IPierian gets back to drug discovery basics

As a startup, iPierian boasted some of the world's top experts on stem cells. The impeccable scientific pedigree, however, never translated into the kind of partnering deals the biotech was looking for. And the lack of deals triggered turmoil at the helm. Now new CEO Nancy Stagliano tells San Francisco Business Times writer Ron Leuty the company will return to its IPS cells roots, looking for new treatments for tough neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and spinal muscular atrophy. "We explored various avenues, including extensive partnering, and concluded that the best place is to put (the company's focus) on neurodegeneration and internal pipelines, with an emphasis on drug discovery," Stagliano tells the SFBT. Report