Edition: Number 4, 2001
PART A: NEW PRODUCTS AND INNOVATIONS FROM ISRAEL
A1. Biotechnology & Medical
1. ASI Introduces Analytical Imaging Platform With Potential in Genomics Applications2. PoleStar N-10 From Odin Medical Technologies Improves Brain Tumor Surgery
3. Measles Virus Involved in Hodgkin's Lymphoma
A2: IT&T
4. Tashilon Launches Secure4Net Encrypted Web Site
5. RadView's WebLoad Resource Manager 5.0 Advances Vision for Lifecycle Testing
6. Israeli computer mouse "sees" for blind through touch
7. Electronic infant ?
8. BackWeb Delivers High-Impact Video Communications for the Enterprise
9. Lucid Voice Announces Next Generation Access Solutions For VoIP & Data Convergence
10. TiS Announces Three New Product Lines Based on the eFLOW Unified Content Platform
11. SpearHead Unveils Next Generation NetGAP Products
12. ClockWise Patent Approved for Revolutionary 3D Desktop Platform for Microsoft Windows
13. Way2call Launches New "Hi-Phone Stylus" at Communications Solutions Expo
14. SerCoNet Announces 100BaseTX over Existing Phone Lines at Connections 2001
15. PacketLight Networks Debuts With First All-Packet Multiple-Service Transport System
16. StoreAge Demonstrates Storage Virtualization Solutions
A3 Other
17. A Significant Breakthrough in Digital Surveillance: MAVIX Releases the MediaRacer Family
PART B. NEWS ABOUT ISRAELI COMPANIES
B1 Israeli companies with offices in Australia www.israeltrade.org.au
(see link in the home page)
18. Iscar close to be number one in it's field
19. Magic Software Wins Product of the Year 2000 Award for Its Magic eService Solution
20. Paradigm Moves into Drilling Engineering Software Solutions and Services Market
B2 ISRAEL BIO-TECHNOLOGY NEWS
21. Pharma Logica - New Biotechnology consurtium
22. D-Pharm Leads the Way to an Israeli Biotechnology Consortium
23. DoubleTwist to Commercialize Weizmann Institute's GeneCards Database
24. ESC completes Acquisition of Coherent Medical
25. Quintiles & ArgoMed Sign Alliance to Commercialize Medical Device for Prostate Treatment
26. XTL Biopharmaceuticals Initiates Phase II Clinical Study For Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
27. Israel's Biotech Industry Grew 33% During 2000
28. FDA Clears Additional Oridion Capnography Product
B3 IT&T News
29. NDS Teams With Emblaze Subsidiary Orca Interactive, for Broadband Interactive TV
30. Pentium 4 -made in Intel Israel
31. Philips to acquire Veon
32. Red Herring choose Xacct as one of the top 50 private companies
33. ComSense Announces Pilots of Reader-free Internet Cards in Japan
34. Way2call Communications Wins 'Best Of Show' at CT Expo 2001
35. GMA & AudioCodes Introduces an Integrated Distributed Messaging System
36. Vsoft Demonstrates Video on Demand for Cable MSOs
B4 Other News
37. Benchmark Capital Closes $220 Million Fund to Invest in Israeli High Tech
38. Israel Designated as a "Market Target" By UK
39. Start-up YCD to supply $1.7 mln of products to EMStream
| PART A: New
products and innovations from Israel A1. Biotechnology & Medical 1. ASI Introduces Analytical Imaging Platform With Potential in Genomics Applications Applied Spectral Imaging (ASI) recently introduced SpectraView, an analytical spectral imaging workstation that can distinguish between materials that appear identical. SpectraView can provide a new dimension in material identification in a multitude of applications with significant applications in plant genomics, microarray readers, drug discovery and safety testing, forensics, semiconductor process and quality control, color quantification and verification, and other industrial inspection areas are being pursued. SpectraView has broadened ASI's product base and has shown that applications for ASI's spectral imaging technology extend beyond chromosome mapping applications, and that their proprietary technology positions can be strategically important to companies competing in other fields as well. Applied Spectral Imaging is a privately held imaging company based in Migdal Ha'emek, Israel, with a wholly owned subsidiary in Carlsbad, California. ASI has developed and commercialized products in cytogenetics. In addition, it has brought to market SpectraView, a general analytical imaging system that may be used in a wide range of applications and industries. (ASI 24.04) 2. PoleStar N-10 From Odin Medical Technologies Improves Brain Tumor Surgery A breakthrough in intraoperative Medical Resonance Imaging (iMRI) technology is offering new hope to the more than 185,000 men, women and children in the United States who are diagnosed each year with a brain tumor. Called the PoleStar N-10, the device allows neurosurgeons to take MRI scans in a standard operating room and pinpoint brain tumors with unprecedented clarity, enabling them to treat tumors that just a few years ago may have been considered "inoperable." By using PoleStar's real-time images of the brain before, during and after a surgical procedure, physicians have up-to-date information that can confirm complete removal of the targeted tumor before the patient leaves the operating room. PoleStar's new vision also allows physicians access to current images that account for "brain shifts" during surgery. Prior to intraoperative MRI, neurosurgeons relied on brain scans taken before the surgery. For patients, the PoleStar gives them the peace of mind knowing that their surgery is truly complete. Other benefits include quicker recovery time, shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and less potential for recurrence. Odin Medical Technologies (www.odinmed.com) develops, manufactures and commercializes intraoperative MR Imaging systems designed to improve neurosurgical interventions with a special focus on minimally invasive procedures. Located in Newton, MA, Odin Medical Technologies, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Israeli-based Company. (Odin Medical 07.05) 3. Measles Virus Involved in Hodgkin's Lymphoma Ben-Gurion University researchers have demonstrated that the measles virus, never before suspected of being related to cancer, has been shown to be present in the tumor cells of patients suffering from Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), a malignant condition of the lymphatic system. This cancer, which is fairly rare and largely curable by radiation or chemotherapy, strikes the boy's antibody-producing B-lymphocytes. In a study of biopsies taken from 68 patients with classical HL who were treated Beer Sheva's Soroka Medical Center, 60% of the samples contained one or two major proteins produced by the measles virus. In a spot check, they also found that RNA derived from the measles-virus haemagglutinin gene was present in the cells, further supporting the idea that the viral gene is active in the malignant tissue. These findings were presented at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. (Israel National News 21.05) A2: IT&T 4. Tashilon Launches Secure4Net Encrypted Web Site Tashilon