Ernst & Young to host annual Israeli conference for venture capital funds and entrepreneurs of emerging growth companies

The conference serves as a meeting place for leaders of the high tech, telecommunication medical device, biotech and venture capital industries in Israel

"Tel Aviv, Israel, June 27, 2005 -- On September 15, 2005, Ernst & Young ( www.ey.com ) will host its 9th Annual Journey 2005 Conference - the annual Israeli conference for venture capital funds and entrepreneurs of emerging growth companies. The conference, which will takes place at David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel-Aviv, Israel, serves as a meeting place for leaders of the high tech, telecommunication medical device, biotech and venture capital industries in Israel.More than 2,000 participants are expected to attend the Journey 2005 conference, including general partners of foreign and Israeli venture capital funds, global private equity investments funds and international investment banks. Keynote Speakers at this upcoming event include Mike Moritz, Partner at Sequoia Capital and Joe Schoendorf, Partner at Accel Partners. Moritz, who will focus on information technology investments, is currently a Director of Flextronics ( FLEX ), Google ( GOOG ), RedEnvelope ( REDE ), Saba Software ( SABA ). Schoendorf, a member and strategic partner of the World Economic Forum, joined Accel in 1988. Previously he was the Vice President of Marketing for Apple Computer ( AAPL ). This year?s agenda will cover topics such as Doing Business in Asian Markets, Developing a Globalized Workforce Strategy, Working with Venture Capitalists, IPO?s in London Stock Exchange and many more. Additionally, Ernst & Young have included a separate track which will focus entirely on the Healthcare industry. The conference encompasses separate parallel tracks including plenary sessions, panels and workshops which cover all burning issues of high tech management for small business startup, emerging growth companies and more matured companies. ?In today?s business world, being innovative and creative are not just sayings but principal engines of economic growth?, said Yoram Tietz, partner for high-tech at Ernst & Young ( Israel ). ?There has never been a better time to create new opportunities for your company and to prepare for the next big thing.?This well known Journey Conference provides the most updated professional data about trends, developments and future outlook regarding the global technology industry, and serves as a platform for knowledge sharing and networking. It is designed to offer added value to entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, private equity investors, commercial and investment bankers, financing sources, biotech companies, pharmaceutical companies, corporate strategic investors, and institutional investors.For any questions regarding the Conference, please email Carmit Harel from Ernst & Young Israel, at carmit.harel@il.ey.com or call 972-3-5680992. For additional information about the Ernst & Young 9th Annual Journey 2005 Conference, please visit the website at www.journey2005.com"

Source: http://i-newswire.com/pr27162.html (27 June 2005)

Teva, Active Biotech submit investigational new drug application

Based on the results of US and European studies, phase III clinical trials of the MS therapy are planned for 2006.

"Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA; TASE: TEVA) and Active Biotech AB (Stockholm: ACTI.ST) announced today the submission of an investigational new drug application (IND) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a clinical trial in the US with laquinimod to assess drug-drug interaction. Laquinimod is a novel orally administered immunomodulatory substance, developed by Active Biotech and recently licensed to Teva. The companies believe that Laquinimod has the potential to be the first orally-administered disease modifying treatment for multiple sclerosis, both as a single agent therapy and in combination with Teva's Copaxone. A double-blind, placebo-controlled multi center phase IIb clinical study is currently ongoing in several European countries, in which the effects of laquinimod, administered orally, once-daily, at dose levels of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/day, are compared to those of placebo over nine months of treatment. Based on the results of the US and European studies, the phase III clinical program to confirm the efficacy and safety of laquinimod in relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) is planned to start in 2006. Teva president and CEO Israel Makov said, "This IND filing is an important step towards the initiation of pivotal studies with laquinimod which, along with Teva's development of an oral form of Copaxone, enhance the likelihood that Teva will be the first to market an oral treatment. This further demonstrates our commitment to developing new and improved therapies for multiple sclerosis patients in order to help treat their disease and improve their quality of life". Active Biotech president and CEO Sven Andreasson said, "We are very pleased to see how Teva's development program is diligently progressing towards starting phase III studies in the US and Europe.""

Source: Teva, Active Biotech submit investigational new drug application. Globes Online (28 June 2005) [FullText] [Related Report]

