The five year deal is for sales of Enzymotec's Cardiabeat in India. Enzymotec Ltd. has signed a distribution agreement with Indian drug company Elder Pharmaceuticals. The deal is worth tens of millions of dollars over five years. Elder Pharmaceuticals will distribute Enzymotec's CardiaBeat product which lowers LDL cholesterol (and thus is intended to lower the risk of heart disease) and works similarly to the Omega 3 found in fish oil, but without negatively effecting vitamin absorption. Like Enzymotec's other products, CardiaBeat is a dietary supplement which undergoes planning and testing at the level of a drug and is marketed worldwide under stricter regulation than dietary supplements (but less strict than those of drugs).

The US company will purchase and distribute Enzymotec’s treatments for cognitive problems. Sources inform ''Globes'' that Enzymotec Ltd. has signed an agreement with a leading US clinical nutrition company for the distribution in US of the company’s treatments for cognitive problems. In return the company will make an initial payment of a few million dollars to Enzymotec plus royalties which could reach several tens of millions of dollars in the first year of sales which will probably be 2008. The company’s products have already been approved for marketing in the US.

The company will use the proceeds from the financing round to complete clinical development and launch its product line.
NanoPass Technologies Ltd., a biotech start-up, announced today that it closed its first financing round, raising $6.5 million from Ofer Hi Tech Ltd., WFD Ventures LLC, and D-Partners, the private equity fund managed by Aharon and Shlomo Dovrat.
NanoPass has developed a platform for intradermal drug delivery, based on patent-pending micro-pyramid devices. The company will use the proceeds from the financing round to complete clinical development and launch its product line. NanoPass was founded in 2000 by Dr. Shuki Yeshurin under the auspices Naiot Venture Accelerator. The company has raised $1.6 million to date from Ofer High Tech, which has supported NanoPass since it was founded.

The company has developed a stent balloon designed to reduce the risk from waste particles in the blood.

Start-up Angioslide Ltd. has raised $4 million. Ofer Hi Tech Ltd. led the round, and was joined by Dovrat Group’s D Partners. Angioslide was founded in 2005 by CEO Dr. Yoav Turgeman and Deganaia Silicone Ltd. at Naiot Venture Accelerator. The company is developing a unique balloon stent designed to reduce the side effects of blood clots caused by catheterization. In contrast to diagnostic catheterization, catheterization procedures for treatments involve inflating a blocked artery or vein, thereby releasing the blood flow. This procedure is liable to allow waste that accumulated behind the blockage to enter the blood flow, which is liable to subsequently block small blood vessels, and endanger the patient. Angioslide’s balloon is build from a matrix and shape that attracts some of this waste, especially the larger particles, removing them from circulation and thereby reducing the danger to patients, even if the risk is not eliminated altogether.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on December 4, 2006

Israeli start-up NextNine Ltd. today announced that closed its third financing round. Motorola Corp. (NYSE:MOT) led the round joined by the company’s existing investors. Sources inform ''Globes'' that the round totaled $10 million. Motorola is one of NextNine’s customers.
NextNine and the investors declined to comment on the report.
NextNine was founded in 1998, and has subsequently undergone many changes and shake-ups. Since 2004, the company has been developing automatic software support solutions, the same business as Gteko Technologies Ltd., which was acquired by Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) yesterday.
NextNine has endured hard times. In early 2003, it was simultaneously broke and had a high cash burn rate. The company’s board decided to restructure and greatly scale back the company, and it emerged from the crisis in 2004.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 27, 2006

Hadasit Bio Holdings Ltd. (TASE:HDST) today announced that portfolio company TK Signal Ltd. raised $1.3 million form London investors at a company value of $10 million, before money. Hadasit Bio owns 28.43 % of TK Signal. In March, “Globes” reported that TK Signal was holding a pre-IPO process for raising  ₤.6 million, and that it planned to go public on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) within 18 months. The company has now raised money from UK institutions, but it is not listed for trading. The money raised in the present round is part of the company’s pre-IPO process. TK Signal develops molecules designed to trace cancerous tumors, which can then be isolated from healthy cells for diagnostic purposes or treatment. TK-Signal cofounder and CTO Dr. Eyal Mishani developed the molecule at his laboratory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The company’s products target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which accelerates the development and reproduction of cancer cells. It can therefore be used to accurately map malignant tumors through a non-invasive simulation. TK Signal has developed a series of radio-pharmaceutical tracers, each of which identifies a different type of cancer. TK Signal’s shareholders are Hadasit Bio, ProSeed Venture Capital Fund (TASE:PRSD), Yozma Venture Capital, Ofer Hi Tech Ltd., Rotem Industries Ltd. and private investors. TK Signal CEO Dana Cohen said, “The money raised is intended to enable the company to complete pre-clinical trials of its first product, and move onto human trials scheduled for late 2006. Meanwhile, TK Signal has initiated negotiations with health authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Israel’s Ministry of Health, for the necessary permits for human trials.”