launched www.secure4net.com, the first website to be encrypted with AES Rijndael and its enabling Secure4Net technology. Secure4Net Online Security software is the first security software of its kind to deploy AES Rijndael. Secure4Net is an ingenious encryption administration system that was designed specifically for providing strong encryption capabilities to browsers and servers. In addition, Secure4Net removes the entire encryption overhead from the web server and greatly simplifies the administration of superior online security. Secure4Net uses cutting edge technology to provide a complete encryption solution that is compliant with the leading security standards. Secure4Net can deploy any cipher and any key length for virtually any web site, regardless of the type of browser used. Tashilon (www.tashilon.com) was founded in 1998 and has offices in New York City and in Ramat-Gan Israel. Tamar Fishman Ventures II back Tashilon, which is one of the leading Venture Capital Funds in Israel. Tashilon develops leading edge online security solutions and its leading product line is Secure4Net. (Tashilon 26.04) 5. RadView's WebLoad Resource Manager 5.0 Advances Vision for Lifecycle Testing RadView Software announced the immediate availability of WebLoad Resource Manager 5.0, the latest upgrade to the only testing and analysis solution specifically developed to facilitate communication between all groups involved in the e-business application lifecycle - from development to quality assurance (QA). New features in Resource Manager 5.0 advance RadView's vision for a collaborative approach to quality assurance by offering test administrators further control over the scheduling and actual usage reports of testing resources. Leveraging RadView's award-winning WebLoad technology, Resource Manager enables all members of the Web application development workgroup to have access to testing and analysis capabilities for seamless communication between development and QA. Resource Manager 5.0 provides users with better decision-making capabilities and improved inter-functional communication through shared common reports and data analysis. RadView Software (www.radview.com), a member of Tel Aviv. Israel's RadGroup, develops internet infrastructure solutions to facilitate and accelerate the successful implementation of high-performance, business-critical Web applications. With its award-winning products, RadView provides the Web application testing and analysis software of choice to some of the most demanding customers. (RadView 30.04) 6. ISRAELI COMPUTER MOUSE "SEES" FOR BLIND THROUGH TOUCH Israeli hi-tech company VirTouch Ltd. has produced a computer mouse that enables the blind and partially sighted to view computer graphics through touch, HA'ARETZ ON-LINE reported. Growing dependence on graphics and mice to navigate screens in increasingly computer-based societies have limited the ability of the partially sighted to use new technology. VirTouch has integrated existing computer products for the blind and partially sighted that are based on text-to-speech software and the Braille alphabet, with a device that acts both as a mouse and a tactile display. The system, VTS, allows the blind to recognize graphic shapes and pictures, play tactile computer games and read text in normal letters or Braille by placing fingers on three pads that respond when a cursor on the computer screen touches a graphic or letter. Art Braunstein, corporate relations director at VirTouch, said, "Manufacturers say VTS is a "quantum leap" toward integration of the blind into the world of the sighted. "It breaks with the past by adding graphics to the universe of the blind person." The system is comprised of thirty-two pins on the three pads move up in a black area, down in a white area and somewhere in the middle for gray zones. The different heights enable blind people feel the curvature of lines and shading of computer graphics, Braille symbols or standard alphabet letters when reading text. VTS hit the markets in September 2000 and retails for just under $5,000, and has found a receptive audience with institutions in Israel and abroad. 7. Electronic infant ? Former Magic Software Enterprises CEO Jack (Yaki) Dunietz recently Founded an artificial intelligence start-up, called A-l, to develop an "electronic infant," based on academic research of psychological models, GLOBES reported. The project's goal is to develop a user interface enabling Verbal communication between man and computer. In the first stage, the start-up intends to provide the computer with the capabilities of a 15-month-old infant, through the use of artificial intelligence. Development will last 10 years, by which time A-l hopes to develop an "electronic child" with the capabilities of a 12-year old. 8. BackWeb Delivers High-Impact Video Communications for the Enterprise BackWeb Technologies unveiled e-Accelerator for Enterprise Video Communications. This new offering enables enterprise organizations to distribute large, high-impact video content to employees worldwide, guaranteeing consistency of information and viewership. The new BackWeb solution enables companies to combine the urgency and impact of face-to-face communication with the broad distribution of the Web to deliver audio/video communications across both high-bandwidth (LAN) and low-bandwidth (dial-up and WAN) connections. BackWeb can guarantee that distributed organizations experience quality delivery of multimedia content. Executive and line-of-business management both can utilize BackWeb's solution to send out mission-critical news and updates using high-impact video to ensure that messages are not diluted or mis-communicated. BackWeb's offering addresses the mounting demand for companies to develop strategies to reduce costs associated with corporate travel while still communicating vital information to employees. Corporate departments, including sales, marketing, human resources, education and professional services are now enabled with high-impact video communications to distribute critical company news, product information, pricing, and even live training events around the world without having to endure high travel costs and time-consuming domestic and international business trips. BackWeb Technologies (www.backweb.com) is a leading provider of push communications infrastructure for e-business that enable companies to proactively communicate time-sensitive, business-critical information throughout internet and wireless networks to customers, partners and employees. (30.04) 9. Lucid Voice Announces Next Generation Access Solutions For VoIP & Data Convergence Lucid Voice announced its next generation of IAD (Integrated Access Device) products, the Lucid Stream product family. The Stream product line provides a complete integrated access solution with reliable, toll-quality VoIP and data services over Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multi Point IP