MIT's Technology Review has unveiled its list of the top 50 innovators, and nine life science companies have made the list. Roche and Novartis are representing Big Pharma this year. Roche's work targeting specific cancer mutations earned the company a spot, while Novartis' efforts to understand the molecular pathways of rare diseases garnered attention. And MIT hails Geron's ground-breaking stem cell trial for severe spinal cord injuries as a first step in treating a host of degenerative diseases. BIND Biosciences, a 2008 Fierce 15 winner that has developed nanoparticles to improve cancer drug delivery, is among the private companies featured on the list.
MIT seemed to take a particular shine to companies working to speed and simplify DNA sequencing. Complete Genomics, Life Technologies and Pacific Biosciences all made the list for their work in this area.
- here's the list
Special Report: The 2010 Fierce 15