Visual recording technology co MentorWave raises $500,000 The investors were Ofer Hi-Tech and Israeli and foreign private investors. Ofer Levi 2 Jan 05 15:04 Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 2, 2005 MentorWave Technologies, based in the Naiot Technology Center, has raised $500,000 from Ofer Hi-Tech and Israeli and foreign private investors. MentorWave raised $600,000 a year ago, when it began operating at Naiot. MentorWave recently signed franchise agreements with some distributors in Europe, and is now in advanced negotiations with companies in the US and Far East. The company is launching a financing round to raise several million dollars, some of which has been secured. The round is due to be completed in mid-2005. MentorWave was founded in 2002 by CEO Gadi Royz, CTO Rony Amira, software development manager Pavel Yosifovich, and distributed systems manager Assaf Harel. The company expects $2 million in sales in 2005. MentorWave has developed a motorized scanner that can map, scan and place online indoor and outdoor premises with full 360-degree visual video data. Based in Yokne'am, Naiot was acquired in 1997 by Ofer Brothers. Its CEO is Assif Stoffman. Naiot is an incubator for medical devices and software companies, providing capital investments and comprehensive administrative, R&D, and strategic assistance. Over 40 companies have been founded at Naiot since 1997, including Remon Medical Technologies, Enzymotec and NanoPass.

CorAssist Cardiovascular raises $500,000 Yozma and Israel Healthcare Ventures invested in the company's first financing round. Based in the Naiot Technology Center, CorAssist is preparing its device for preclinical trials. Batya Feldman 20 Jul 04 12:52 New start-up CorAssist Cardiovascular, based in the Naiot Technology Center has raised $500,000 from Yozma and Israel Healthcare Ventures (IHCV) in its first financing round. Founded 18 months ago, CorAssist is developing an assist device for treating diastolic heart failure (DHF), a type of congestive heart failure (CHF). Its CEO is Dr. Lea Lak MD. Yozma and IHCV made an early stage investment in CorAssist to help accelerate development of its product. CorAssist chairman Lihu Avitov said, "CorAssist is the first company developing a surgical device for DHF. The current investment will enable the company to move forward on preclinical trials and organize for its next financing round." Naiot, controlled by Ofer Brothers Hi-Tech is an incubator for life sciences and software start-ups. Naiot builds high-tech companies through capital investment and providing comprehensive strategic and R&D management assistance.

Eurofund and a strategic investor led the round which included Ofer Brothers Hi-Tech, West Steag Partners, Lewis Trust Group, Eurovestech, and Goldman Investments Globes correspondent 24 Jun 04 15:12 Tevet Process Control Technologies, a company specializing in advanced metrology solutions for the semiconductor industry, today announced the completion of a $4.5 million strategic equity investment round. Eurofund and an undisclosed strategic investor led this investment round. Tevet's current investors, including Ofer Brothers Hi-Tech, West Steag Partners, Lewis Trust Group, Ltd., Eurovestech plc, and Goldman Investments participated in the round. "This investment is a vote of confidence in the company, its technology and its future. Tevet's growth is fueled by our success in capturing multiple Integrated Metrology applications in mass production," said Yuval Wasserman, Tevet's president and CEO. "Our plan is to use this investment to enhance our operational infrastructure in order to meet our commitments to customers, and to expand our investment in new applications and product development." Tevet-PCT was founded in 1999 as part of Naiot, the Ofer Hi-Tech incubator, Tevet develops innovative metrology and advanced process control solutions for the semiconductor processing industry. Tevet products are uniquely capable of performing simultaneous film thickness measurements on product wafers with multiple topographies and stacks and in seamless integration with wafer processing equipment. In July 2001 Tevet launched its IsTMS integrated metrology module for CVD applications. Tevet's IsTMS product has demonstrated its unique film thickness measurement and cost-saving capabilities while integrated with commercial single wafer CVD processing tools in production. "An increasing number of device manufacturers and OEMs have embraced Tevet's advanced process control solutions. As the market continues to adopt sophisticated integrated metrology, we will continue our innovation through the development of critical integrated and in-situ measurement applications," said Tevet chairman and CTO Ofer Du-Nour. Published by Globes [online] - http://www.globes.co.il - on Thursday, June 24, 2004