networks. The new products include Lucid Voice's patented quality of service (QoS) technology and enhanced industry interoperability using the H.323 and SIP VoIP protocols. The Stream is a highly cost-effective, Integrated Access Device (IAD) that provides a complete data and voice customer premises solution and eliminates further investments in other vendor equipment. Stream provides 2, 4 or 8 voice ports utilizing advanced compression techniques. The Stream gateways operate with standard telephone equipment using FXS and FXO interfaces, therefore significantly reducing the cost of voice and data communications, enabling businesses and ISPs to make maximum use of their Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multi Point networks. Stream manages network bandwidth resources via dynamic bandwidth sharing between voice and data users. Each phone call is compressed and assigned a dedicated voice channel prioritizing voice over data, thus guaranteeing Quality of Service (QoS) regardless of bandwidth limitations and network load. Lucid Voice (www.lucidvoice.com) is a privately held company based in Tel-Aviv, Israel. The company is revolutionizing the convergence of voice and data networks by offering toll-quality QoS integrated access solutions for Internet Protocol (IP)-based networks. (Lucid Voice 07.05) 10. TiS Announces Three New Product Lines Based on the eFLOW Unified Content Platform Top Image Systems (TiS) announced three new product lines based on the Company's new eFLOW Unified Content Platform. With the release of these new products the Company is strengthening its Internet-based solutions and expanding into the rapidly-growing wireless mobile market. eFLOW is a technology architecture that will be the common basis for current and future TiS software solutions. eFLOW manages the capture, validation, processing and delivery of business-critical data that enters an enterprise via e-forms, mobile data collection, supplier invoices, faxes, image files and paper forms. With its unique application connecting agents, eFLOW delivers the content securely to the enterprise application. Integra captures data from all types of structured, defined forms such as e-forms, mobile forms, image files, fax and paper forms. Freedom reads, understands and processes incoming supplier invoices without the need to predefine the structure of the invoices. Mobili is a cross-platform solution that enables enterprises to provide wireless data capture solutions to their field staff. Israel's Top Image Systems (www.TopImageSystems.com) is a leading innovator of digital information recognition and data capture solutions for forms processing, e-forms and internet applications. The Company's dynamic platforms provide real time solutions for accurately capturing and processing data at high speeds, enabling enterprises to optimize e-commerce and e-business as well as service the manual forms market. (TiS 30.04) 11. SpearHead Unveils Next Generation NetGAP Products SpearHead Security Technologies announced the availability of its NetGAP product line, a new layer of security that provides the greatest possible protection against intruding hacker and denial of service attacks on corporate networks. Based on SpearHead's patent-pending Reflective GAP technology, NetGAP creates a physical disconnection between networks and the outside world, thereby preventing unauthorized data from entering and exiting the network. SpearHead's Reflective GAP technology is based on the principle that the only way to absolutely secure a network from the internet is to simply disconnect it. SpearHead's NetGAP appliance physically disconnects a company's network from the internet, while maintaining uninterrupted communications. NetGAP prevents the company's network from directly interacting with the internet by physically terminating the network session. NetGAP then reflects the static data across an actual gap via a high-speed (1 Gbps) bus. After a thorough protocol inspection is conducted, and only if the security policy permits, a new network session is then generated and sent to the trusted network. Founded in 1998, SpearHead Security Technologies (www.SpearHeadSecurity.com) has pioneered the development of a new level of network security. SpearHead's appliances, powered by their Reflective GAP technology, are the ideal complement to an organization's existing security infrastructure. SpearHead is headquartered in Melville, New York, with R&D facilities in Israel. (SpearHead 01.05) 12. ClockWise Patent Approved for Revolutionary 3D Desktop Platform for Microsoft Windows ClockWise Technologies received US patent approval for its 3D desktop platform for operating systems. The Win3D interface, first implemented in Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP environments, transforms the standard Microsoft Windows desktop into a 3D environment and presents an entirely new dimension to the capabilities of simultaneously accessing and working between multiple applications and the internet. The patent approval for the interface is a major step forward in creating a ubiquitous environment for computing that encompasses the way all applications are presented to the user. ClockWise Technologies (www.clockwise3d.com) is a pioneering developer of revolutionary 3D technologies for operating systems and the internet. The company's software brings computers to life by enabling users to compute in interactive and engaging 3D worlds. ClockWise's patented flagship product, Win3D, is the first three-dimensional desktop platform for the Windows operating system. Founded in 1997, ClockWise is a privately owned corporation funded by venture-capital and private investors and based in Tel-Aviv, Israel. (ClockWise 14.05) 13. Way2call Launches New "Hi-Phone Stylus" at Communications Solutions Expo Way2call Communications released its new the Hi-Phone Stylus, which links any existing analog telephone (including cordless phones) to a PC, enabling telephone calls and memos to be recorded on a PC's hard drive. Advanced compression allows 1 GB of hard disk space to store up to 290 recording hours. Recorded calls are simple to retrieve, can be played back on PC speakers or a telephone handset and can be sent as email files. The Hi-Phone Stylus comes with Caller ID and call progress analysis for incoming and outgoing calls. A user friendly interface provides total control over features and functions such as automatic, manual or backwards recording, audio compression and AGC levels. As required by law in some regions, custom recordable OGMs (Out Going Messages) and warning-tones can be activated to notify the other party that the call is being recorded. Netanya, Israel's Way2call Communications (www.way2call.com) develops, manufactures and markets single line PC attached recording solutions and TAPI compliant CTI and VoIP products. They link any regular telephone set to a PC or Laptop, enabling third party development