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Here at SDBN we’ve been updating our directory of 400+ San Diego biotech companies.  We were surprised to find close to 40 companies removed from the local scene – due to acquisition or shut down.  But we also found a net gain in companies, with 68 added. We’ve begun to add some of the ‘provenances’ of new companies, as well as what’s happened to those that are no longer listed, and welcome your comments and additions as well, please leave them as a comment below. Note that some companies are not new, we just missed them in our original directory and wanted to feature them in this post.

Updates to San Diego Biotechnology Company Directory

Company	Status	Details
1060 Discovery Engineering	Added
Adnavance	Removed
ALARIS Medical Systems	Removed	Now under Cardinal Health
Alere	Added	Acquired Biosite
Altair Therapeutics	Removed	Shut down
Amira Pharmaceuticals	Removed	Acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb
Amplyx Pharmaceuticals	Added
Aperio	Added
Applied Proteomics	Added
Aragon Pharmaceutical	Added
Astute Medical	Added	BioSite spinoff
AvantGen	Added
Avelas Biosciences	Added
Azco Biotech, Inc.	Added
Balboa Bio	Removed
Bio Applied Technologies Joint, Inc.	Added
BioAtla	Added
Biocept	Added
BioLaurus	Added
BioMedica, Inc.	Removed
BioSettia	Added
BioSite	Removed	Acquired by Alere
Biotix	Added
BPS Bioscience, Inc	Added
Calmune Corporation	Removed
Carolus Therapeutics	Added
Cebix	Added
Crinetics	Added	Started by ex-Neurocrine employees
CryoCor, Inc.	Removed
Diverse Diagnostics	Removed
Dx Innovations	Removed
Elcelyx	Added
Enigma diagnostics	Added
Essentialis	Added
Etaluma	Added
EuMederis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	Added
Expedeon	Added
Genetex	Added
Genofi	Added
GenTarget Inc,	Added
GenVault	Added	Existing, missed in original directory
Harbor Biosciences	Added	Changed name from Hollis Eden
Helixis	Removed	Acquired by Illumina
HemaQuest	Added
Hollis-Eden	Removed	Changed name to Harbor Biosciences
Iapyx Medical	Removed
Icx Biosystems	Removed
IDM Pharma, Inc.	Removed	Acquired by Takeda 2009
Inception Sciences	Added	Amira spinoff
Inhibrx	Added
KFx Medical, Inc.	Removed
Kinagen, Inc.	Added
Kinexis, Inc.	Removed
Kyowa Hakko Kirin California, Inc.	Added
LeGene Biosciences	Added
LiquidGrids	Added	Previously known as Swarmology
MabPrex.com	Added
MediVas LLC	Removed
Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc.	Removed
MO BIO Laboratories	Added	Existing company missed in original directory
Molecular Response	Added
Mpex Pharmaceuticals	Removed	Name change to Rempex
Nacalai usa	Added
NeoMPS, Inc.	Removed	Now part of PolyPeptide Group
NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals Inc.	Added
Novalar	Removed
Nventa	Removed	Merger with Akela Pharma, Inc March 27, 2008
Oceanside Pharmacuticals	Added
Orbigen	Removed
ORQIS Medical Corporation	Removed
PAGEgel, Inc.	Removed	Merged with Expedeon/Protein Discovery
Paramount BioSciences, LLC	Removed
Pegasus Cleanroom Services	Added
Perry Scientific	Removed	Acquired by Absorption Systems
Pfenex	Added
PharmaCircle	Added
Phenometrics	Added
Phenomix	Removed
PliCare Therapeutics	Added
ProteinLabs	Added
Rebexsess	Added
Rempex Pharmaceuticals	Added	Name change from Mpex
Renascions	Added
SeaSpine	Added
Serametrix	Added
SG Biofuels	Added
SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	Removed	As of 2008, acting as subsidiary of Lilly
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center	Removed
Sonexa Therapeutics	Added
SorrentoTherapeutics.com	Added
Sova Pharmaceuticals	Added
Strategic Enzyme Applications	Added
Tanox	Removed
TargeGen, Inc.	Removed	Acquired by Sanofi-Aventis
Targeson Inc	Added
Theragence Inc.	Added
TheraKem	Removed
Torrey Path, LLC	Removed
TorreyPines Therapeutics	Removed
TrovaGene	Added
Tulip BioMed, Inc.	Removed
Ultimate Labs	Added
Vasgene	Removed
Verus Pharmaceuticals, Inc	Removed
ViaCyte Technologies: Stem Cell Engineering	Added
VivaMab, LLC	Added
West Wireless Health Institute	Added
Zacharon Pharmaceuticals	Added