Cellergy of Naiot Technological Center raised approximately one million dollars "The Marker", Zuri Dar 29 March 2004 Cellergy, a start-up company at Naiot Technological Center in Nazareth, has secured a private investment of one million dollars. The round was led by Dor Ventures Capital Fund with the participation of the Ofer Brothers Group, owner of Naiot. Cellergy is engaged in the development of technology for the inexpensive manufacture of printed electrochemical capacitors. The capacitor is intended primarily for applications that use high currents over short periods of time, such as digital cameras. The technology will also enable assimilation of the capacitor into a number of applications in which electrochemical capacitors have never before been integrated, such as laptop computers and cellular telephones. Assif Stoffman, CEO of Cellergy and Vice-President of Naiot Technological Center, said that the capital raised will enable the company to complete the development phase and significantly increase marketing activities. According to Stoffman, the joining of the Dor Fund, which specializes in the fields of printing and imaging, will greatly assist the company in the area of strategic and business development. At the time of its establishment by Yoel Lang in 2002, in the framework of Naiot, Cellergy raised 400,000 dollars in funding from the Chief Scientist, as well as from private investors.

CogniFit wins $5.5m contract from Canadian driving school
The school, completely owned by Ford Motor, has 38 branches in Canada.
Israeli start-up CogniFit has announced the signing of an agreement with Young Drivers of Canada, a large Canadian driving school. CogniFit will supply software for $5.5 million over three years. The school, fully owned by Ford Motor (NYSE: F), has 38 branches in Canada.
CogniFit has developed driver training software, focusing on 12 cognitive capabilities of the human brain, all of which are essential for safe driving. CogniFit CEO Amichai Bar-Nir said that the software had been translated into eight languages.
Company president and chief scientist Prof. Shlomo Breznitz founded CogniFit three years ago. A world-renowned psychologist, Breznitz is the founder and manager of the Center for Study of Psychological Stress at the University of Haifa. He is also a former rector and president of the University of Haifa.
CogniFit employs a staff of 27, mostly specialists in psychology, software engineering, and communications. The company is based in the Ziporit industrial park in the Galilee.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Naiot Technology Center has won the title. Globes' correspondent 25 Feb 04 Naiot Technology Center has been declared the outstanding technology incubator of 2003 at the annual Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor's incubator program conference. This is th... Read more February 25, 2004 - Naiot voted best technology incubator of 2003 Naiot voted best technology incubator of 2003 This is the fifth consecutive year that Naiot Technology Center has won the title. Globes' correspondent 25 Feb 04 Naiot Technology Center has been declared the outstanding technology incubator of 2003 at the annual Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor's incubator program conference. This is the fifth consecutive year that Naiot has won the title. Based in Upper Nazareth, Naiot has completed 15 projects in the past three years. Ten of the ventures have raised an aggregate $15 million. Founded in 1991, Naiot is jointly owned by Ofer Brothers and the association for developing enterprises in Upper Nazareth. Naiot specializes in software and medical devices.

Incubator Naiot and Rotem Industries invest $500,000 in TK-Signal

TK-Signal develops small, radioactive biomarkers used to diagnose and monitor cancerous tumors.

Aviva Mishmari, Globes [online] -l www.globes.co.il - on July 17, 2003

Ofer Brothers and Rotem Industries announced today that they would make a $500,000 seed investment in equal shares in incubator company TK-Signal. Ofer’s investment will be through the Naiot Technological Center . The investment is aimed at accelerating the company’s development and its plans for clinical trials in early 2004.
TK-Signal develops small, radioactive biomarkers used to diagnose and monitor cancerous tumors. These compounds are based upon their specific binding capabilities to EGFR-TK (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor - Tyrosin Kinase). The biomarkers provide information about the character of the tumor, the likelihood that they will metastasize, and possible treatments. The company uses nuclear medicine imaging for diagnosis and monitoring, and plans to develop compounds, based on its radio therapeutics technology.
Naiot and Rotem said that the investment in TK-Signal was the beginning of cooperation between them, aimed at boosting ventures in the early stages, and bringing them to the application level. The companies will jointly search for projects with business and innovative potential in two fields: materials and homeland security. The two companies plan to jointly invest in five projects by the end of 2004.
Naiot is a technology incubator focusing on the bio-medical, microelectronic, and software fields. Ofer Technologies and the Small Business Development Center in Upper Nazareth own Naiot in equal shares. The incubator operates from offices in Upper Nazareth, Haifa, and Tel Aviv. Lihu Avitov is CEO of Naiot.
Rotem Industries is a government company that deals in commercialization of technologies, processes, and products originating in the Negev Nuclear Research Center (NNRC). Rotem also examines projects in Israel and around the world that are synergetic to NNRC’s know-how. Rotem’s leading product is raw materials for medical imaging, in which it holds a 60% global market share.
TK-Signal entered the Naiot incubator in January 2002. Founded by Dr. Eyal Mishani and Prof. Alexander Levitzki of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the company is currently in the pre-clinical trial phase. TK-Signal has eight employees in its facilities in the Hadassah Medical Organization. Hadasit managing director Dr. Raphael Hofstein is CEO of TK-Signal.

