Sign Up NowThis Month's Tiny Gems - November 2015

Cancer Genetics (CGIX)
International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO)
Nike, Inc. (NKE)
The Clorox Company (CLX)

 

 

 

Cancer Genetics (CGIX)

 

Cancer Genetics (CGIX) is focused on the development of personalized genetic testing for the detection of various cancers, with the goal of significantly increasing treatment efficacy while reducing healthcare costs. CGI's scientific advisory board includes leaders in the areas of hematological malignancies, solid tumor cancers, pharmacogenomics, and clinical trials administration. The company's growing patent base consists of molecular-focused patents for the diagnosis, prognosis, and risk stratification of difficult-to-treat cancers, based on what the company calls "unique algorithms that take into account multiple chromosomal regions associated with particular disease outcomes or treatment decision".

 

CGI is heavily involved in the area of pharmacogenomics, determining the way genetics affects a patient's drug response, to improve treatment and even help select trial populations for clinical testing. The company offers a number of pharmacogenomics testing services, including theranostic testing for various hematological and solid tumor cancers. In 2013, CGI helped form Oncospire Genomics as an equally owned joint venture with Mayo Clinic, designed to develop and commercialize NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) panels for unmet critical oncological needs. In 2014, CGI acquired Gentris, LLC, a pharmacogenomics testing, genotyping, and biorepository services company based in Raleigh, NC, with operations in China. That same year, the company also acquired India-based Bioserve Biotechnologis Pvt. Ltd., a leader in DNA related services in India.

 

Based in Rutherford, New Jersey, CGI also has operations in North Carolina and California, as well as in India and China. In addition, the company has research collaborations with cancer research and treatment leaders around the world, including:

 

CGI's President and CEO is Panna Sharma, founder of TSG Partners, a specialty life sciences consultancy and advisory company, where he directed the company's strategic initiatives and growth strategy, including various public and private company turnarounds, establishing several life science capital markets indices that are still used in the life science industry.

 

 

 

International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO)

 

International Stem Cell Corp. (ISCO) is a biotechnology company utilizing a proprietary new stem cell technology known as parthenogenesis to significantly advance the field of regenerative medicine. The company's innovative technology uses unfertilized human eggs to create human pluripotent stem cells (hpSC) that can be immune-matched to millions of people around the globe. These stem cells are unique in that they provide the best characteristics of each of the remaining classes of cells without the need for the creation or destruction of a viable embryo.

 

The company's business strategy features three unique channels for revenue generation within the biotechnology industry – including its core stem cell technology and related intellectual property, which encompasses 220 patents, applications and licenses associated with the development and manufacture of pluripotent cells, as well as its therapeutic research projects and promising development pipeline.

 

Lifeline Skin Care, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, is an industry leader in effective anti-aging stem cell skin care. Since being established in 2010, Lifeline has served as a growing source of vital financial support to fund ISCO's ongoing medical research. In 2014, Lifeline accounted for more than $7 million in total revenue, which was primarily allocated to the advancement of the company's promising development pipeline.

 

UniStemCell is the life science industry's first collection of non-embryonic histocompatible human stem cells available for research and commercial use. This cell bank gives the company a nearly inexhaustible source of stem cells that can be used to generate revenue in the medium term. As the company's hpSC lines gain additional validation, they are expected to provide the company with royalty from sales of each successful hpSC-derived cellular therapeutic in the future.

 

In addition to the sale of its stem cells, ISCO is making noteworthy progress toward the continued advancement of its development pipeline. The company is currently engaged in pre-clinical development addressing a host of unmet medical needs. Parkinson's disease, which affects an estimated one million people in the United States, represents ISCO's leading development indication, with phase I/II clinical trials expected to begin in the coming months. Following the completion of initial studies, the company will seek out a suitable partner to assist with late-stage clinical development.

 

With its groundbreaking stem cell technology, ISCO is developing a significant presence within the expansive field of regenerative medicine. By successfully mitigating many of the limiting factors commonly associated with stem cell research – including auto-immune rejection and ethical debate surrounding the use of embryonic cells – the company is leveraging the marketability of its technology as a catalyst for continued growth.

