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April 2008
Problem #9: Waste Disposal
While doing my blog research, I ran across these jewels from CNN about the problems we will face in the future as a people. Being kind to your planet is an answer to much of these problems as you will see.
The background: The United States alone annually produces 1.4 billion tons of waste, and most winds up in landfills. Not everything can be recycled and incinerators emit dioxins and toxic ash.
The solution: Montreal-based PyroGenesis has refined a process, called plasma arc gasification, in which solid waste is fed into a furnace. There, extreme electrical charges break it down into three marketable byproducts: a gas that can be converted into steam or electricity; metal ingots that can be resold; and a glassy solid that can be processed into material for floor tiles or gravel.
The payoff: Carnival Cruises uses a PyroGenesis system to shrink tons of cabin waste into a few pounds of harmless sand. The U.S. Navy has hired PyroGenesis to develop plasma waste systems for new industrial aircraft carriers.
The opportunity: An estimated $40 billion is spent annually to transport, incinerate, recycle, and store waste in the United States alone. Most industry experts say the technology is still several years away from widespread commercial use. Dozens of early-stage startups, meanwhile, are developing related products in niche markets for medical and other hazardous wastes.
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Problem #8: Drug-Resistant Infections
While doing my blog research, I ran across these jewels from CNN about the problems we will face in the future as a people. Being kind to your planet is an answer to much of these problems as you will see.
The background: Bacterial infections once easily treated with antibiotics have gained frightening resistance during the past few decades. In 1974 just 2 percent of the most common form of staph infections found in hospitals were resistant to the common antibiotic methicillin; today more than 60 percent are impervious. This year nearly 2 million Americans will get bacterial infections while in a hospital; 90,000 of them will die.
The solution: New classes of antibiotics. Massachusetts-based biotech Cubist Pharmaceuticals released Cubicin in 2003 as a treatment for serious skin infections. In 2006 it was approved for bloodstream infections.
The payoff: Cubist, which went public in 1996, has brought in more than $320 million in Cubicin sales so far, making it the most successful new intravenous antibiotic ever. Third-quarter sales hit $50 million, a 65 percent jump from 2005, and annual revenue is expected to reach $200 million by 2008. Cubist has two new anti-infective drugs in the pipeline, awaiting FDA approval.
The opportunity: A handful of biotechs, including Basilea, Oscient, and Paratek, are already chasing new classes of antibiotics but have yet to get federal approval for their top prospects.
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Problem #7: Epidemics
While doing my blog research, I ran across these jewels from CNN about the problems we will face in the future as a people. Being kind to your planet is an answer to much of these problems as you will see.
The background: Avian flu, SARS, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases could wipe out entire populations. But early detection and quick response are tough in many developing countries.
The solution: A techie, a social entrepreneur, and a former government official teamed up to launch Voxiva, a real-time epidemic-tracking system for isolated places with little or no technology. Health-care workers access the network through the Web, cell phones, landlines, and even radio. Health authorities analyze their reports and respond. India purchased Voxiva to track the spread of disease after the tsunami, Rwanda is using it for HIV, and Indonesia has started a pilot program to help speed up reporting of avian flu.
The payoff: After five years the Washington-based firm has nearly 100 employees and offices in the United States, Peru, and India. Though privately held Voxiva won’t disclose revenue, company officials say it’s growing by double-digit percentages each year.
The opportunity: Tracking epidemics is just one emerging business. There is rising demand for long-distance learning systems (via phone or PC) that sharpen field workers’ skills, and for systems that link big-city specialists with remote areas.
