Okairos Named as One of Windhover’s Top Projects to Watch in Infectious Diseases

BASEL, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Windhover Information has named Okairos as one of its Top Projects to Watch at the 4^th Annual Therapeutic Area Partnerships, one of the biopharmaceutical industry’s premier partnering events, which takes place in Boston, MA from 28-30 November 2012.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the top biotechs working in infectious diseases. Selection by the expert panel is a fantastic acknowledgment of our pioneering work to combat major diseases such as hepatitis C, HIV and RSV.”

The selection highlights Okairos’ position as one of the most attractive infectious disease opportunities the industry has to offer. David Cassak, Vice President, Content at Windhover Conferences, a division of Elsevier Business Intelligence, said: "Winners have met rigorous criteria, including: unmet medical need, market potential, diversity of indications, strong science, multi-level partnering opportunities (biotech and pharma), potential for new opportunities beyond initial indications and corporate stability."

Dr Riccardo Cortese, chief executive officer and co-founder of Okairos, said: “We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the top biotechs working in infectious diseases. Selection by the expert panel is a fantastic acknowledgment of our pioneering work to combat major diseases such as hepatitis C, HIV and RSV.”

Windhover’s Top Projects to Watch are hand-picked by a panel of independent experts who screen hundreds of compounds and weigh their potential as future products. Many presenting companies in previous years have gone on to establish major partnerships.

Earlier this year, Okairos was also selected by FierceBiotech as one of the 2012 Fierce 15, in recognition of its innovation and creativity in the face of intense competition.

About Okairos

Okairos is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, developing genetic vaccines for major infectious diseases - including malaria, hepatitis C, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and cancer - using a novel proprietary technology. The company is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and has laboratories in Rome and Naples, Italy.

Okairos' technology platform is centered on the development of new, potent adenovirus vectors to generate a pipeline of T-cell vaccines against a range of infectious diseases for which there is currently no effective vaccine. The company is also pursuing therapeutic vaccines to treat cancer. The company’s investors include BioMedInvest, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, LSP, Novartis Venture Funds and Versant Ventures.

For more information, visit www.okairos.com.

About Elsevier Business Intelligence

Elsevier Business Intelligence, a global leader in the field of healthcare industry information, provides business intelligence on regulatory, business and reimbursement issues that are vital to the healthcare industry. Through a range of products including publications, conferences, e-learning, databases and reports, Elsevier Business Intelligence places biopharma and medical device professionals, and those who focus on these industries, at the forefront of knowledge, by providing the perfect combination of news and information together with penetrating insight and analysis. Our leading publications include PharmAsia News, IN VIVO and "The Pink Sheet."

For more information, visit: http://www.ElsevierBi.com.