Bio-Tech Israel 2003 - Conference and Exhibition - Next Week.

Business Editors

BIOTECH ISRAEL 2003

TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2003

Bio-Tech Israel 2003, to be held in Tel Aviv, from May 13 - 15, 2003. The organizers, the companies Conexpo and Kenes, estimate that the area of the exhibition will be twice that of the 2002 event. On the basis of this data, the exhibition has been moved from its former venue, to the Israel Trade Fairs & Convention Center grounds in Tel Aviv.

More than 140 will unveil at the Expo new products and technologies from Israeli companies, start-ups and incubators, exhibitors will display innovations in the areas of biotechnology, nanotechnology, medicine and related equipment. Large international organizations, Israeli companies, start-ups and incubators will attend the exhibition.

Genetic Treatment

Vascular Biogenics Ltd. (VBL) will unveil at Biotech 2003 an innovative Israeli development of a genetic treatment designed to destroy the walls of the blood vessels that provide oxygen to carcinogenic metastases. The company says that the treatment is effective for a variety of cancer tumors and results in dramatic reversal of the tumor with no toxic side effects. Designed for patients that suffer from metastatic cancer, the new treatment is administered by systematic injections as an addition to chemotherapeutical or radiation treatments.

According to Eyal Breitbart, Ph.D., head of the VBL's biology division, the genetic treatment seeks to destroy the endothelial cells that build the blood vessels and supply oxygen to the tumor and its metastases. The cutoff of oxygen supply causes the tumor and the metastases to shrink or disappear completely. "The technology is based on the shortage in oxygen that occurs when the carcinogenic tumor starts to grow, which triggers the evolution of new blood vessels whose role is, among others, to provide oxygen to the tumor's cells. Our treatment is based on a genetic charge (DNA), which is 'attracted' to the special conditions that prevail in the blood vessels around the tumor and activates a mechanism that destroys the endothelial cells of which these blood vessels are made, cutting of the oxygen supply to the tumor." It has been proved that the treatment may be administered by intravenous injection or infusion rather than by local injection directly to the tumor.

"More than 1.3 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year in the USA alone, and more that 550,000 people die of cancer every year. Since cancer, or more specifically, metastatic cancer, is the second largest mortality factor in the western world, the number of patients who would benefit from the treatment is very high," said Dr. Breitbart. "Current treatments for metastatic cancer are all based on killing the tumor's cells with chemotherapy or radiation, as well as on hormonal treatments. All of these treatments are accompanied by numerous side effects and result in the patient's developing resistance to the treatment. VBL's treatment is unique because it is not targeted at the carcinogenic cells but rather at the blood vessels that allow the metastases to grow. In addition, it has no side effects." The new technology was tested in comprehensive feasibility studies on animals and is nearing the stage of human experiments.

VBL recently raised USD 2 million in equity investment based on company of value of USD 15 million before the investment. In addition, it has signed a collaboration agreement with MIT from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The collaboration is based on using VBL's tissue engineering technology.

Treatment of Skin

Topimed, a startup operating as part of Ashkelon Technological Incubator, will show a unique medical preparation for treatment of skin damages. Designed for treating degenerative processes of the skin, and wrinkles that result from natural aging and sun radiation, the new preparation acts both on the dermal and epidermal cells, thus healing the internal skin layers and resulting in improved appearance.

The preparation is based on hormones, combining DIK-60 hormone that "renovates" the cells with a unique active carrier that delivers the hormone to the specific targets in the skin.

Some 2 million Americans currently suffer from degenerative skin damages. The size of the market for treatments against wrinkles and other degenerative damages is estimated at USD 5 billion per annum. Despite this huge size, there is no preparation that meets the market's needs in medical or cosmetic terms. Most of the products available on the market or in development stages are cosmetic preparations that do not act on the dermis and therefore have no effect on the damaged tissue. Medical preparations, on the other hand, do no act of the epidermal layer and are associated with side effects in prolonged use.

Topimed currently engages in two major development activities: setting the optimal formula and pre-clinical human studies. In addition, the Company is raising capital and evaluates potential strategic partners.

High Risk for Melanoma

Medvision's innovation for Biotech 2003 is a novel development of a system for general practitioner clinic or for melanoma patients and family members who are at high risk for melanoma. The system monitors moles that might indicate the development of melanoma skin cancer. This type of cancer usually onsets due to a combination of genetic factors and radiation damage and in the first stages, appears in the form of skin moles. More than 50,000 people in the USA develop melanoma every year.

The system for home use developed by Medvision consists of a sophisticated, high-resolution digital camera, unique software that provides high reproducibility photography and proprietary software for decoding the images. The system allows detecting and monitoring the smallest changes (0.2 mm) that occur in the moles based on the medical diagnostic criteria, including asymmetry, border irregularity, color, thickness, and more.

"Today, melanoma is usually diagnosed in periodical tests with the dermatologist, who looks for changes in the skin. The problem with these visits is that the dermatologist cannot remember the skin's condition in the previous visit," says entrepreneur Moshe Yitshaki. "Our new system is designed for the general practitioner or later, for the patient's home, because it allows accurate monitoring and detection of changes, which no other device can notice. In addition, the system's findings can be sent directly from the PC of the general practitioner, the dermatologist, or the patient directly to the PC of the treating physician."

Pains in the Knees

Another start-up that operates under the roof of the Granot Incubator is Ortech, which developed a unique orthopedic device that alleviates the pressure exerted on the knees while walking.

The device is meant to help people who suffer pains in the knees as a result of eroded cartilage. Currently, these people have limited walking ability and have to use crutches, wheelchair or walking stick. Ortech devices transfers part of the body's weight in a controlled manner from the buttocks bone to the floor, thus alleviating the pressure on the injured knee. The device provides control over the pressure on the knee to help in preventing degeneration of the knee and the leg bones.

The device, worn on the injured leg, includes a shock absorber and is elastic to allow the user to move normally according to the natural structure of the knee articulations. The device may be worn underneath or above normal clothing.

According to the company, during their development work, the developers have come across numerous knee problems, especially among athletes, who were instructed by their physicians to lower the pressure exerted on the knees. The system allows the users to adjust the pressure on the knee until complete recovery is achieved. The company says that the solution will benefit numerous patients who currently have no response to their needs, to return to normal life.

The system is currently undergoing clinical hospital tests in collaboration with renowned knee specialists.

Bio-Tech 2003 is organized by Kenes and Conexpo, and is sponsored by BDO, Focus Haaretz, Office of the Chief Scientist in the Trade and Industry Ministry, MATIMOP and the Export Institute.

Web Site: www.kenes.com/biotech

Kenes International

Kenes International specializes in the organization of global congresses and in association management services. With a particular emphasis on the scientific and medical fields, it provides complete and on-going support to the efforts of national and international associations and permanent secretariats. Kenes International serves as the focal point between client, participant and organizer assisting each one in meeting their objectives.

Kenes International is a member of IAPCO, the International Association of Professional Conference Organizers and ICCA, the International Congress and Conference Association. Currently handling some thirty congresses a year on four continents, it has handled over 1,200 congresses over a period of some 35 years.

Conexpo

Conexpo, a subsidiary of Kenes International, was founded in 1994 by individuals with more than 30 years experience in marketing and management of trade fairs and exhibitions. Conexpo offers its extensive professional know how and proven capabilities to trade shows and professional event organizers worldwide. It handles the organization and management of medical and scientific exhibitions that accompany the hundreds of professional conferences and congresses organized by Kenes International worldwide.