The Council for Entrepreneurial Development is expanding its annual Biotech and Life Science Conference program to include funding pitches from early-stage life science and medical technology firms.

Fourteen companies made the list for the 20th annual event.

The conference is set for Feb. 21 and 22 at the Raleigh Convention Center. The startups will make 10-minute presentations about their technology and products on Feb. 21.

The N.C. Biotechnology Center and NC BIO, a trade group, co-sponsor the conference along with CED.

The startups will present in two different groups.

The biopharma presenters (company descriptions from CED):

  • Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – discovering and developing novel treatments for glaucoma
  • Aldagen – developing proprietary regenerative cell therapies
  • Cempra Pharmaceuticals Inc. – developing novel, well-differentiated antibiotics
  • Clinipace Worldwide – contract research organization offering clinical research and clinical trial operations
  • Corridor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – developing novel treatments for vascular diseases with an initial focus on pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • Liquidia Technologies – developing highly precise particle-based vaccines and therapeutics
  • Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – discovering and developing novel inhibitors of key metalloenzymes via an innovative and proprietary metal-binding approach
  • Zyngenia, Inc. – developing next-generation of antibody-derived drugs

The medical technology presenters are (company descriptions from CED):

  • LipoScience Inc. – diagnostic company focused on changing the way heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases are assessed and managed
  • nContact – developing and investigating medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of heart arrhythmias
  • Pathfinder Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – creating novel drugs for viral infections and related cancers
  • TransEnterix – engineering and launching products that help to reduce the invasiveness of surgery for patients while enhancing the capabilities of surgeons
  • Tryton Medical, Inc. – developing novel stent systems for the treatment of bifurcation lesions
  • Oncoscope, Inc. – develops proprietary optical imaging systems for the early detection of cancers in the esophagus, colon, lung, cervix, and bladder

The presenters were selected by a panel of venture capitalists.

“The presenting company tracks showcase the growth in life sciences in the southeast,” said CED President Joan Siefert Rose in a statement. “CED is pleased to give these promising companies a platform to connect with investors and the other resources needed to help grow their businesses.”

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