FierceBiotech Honors Tranzyme Pharma as One of the “Fierce 15" Biotech Companies of 2005



RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. and SHERBROOKE, Québec (21 June, 2005) – Tranzyme Pharma announced today that it has been named to FierceBiotech’s annual Fierce 15 list. This distinction honors Tranzyme as one of the top 15 emerging biotech companies for 2005. FierceBiotech, an internationally recognized email newsletter covering the biotechnology and pharmaceutical markets, evaluated hundreds of privately-held firms based on company vision, revenue potential, quality of deals, strength of technology, partnerships, and competitive market position.

“Tranzyme has been capturing attention for its lead small molecule product with significant potential in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and is at a critical stage as it leads up to an IND at the end of this year,” says John Carroll, of FierceBiotech. “Like the other swiftly developing companies on this year’s Fierce 15 list, we’ll be watching Tranzyme closely in the years ahead.”

Tranzyme’s unique advantage comes from its ability to find small molecule agonists and antagonists for a variety of targets where typically only peptides and proteins have been effective. While the Company has chosen to focus its internal development efforts on gastrointestinal diseases, Tranzyme’s technology has application to multiple broad target classes, including GPCRs and kinases. During the coming months, the company will seek partnerships in other therapeutic areas to leverage the power of its proprietary technology.
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"FierceBiotech is recognized for its advanced understanding of biotechnology companies and the industry as a whole," said Lindsay Donald, Vice President, Business & Preclinical Development for Tranzyme Pharma. "Being selected as a member of the Fierce 15 is an honor that highlights Tranzyme’s potential to make a significant impact in the biotech market.”
The Fierce 15 celebrates the spirit of being “fierce” – championing innovation and creativity, even in the face of intense competition. The list of Fierce 15 companies is available in today’s issue of FierceBiotech and on the FierceBiotech Web site at http://www.fiercebiotech.com.

About FierceBiotech
FierceBiotech, an internationally recognized email newsletter for the biotech industry, provides more than 35,000 executives a must-read briefing on the day's top stories in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Visit http://www.fiercebiotech.com for additional information.