Cleo Cosmetic & Pharmaceutical Expands to the Science Center Port's Innovation Lab.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2003

Cleo Cosmetic & Pharmaceutical Co., LLC--a company developing medications and devices designed to make surgical procedures easier and even eliminate the need for certain procedures--has recently moved into the Science Center Port's Innovation Lab for some of the their basic science research needs.

"Currently, we are working on projects designed to improve available tissue preservation media, and are also developing various pseudoplastic products to be used in ophthalmic, orthopedic and cosmetic procedures," said Cleo President Dr. David B. Soll.

According to Dr. Soll, the year-old company will be focusing part of their research efforts in the Port's Innovation Lab while the company's headquarters will remain in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

"The Science Center's previous experience working with startup biotech companies is what initially lured us to consider the Innovation Lab space," Dr. Soll said. "After speaking with (Science Center Chief Operating Officer) David Noteware, it was clear that the Port and the Innovation Lab could provide us with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment a start-up company like ours could not afford on its own."

According to Dr. Karen Meidlinger, the Science Center's Director of Life Sciences, the Innovation Lab is specialized space within the Port business incubator that was designed to meet the needs of companies like Cleo. In addition to shared facilities and equipment, there is a life science manager and lab assistant who work to meet the needs of Innovation Lab companies.

"The Innovation Lab was set up two years ago to provide several early-stage companies with a shared, but completely equipped, laboratory space," she said. "Companies can just walk into the Innovation Lab and start working. It is truly a unique space in the region and a real asset to start-up life science companies."

About Cleo Cosmetic & Pharmaceutical Co., LLC: Cleo Cosmetic & Pharmaceutical was formed in August 2002 as a research organization that is committed to the development of medications and devices used in the prevention and treatment of various clinical entities and also adjunctive medications and devices used during surgical procedures.

About the Science Center: The Science Center's mission is to grow regional wealth by developing knowledge communities that fuse talent, capital and opportunity. Since 1963, the Science Center has helped to launch over 350 new technology companies. (www.ScienceCenter.org)