OrbiMed Advisors partner Jonathan Silverstein beleives in Israel Biotech

OrbiMed Advisors partner Jonathan Silverstein: This is just the beginning

"OrbiMed Advisors, a private equity and venture capital fund founded in 1989, manages $5 billion, all of which is designated for investment in life sciences companies. OrbiMed is one of the world's largest venture capital funds in this field. The firm has raised fifteen funds to date, the most recent of which has $500 million under management. Since 2001, OrbiMed has invested in Israeli companies Given Imaging (Nasdaq: GIVN; TASE: GIVN), Predix Pharmaceuticals (since its first financing round), and in superDimension?s fifth financing round, which raised $27 million, and closed three weeks ago. Five partners manage OrbiMed: Michael Sheffery, Carl Gordon, Jonathan Silverstein, founder Samuel Isaly, and Sven Borho. Silverstein is in Israel as part of a senior Global Capital Associates biotechnology delegation. Silverstein concentrates on private equity and deals involving biotechnology and medical equipment companies. Before joining OrbiMed, he was a director of life sciences in the investment banking department at Sumitomo Bank. Silverstein said today that the main purpose of his visit was to find more companies worthy of investment. OrbiMed is the world's largest fund in its field. So far, we have invested $40 million in three Israeli life sciences companies, and we hope to continue investing. We're fervent believers in the Israeli biotech industry.? Silverstein says that OrbiMed invests in companies at all growth stages. For example, we invested in Predix at an extremely early stage. Predix founder and CSO computational development Oren Becker came to our office with a computer presentation, and we decided to go for it, Silverstein recalls. He hopes that the delegation will enable him to be exposed to a large number of companies. OrbiMed is an unusual fund. US venture capital funds in this field are in no rush to invest in Israeli start-ups. You have to understand the industry. Only five out of 500 public biotechnology companies are profitable. If you examine the private companies, only 1% are profitable. These figures pose a huge challenge to investors in the field from Europe and the US. In this case, the geographic distance is significant, and most investors prefer to invest in companies that are closer to them. We think that there are interesting opportunities in Israel,? Silverstein explains. "Globes": Geographic distance doesn?t deter US high-tech investors. Silverstein: ?The Israeli biotechnology industry is just beginning. I believe that it will prosper, but it takes time. I'm convinced that more investors from the US will show interest in Israeli companies. There?s more available money in the US market, and investors are looking for opportunities.? "

Source: Batya Feldman We believe in Israeli biotech: OrbiMed Advisors partner Jonathan Silverstein: This is just the beginning. Globes.com (27 June 2005) [FullText]

Israel Congress Bio-tech 2005: Investors converge on Israel for bio-technology meet

Today foreign companies and investors cannot ignore the enormous potential that Israeli Life Science offers.

"Two male waiters clad in black take a deep breath to steady their feet before hoisting a huge fruit bowl onto the bar. Onlookers dart to the cherries and watermelon while others content with sipping their martinis on barstools nibble away at sushi.

If it weren't for the small talk focused on cancer research and cures for diabetes, one could easily imagine Israel's Fourth Annual Bio-Tech Conference and Exhibition at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv was an exclusive Mediterranean summer party.

Gentlemen in pinstripes from England could be overheard networking with Israeli venture capitalists, while Italian businessmen in twos and threes strolled through the biotech marketplace featuring new Israeli technology and medical advances.

One in three conference registrants came from abroad this year, a fourfold increase from 2004, making it clear that international biotech companies are positioning to invest and collaborate with Israel more than ever before.

"Three years in Israeli biotech terms is a generation," says Margaret Parton, program manager of the UK-US Bioscience Collaboration Program, back in Israel after a three-year lull. Parton has long established roots in the Israeli biotech community and has worked hand-in-hand with companies like Clal Biotech to help develop joint Israel and UK projects.

Although her new job, focused on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, keeps her posted in Texas, when collaboration potential calls Parton is on a plane following the best science in the world. In Israel, she is most excited about the tissue engineering products that Raphael Gorodesky of Hadassah is developing and hopes that the Israel embassy will present to a stem cell network in London.

On her agenda is finding partners for Framework 6 - a European Union funding body which finances Life Science. Framework 6 contributes to European research by improving integration and coordination of research within Europe and at the same time strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy.

Parton hopes to be a matchmaker in the field of cell therapies and has come to see if Israel, wedged between Europe and the Middle East, will suit the call. "If we want to survive we have to collaborate," she says, explaining that commercializing biology today relies on multi-disciplines and a lot of equity.

Parton was thrilled to have business back in Israel and noticed that Israeli scientists had lost none of their gusto. "I see that Israelis are getting better at communicating to the outside world," she told ISRAEL21c. "Today, the bad news is less bad and the good news coming out of Israel is overtaking."

Other visitors from around the world who came by way of Asia, North America, Africa, Europe and Australia were able to meet executives from Teva Pharmaceuticals, the Weizmann Institute of Science and Hadassah Medical Organization under one roof. Visitors were also able to take stock of fresh Israeli startups like Optimata, Pharmos and Brainstorm, while notable keynote speakers were flown in from institutions like Yale, NASA, Boston University and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"The conference was a sensation!" says Rafi Hostein, CEO of Hadassah's research and development company, Hadasit, a week after the event concluded. As vice-chair for Biotech 2005, he is aware that Israel biotech is on the upswing and foreigners are coming to take a look.