A recent report suggests evidence that the San Diego biotech scene is going strong. Released in December 2011 the Life Sciences Cluster Report by Jones Lang LaSalle rates San Diego #7 in the global biotech clusters.  The report examines global locations for viable industry hubs, and defines a “cluster” by a multiple data points including:

• Educated workforce
• Venture and investment capital
• Centers of excellence and innovation
• Industry-friendly political structures
• Institutions of higher learning
• Target economic development incentives
• Patent protection
• Other associations and supporting infrastructure

Ranking in the top 10 for funding – third in VC and sixth for NIH funding – it seems that the money is rolling in for San Diego. The 97-page study says San Diego’s dense concentration of incubator and start-ups is expected to continue growth in the near future.

Each of the submarkets reviewed – UTC, Torrey Pines, Sorrento Mesa, and Sorrento Valley – experienced growth in 2011, aside from Sorrento Mesa being almost completely leased.  The report forecasts continued recovery in rents, vacancies tightening and, due to a lack of new development, re-positioning of older properties to meet demands for higher quality facilities, particularly in Sorrento Mesa.

Additionally, Torrey Pines, San Diego’s largest submarket, has seen a resurgence of growth, with more life science companies acquiring larger spaces. The report states that in 2011 Verenium signed a deal larger than Torrey Pines has seen in two years.

NIH grants have increased 28 percent from 2010 and by 70 percent from 2008.  The outlook is sunny for San Diego in 2012, with a continued increase expected in the number of start-ups and dispersal of capital from venture capital and government funds.

A PDF of the complete report can be downloaded here.

Thanks to Flickr user JoF for this image of gliders taking off and landing at Torrey Pines, where many San Diego life science companies also ‘take off.’

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Now that SLAS 2012 has wrapped up, the question is, amid all of those robotic arms, who truly stood out? We saw some great examples of vendors who were able to draw the crowds, while showcasing some pretty cool technology.

Here’s a list of some great ways to get a scientist’s attention, wonderfully demonstrated by three life science vendors at SLAS 2012.

1. Creativity counts. Rather than a bunch of cylinders and valves scattered about with some brochures on a table, Clippard center-staged an Air Guitar, rigged to be played.  How does this awesome display work?  Through 62 miniature air cylinders, and 58 valves to control those cylinders that can play each string individually or by strumming all six strings at once.  ”Playing songs that are impossible by the human hand,” says Rob Clippard from Clippard Instrument Laboratory Inc.,”the controls are as up to date as the idea itself.”  The iPad app “Pianist” plays the song, sends it via midi protocol to a translator board, and tells the miniature pneumatic, low wattage Clippard valves to turn on and off at the right times and move the appropriate cylinder with 50 psi of air.  Did you get all that? That’s ok – the guitar is cool, the technology and idea are innovative and unique, and you can learn all about what they have to offer once you’ve been hooked.  Here’s a video of the Air Guitar in action.
2. Product? What Product? Though I have a soft spot in my heart for robotics and laboratory automation, as a recent defector from a Drug Discovery lab, even I can glaze over a bit after the 10^th or 11^th robotic arm display.  But, I loved how Agilent showcased their nimble technology, by bringing a bit of Vegas to SLAS.  The pull to stay at the booth was not only the cheering crowd encircling the game, but the fact that as soon as you step into the booth, you receive a poker chip.  An invitation to have some fun, and no need to talk to a rep first?  You got me. After hours of wandering the aisles a distraction is highly welcome.  Odds that someone will remain in your booth for a bit are good at this point, and I did as soon as that chip hit my hand.  Microtiter plates covered with playing cards lined the stacker.  Agilent’s Direct Drive Robotic arm swiftly dealt three people their hands of 21, amid cheering scientists waiting their turn.  After the game, the robot dealer gave you a microtiter “card” that informed you of your prize.  For the sake of some great word of mouth for Agilent, I hope that what happens at SLAS doesn’t stay at SLAS…?
3. Tap into competition. Though a large sign announced Artel’s Pipetting Olympics (grand prize iPad2!), what caught my eye as I strolled past, were scientists super – super – into pipetting.  And a line of them waiting their turn.  Pipetting?  Ok, I knew it must be worth my wait –  without even knowing what I was lining up for, I was there with bells on.  All of this was to showcase their calibration and volume verification systems, which they did well.  Scientists were excited, engaged, and most importantly, listening to the reps explain how the system works and how it can work for them.

