Life Sciences : Innovations Series
Arresting – and Enhancing -- the Aging Process
October 2, 2007 | 7:30–9:30am | Quadrus Center | 2400 Sand Hill Rd.| Menlo Park
Event Sponsor: O’Melveny & Myers LLP

Can we arrest the aging process, offset disease -- and even extend longevity significantly? And, what’s the future potential for drugs to treat or prevent a wide variety of diseases related to aging? Join noted aging authority UCSF Professor Cynthia Kenyon, PhD and Elixir Pharmaceuticals CEO William “Bill” Heiden as they provide insights into the current research on aging, discuss the potential for life enhancing changes and share thoughts on the future for new commercial products.

• How recent experiments in mammals hint that similar genetic pathways may affect human aging as well  -- and the potential for new drugs
• How disease onset can be offset by preventing cellular damage
• What is the current stage of commercial product development—and what are the enormous unmet needs and the future potential for the development of new drugs
  

About our Speakers:
Since 1986, Cynthia Kenyon, Ph.D. has taught at theUniversity of California, San Francisco, where she is the Herbert BoyerDistinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics. She joined UCSFafter a post-doctoral fellowship at the Medical Research CouncilLaboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. Dr. Kenyonreceived a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is amember of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has authored orco-authored more than 50 publications, including a recent article inNature about the regulation of lifespan in C. elegans.

Alan Cash is CEO of Terra Biological LLC. As CEO, Mr. Cash is involved in the research, regulatory acceptance, marketing and sales of a calorie restriction mimetic that has been shown to increase lifespan of various short-lived laboratory animals.  Human clinical trials confirm the product’s ability to reduce fasting glucose levels (consistent with calorie restriction). The product, benaGeneTM, is sold in Canada and Europe as a nutritional supplement, with anticipation of sales in the USA in third quarter, 2008.

Previously Mr. Cash started, operated and sold several high tech companies.  Most recently he sold Terra-Kleen Response Group, Inc. to a Canadian Public company.  Terra-Kleen provided a high tech solution for soil contaminated with PCBs and dioxins.  The technology was licensed to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Tokyo, Japan) and Veolia Environmental (Sydney, Australia).  During Mr. Cash’s management, the company was recognized by the White House, was listed on the INC. 500, received awards from Deloitte & Touch Technology Fast 50, Ernst &Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Environmental Business Journal, Zweig-White Hot firm list and was recognized at one of the top 50 growth firms in Southern California. Mr. Cash holds both an MS and BS in Physics.

Agenda:
Doors Open 7:30 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast 7:30-8:00
Program 8:00-9:30 a.m
 
$45 VC Taskforce members
$55 Affiliates
$67 General
(If space is available, door registration is an additional $10)
Seating is limited; register early.

Life Science Innovations Series: The inaugural of a new series initiated by VC Taskforce and sponsored by O’Melveny & Myers. Life Sciences Innovations is designed to enrich the discussions among researchers, entrepreneurs and venture and angel groups about evolving life sciences innovations.     

Science Innovations Program Chair:
Kathleen Imhoff, Pacific BioFacilities

Program Committee:    
Nat Baker                               
Agustin De la Calle                        
Rohit Gupta
David Hutton
Mary Napier
Atta Pilrim
Charlotte Rogers

If you have any questions please contact
Nat Baker, Direct Phone 415.722.6893