and litter because of a temporary financial setback. The 10 girls of Troop 624 made cat toys using socks and catnip and collected food and cat litter.

'We want the girls to understand that not all animals have it as nice as theirs do,' said Mary Tate, troop leader. 'There’s a lot of cats out there that don’t have that and the Cat Care Society really works with people who can’t afford to feed their animals.'"

Photo ID: "Caitlin Tate, in purple, and India Choudhury helped deliver cat supplies and food to Cat Care Society's Nibbles & Kibbles Cat Food Bank (courtesy Mary Tate)."

Link to the posting

Needed at Cat Care Society: laundry detergent (plus more cat and kitten food for our hungry little guys!)

Cat Care Society's Adoption Manager Abbi Collins thanks everyone who has been bringing in canned cat and kitten food. She says..."we still need more for our kitties if possible," plus, she adds, "We also need laundry detergent as well, for those coming by the shelter." Hours today (Friday) are noon to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.; and we're closed Monday (Tuesday through Friday hours are noon to 5:30). "Thank you for all your generous donations of much needs supplies at the shelter!"

Link to the Wish List page of the Cat Care Society website

Handsome Jabberwocky: Today's 9News Petline9 Guest Cat..Awaiting His Forever Home at Cat Care Society in Lakewood

Jabberwocky appeared on Petline9 this afternoon with Meteorologist Kathy Sabine and Cat Care Society's Director of Development Suellen Scott.

He is named for the Lewis Carroll book but definitely not a dragon, has long hair white, is very affectionate, loves to pad and purr, sit on your lap and be brushed.

A neutered 8-year-old male, Jabberwocky is current on all shots, micro chipped, and a very healthy 16 ½ pounds. He likes to be up high observing from above, it makes him feel safe.

He's waiting for his "forever" home at Cat Care Society in Lakewood. Check out more photos:


http://youtu.be/pa2pMFGfmjw

Link to the Cat Care Society website

CBSA's Riebel and Wittenberg Represent Colorado Med Device Industry in Washington, D.C.

Colorado BioScience Association President & CEO Holli Riebel and Dan Wittenberg, CBSA Public Policy Co-Chair, are in Washington, D.C., this week, representing Colorado's Medical Device Industry.

Background: "Delegations for med-tech and other life science sectors from 18 states are converging on the nation's capitol to conduct coordinated visits to their local representatives in Congress...

Among the issues expected to be hammered home to lawmakers is the potential damage of the 2.3% medical device tax, slated to begin in 2013. The pilgrimage is part of a coordinated effort by AdvaMed's State Medical Technology Alliance, which organizes annual fly-ins for state associations that represent the interests of the medical device industry."

Link to the recent Mass Device posting for more information