The first biotech event five years ago generated very little foreign interest, Hostein says, but today foreign companies and investors cannot ignore the enormous potential that Israeli Life Science offers. As participants returned home, Hostein received calls and email from all parts of the world by participants energized by the contacts encountered at the three day event which included a talk by Israel's Dr. Aaron Ciechanover, Laureate of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

This year, medical devices and traditional biotech areas were combined and brought together around four major health problems: respiratory disease, central nervous system disorders, metabolic disorders and cancer. A significant part of the program was given by an Italian delegation under the heading: Italy and Israel: Natural Partners in the Life Sciences.

It was through an existing relationship to Professor Zvia Agur, founder of Optimata, that Dr. Paolo Baroldi, the VP of corporate drug development at Chiesi Farmaceutici, Italy came to Israel. By the time the delegation approached him in his home country, he had already heard wonderful things about Israeli biotech through Agur.

Baroldi told ISRAEL21c that he came to the event to expand his company's collaboration horizons.

Chiesi, a mid-sized pharmaceutical company has revenues of about $670 million which puts Baroldi's executives in a position to invest almost 15 percent of that in new ventures.

"I was absolutely impressed with the overall level of quality and variety of technology that Israeli companies were exposing. Technology spanned from traditional drug development to small molecules at Teva, up to cutting edge biotech initiatives," he said.

Baroldi was particularly impressed by meetings with Weizmann Institute executives and, upon returning to Italy, began working to find channels of potential business matches in the area of pulmonary drugs.

"Israeli companies are looking to commit themselves to developing potential drugs and are taking part in the risk of this endeavor. This is a fantastic model for medium-sized companies like ours," he said.

The European consortium of biotechnology incubators, NATIBS, also came to Israel for the first time as the guest of Israel's Rad BioMed incubator. Fifty European incubator managers and biotech heads were present from France, Germany, Spain and Sweden taking a look as Israel exhibitors displayed their wares in the form of medication, computerized drug discovery and bioinformatics to name a few.

Guillaume Bruleboise, the business development manager at Oncodesign, France, was looking for more clients to grow his cancer testing compounds. Bruleboise believes Israel is a very promising market for his company's expansion. "People in Israel are reactive, and venture capital is much more active than in Europe," he said.

Japanese participants included Makoto Sawada, representing Cath Lab, a medical device import company from Japan mainly working with Germany and France. He consults device and technology companies in Israel and was at the event looking out for innovative technology in cardiology.

On the Israeli side, Guy Malchi, the CEO of Optimata was thrilled that he could meet personally with FDA vice-commissioner Murray Lumpkin. Malchi found the foreign input and lecture given by Lumpkin highly relevant to the development process of his startup company.

"Attendance from the outside was impressive," said Malchi. "I feel there is a change underway in Israel now that we are able to interact directly with investors from abroad on our own turf."

While Malchi was pleased to have the chance to speak with the FDA, other startup executives were able to brush elbows with top pharmaceutical giants from Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Infinity and Merck.

This is a big deal for companies which normally have to travel to Europe and the US to vie for such an opportunity. "Last year if a VP from Merck came to Israel it made the country's headlines," said Bernard Dichek, publisher of BioIsrael, Israel's biotech industry news. "This year I am barely able to keep track of foreign delegations sweeping in and out looking for investment potential," he added.

If foreign interest is an indicator of Israel's stance in the world biotech marketplace, this year's Biotech 2005 Conference and Convention has only set the stage for what is yet to come."

Source: Karin Kloosterman. Investors converge on Israel for bio-technology meet. Israel 21 C. (26 June 2005) [FullText]

Israel's Rosetta Genomics - Cracking the RNA Code

"Rosetta Genomics - Our approach is innovative in that it identifies genes by computer, and only afterwards verifies their existence in a biological laboratory.

The historical Rosetta stone was found by French soldiers near the town of Rosetta in northern Egypt, in 1799. It was a basalt tablet inscribed in 196 BCE with a decree of Ptolemy V of Egypt in two languages (Egyptian and Greek), using three scripts (hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek). French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion used it to derive a key for translating Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Since that time, Rosetta has been used as a term for the ability to crack previously indecipherable codes. The name truly suits the Israeli biotech startup Rosetta Genomics, which has developed a new discipline: discovering microRNA, which until recently, was considered an unimportant part of DNA. Just like the historic hieroglyphics from which the company drew its name, everyone saw it, but for a long time, no one could decipher it.

Rosetta Genomics kicked off Israel's 57th Independence Day celebrations a day early with a reception and conference called 'Leading the MicroRNA Revolution' last week. Held at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, the conference brought together scientists and investors interested in learning about the developments and discoveries of the company which until recently, had been kept confidential.

The young, Rehovot-based company has good reason to celebrate. Rosetta has now discovered and identified more micro RNAs (gene regulators) than any other research center in the world. The company has identified specific microRNAs associated with prostate cancer and lung cancer (currently engaged in pre-clinical animal studies), Epstein Bar Virus, HIV, and Herpes Simplex Virus.

"From the start, our goal was to achieve a scientific breakthrough that would lead to the development of products for diagnosis and treatment of disease in humans," said Dr. Isaac Bentwich, founder and CEO of Rosetta.