Remon Medical Announces First Implants of New Device for Monitoring Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.
Remon Medical presents the first human use of an implantable intra-vascular wireless telemetric communication system. The Remon ImPressureTM offers on-demand, non-invasive means to monitor intra-aneurysm pressures following endo-vascular graft procedures.

Caesarea, Israel, June 2003 - Remon Medical Technologies Ltd., a privately held medical device company, today announced the first use of the Remon ImPressureTM AAA monitoring device as part of endovascular repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in medically high-risk patients. The first implants of the ImPressureTM device took place at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY in 3 patients on June 4 and June 6, 2003. The procedures were performed by Michael L. Marin, M.D., F.A.C.S., Professor of Surgery and Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center. In all three cases, aneurysm pressure readings were successfully transmitted to an external monitor during the procedure and in subsequent follow-ups. The Remon ImPressureTM was attached, prior to the procedure, to a polyester endovascular stent graft.

"The Remon ImPressureTM presents a novel approach, providing a safe mechanism for evaluating patients following endovascular aortic reconstruction. Remon's technology is expected to provide significant information about Type I and Type II endoleaks in an easy-to-use, non-invasive manner," said Dr. Marin.

Remon Medical's innovative technology is integrated into minute implants, requiring no antenna, battery, or connecting leads, allowing a tiny device implanted deep inside the body to communicate wirelessly with an external system. These devices either monitor a variety of physiological parameters or stimulate tissues and organs or activate other devices, creating therapeutic responses.

This revolutionary procedure is the first human use of an implantable intra-vascular telemetric communication system. The Remon ImPressureTM will allow physicians to monitor the pressure within the excluded AAA, a condition in which the largest artery in the body balloons to a diameter where there is an increased risk of rupture. "With its easy-to-use office monitor, the device will also allow more frequent follow-up of patients, including history tracking of changes in their intra-aneurysmal pressure" Marin adds.

"We are excited to see our device as the first human implant to provide non-invasive pressure monitoring in patients with endo-vascular grafts," said Hezi Himelfarb, CEO of Remon Medical Technologies. "The pressure monitoring capability can provide early warning of potentially life-threatening situations and our device demonstrates the inherent value of Remon's unique acoustic communication. We believe that our technology has many applications that will dramatically impact several areas within medicine".

In 2001, Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT), a global leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, and Remon Medical, established a cooperative development and supply agreement to incorporate the Remon ImPressureTM into Guidant's leading ANCURE® ENDOGRAFT® System, a less-invasive method for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Remon Medical also develops the RemonCHF, a device for measurement of pulmonary artery pressure - the most important hemodynamic indicator in heart failure. A one-time, minimally invasive catheter-based procedure will provide unlimited, non-invasive home-based monitoring of the CHF patient's hemodynamic status.

Remon Medical is backed by leading global investors, including Concord Ventures, Polaris Venture Partners and Biomedical Investments.

SANTA ROSA, Calif., June 27, 2003 – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced it has completed an equity investment in MindGuard Ltd., a privately held developer of devices for high-risk stroke patients. As part of the agreement, Medtronic will secure European distribution rights for MindGuard’s Diverter™ system. No further details of the agreement were disclosed.

MindGuard, based in Caesarea, Israel, has developed The Diverter™ System, an implantable system intended to be deployed in the carotid arterial bifurcation – the main bifurcation point for blood flow to the brain from the heart. The Diverter System is designed to be deployed into the carotid arterial bifurcation where it serves to divert cardioemboli (plaque-like debris) in the arterial system away from the brain. Without this potential diversion therapy, cardioemboli can flow to the brain, creating blockages that may lead to ischemic stroke.