using standard open architecture for applications via ITSP service providers. (Way2call14.05) 14. SerCoNet Announces 100BaseTX over Existing Phone Lines at Connections 2001 SerCoNet is introducing its 100 Mbps backbone network running over existing home phone wiring. SerCoNet's smart outlets comprise the only home networking solution today that supports 100BaseTX and provides the same and even better functionality as CAT.5 wiring, without new wires - using the existing home phone wiring. Converging voice/fax, data and video, it interconnects all the various PC and peripheral equipment for internet applications, multimedia, interactive games, video, and more. The SerCoNet network provides superior immunity to external noises and prevents bandwidth attenuation by creating short, independent point-to-point communication segments that ensure reliable, consistent high-speed data in every house topology. For service providers, SerCoNet's solution is ideal. Its smart "utility" outlets create a common backbone platform for interconnecting all the different network interfaces, functioning under any conditions and wiring topologies. Founded in 1998, SeCoNet (www.serconet.co.il) is headquartered in Ra'anana's Hi-Tech Park in Israel. (SerCoNet07.05) 15. PacketLight Networks Debuts With First All-Packet Multiple-Service Transport System On 4 June, PacketLight Networks (www.PacketLight.com) of Kfar Saba, Israel will formally debut the industry's first Layer 1-2 all-packet optical multiple-service transport system for the metro -- one that supports carriers' SONET systems while accommodating future, emerging data and storage area network services. The new system is based on PacketLight's patent-pending advanced architecture and technology. This innovative optical transport system brings to the metro transport network, in a single, all-packet fabric, the capability of combining data, voice, storage and video supporting TDM, ATM, IP, SAN and all-optical signals. Moreover, it provides these functions simply, efficiently and economically. The PacketLight system greatly lowers a carrier's cost of ownership because of its simple transparent edge approach. It consolidates different types of equipment to use each wavelength more efficiently, which allows carriers to increase their service offerings. The system is also modular; requires fewer cards; has a small footprint; consumes less power; and is easier to install, manage and maintain than other systems. Carriers can build on their existing infrastructure or design new network topologies, confidently and economically. Additionally, it allows carriers to fully exploit their fiber resources and offer any service on any wavelength, including combinations of GbE, channelized TDM, storage or ATM services, all while maintaining full support of SONET protection mechanisms. (Packet Light 14.05) 16. StoreAge Demonstrates Storage Virtualization Solutions StoreAge Networking Technologies' asymmetric storage virtualization technology and SVM platform enables enterprises to dramatically reduce their total cost of storage management while protecting existing storage investment. StoreAge is the first to market with an asymmetric (off the data path) storage virtualization solutions. Its SVM (Storage Virtualization Manager) is a high availability appliance providing virtualization of the entire SAN space enabling enterprises implementing SAN architecture to efficiently manage and allocate their storage resources. The SVM allows central point SAN management in a distributed heterogeneous environment. It also provides an easy growth path from a traditional host-attached storage sub-system to a full scale SAN and offers a suite of host-independent Storage Applications, to enable disaster recovery and backup strategies, including MultiView, a multi-level snapshot application, and others. StoreAge pays special attention to high availability through the support of completely redundant systems, multipath and automatic failover techniques. At the same time, StoreAge offers practical ways to manage a true dynamic SAN environment. Haifa's StoreAge Networking Technologies (www.store-age.com) is a privately held company founded in 1999 as a spin-off from IIS Intelligent Information Systems. StoreAge develops and provides innovative storage technology and products with a focus on Storage Area Network (SAN) architecture. The Company seeks to increase and expand its cooperation with major OEM partners, storage systems integrators and storage service providers to deliver advanced storage solutions to the enterprise market. (Store Age 08.05) A3 Other 17. A Significant Breakthrough in Digital Surveillance: MAVIX Releases the MediaRacer Family Until today, a major drawback of digital video surveillance solutions has been the high cost per video camera, wherever high quality, full motion video and the possibility to display simultaneously any combination of cameras were "must" requirements. Mavix' new, state-of-the-art, MAVIX MediaRacer 4000 allows sending 4 video streams over a single network port featuring high quality, full motion video (25/30 frames per second), at a cost similar to most existing single stream solutions. This new solution includes, at no additional cost, 2 bi-directional audio channels as well as several digital input/output ports and serial data ports. MediaRacer 4000 reflects a major step towards provision of all digital, TCP/IP based surveillance solutions at the quality and cost levels of analog implementations. Yokneam's MAVIX (www.mavix.com) is a leading brand name in surveillance solutions based on digital, IP based multimedia streaming over broadband communication networks. MAVIX has developed the unique "Virtual Matrix" architectural design which enables a practically unlimited number of video, audio and data sources to be dynamically distributed over IP networks to an unlimited number of targets, while featuring full motion, full screen, high quality video. (MAVIX 15.05) B. News about Israeli companies B1 Israeli companies with offices in Australia http://www.israeltrade.org.au (see link in the home page) 18. Iscar close to be number one in it's field ISCAR is currently ranked second in the world in sales of precision tooling equipment and is now looking to close in on the world leader, Sandvik of Sweden, HA'ARETZ reported. ISCAR, headquartered in Tefen in the Gaililee, produces precision tools for metal machinery under three different names: ISCAR, Ingersoll and TaeguTec (in Korea). According to Eitan Wertheimer, president of ISCAR, the company employs about 4,500 workers, including 600 in Germany, 750 in Korea and 200 in India. 