4.04.2007

COMPANY: Arrowhead Research

Overview
Arrowhead Research Corporation is a publicly traded company based in Pasadena, CA with a market cap of around $160M. Arrowhead focuses on developing nanotechnology with sponsored research grants to top institutions and through research and development within its subsidiary companies, Aonex Technologies, Insert Therapeutics, Calando Pharmaceuticals, and Unidym. Arrowhead's business plan involves commercializing nanotechnology products owned by its subsidiaries, funding nanotech R&D in exchange for licensing rights, and acquiring IP for nanotechnologies.

Subsidiaries
Aonex Technologies- Specializes in nano-enables semiconductor fabrication to reduce costs, improve performance, and integrate multiple functions into a single device. The technology under Aonex has many applications in electronics, but the major focus is currently on next-generation solar cells.

Insert Therapeutics- Couples its patented delivery technology, Cytosert, with drugs for improved drug solubility, stability, circulation, and targeting for enhanced safety and efficacy. The cytosert linkage lengthens the drug combination and, through the enhaced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of tumor cells, prevents loss of drug by normal vessel leakage while enhancing drug accumulation in targeted tumor cells.

Calando Pharmaceuticals- Utilizes the phenomenon of RNA interference (RNAi) to “silence” the expression of disease causing genes. While the RNAi technology is rather widely used, Calando uses self-assembling nanoparticles to prime the drug for intravenous injection. Preclinical studies on this polymer-RNAi combination have been promising.

Unidym- Uses carbon nanomaterials (buckytubes and buckyballs) in the development of next-generation electronics. The technology is based on networks of carbon nanotubes, leading to high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, transparency, and environmental resistance. Initial products include transparent and electrically conductive films that offer competitive alternatives to indium tin oxide (ITO) in applications such as flat panel displays, touch screens, and solar cells.

News
1.25.2006- Arrowhead receives $19.6M in institutional investments from York Capital Management and Knott Partners in exchange for stock.

1.10.2006- Arrowhead is selected for inclusion in the Powershares Lux Nanotech Portfolio, which is intended to track a group of leading companies involved in developing and manufacturing nanotechnology.

C
ollaborations
6.14.2006- Arrowhead acquires nanoelectronics company Unidym for $7M

2.22.2005- Arrowhead launches Calando Pharmaceuticals as a majority-owned subsidiary to develop new technology taking advantage of RNAi technology

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Arrowhead's recent purchase of CNI is significant.