 

Research indicates that the global regenerative medicine market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2 percent through 2017, climbing to an estimated $24.7 billion by the end of the period. ISCO will look to capitalize on this market performance under the guidance of an executive management team with decades of experience in a collection of related scientific sectors.

 

 

 

Nike, Inc. (NKE)

 

Nike, Inc. (NKE), headquartered in Beaverton, OR, is the world's leading sportswear and sporting goods company, with a market cap approaching $100 billion. Founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports, and changing its name to NIKE in 1971, the company offers a full range of sports related clothing, accessories, and equipment, through sports and department stores and shops worldwide, as well as directly to consumers over the Internet. Nike's stated mission is "To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world", adding that "if you have a body, you are an athlete", the latter being a mantra used by legendary University of Oregon track and field coach, Bill Bowerman, who, along with Philip Knight, founded the company.

 

Philip H. Knight, a director of the company since 1968, is Chairman of the Board, and also served as company President for much of that time. Nike's current CEO and President, Mark Parker, joined in 1979, using his experience as a competitive runner to design footwear for the company. Nike feels it has built its dominant position in the marketplace largely through its close connection with both the casual and professional sports community, and now serves the sports market on six continents. It continues to grow sales and market share.

 

In addition to its large Oregon headquarters, with over 8,000 employees, Nike has corporate locations in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Fort Worth. Its European headquarters is in the Netherlands, with operational and administrative centers in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Moscow, and several other locations. The Japan & Asia Pacific region is supported by key operations in Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, and other countries, while the Nike Greater China Campus, with nearly 2,000 employees, is located in Shanghai. Nike also employees more than 3,000 workers in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Mexico, and has operations in South Africa.

 

As a worldwide employer, Nike emphasizes its ongoing efforts to demand ethical working conditions from its suppliers and business partners, affirming detailed steps it continues to take to eliminate forced or bonded labor, and to incentivize changes that benefit workers throughout the supply chain. According to the company's Standards For Compliance: "Nike uses third-party auditors to verify contracted factories are (in) compliance with laws. If a contracted factory is found to violate laws or Nike standards, it is responsible for improving performance against a master action plan. If the factory fails to make progress against that plan, they are subject to review and sanctions, including potential termination."

 

 

 

The Clorox Company (CLX)

 

The Clorox Company (CLX) manufactures and markets consumer and professional products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Cleaning, Household, Lifestyle, and International. Clorox is a global company with leading brands that have become household names: its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Green Works naturally derived cleaning products; Ayudín and Poett home care products; Pine-Sol dilutable cleaner; Fresh Step cat litter; Kingsford charcoal; Hidden Valley and K.C. Masterpiece dressings and sauces; Brita water filtration products; Glad bags, wraps and containers; and Burt's Bees natural personal care products.

 

Clorox manufactures products in more than two-dozen countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. The company offers laundry additives, including bleach products under the brand Clorox, as well as, stain fighter and color booster products under the brand Clorox 2; and home care products under the Clorox, Formula 409, Liquid-Plumr, Pine-Sol, S.O.S, and Tilex brands.

 

Clorox also provides naturally derived products under the Green Works brand name; and cleaning and disinfecting products under the Clorox, Dispatch, Aplicare, HealthLink, and Clorox Healthcare brands. In addition, the company offers plastic bags, wraps, and containers under the brand name Glad; cat litter products under the Fresh Step, Scoop Away, and Ever Clean brand names; and charcoal products under the Kingsford and Match Light brands.

 

In addition to the products mentioned above, Clorox provides dressings and sauces under the Hidden Valley, K.C. Masterpiece, and Soy Vay brand names; water-filtration systems and filters under the Brita brand; and natural personal care products under the Burt's Bees brand name. Additionally, the company offers dust wipes under the brand name Clorox; facial products, and lip crayons and balms under the Burt's Bees brand; and scent under the Glad, OdorShield, and Gain brands. It also markets its products under the PinoLuz, Ayudin, Limpido, Clorinda, Poett, Mistolin, Lestoil, Bon Bril, Agua Jane, Chux brands.

 

Clorox strives to make everyday life better in the world where it does business by giving back to its communities. Whether it's contributing to disaster relief efforts through donations of Clorox regular bleach, teaching classes at local schools or funding education, arts and culture programs, Clorox is committed to help restore, enrich and protect its communities.