Most genomic research has been concerned with proteins, and the genes that encode proteins and turn them into cells of a certain type. The DNA region that encodes these proteins, however, constitutes only 2% of DNA. Up until two years ago, the other 98% of the genome was considered to serve no function. It was even known as 'junk DNA'.

"For 40 years, research has focused on protein encoding DNA, because it was assumed that all the rest was just there, serving no purpose," said Bentwich. "We focused our attention on a field that was rather neglected. The basic idea was to look for a new group of genes that did not encode proteins. The amazing thing is that we found them."

Bentwich calls what followed "a scientific earthquake."

"All of a sudden, it turned out that what were thought to be useless genes were of decisive importance. They are far from being junk DNA. A series of discoveries proved that extensive regions of junk DNA (that do not encode proteins) are produced by the cell, and preserved throughout its evolution. This is evidence that they have a function."

Rosetta Genomics has found a way of using advanced computer technology to reveal the encoding genes through the microRNA genes. This is now one of the hottest topics in biology. Published research in the field shows that these genes are linked to, and affect, a variety of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, anemia, and neurological disorders.

Rosetta Genomics' great innovation is that it has managed to find a large number of genes that couldn't be identified through known technological means, Bentwich says.

The breakthrough has attracted a slew of high profile Israeli investors: Pharmaceutical gian Teva, Leon Recanati and his investment company Glenrock Israel; VCON Telecommunications CEO and former Scitex CEO Yair Shamir; Agis Industries president and chairman Moshe Arkin; Israeli high tech pioneer Uzia Galil; and Prof. Michael Sela, Israel Prize laureate and former president of the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Bentwich first got his idea to focus on the role of microRNAs while studying meditation in the Himalayas in 1999.

"I've spent long periods in India," he says, "I studied Tibetan Buddhism and various meditation techniques related to tantra. The inspiration came at the end of four months of studying meditation in the Himalayas, not far from the city of Dharamsala. The idea was linked to a puzzle that has preoccupied me since I was 15 years old. I'm referring to the basic puzzle of biology how every cell in the body has the same DNA, yet different cells are differentiated into various types: muscle cells, nerve cells, brain cells, etc. Science still doesn't know the full answer to the central question of what causes cells to function differently," he told Globes.

He established Rosetta in 2000, with the support of his father, Prof. Zvi Bentwich, an immunologist, and one of the world's leading AIDS researchers. Isaac Bentwich returned to Israel, told his father about his idea, and started to promote it. His father joined the effort, and is currently both chief scientist of the company and chairman of its scientific advisory board.

Speaking at last week's conference, the elder Bentwich proudly gave a brief summary of the scientific discoveries that have marked Rosetta's journey.

"We have discovered 180 microRNAs, and hundreds are in the pipeline. Rosetta is in a position to own 80% of all the known microRNAs," he said.

"The company began looking for microRNAs several years before other scientists believed they existed. It gave us an edge," the younger Bentwich added.

According to him, Rosetta's other edge in the field is its computer system.

"Up until now, the conventional approach was biological, based on the removal of RNA from the cell. Our approach is innovative in that it identifies genes by computer, and only afterwards verifies their existence in a biological laboratory. The success is primarily thanks to Rosetta's teamwork. We are blessed with an amazing group of talented, creative, dedicated young people, computer people and biologists, who have succeeded in tackling the huge technical challenges we faced."

"The computer finds these genes by analyzing the genomic formats. That's what's 'exotic' about our story. Only after finding them in a dry run do we look for biological verification to confirm the discovery."

"Rosetta Genomics has combined scientific disciplines in an original way. The combination of biotechnology and bioinformatics with genetics is innovative and revolutionary. So is the idea of trying use a computer to predict genes, and proving the prediction in a laboratory only afterwards. In the second stage, we're trying to take segments of genes, and link them with diseases. After verification, we can try to devise treatment for the diseases from those segments."

According to Bentwich, the first stage that of gene prediction and verification has been achieved. There are already patents and several dozen genes have already been proven. The company is now linking genes to diseases.

"These treatments will be based on microRNA, which scientists until recently thought were junk genes. It is now clear to everyone that they are goldmines. Rosetta Genomics has reached the applications stage. In this stage, we'll conduct animal trials on genetic splices. We are collaborating with medical companies, and Rosetta Genomics' know-how will be the basis for the medical treatments of the next two decades."

Zvi Bentwich jut returned from a conference in Boston at the beginning of May, and he reported on a rising interest in the field, noting an exponential explosion of articles published on microRNAs since 2001. In the year 2002, Time magazine wrote that microRNAs was one of the ten most important discoveries of the year.

"One scientist [at the conference in Boston] who had said that there were probably only about 255 microRNAs, now admitted that he was wrong. He put the number on the blackboard, and crossed it out. Now the scientific community has accepted the fact that there are a large number of microRNAs," he said.