“We are pleased to initiate this relationship with MindGuard in order to help bring to market this technology for potential stroke victims,” said Bill Hawkins, president of Medtronic Vascular. “The Diverter System offers a minimally-invasive and preventative therapy option to physicians treating high-risk stroke patients. This agreement serves to further expand Medtronic Vascular’s expertise into the area of stroke prevention.”

“The completion of our financing round and the distribution agreement with Medtronic are both important milestones in MindGuard’s short history,” said David Gal, chairman of the board, MindGuard. “We expect that our strong cash position, coupled with strategic partnerships with our investors and Medtronic, will assist in the commercialization of our products and realization of the company’s innovative medical and technological vision.”

MindGuard Ltd. is an Israeli company founded in 2000 focused on developing and marketing a portfolio of unique catheter and implant technologies to treat and prevent stroke, and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. More information on MindGuard is available at www.mindguard.com.

Medtronic, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. Its Internet address is www.medtronic.com. Medtronic Vascular is committed to being a world leader in the prevention, treatment, and cure of diseases throughout the vascular architecture. Medtronic Vascular is headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Naiot Technological Center earns the 2002 Israeli Chief Scientist "Best Incubator Award" for the fourth year in a row.
Zipporit industrial Park, March 26th, 2003

Naiot Technology Center, a technology incubator focusing on Life Science, Materials and Software companies, announced that it was awarded the Israeli Chief Scientist “Best Incubator Award” for its distinguished achievements in early stage financing.
This is Naiot’s fourth consecutive year of winning the award.
“Naiot has developed its own process for screening potential projects, the basis of which are the ability to reach milestones based upon the initial investment and the character of the company’s founder,” said Lihu Avitov, Naiot’s CEO. When presented with an idea, Naiot initiates a series of consultations and screenings to determine how best to launch the prospective project. Experts determine the venture’s parameters, scope and direction, thereby positioning the startup on its new path. This unique process, along with continuous efforts to create value for the project’s shareholders - produces results.

Coreflow Ltd. secures $2.8M from Orbotech Ltd.

Yokneam, Israel, February 4th, 2002 - CORFLOW Ltd. Today announced that it has secured $2.8M from Orbotech Ltd. (NASDAQ: ORBK) in equity investment.

Commenting on the CoreFlow investment, Mr. Jaron Lotan, Executive Vice President for Business & Strategy at Orbotech Ltd., said: 'The Company believes that CoreFlow's sophisticated technology for novel handling, in addition to offering significant potential benefits for Orbotech's products and technologies, may also have the capability of improving production processes and introducing considerable efficiencies throughout the entire electronics industry.'

About Coreflow
CoreFlow, founded in Israel in 1999, has developed an innovative technology for controlling the flow of air or liquids through a specially designed nozzle based on a self-adaptive, aerodynamic blockage mechanism. The technology is already being utilized in a variety of applications in the printed circuit board, flat panel display, semiconductor and printing industries, including for vacuum clamping, air-bearing and non-contact support and conveying of systems.

About Orbotech
Orbotech designs, develops, manufactures, markets and services production support solutions for the supply chain of the electronics industry, principally for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and flat panel displays (FPDs). The Company is a world leader in automated optical inspection (AOI) systems for bare PCBs and for FPDs, and in imaging solutions for PCB production, and is a leading provider of AOI systems for assembled PCBs.

Enzymotec Ltd. - Enzymotec Ltd. secures $2M at $10.5M company value after moneyMigdal HaEmek, Israel, June 30, 2001 - Israeli biotechnology start-up Enzymotec has completed its second financing round, raising $2 million at a company value of $10.5 million, after money. The investors were Galam ($1.5 million) and Millennium Materials Technologies Fund II ($500,000). In the previous year, Enzymotec raised $1 million from Millennium Materials Technologies Fund II at a company value of $4 million while completing its R&D process within the Naiot Technological Center. About Enzymotec Enzymotec is developing a platform for the enzymatic synthesis of structured lipids and other specialized organic substances. The technology is an alternative to chemical methods used by pharmaceutical and health food additive companies. The company operates in the pharmaceutical field, developing complex phospholipid molecules and manufacturing processes for the food industry, particularly essential fatty acids enriched with cholesterol reducers and cholesterol-free butter.Enzymotec is represented in the US by Dr. Joseph Borovsky and maintains its Corporate and R&D Headquarters in Israel. For more information please visit the company’s Web site at www.enzymotec.com or contact by email (info@enzymotec.com) or call 972.4.6545112