19. Magic Software Wins Product of the Year 2000 Award for Its Magic eService Solution Magic Software Enterprises received a Product of the Year 2000 Award for its Magic eService Web-based customer management solution. The award was the result of an extensive product review conducted by Customer Inter@ction Solutions, the leading source for in-depth information on computer/telephony products, solutions and innovations. According to Customer Inter@ction Solutions, Magic eService embodies the latest "technological evolution and application refinements" among companies' offerings. Magic eService is an entirely Web-based, enterprise-level customer service management system that streamlines service workflow and provides companies a comprehensive picture of their service departments in real time. It is designed to allow companies to gain control of and manage their service departments as profit centers. Using Magic eService, companies can completely track and centralize management of each customer interaction, from first contact to problem resolution. Customers receive immediate and personalized attention through round-the-clock, interactive service, while management tools measure service department profitability, cost and resource allocation for better decision-making. Israel's Magic Software Enterprises (www.magicsoftware.com), a member of Tel Aviv's Formula Group, develops, markets and supports software development and deployment technology that enables enterprises to accelerate the process of building and deploying applications that can be rapidly customized and integrated with existing systems. The Formula Group is an international information technology company principally engaged, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, in providing software consulting services, developing proprietary software products and producing computer-based solutions. (Magic 26.04) 20. Paradigm Moves into Drilling Engineering Software Solutions and Services Market Paradigm Geophysical completed the acquisition of Aberdeen, Scotland's Sysdrill. Sysdrill is a leading software and service provider of drilling engineering and well operations solutions that pioneered industry standards for directional well planning software and anti-collision analysis. Sysdrill's customers include leading oil and gas operating companies primarily in the North Sea and drilling services providers worldwide. Combining Sysdrill and Paradigm's technologies enables Paradigm to offer the industry new and comprehensive solutions that integrate geoscience knowledge with drilling and well operations solutions. Paradigm's existing interpretation and well-log analysis solutions will be enhanced with Sysdrill's directional drilling software, enabling Paradigm to provide its customers with sophisticated offerings in the key areas of well bore placement, visualization and geological modeling while drilling. The first of these new products is expected to be available by the end of this year. Herzliya's Paradigm Geophysical (www.paradigmgeo.com) provides information solutions to the leaders of the oil and gas industry worldwide. (Paradigm 17.05) B2 ISRAEL BIO-TECHNOLOGY NEWS 21. Pharma Logica - New Biotechnology consurtium A number of Israeli biotechnology companies have received approval to establish a consortium, called Pharma Logica, in cooperation with the Magnet Program of the Office of the Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, GLOBES reported. The consortium will include both biotechnology companies and academic institutions and will develop technologies and forecasting systems for development of low-risk pharmaceuticals. 22. D-Pharm Leads the Way to an Israeli Biotechnology Consortium D-Pharm established a Biopharmaceutical Research Consortium, Pharma Logica, which will be financed by the Office of the Chief Scientist of Israel's Ministry of Industry & Trade. Dr. Angel, Vice President for R&D at D-Pharm, will head the Consortium. Other Consortium members include the Israeli biotech companies Peptor, Pharmos, the technology and computational drug development companies HBI, HPBM, MBC, Karmapharm, Bio-IT and Compugen, as well as representatives from academia and research institutes. The Israeli Consortium's mission is to design and develop novel, technologies to facilitate the early stages of the pharmaceutical development process. The Consortium's technologies will focus on enabling novel early ADME and early toxicology (early ADMET) studies and help in developing computer-assisted predictive tools for more effective drug development. These technologies will determine whether an active molecule has the desired properties that render it feasible for further development as well as better predict the outcome of this development. They will also enable iterative optimization (by feedback chemical input) resulting in improved lead development and a better understanding of the compounds' developmental needs. Moreover, the technologies may enable the formulation of general guidelines for molecular structural features required for membrane permeability and tissue availability enhancement. D-Pharm (www.dpharm.com) is an emerging biopharmaceutical company applying an innovative approach to the creation of new drugs by re-engineering existing drugs and/or drug leads to optimize their pharmacological profile and expedite their clinical development. D-Pharm's proprietary technologies are based on its expertise in membrane biochemistry and lipid medicinal chemistry. D-Pharm is headquartered in a state of the art research facility at Kiryat Weizmann Science Park, Israel. (D-Pharm 15.05) 23. DoubleTwist to Commercialize Weizmann Institute's GeneCards Database DoubleTwist and Yeda Research & Development Company, the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science, announced an agreement whereby DoubleTwist will commercialize the Weizmann Institute's GeneCards database. The GeneCards database provides human gene data and relevant links to other databases of highly characterized human genes. Under the agreement, DoubleTwist will have the exclusive rights to license the GeneCards product to commercial entities, and also will integrate GeneCards into its online product, DoubleTwist.com. Additionally, DoubleTwist will fund further development of GeneCards at the Weizmann Institute. GeneCards is a searchable database that offers access to concise summaries of more than 20,000 genes and their disease associations. The information contained in GeneCards is particularly useful for researchers who wish to find information about genes of interest in the context of functional genomics and proteomics. The Weizmann Institute of Science is a major center of scientific research and graduate study located in Rehovot, Israel. Its 2,500 scientists, students and support staff are engaged in more than 1,000 research projects across the spectrum of contemporary science. Oakland, California's DoubleTwist (www.doubletwist.com) is a leading provider of genomic information and bio-informatics analysis technologies to the life science industry. The Company's mission is to empower life scientists by simplifying and accelerating genomic research. (DoubleTwist 4.04) 24. ESC completes Acquisition of Coherent Medical ESC