After keeping their operation secret for a number of years, Rosetta is beginning to make noise with its discoveries. An article on Rosetta?s chip platform has been accepted by the prestigious journal Genome Research, and will be published soon

Showing the relationship between the DNA, RNA, and protein on a slide, the senior Bentwich commented: "MicroRNAs are a small part of the RNA. They connect with the messenger (mRNA) to create protein. All microRNAs come into the world to regulate the process of creating proteins."

"Picking out microRNAs was like finding a needle in a haystack. Bioinformatics was the basis of Rosetta when it was first established. The company also developed a proprietary system to detect and identify microRNA signals (they light up) on a chip, and also a biological system to locate microRNAs in a sequence."

"What can we do with it? When we see that there are 18 times more microRNAs in a diseased tissue as compared to a normal tissue, which can happen in cancer, we have the possibility of intervening."

A recent press release was distributed to participants at the conference last week: Rosetta Genomics scientists found that if they silence one microRNA in a cluster in an EBV infected cell, there is a dramatic reduction in the infection of human cells by EBV.

Prof Bentwich stated: "This is the first proof that viral encoded microRNAs are important for viral replication and has immediate relevance to development of antiviral drugs."

Keynote speaker at the conference was Technion Professor Aaron Ciechanover, co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2004, and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Rosetta, a position he took before he won the Nobel Prize.

"When I first heard about the company, I was a skeptic; then, I became a believer; and now I am very enthusiastic," said Ciechanover. "When it started off as a small software company in Jerusalem, I said you won't get any place without a wet lab. Now the company is well organized - with a strong bioinformatics branch; and labs that validate their identifications."

Among the guests at the conference was Uzia Galil, a pioneer in industry in Israel. Galil, most of whose investments are in consumer electronics told ISRAEL21c that Rosetta is the only biotechnology company in which he is investing. "It is the most promising."

Dr. Joshua Rosensweig, Chairman of the First International Bank of Israel (and now a member of the Rosetta Genomics Board), commented that when the company first came to him for financial advice, he gave advice and then asked: "How can I invest?"

"We have had a burst of business activity," said Sharon Kaspi, VP Business Development. "The company is currently in the midst of negotiations for several important contracts for commercialization and collaboration."

Weizmann Institute of Science Department of Molecular Genetics director Prof. Doron Lancet, one of the heads of Israel's genome project, had the final word.

"Rosetta Genomics is working in the hot new field of genome research. It is utilizing scientific discoveries that have changed the previous paradigm. That's a revolution."" (Based on a report in Globes)

Source: Sharon Kanon. Israel's Rosetta Genomics - cracking the RNA code. Israel 21C (22 May 2005) Cupertino,CA,USA [FullText]

An Israeli Orsense Introduced New Pain-Free Blood Tester

"Tel Aviv, Israel (14 June 2005, UPI) - An Israeli company has devised a tool for checking the level of hemoglobin in the blood without puncturing the skin.

The NBM-100 developed by Orsense, of Rehovot near Tel Aviv, contains a ring-shaped sensor put on a finger. It measures hemoglobin by combining an optical measurement with pressure, similar to the instrument used to measure blood pressure.

The Magen David Adom first aid service (Israel's equivalent of the Red Cross and Red Crescent) said it collaborated with Orsense in developing the instrument and will use it this week during a campaign to increase blood donations.
Orsense's vice president for products, Gideon Fostick, told United Press International the results are as accurate as one usually gets in testing capillary blood by pricking a finger. It is less accurate than results obtained in laboratory tests when blood is drawn from a vein."

Source: InkSure Technologies Inc. Web Site PRNewswire-FirstCall

Israeli R&D Firm Specializes in Comprehensive Security to Protect High Profile Brands and Documents

"Projects are Expected to Generate Recurring Revenues in Second Half of 2005 and Future Years

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. (14 June 2005) - InkSure Technologies Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: INKS), a leading provider of covert security solutions for the prevention of counterfeiting, fraud and diversion involving high profile brands and documents, today announced the receipt of the largest equipment order in the Company's history, which is expected to be supplied by the end of 2005.

The international order, from the Company's strategic marketing partner, Sun Chemical Group B.V., the world's leading manufacturer of printing inks, calls for the utilization of InkSure's security solutions in a number of projects involving the packaging of consumer products. Authentication of the packaging of hundreds of millions of individual product containers will involve hundreds of field SignaSure(TM) readers and a number of high-speed production line SortSure(TM) quality assurance systems.

"The award of this contract confirms InkSure's position as a leader in the emerging product authentication industry," stated Elie Housman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of InkSure Technologies, Inc. "We expect to begin recognizing equipment revenues from this order relatively soon, and revenues arising from project consumables are expected to be significant and recurring in the second half of 2005 and future years. Our record first quarter and backlog from U.S. customers, along with this order, form a solid foundation of recurring business that should facilitate continued revenue growth."

