In the past two years we've seen the value of our portfolio almost triple based on the value of our companies' most recent raises and increase almost fourfold based on our best estimates of company values. We are all the more proud of this accomplishment given the generally difficult investment climate of the past year.

So hats off to the managers of our great companies, who deserve the credit for this impressive accomplishment. So far this year, Misgav companies have raised over $10 million in investment capital, but there are still some great investment opportunities available among our portfolio companies.

If you are interested in exploring these opportunities, be in touch with me, and I will be happy to provide you with additional information. We are optimistic that the positive trend of the past two years is going to continue and invite you to join the adventure with us.

Best wishes to all our friends for a healthy and successful New Year.

Steve Rhodes, CEO
Misgav Venture Accelerator

HTL signs cooperation agreement with Chiesi Group, a major European pharmaceutical company

Chiesi will finance the development, regulatory procedure, and introduction of HTL's first product, an innovative lipid emulsion optimized for intravenous feeding of preterm neonates, into the market. Chiesi is the leading European pharmaceutical company in the field of products for premature infants. Dr. Bertold Fridlender is chairman and CEO of High Tech Lipids. Read the press release about the agreement.

News of the agreement appeared in The Calcalist, The Marker, and other Hebrew publications. Read more (PDF, Hebrew).

Virtual Ports raises $2.6 million

Virtual Ports completed a $2.6 million raise led by Israeli fund Skywalker Ventures and Virginia Life Science Investments (VSLI), and private investors. News of the raise appeared in Calcalist, The Marker and BizPortal (all in Hebrew), and in Globes (English). Udi Gordin is Virtual Ports' CEO.

In other news from Virtual Ports ... The Company obtained the CE Mark for its EndoGrab device. Read the article (Hebrew). 

Flexicath signs $1 million cooperation deal

Flexicath has signed a $1 million cooperation deal to form a joint venture with the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse. The Company's unique sterile catheter, which can remain in place up to 29 days, recently received FDA clearance. Shai Amisar is the Flexicath's CEO. Read more about the joint venture.

In other news from Flexicath ... The Company received good news: The latest version of its product with the safety introducer was cleared by the FDA -- a "first shot approval," according to Amisar. Read more about the approval.

The Company was featured in "The Midline Intravenous Catheter: Meeting the Challenges of Patient Safety and Cost Control," by Robert Garcia (Infection Control Today, 24 September 2009). Read the excerpt about Flexicath.

Immunovative begins clinical trials on cancer drug, looks to raise $2 million
Having received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start human trials for its anticancer drug, Immunovative Therapies Ltd. has begun clinical trials in the United States and is seeking to raise $2 million. Michael Har-Noy is Immunovative's CEO. Read more about the approval.

In other news from Immunovative ... The Company announced that its CryoStim™ experimental product has been cleared by the FDA to begin human clinical trials. Read the announcement.

News about Immunovative's continued successes appeared in Globes (Hebrew and  English). 

ID-U Biometrics completes performance evaluation
ID-U Biometrics completed a performance evaluation of its authentication prototype and reported on its findings in a company update. Daphna Palti-Wasserman, ID-U's CEO, notes: "The ID-U error rates are comparable to those of leading biometric products already in the market. These results, in conjunction with the technology's distinct advantages, position the Company very well for penetrating the identification market." Read the Company's update about the evaluation. 

Welcome to Arie Ben-Yosef, CEO of ETView

Welcome to new ETView CEO Arie Ben-Yosef.
Congratulations to ETView on publication of major study. Read more about the study.

LifeBond featured in Israel21c article

LifeBond was the subject of "Gluing together expertise to help save lives," a feature article in Israel21c. Ishay Attar is LifeBond's CEO and founder. Read the article.  

Scorpion's spinal implants featured in article and video

Scorpion Surgical Technologies was the subject of a feature article and video on Arutz Sheva. The company's novel spinal implant will replace fusion and stabilization procedures. Yaron Aizenbud is Scorpion's CEO. Read the article (and see the video) about Scorpion.

In other news from Scorpion ... The Company was also the subject of an article in Biomedical Business & Technology. Read the BB&T article.   

PolyTouch and Headway send first newsletters

In July and August, both PolyTouch Medical and Headway Medical sent the first issues of their respective quarterly newsletters.
Read the PolyTouch newsletter.
Read Headway's newsletter.  

EVENTS

Three Misgav companies will be attending this year's MarketReach America@Advamed 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., from October 12 to 15. PolyTouch, RealView, and Headway will all be participating at this year's event. Steve Rhodes, Misgav's CEO, will be on hand at this year's MarketReach conference.

The participating companies will have opportunities to present their companies, have face-to-face meetings, participate in networking events, and attend a symposium at the National Institutes of Health. Advamed 2009 is a medtech conference for CEOs, business executives, policy-makers, media, financiers, and others. Good luck to all of the companies.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Misgav is drawing on its strength as part of The Trendlines Group by adding the services of Signal Business Development professional consulting team to its deal flow efforts. Led by Maura Rosenfeld, the Signal team will be supporting Misgav's endeavors to bring those ideas and innovations that can be shaped into commercial successes. If you have a prospective project for Misgav, please contact Maura Rosenfeld at 050.877.7012.

Misgav was the subject of a Globes article, "The incubator that put down roots in the Galilee" (PDF, Hebrew).