Medical Systems announced on 30 April that it closed the previously announced transaction to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of Coherent Medical Group from Coherent, Inc. ESC results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2001, will reflect the Coherent Medical Group results as of May 1. With the close of this transaction ESC feels it is the global leader in cutting-edge laser and light based technologies for medical and aesthetic applications. The acquisition elevates their capabilities in the aesthetic, surgical and ophthalmic marketplace. ESC Shareholders will vote on a board proposal to change the corporate name to "Lumenis" at the upcoming shareholders meeting. Yokneam's ESC Medical Systems (www.escmed.com) develops, manufactures and markets medical devices utilizing state-of the art proprietary intense pulsed light source and laser technology. Its systems are used in a variety of aesthetic, surgical and medical applications, including the non-invasive treatment of veins and other benign vascular lesions, pigmented lesions, hair removal and skin rejuvenation, as well as ENT, OB/GYN and neurosurgery. (ESC30.04) 25. Quintiles & ArgoMed Sign Alliance to Commercialize Medical Device for Prostate Treatment Quintiles Transnational Corp. and ArgoMed announced a strategic alliance to commercialize ArgoMed's Thermoflex Water Induced Thermotherapy (WIT) System used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Under this arrangement, Quintiles, through its corporate ventures group, PharmaBio Development, will provide ArgoMed with a convertible line of credit to establish a sales force to launch and promote the Thermoflex System in the United States. The arrangement also calls for Innovex, Quintiles' commercialization unit, to deploy the sales force in regions designated by ArgoMed. In addition, PharmaBio has agreed to make an equity investment in ArgoMed. ArgoMed has obtained clearance from the FDA to market the Thermoflex System in the United States for the treatment of BPH. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland that affects half of all men age 50 and over and is associated with painful and difficult urination. Current treatments for BPH include drug therapies, surgery and several relatively new alternative therapies, including procedures that use radio frequency, lasers, microwaves or other methods to relieve the symptoms of BPH. ArgoMed was founded in Israel during the early 1990s with the mission of developing a system for water-induced thermotherapy. The company filed its first patent application in 1992 and began development of the Thermoflex System for the treatment of BPH. Based near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, ArgoMed also has offices in Germany and Israel. Headquartered near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Quintiles Transnational is the world's leading provider of information, technology and services to bring new medicines to patients faster and improve healthcare. (Quintiles02.05) 26. XTL Biopharmaceuticals Initiates Phase II Clinical Study For Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B XTL Biopharmaceuticals initiated a Phase II clinical study of XTL-001 in combination with Lamivudine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. It is anticipated that the combination treatment using XTL-001 with antivirals will reduce the incidence of drug resistance to current therapy. This initial Phase II study is designed to gather clinical data regarding the appropriate dose regimen in the HBV patient population for future clinical studies. Parameters to be assessed include safety and antiviral effect. XTL-001 consists of two high affinity human monoclonal antibodies that act at multiple sites on the HBV surface antigen. These antibodies were discovered and developed using XTL's Trimera system, a proprietary technology for producing and bio-validating high-affinity, fully human monoclonal antibodies. In a Phase I clinical study, various single and multiple dosing regimens of XTL-001 without Lamivudine were well tolerated and no serious adverse events were observed. Furthermore, there was a rapid and consistent decrease in HBV viral levels in all patients receiving multiple doses of XTL-001. HBV is the most common form of hepatitis and one of the world's leading causes of death. Rehovot, Israel's XTL Biopharmaceuticals (www.xtlbio.com) develops novel therapeutics to treat life-threatening infectious diseases using fully human monoclonal antibodies and small molecule drugs. XTL's competitive advantage lies in its ability to leverage both its proprietary human tissue-based in vivo disease models and fully human monoclonal antibodies to validate and develop promising drug candidates. (XTL Biopharmaceuticals 16.05) 27. Israel's Biotech Industry Grew 33% During 2000 Israel's National Biotechnology Committee released its annual report on the state of the sector on 20 May, reflecting its survey of the major Israeli biotech firms. According to the results, there were 160 biotechnology companies in Israel during the past year, employing a total of 4,000 people. During 1999, there were 135 companies with 3,800 employees. Sales in the sector rose by 33% in 2000 over 1999's totals, amounting to $800m. Under the aegis of biotechnology are included the sub-sectors of pharmaceuticals, agriculture and diagnostic systems. Sales in the pharmaceutical field accounted for 71.5% of the biotechnology sector, compared to 66.9% of the sector in 1999. Sales from agricultural products accounted for 18.3% of the sector, compared to 22.8% in 1999 and 26.5% of the sector in 1997. However, the number of companies in agricultural biotechnology grew to 54 in 2000 from 48 in 1999. Sales of medical diagnostics accounted for 4.7% of revenues, compared to 3.9% of biotechnology revenues in 1999, with two new companies in this sub-sector bringing the total of firms to 35 in 2000. There were 25 bio-tech start-ups in 2000, up from 1999's 16, with all of the new entities in the medical sector. (NBC20.05) 28. FDA Clears Additional Oridion Capnography Product Oridion Systems received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for another one of its capnography products -- the Oral/Nasal FilterLine. This innovative product is the first device in Oridion's FilterLine family of patented consumable products to monitor the carbon dioxide released from both the patient's mouth and nose. The technological advantages offered by this product are especially important in the growing number of cases where medical treatment is provided under procedural sedation. As the patient is sedated in these circumstances, there are increased chances of CO2 being exhaled through the patient's mouth -- a problem directly addressed by Oridion's Oral/Nasal FilterLine. Oridion, a technological leader in the fields of capnography - the non-invasive measurement of CO2 contained in human breath - and