InkSure Technologies Inc., with its corporate headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and its R&D center in Science Park, Rehovot, Israel, specializes in comprehensive, covert security solutions designed to protect high profile brands and documents of value from counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. The Company's sales and marketing activities target a number of market opportunities, including financial, pharmaceutical, branded products, transportation, and government/institutional, on a global scale.

The Company's common stock is listed on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol "INKS." Additional information on the Company is available on its website at http://www.inksure.com.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. Although InkSure (the "Company") believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include the Company's need to obtain substantial additional capital (through financings or otherwise) to fund its operations, the progress of development, government and regulatory approvals and licensing/commercialization of the Company's technologies, and other factors noted in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved.

By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release."

Source: InkSure Technologies Inc. Web Site PRNewswire-FirstCall

Israel Technology Noted in India

Excerpt: "Eddy Segal, Sales Director Asia-Pacific for the Israel-based solutions provider, NICE showcased a dazzling array of technologies which can monitor entire call centre traffic, look for 'red flag' words like "not satisfied''; detect when emotions are raised; analyse the call queueing time and harness all this to retain customers, keeping them satisfied the next time around. "

Source: Next opportunity lies in home market, BPOs told. Hindu - Chennai,India (8 June 2005) [FullText]

Interest in Biotechnology: Phoenix City Councilman Travels to Israel

"Phoenix City Councilman Greg Stanton was part of a delegation of 25 that traveled last week to Ramat-Gan, Israel, a new sister city to Phoenix that could build on the city's interest in biotechnology. "I think we'll have a long-term relationship and one that will be fruitful for Phoenix and Ramat-Gan because of the exchange of ideas," Stanton said.

A city of about 150,000, Ramat-Gan is regarded as a leader in biotechnology, said Stanton, adding that Phoenix's T-Gen program makes for a logical fit. "They are doing a lot of biotech research," Stanton said. "It will be an opportunity for research and exchange with scientists." Stanton also cited the city's experiences in dealing with water conservation issues as well as its approach to airport security as further reason for the partnership.

Ramat-Gan is the latest and 10th municipality to be a Phoenix Sister City. The Phoenix City Council approved the addition to the program in May. The delegation on the trip included airport and city officials and representatives of a group that lobbied for the Israel city's inclusion into the program.

Stanton said the trip was paid for through fund-raising. Stanton paid for his wife, Nicole, to accompany him."

Source: Nedra Lindsey. Stanton travels to Israel. The Arizona Republic (9 June 2005) [FullText]

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Speech at the Rehovot Conference for Science and Technology

"I am happy to be here tonight and commend the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology and of all those who assisted in organizing this conference. I regret that in light of all my other tasks I was not able to spend more time with you and learn more about the achievements and requirements of science in Israel.

Lately, I have been investing most of my time in the Disengagement Plan. I ensure you that the Disengagement Plan will be implemented. It is the right and best possible step for the State of Israel.

I also believe that following this step, which is a very difficult and painful step, security in Israel will increase, and I also believe that investments will grow and the level of interest in Israel's technological and scientific know-how will go up. I am also confident that the need for scientists will increase and I am certain that you will all have much more to do. I hope that it will go as smoothly as possible and we will be able to advance towards a political agreement, and following that, G-d willing, also towards peace.

It is good to see that while we are engaged in the implementation of the Disengagement Plan, there are those who are occupied with something which is no less important - the scientific advancement of the State of Israel and the entire human race. I am confident that, as all citizens of Israel will enjoy a better security and economic situation following the Disengagement Plan, so will the scientific community enjoy its benefits. I also hope that we will soon see the time in which the Prime Minister of Israel will be able to spend more time in scientific conferences and conventions and less time in political and security discussions.

The story of science in Israel is also that of a far-reaching vision. The leaders of the Jewish community in Israel, headed by Chaim Weitzman, understood at the beginning of the last century, that the future was science. And indeed, among the first, large factories established by the Zionist movement, were institutions of science and research - the Technion in Haifa, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Ziv Institute - which later became the Weizman Institute.

This investment soon paid off, when Israeli science, which flourished at their institutions - and at others which followed - made an unprecedented contribution to the people of Israel and its society. The accomplishments of Israeli science place Israel at the forefront of advanced countries in the world. Despite its small size, Israeli scientists publish approximately 6,000 scientific articles every year, and are placed third among scientists in the world at the rate at which they write articles.

The scientific and technological infrastructure built here over dozens of years allowed for the impressive success of Israeli high-tech firms, which places Israel in the global elite in this field. The knowledge-based industry contributed greatly to Israeli growth in the last 15 years, and today constitutes half of our industrial exports.

However, in a world in which science develops and renews itself at a dizzying pace, we must not rest on the laurels of yesterday's accomplishments nor even those of today. I am certain that you do not do so, and continue your efforts. Therefore, in order to preserve its national strength, Israel must continue nurturing its scientific might.