We hope to see even more engaging tactics by vendors as they continue reaching out to all aspects of a scientist’s interests.  Thanks for a great conference and see you next year!

 

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This spring San Diego downtown will be buzzing with scientific discussions as our city hosts a number of major scientific symposia.  We are excited to attend and soak in all the science that will be shared during these two months.  Our own Mary Canady will also be participating in a panel discussing on the triumphs and trials of Transitioning from Academia to Industry at the Annual meeting of the Biophysical Society on Tuesday, February 28, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.

We hope that you are planning on attending at least some of these events, and to help you plan your attendance, we outline below pertinent information about each conference:

Name	Date	LinkedIn event page	Twitter account	Twitter hashtag	Tweetup or Event
2012 Society for Laboratory Automation & Screening	2/4- 2/9	http://linkd.in/uVMlgx	@SLAS_org	#SLAS2012	No*
Biophysical Society 56th Annual Meeting	2/25- 2/29	http://linkd.in/uwFbH6	@BiophysicalSoc	#bps12	No*
IBC’s Biopharmaceutical Development & Production Week	2/27- 3/2	http://linkd.in/rZVttm	@ibcusa	#BDPWeek	No*
American Chemical Society	3/25- 3/29	http://linkd.in/AgWH30	@ACSNatlMtg	#ACSSanDiego	Follow @pidgirl for details
Experimental Biology	4/21- 4/25	http://linkd.in/taE6N6	@expbio	#EB2012	TBD

*SDBN may host a tweetup if none will be planned by meeting organizers.  Stay tuned.

The spring will be exciting for science in San Diego, add our Google calendar to yours so you won’t miss out on any local events. We hope you can set aside some time to take advantage of the presence of these major conferences in our city, we’ll be posting updates if you can’t. Some of the conferences have free or reasonable exhibit hall passes, and we’ll also post after hours events on our Facebook page so you can do some networking.

Comprendia is giving free social media consultations for your life science business, contact us to schedule one while you’re in San Diego.

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What a great turnout last week!  Thanks to all who attended SDBN’s first Happy Hour event, and thanks to our sponsor Avitus Group. As always we enjoyed seeing many familiar as well as new faces within the local scientific community.

Congratulations to Ramy Aziz, Visiting Scientist at UCSD Systems Biology Research Group, who was the big winner. A social butterfly collecting more than 25 business cards, he collected the prize of a $50 Amazon gift card – thanks Avitus Group!

We appreciate everyone who was able to participate in our LinkedIn Profile recommendations, it was a definite hit.

With so many ways to improve a LinkedIn profile it’s not easy to narrow down the ideas.

Whether you’re a scientist looking for a job, or trying to increase your reputation within your industry, spiffing up your LinkedIn page to reflect where you are and what you can offer can be invaluable to your career growth.

We saw some great examples of LinkedIn pages. And since we saw several recurring themes of areas where people could use help, in this blog post I’ll stick with some of the basic improvement areas.

Before getting into it, here was a common question we heard – “Why should I care if I’m not currently a job seeker?”  Answer – because if you wait until you absolutely need a network to leverage, you will find yourself a few months behind the game.  If you can build a foundation now, you’ll have it when you need it, and more than that, you never know when or where new opportunities will come from….

