Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) has approved a total of more than $1.3 million in funding for four early-stage technology companies that are prepared to grow their enterprises and the Commonwealth's economy.

"Through the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, we are making targeted investments in a wide range of emerging high-tech companies that will bring new products to the competitive global marketplace," says Dennis Yablonsky, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development.

"These investments include two innovative product companies focused on weight loss and emergency rescue, a communications company and a biotechnology company operating out of a state-funded Keystone Innovation Zone," says RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, BFTP/SEP's President and CEO. "Each company has a strong management team in place to grow their enterprise and create more high-paying jobs for the Commonwealth."

Immunotope, Inc.
Doylestown (Bucks County)
Investment: $350,000
Immunotope focuses on the critical, unmet need to diagnose cancer at its earliest stages and to provide effective treatments that destroy tumors and prevent recurrence and metastasis. The company's lead product is an immunotherapeutic vaccine now being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial in ovarian and breast cancer patients.

The company began operations in 2004 with early intellectual property generated by Dr. Ramila Philip, President and Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Philip joined forces with co-founders Lorraine Keller, Ph.D., and Mohan Philip Ph.D., to start the company. "Since then, Immunotope has filed over five patent applications and continues to generate a strong IP portfolio," Dr. Philip says.

BFTP/SEP previously recognized Immunotope's potential and funded the company with $350,000 in June 2006. "Ben Franklin gave us the funds to get a clinical evaluation started, which has made Immunotope a much more attractive company for investors," says Dr. Philip.

Immunotope is located in the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County, a $15 million facility in Doylestown, PA, which was created with support from BFTP/SEP, the Hepatitis B Foundation and Delaware Valley College. The center opened in 2006 and was designated a state Keystone Innovation Zone, with the goal to promote the collaboration between regional companies, researchers, students and entrepreneurs.

Small Bite, Inc.
Haverford (Montgomery County)
Investment: $300,000
Small Bite is commercializing an oral device used for the treatment of obesity in adults. The device, which is not noticeable to others, restricts jaw movement, thus limiting intake and reducing the ability to eat quickly.

The device was invented by Jan Renders, an orthodontist who was once an obesity patient. Jan previously weighed over 330 pounds and was concerned about the risks associated with stomach reduction surgery. Through research, he discovered a relationship between the speed of consumption, bite size and weight management. The body requires 20 minutes to experience satiety after the start of a meal, during which time people often consume far more calories than they require.

The oral device causes an unpleasant stimulus when the lower jaw is opened too far. The result is a reflex, making the patient eat with smaller bites, causing lower calorie consumption by the point of satiation. The device stays in the mouth for 6 to 9 months. After this period, a new habit of eating is established, and the device can be removed.

The device went through numerous design cycles. When it was ready for in-patient use, Jan quickly lost 130 pounds. Jan's success inspired the team to start two trials with 50 other patients. The trials were a success, and Denis Mulder, an experienced entrepreneur, joined the team to commercialize the product. The team is now preparing clinical trials to obtain FDA approval to introduce the device on the U.S. market.

Life-Pack Technologies, Inc.
Ambler (Montgomery County)
Investment: $350,000
Life-Pack Technologies is developing advanced rescue systems for firefighters and building occupants. The lightweight wearable devices contain a cable that would enable firefighters to bail out of a building from an upper floor window and descend safely to a lower floor for recovery. Life-Pack is also creating a companion device that enables rescue workers to lift a fallen fighter to safety following a floor collapse.

CoreDial, LLC
Plymouth Meeting (Montgomery County)
Investment: $250,000
CoreDial is a leading Mid-Atlantic provider of Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) and Hosted PBX phone systems for emerging growth and mid-sized businesses in the United States. CoreDial's technology delivers business-quality communications and an impressive feature set, while eliminating the need to purchase expensive phone system hardware and software. The platform offers ease of use, better scalability and business continuity options compared to customer-premise-based phone systems.

 From the October/November 2007 issue