Israel must serve as a magnet for scientists - certainly Jewish scientists - from around the world. It must be a melting pot of breakthrough ideas and the birthplace of innovative technologies. It must continue investing in scientific infrastructures which will allow us to add scientific accomplishments in the future. In the next decade, Israel must establish its position as one of the leading countries in the field of nanotechnology and biotechnology, improve the national ability in the various engineering fields and develop fields of research vital to the future of Israel and the future of the planet - such as environmental science, planetary science, health and space.

I view it as a national duty to invest not only in research and academic institutes, but also in strengthening the connection between science and the community. It is our duty to promote science and technology education among the broadest possible public, primarily in peripheral areas and in population sectors in which access to science is unnatural and not self-evident - in order to bring youth and adults closer together as one, in the world of science.

This Conference, the Rehovot Conference for Science and Technology - at the initiative the Ministry of Science and Technology - which is gathering together all the officials in the fields of science and science policy in Israel - serves to lay the groundwork for the formulation of a comprehensive, national science policy.

This policy must take into account the human potential and financial ability of Israel and its economic, security and social needs. It must ensure the continuing advancement of science in Israel and the recruitment of government funded research and development to promote subjects and fields which are at the forefront of science today.

I am certain that the Rehovot Conference for Science and Technology will create a process in which all the relevant authorities are partners. And I expect that, at the next Conference which will, G-d willing, take place in another year, all the relevant authorities will present their stands regarding the national science policy. Of course, I would be happy to participate in your next conference.

Only cooperation - based on fruitful dialogue, deep examination and critique and agreement as to national goals - can lead to the formulation of a science policy which will steer the State of Israel to success in the years to come.

Our goal must be clear: to advance Israel to new horizons of scientific excellence and technological developments, which will assure the improvement in the quality of life in Israel, strengthen national security, increase the rate of growth and reinforce equal opportunities for all strata of the country's population.

Thank you, good luck and a happy Shavuot to all of you."

Source: Ariel Sharon. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Speech at the Rehovot Conference for Science and Technology - Weizmann Institute. Prime Minister Office Web site - Briefing Room - PM Speeches (9 June 2005) [FullText]

Generex Biotechnology Announces Publication of Oral-lyn(TM) Research Study by Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital Research Team, Jerusalem, Israel

Company's oral insulin formulation has faster onset and shorter duration of action than regular injected insulin and is absorbed in direct relation to the amount given

TORONTO, June 7 -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (Nasdaq: GNBT), a leader in the area of buccal drug delivery, today announced that well-known diabetes investigators Professor Itamar Raz, Dr. Simona Cernea, Dr. Miriam Kidron and Dr. Jay Wohlgelernter, all of the Diabetes Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, have published an Oral-lyn(TM) research paper in the June, 2005 issue of Diabetes Care (Volume 28, Number 6:1353-1357), an international peer-reviewed journal published by the American Diabetes Association (Copyright (C) 2005).

The paper is entitled Dose-Response Relationship of Oral Insulin Spray in Healthy Subjects. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and the dose-ranging effects of Oral-lyn(TM) in comparison with subcutaneous regular insulin.

Oral-lyn(TM) is Generex's propriety oral insulin spray formulation which is delivered into, and absorbed by, the buccal mucosa in the mouth (with no lung deposition) via the Company's proprietary RapidMist(TM) device.

In the randomized, five-way, cross-over study, seven healthy volunteers were assessed under euglycemic clamp and received four different doses of Oral-lyn(TM) and one dose of subcutaneous regular insulin. The study demonstrated that the time to maximum insulin concentration was shorter for Oral-lyn(TM) than for subcutaneous insulin. Maximum serum insulin levels were comparable between the subcutaneous and 20 puffs of Oral-lyn(TM). The area under the insulin curve (Ins-AUC0-120) and maximum serum insulin levels (Cmax) proved a dose-response relationship for the three doses of Oral-lyn(TM) (5, 10, and 20 puffs). Oral-lyn(TM) had an earlier onset of action and a shorter duration of action compared with subcutaneous insulin. The maximum metabolic effect and the amount of glucose infused from 0 to 120 minutes (GIR-AUC0-120) increased in a dose-dependent relationship for the three doses.

The study concluded that Oral-lyn(TM) is absorbed in direct relation to the amount given and had a faster onset and a shorter duration of action compared with subcutaneous regular insulin. Also, a dose-response relationship was noted in the absorption and metabolic effect of Oral-lyn(TM). Diabetes Care, published by the American Diabetes Association, is a journal for the health care practitioner that is intended to increase knowledge, stimulate research, and promote better management of people with diabetes. To achieve those goals, the journal publishes original articles on human studies in the following four categories: 1) clinical care/education/nutrition, 2) epidemiology/health services/psychosocial research, 3) emerging treatments and technologies, and 4) pathophysiology/complications. The journal also publishes clinically relevant review articles, letters to the editor, and health/medical news or points of view. Topics covered are of interest to clinically oriented physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, psychologists, diabetes educators, and other health professionals.

