Rice Alliance

(HOUSTON) – VMH HEALTH was named one of the most promising Life Science companies at the 8th Annual Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship Life Science Venture Forum in Houston last week. Life Science companies showcased their new ventures for an audience of more than 400 attendees, including investors, venture capitalists, industry representatives, business leaders, advisors/mentors, service providers, and entrepreneurs.

Cynthia A. Doerr, M.D., partner, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures said of the presenter "This is one of the most mature groups of healthcare-related company presentations that I have reviewed in Houston, and I intend to follow their progress closely"

VMH Health is a spin-out company from Texas A&M Health Science Center and Scott and White Healthcare. The company has licensed patented technologies from these organizations to develop a diagnostic device and therapy for essential hypertension. The patents are based on over 25 years of research by scientist-physician Dr. Jules Puschett. The company is working with INCELL Corporation in San Antonio to manufacture the prototypes for diagnostic testing and therapeutics, and continues a collaborative effort with Texas A&M Health Science Center and Scott and White Healthcare to develop and commercialize the company’s products.

CEO, Gary Litwin, said of the recognition “we’re very pleased to have been recognized for our company’s efforts to date; we believe this news helps to validate our business mission”.

The one day event culminated in an announcement of the Most Promising Life Science Companies chosen from nearly 35 competitors and judged by the Rice Alliance Information Technology Advisory Board, based on the companies’ elevator pitch presentations. The exercise simulates meeting an investor on an elevator and having only 90 seconds to convince them to invest in your company.

In addition, five other new life science technology companies were pre-selected to present their 10 minute business plan presentation at the forum, and as one of the chosen five, were also named a Most Promising Life Science Technology Company.

Rice Alliance Director Brad Burke, announced the winners of the Most Promising Life Science Company awards at the event. "Every year the quality of companies improves. Many of the companies at this year’s event have developed prototypes, obtained proven results and are on their second round of funding. This makes them more appealing to investors, who have also expressed appreciation for the quality of the companies."

The Forum was supported by Baker Botts, LLP, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, Winstead Attorneys and Oracle with media sponsors Houston Business Journal and the BusinessMakers Radio Show. Elevator pitches from the competition can be heard at businessmakersradioshow.com starting June 20, 2009.