Below is a summary of five (5) characteristics common to profiles that:

• have a likely chance of being found through a LinkedIn search, or
• that act as an engaging, interesting, and informative personal marketing piece for professional deliverables and qualifications

Top LinkedIn Profile Improvements – Starting Points

1. Have a photo – A headshot where you’re not holding a beer is the path you want to take.  You wouldn’t have a bag over your head at a networking event, and you shouldn’t here.  LinkedIn is a conversation waiting to happen – be friendly and you’ll start the conversation on the right foot.
2. Get a Customized URL – Take advantage of personalizing your URL – make it shorter and more memorable – here’s how:

   Option 1	Option 2
   Go to your Profile Page At the bottom of the grey box with all of your information is a Public Profile line You should see an “Edit” link next to your URL Click “Edit” and enter your personalized URL (then save)	Adapted from LinkedIn Help Center Go to Settings and click “Edit your public profile” In the “Your public profile URL” box on the right, click the “Customize your public profile URL” link Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box Click Set Custom URL and enter your personalized URL (then save)

 

3. Professional Headline – Your Name and Professional Headline are the only two things that others will see in the some places in LinkedIn.

   For example, people mouse over your name for this information within Group discussions, in the Q&A section (if you ask / answer a question), and in connections lists.

   • Your headline should be a marketing phrase, not just your current title (current title appears under “Current” in the information section anyway)
   • You are allowed 120 characters in this field so try to add some detail to let people know who you are and what you can do for them, in a nutshell

 

4. Join more groups – You get 50 for free, take advantage. Find the most relevant LinkedIn groups in your industry that will help you meet your goals. You may join because you get something from their discussions or you may join because an influencer or connection at a company you’re interested in is in that group. Over time you can filter out the groups that offer you little or nothing.
   • Find jobs in groups – people post these things, especially in job seeker groups within your industry (see some suggested groups in the last bullet)
   • Groups are a great place to find others who are having discussions in your field, about topics of interest to you.  And if you need help with anything, it’s a perfect place to ask for advice.  Ask questions – you’ll learn and it raises your profile in LinkedIn.
   • Listen – The great thing about groups is you don’t have to talk at all.  This is probably the best way to get a feel for the topics and content valued in your primary groups of interest, which leads to the next point -
   • You don’t have to follow everything in every group – just pick a few most interesting or valuable to you
   • Want to showcase your expertise in your field? Giving advice within groups builds your reputation in your industry
   • Reach many more people directly – within your field.  And when you want to LinkIn with someone, you can use a group as a point of connection when sending the invitation
   • Here are some LinkedIn groups we at SDBN recommend for scientists (job-seeking or not) –
     

     Group	No. of Members
     American Chemical Society	9,085
     BIO International Convention	1,534
     BIOCOM	1,299
     Biospace	3,987
     Biotech & Pharma Professionals Network	97,687
     Biotechnology/Pharmaceuticals	18,816
     Drug Discovery 2.0	542
     Life Science Talk	5,055
     The Life Science Executive Exchange	14,716
     Lifesciences Opportunities in US	29,762
     LiMS forum – Laboratory Informatics Institute user’s group for LIMS, Scientific & Health Informatics	31,406
     myBIO Community – Biotechnology connections	17,137
     Pharmaceutical Jobs Biotech Life Sciences & Medical Devices	54,869
     Professionals in the Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industry	64,471
     San Diego Biotech Pharma Professional Social Network	1,299
     San Diego Biotechnology Network	5,179
     SoCal Science Cafe: Career Cafe	105

 

5. More Recommendations – One of the best ways to stand out to employers, recruiters, or potential business partners is through testimonials of others who have done business or worked side-by-side with you.
   • Ask for a recommendation from as many people as possible and be sure to return the favor
   • What you say about others can also inform on if you work and play well with other scientists.  And these also show up on your Profile page so don’t just “form-letter” your recommendations – make them personal, interesting, and genuine.

So basically, the idea to remember is to fill our your LinkedIn profile page out as completely as you would your resumé . Since you want your LinkedIn profile to be more succinct than your resumé , go through and add sections manually rather than relying on the resumé upload function. I haven’t tried it myself but have heard that it can mess up the formatting you’ve already created. Plus you’ll have to go back and edit it anyway, so you may as well just start there.

We hope these tips help you to improve your LinkedIn profile through some relatively painless starting points. Please leave any tips you have in the comments below – and we’ll be sure to follow this post up with some intermediate and advanced tips for LinkedIn profile improvement, stay tuned.

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