About Generex: Generex is engaged in the research and development of drug delivery systems and technologies. Generex has developed a proprietary platform technology for the delivery of drugs into the human body through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs). The Company's proprietary liquid formulations allow drugs typically administered by injection to be absorbed into the body by the lining of the inner mouth using the Company's proprietary RapidMist(TM) device. The Company's flagship product, oral insulin (Oral-lyn(TM)), is in various stages of clinical trials around the world. For more information, visit the Generex Web site at http://www.generex.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: This release and oral statements made from time to time by Generex representatives concerning the same subject matter may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by introductory words such as "expects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "will," "estimates," "forecasts," "projects" or words of similar meaning, and by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements frequently are used in discussing potential product applications, potential collaborations, product development activities, clinical studies, regulatory submissions and approvals, and similar operating matters. Many factors may cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements, including inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of risks and uncertainties, some of which are known and others of which are not. Known risks and uncertainties include those identified from time to time in the reports filed by Generex with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which should be considered together with any forward-looking statement. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results or events, and one should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements. Generex claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements that is contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

Source: Generex Biotechnology Corporation, http://www.generex.com PRNewswire-FirstCall

Katan Associates Study Shows Long-Awaited Life Sciences Roll-Up Will Continue, as Pharma and Larger Biotechs Hustle to Fill Dwindling Pipelines

LOS ANGELES--June 3, 2005--Katan Associates International

Asia and European Union will continue to be fertile breeding ground for M&A transactions
Biotech-driven acquisitions will remain at the forefront of deal activity

"Consolidation will continue among Pharma and Biotech in 2005, whether a true 'roll-up' occurs or not. This activity will be fueled by the need for Pharma to fill the pipeline and the need for Biotech to continue to gain critical mass," says Seth Yakatan, MBA, Partner, Katan Associates International. "While the United States has historically been the most active region for deals, Europe and Asia will provide fertile grounds for buyers, given value considerations and a strong lack of mezzanine and secondary capital providers in these markets."

According to Yakatan, there are more 2,000 Biotech companies in Europe and "not all of them are sustainable," he insists. "As many European venture capitalists seek portfolio optimization and liquidity events, merger-and-consolidation activities must occur in order to create more critical mass for exits and liquidity.

"An interesting phenomenon has occurred over the last decade among the larger Pharmaceutical companies and the assets with which they have undertaken merger-or-acquisition activity," explains Yakatan. "These transactions have not been classic 'roll-up' deals--as they have typically not utilized a tremendous amount of debt, and they have occurred more on an opportunistic or synergistic basis, rather than on a pure 'cash flow' basis. Nonetheless, this decade of activity has forced significant consolidation among industry players.

"We are left with several large pharmaceutical giants and a scarce number of comparable assets. As a result," says Yakatan, "the recent trend of large Pharma acquiring bigger Biotech is one which we will continue to see. We will also see more partnering as a means for Pharma to cheaply option interesting and earlier-stage technology. While deal values will remain steady, the number of deals done at the smaller end of the market will remain high. This activity will be fuelled by factors such as pressure for consolidation in the European Biotech sector and accelerated consolidation in emerging Asian markets. Already 2005 has experienced significant activity in the M&A sector, led by European and Asian players, and we fully expect this trend to continue and remain robust for the balance of the year," concludes Yakatan.

For a downloadable copy of Yakatan's Report--"Outlook for 2005 and Beyond: The Long-Awaited Life Sciences Roll-Up: Will We Have to Wait Another Year?--visit www.katanassociates.com.

Mr. Yakatan has experience as a corporate finance professional in the United States as well as experience in venture-capital investing as an analyst with Ventana Growth Funds and Sureste Venture Management. Most recently, Mr. Yakatan has worked with Union Bank of California, N.A., where he completed debt financing in excess of several billion dollars, while placing subordinated debt and private equity into several portfolio companies on behalf of the bank. Mr. Yakatan earned an MBA degree in Finance at the University of California/Irvine.

Katan Associates International (www.katanassociates.com) is a global advisory organization that provides capitalization strategies and a broad range of business consultancy services to life science enterprises. KAI has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Melbourne (Australia) and Tel Aviv (Israel).

Contacts: Katan Associates International, Seth Yakatan, 310-406-8236 BusinessWire.com

Weizmann Institute Neuroscience Star is Now in Switzerland

"Switzerland is proving that small countries can make a big impression in science. It is recruiting some of the brightest young researchers from all over the world and convincing them to stay, says Quirin Schiermeier...

For Henry Markram, a South African neuroscientist formerly at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, the EPFL site was ideal for a new state-of-the-art neuroscience institute. Three years ago, Markram became the founding director of the Brain Mind Institute, and encourages its researchers to take advantage of everything the campus has to offer, such as virtual reality, robot engineering and data processing..."

Source: Quirin Schiermeier. Region: Small is beautiful. Naturejobs Published online: 25 May 2005; doi:10.1038/nj7041-532a [FullText]