Jan. 27, 2005 — Fred Beyerlein has joined the board of directors at Velcura Therapeutics Inc., an Ann Arbor biotechnology company developing therapies for osteoporosis. Beyerlein is president and CEO of Rubicon Genomics Inc. in Ann Arbor, and has been an executive at NSC Technologies, Advanced Resin, Sandaro Industries and the Hexcel Corp. He is an expert in market development, license structures, commercial technology identification, strategic plan development, acquisitions and divestitures. Velcura's two other new directors are David A. Jackson, president of Jackson Biotechnology Advisors, and William E. Orabone, founder, president and CEO of Syneptics, a venture financing entity, both of Ann Arbor. Jackson has worked in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries for more than two decades, heading his own consulting firm, leading R&D for Genex Corp., and as chief scientist for two other biotechnology firms. Orabone is a veteran of four successful technology startup companies , specializing in capital sourcing, technology acquisition and licensing, strategic partnerships and product introduction.

Jan. 5, 2005 — Ann Arbor, Mich. Jan. 5, 2005 – The recent addition of Fred Beyerlein further strengthens the Board of Directors of Velcura Therapeutics®, Inc., a biotechnology company involved in developing new and better therapies for osteoporosis. "As an international leader in the pharmaceutical, fine chemical, biotechnology and advanced materials industries, Fred Beyerlein offers invaluable experience to help us achieve Velcura’s vital mission of speeding research to fight bone disease," said Velcura Therapeutics President and CEO Michael W. Long, Ph.D.

Dec. 15, 2004 — Ann Arbor-based Velcura Therapeutics Inc. said Tuesday that it had established a new Bone Therapy Evaluation Group to act as a service component of the company and allow rapid testing of potential therapies for osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Velcura has pioneered the use of human bone cells as targets for drug discovery applications. The evaluation group will use Velcura's cell-based technologies to provide rapid drug optimization studies, drug target identification, method of action analysis and more. Velcura has also developed an OsteoChip, a customized DNA array that uses the Affymetrix GeneChip microarray technology and which contains 1,500 genes that are modulated in human bone formation. "The availability of the Bone Therapy Evaluation service allows Velcura to assist biopharmaceutical companies in their drug development process," said Velcura CEO Michael W. Long. "We have had many requests for access to our technologies and our new OsteoChip to speed r esearch to help fight bone diseases. Establishing a drug evaluation program allows us to more rapidly respond to questions of our pharmaceutical clients in a straightforward and simple manner."

Dec. 13, 2004 — Ann Arbor, Mich. Dec. 13, 2004 -- Velcura Therapeutics®, Inc. has established a new Bone Therapy Evaluation Group to act as a service component of the company and allow rapid testing of potential therapies for osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Dedicated to fighting bone disease, Velcura Therapeutics has pioneered the use of human bone cells as targets for drug discovery applications. The evaluation group will utilize Velcura’s unique cell-based platform technologies to provide rapid drug optimization studies, drug target identification, mechanism of action, and cellular pathways analyses.

Nov. 11, 2004 — ANN ARBOR — Velcura Therapeutics has been awarded nearly $1.5 million by the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, which will include a look-see at stem cells found in the bones of children and adults – not the controversial embryonic stem cells.