diagnostic breath tests, developed this product to prevent sampling difficulties and inaccurate CO2 readings that may occur when carbon dioxide is only monitored from a patient's nose with a conventional nasal cannula. This new product can be used with any of the Company's Microstream capnography monitors. Oridion developed Microstream technology to overcome the limitations of older technologies and extend the ability to use capnography monitoring beyond its traditional confines of the operating room. Jerusalem, Israel's Oridion Systems (www.oridion.com) is a high-tech medical device company active through two separate but related business units; the Capnography Business Unit and the Breath Testing Business Unit. (Oridion 21.05) B3 IT&T News 29. NDS Teams With Emblaze Subsidiary Orca Interactive, for Broadband Interactive TV NDS Group has selected Orca's Emblaze RiGHTv Core software as the first user interface to be built into NDS's Synamedia solution. Orca Interactive's tools will allow Synamedia customers to easily build and update user interfaces. The Synamedia architecture delivers encrypted, digital TV and video-on-demand (VOD) over ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and other broadband networks. It extends NDS's successful XTV personal TV system to support broadband IP networks and VOD servers. A Synamedia component identifies the sources of the broadcast TV and VOD content, and analyzes the rich meta data in the stream. Orca Interactive integrates with Synamedia's databases of content and subscriber information to present what each subscriber wants to watch and is allowed to watch. NDS Group (www.nds.com) is a leading supplier of open conditional access software and interactive systems for the secure delivery of entertainment and information to television set-top boxes, and personal computers. NDS has a major R&D center in Jerusalem, Israel. Herzliya, Israel's Orca Interactive (www.orca.tv) was founded in 1996. Now an independently managed subsidiary of Emblaze Systems (formerly GEO Interactive Media Group), Orca Interactive develops and sells multi-channel streaming applications. Orca Interactive's solutions enable the operators to build new revenue sources and to strengthen brand equity. (Orca 24.04) 30. Pentium 4 -made in Intel Israel Intel Corporation announced it has released its Kiryat Gat-manufactured Pentium 4 microprocessor, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. According to the company, the Pentium 4, which runs at 1.7 Giga Hertz (GHz), is its fastest chip produced for personal computers (PCs) and is slated to be integrated into PC systems by computer makers. Intel directly employs some 5,200 people in its three facilities in Israel. While the Pentium 4 was developed in the company's U.S. facilities, it was produced in Kiryat Gat, which employs some 2,000 Intel personnel and an additional 1,000 subcontractors. 31. Philips to acquire Veon Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire full ownership of Herzliya-based Veon, a provider of interactive broadband content products and services for commercial and entertainment applications, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Veon is incorporated in the United States with headquarters in San Francisco. Veon was founded in 1998 and employes 45 individuals. It was listed last year in Red Herring's annual "Top 50 Private Companies in the Digital Universe," and one of the "Top 10 Companies to Watch" by Enterprise Media. 32. Red Herring choose Xacct as one of the top 50 private companies XACCT Technologies of Israel, which is involved in the collection and processing of information in communications networks, was chosen by high tech and investment magazine Red Herring as one of the top 50 private companies in the world, GLOBES reported. For the past five years, the magazine has been selecting the leading 50 private and public companies. The companies are chosen according to criteria used by venture capital funds and banks to evaluate investments. These criteria, based on indices that forecast companies' ability to break into new markets and create additional markets, include a company's business strategy, its products and services and the financial performance of both the company and its competitors. 33. ComSense Announces Pilots of Reader-free Internet Cards in Japan ComSense and Marubeni Corporation, who serves as its distribution partner in Japan, are to commence Japan's first trials of the ComSense ComDot card technology. ComDot-powered cards are the world's first reader-free internet cards. Nippon Shinpan Company, one of Japan's largest credit card issuers, and Sofmap, one of Japan's largest consumer electronics and online retailers, will be among the leading Japanese companies participating in these trials. In the trials, Marubeni and Marubeni Information Systems will issue cards with ComDot technology and operate an e-commerce system that uses ComDot technology to identify and authenticate customers. What makes ComDot unique is that it is reader-free, meaning it works without requiring a card reader attached to the consumer's PC. Self-powered ComDot cards are both active and reader-free, meaning they communicate with server-based applications by means of the PC, mobile phone, telephone and other devices without requiring a card reader. This is achieved by using sound, a capability that is standard in these and many other personal electronic devices. ComSense (www.com-sense.com) is the maker of ComDot -- the world's first self-powered reader-free ISO card technology. ComDot-powered card systems create value for card issuers and providers of online or phone-based services through their unique user authentication and loyalty functionality. ComSense's R&D office is at its international headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel. (ComSense08.05) 34. Way2call Communications Wins 'Best Of Show' at CT Expo 2001 Way2call Communications, a leading developer of CTI, Internet Telephony and VoIP products, announced its Hi-Phone Traveler has won the prestigious CT Expo 2001 'Best of Show' award. The Hi-Phone Traveler is a PCMCIA card that connects to any regular or cordless telephone set, supporting inbound and outbound VoIP calls over LAN/WAN and internet. It's most remarkable technological breakthrough is the integrated ringing SLIC (Subscriber Line Interface Circuit) which enables the telephone to ring for incoming IP calls. An easy to install Plug-and-Play device, the Hi-Phone Traveler is ideal for business travelers and remote agents wishing to stay connected with their offices, and with the already bundled ITSP service. They can enjoy substantial savings on long distance and international phone charges, versus traditional methods of placing calls via hotels, calling card, mobile phones, debit cards and pay phones. Aimed at OEMs, System integrators, ISPs and ITSPs, the Hi-Phone Traveler is an open architecture device for Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000. Netanya, Israel's Way2call Communications (www.way2call.com) develops, manufactures and markets single line TAPI compliant CTI and VoIP products. The products link any regular telephone set to a PC or Laptop, enabling PC-to-PC calls over various networks. (Way2call Communications08.05) 35. GMA & AudioCodes Introduces an Integrated Distributed Messaging System Israel's AudioCodes and GMA Communication collaborated in the development of GMA Communication's integrated distributed unified messaging solution for enterprises, the Prime Voice. The solution provides medium and large enterprises with standard PBXs (Private Branch exchanges) access to IP network features. It delivers enterprise-wide enhanced services, including voice and fax messaging, auto-attendant, Unified Messaging (a way to view or hear all incoming emails, faxes and voicemails in one place) and IVR (Interactive Voice Response), as well as toll-free long distance calls within the enterprise, all while preserving the legacy PBX equipment of the organization. The Prime Voice utilizes the AudioCodes MediaPack Gateway technology to link multiple enterprise switchboards to a centralized unified voice/fax/text-messaging server over an enterprise's VPN (Virtual Private Network) data infrastructure. This allows the enhanced-services platform to be scaled to meet capacity needs and upgraded as new technologies are developed. The Prime Voice is currently available in beta and is expected to be generally available in June 2001. Founded in 1993, AudioCodes (www.audiocodes.com) designs, develops and markets enabling technologies and communication system components for voice over packet networks. The company is a market leader in voice compression technology and the key originator of the ITU G.723.1 standard for the emerging IP Telephony market. AudioCodes' international headquarters and R&D facilities are located in Yehud, Israel. (Audio Codes 07.05) 36. Vsoft Demonstrates Video on Demand for Cable MSOs Vsoft announced the initial integration of the VideoClick video server and application software running on the Solaris Operating Environment (OE) platform with Harmonic's Narrowcast Services Gateway, the NSG. Targeted at multiple service operators (MSOs), VideoClick streams MPEG-2 transport streams from the server over IP to the Harmonic NSG for multiplexing, modulating and up-converting to the set-top box. VideoClick software incorporates open architecture and standard IP protocols enabling a seamless merge with service providers' existing systems. VideoClick server software operates on standard Sun servers and requires no proprietary hardware. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Harmonic is a provider of innovative broadband solutions that deliver video, voice and data to communications providers around the world. Vsoft (www.vsoft.com) is a leading provider of application software for video services for the home entertainment market. Vsoft's product, VideoClick, affords service providers and content creators new opportunities to generate additional revenues from their media assets and subscriber base. Large numbers of concurrent viewers can interface with VideoClick through their digital set-top boxes or PCs in DVD quality with full VCR functionality. Vsoft principal executive offices are located in Palo Alto, California while its R&D is located in Israel. (Vsoft 09.05) B4 Other News 37. Benchmark Capital Closes $220 Million Fund to Invest in Israeli High Tech Benchmark Capital, Silicon Valley's leading early-stage hi-tech venture capital firm, closed a $220m fund dedicated to accessing the Israeli hi-technology market. In addition to Benchmark institutional and individual partners, Benchmark Israel attracted investments from companies such as Cisco Systems, Rational Software, Mercury Interactive and Infineon Technologies. Benchmark and its corporate partners will work together to best leverage Israeli hi-tech opportunities. Benchmark Israel is devoted to investing in early-stage companies that are leveraging Israeli hi-tech opportunities for their potential to succeed in U.S. markets. The fund will follow Benchmark's investment strategy, applying the same team-oriented, hands-on approach to investing that has made Benchmark's funds so successful. The new fund will focus on early-stage investing in technology companies that seek to create new markets in areas where the partners have direct experience. These areas include enterprise applications, infrastructure systems and software, networking equipment and software, semiconductors and optical devices. (Benchmark 07.05) 38. Israel Designated as a "Market Target" By UK It was announced on 14 May by the British Ambassador to Israel that the UK had designated Israel as a market target. The British government has officially declared Israel the 14 nation targeted by for increased economic cooperation. This means that the UK has budgeted some £1m in funds for the promotion of trade between the two countries, the encouragement of British investments in Israel and the funding of joint projects. The announcement was made at the biannual meeting of the Israel-Britain Business Council in Jerusalem. The body was founded six years ago by former British Prime Minister Major and Prime Minister Rabin. A visiting delegation of senior British businessman attended the meeting. (Various15.05) 39. Start-up YCD to supply $1.7 mln of products to EMStream Israeli start-up YCD Multimedia is to supply multi-channel musical systems to Australian company EMStream for $1.7 million. EMStream has already installed dozens of YCD's music systems in hotels and entertainment spots in Sydney, Australia. The two companies are currently moving to the second stage of the agreement, involving large-scale marketing of YCD's systems all over Australia and New Zealand. YCD developed a multi-channel digital music player for businesses, which can be fully controlled through the Internet. The company's advanced digital system plays 20 stereo music channels simultaneously, which can be fully controlled and supervised using the Internet, cellular, and other mobile devices. This central infrastructure enables advertising messages and musical content to be distributed simultaneously to a large number of stations. The system is designed mainly for large businesses, such as hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, and marketing chains interested in broadcasting diverse musical styles simultaneously to different locations in the business, while managing the entire setup from one point. YCD, founded in 1999 by Noam Levavi and Dan Zeevi, employs about 25 development and support personnel. The company has about 150 customers in Israel, including Al Kav Communications, which operates radio stations in most large Israeli shopping malls; hotel, coffee house, and health club chains; restaurants, pubs, office buildings, and so forth. |
