Boston Rheology Sets a New Standard for Determining
Fertility and Gender Biasing in the Animal Husbandry Industry
Date: Monday, September 25, 2006
BOSTON, MA -- September 25, 2006–Boston Rheology,
LLC, a developer of proprietary products utilizing patented technology
in the field of rheology, today announced that it is seeking to
align its efforts in partnership with global providers of bovine
genetics and research, reproductive services and solution-based
animal health products. Such a partnership offers an opportunity
to be involved in advancing innovative new technology that pinpoints
fertility, improves conception rates in cows; and builds upon
the validation of the Company’s initial human fertility management
claims, to identify the threshold values in viscosity that distinguish
between increased chances of conceiving a female versus a male
calf.
The company's initial clinical Animal Husbandry
trials, conducted at the University of Vermont's Department of
Animal Science under the guidance of Dr. Karen Plaut, proved the
ability to determine the peak fertile period in an ovulating cow;
using the Company’s proprietary technology. For cows with
normal cyclic viscoelastic profiles, the results demonstrated
accuracy approaching 90%, at a confidence level near 90%. These
unprecedented results follow the completion of testing involving
the company's Shear Rheometer used to measure the viscoelasticity
of the cervical mucus in the ovulating cow. In addition, the Company's
testing was able to identify those cows exhibiting thin and thick
mucous syndrome.
The Company noted that these tests marked the
first time that the fertile period in the cow has been determined
with such accuracy; and that the implications to the Animal Husbandry
industry from an economic standpoint could be significant.
The Boston Rheology Sheer Rheometer can be used
with natural and artificial insemination to improve the pregnancy
rate. Currently, the primary method for determining the fertility
of a cow is through visual examination. While antiquated as a
methodology, the only other product on the market has a detection
of fertility accuracy of only 50%-65%.
Boston Rheology, LLC was organized
in 1992 to develop products utilizing patented, proprietary technology
in the field of rheology (the science of the deformation and flow
of matter; measuring the stickiness or viscoelasticity of certain
fluids). While the platform of rheology is quite broad, encompassing
industrial, medical, consumer, commercial and agricultural applications,
the Company has developed pioneering, non-invasive products and
techniques to (1) study the viscoelasticity of a woman’s
saliva to determine her fertile period, (2) measure and analyze
fluids in diseased states such as the screening for Cystic Fibrosis
at birth, and (3) assess the viscous changes in cow vaginal secretions
to determine the optimal time for insemination and gender pre-selection.
The Company has 27 patents covering a variety of processes, techniques
and mechanical devices. For additional information, contact the
Company at (617) 912-1020 or visit its website at www.bostonrheology.com.
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BOSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
Business News - Local News
Life sciences
Company sees potential markets in a sticky
situation
December 2, 2005
Mark Hollmer
Journal Staff
Boston Rheology may be the oldest, smallest company
you haven't heard of yet.
But the company's technology is positively futuristic.
Its lead product is a kit that tests a woman's saliva to track
her ovulation cycle and determine the right moment to conceive
a child. The device already has approval from the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration.
Another device under development would take the
process even further -- testing ovulation with a device concealed
in a glorified lipstick tube.
A third would test the first bowel movement of
a newborn child to see if the baby has cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening
genetic disease that causes the body to produce lung-clogging
mucus. It's an idea well beyond the costly blood tests used on
much older children today.
All the ideas have the common thread of exploring
the science behind "rheology," or the stickiness of
fluids.
Founded in 1992, Boston Rheology was originally
conceived to develop medical devices and prove the science behind
them and then sell the technology or device to a larger company
that could take it forward.
That hasn't quite happened, but years of research
produced the company's three initial products, developed over
time with about $5 million in private funding and the know-how
of a team of renowned scientists.
Ron Lipof, the company's new CEO, is now working
overtime to raise the company's profile. Lipof, a longtime entrepreneur
who became chief executive officer in July, has partnered the
company with Tiax LLC in Cambridge, a 200-person collaborative
research and development firm formed out of Arthur D. Little's
technology and Innovation business.
Combined, they help form a virtual company behind
Boston Rheology, enabling it to form a plan to market its lead
ovulation testing kit and find a partner to help launch commercial
sales.
Lipof said Boston Rheology's kit is much easier
to use than the standard test kit now on the market, a urine stick
that allows a women to simply see if her ovulation has peaked.
"I have known people who have gone through
the pains and challenges of having to track ovulation to get pregnant,"
he said.
To that end, Boston Rheology is seeking another
round of funding and is on the verge of closing an add-on round
from a group of angel investors and others who originally stepped
up to the plate.
Lipof says the level will likely be in the six-figure
range, just shy of seven figures.
That money, he said, will be enough to help the
company over the next 15 months sell its lead fertility device
and ink deals with other partners for its other devices.
Beyond that, Lipof sees Boston Rheology going
back to its core technology to develop other, nonmedical devices
based on the company's core research measuring a fluid's stickiness.
Contact: info@bostonrheology.com
Phone: 617 - 912 - 1020
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MASS HIGH TECH
Relaunched startup hopes bodily fluids lead
to revenue streams
11/07/2005
By Dyke Hendrickson
Here’s a business plan with a minimalist
approach: one executive, one scientist and one (onetime) consulting-and-engineering
colossus.
Boston Rheology LLC recently relaunched with the
goal of gaining partners and developing its technology. Managing
the company is veteran marketing executive Ronald Lipof.
Boston Rheology has signed a partnership arrangement
with Tiax LLC, the research-and-development company that was created
when the expiring Arthur D. Little firm sold the its assets in
2002.
“Tiax has access to the world’s largest
manufacturers,” said Lipof. “When we outlined our technology
and plan, they were receptive. For a company of our size, this
will be a great benefit.”
Boston Rheology was founded in the early ’90s
by a renowened scientist. Several months ago he linked with Lipof
to resurrect patents in three targeted areas: human fertility,
animal husbandry and cystic fibrosis.
In fertility, the company is developing a tool
the size of a lipstick dispenser to help a woman determine when
she is fertile. The unit would test the “visoelasticity”
of her saliva and determine level of fertility.
“It’s much more reliable than the urine
test,” said Lipof. “Plus, you can’t do a urine
test while you are at the Capital Grille.”
Company officials say the product has worked well
in clinical trials and that it has been fast-tracked by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.
The company is also targeting the fertility space
as it relates to the breeding of animals. This product allows
breeders to test the fertility of livestock through the use of
vaginal fluids. If farmers knew exactly when a breeding cow would
be in heat, they could make better use of such a “window”
to achieve fertilization, according to company officials.
The study of bodily fluids will also be used to
identify carriers of cystic fibrosis.
Its at-birth product would test the stool of newborns to determine
if they have inherited the disease. Cystic fibrosis generally
isn’t discovered until a child is 3. Earlier treatment could
help in their development, industry sources say.
Company officials say that their advisory staff
includes several local technologists, including Gareth McKinley,
a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, and Edwin L. Thomas,
a professor of materials science at MIT.
Another company involved in this esoteric field
is Cambridge Polymer Group Inc., a contract research laboratory.
The company was founded in 1996 by MIT doctoral
graduates to provide a cost-effective resource for research and
development to clients who need periodic access to Ph.D.-level
scientists and their support structure. Its range of services
include rheology, methodology development and process development.
If Boston Rheology is starting over, Tiax itself
is in the midst of a “restart.” Tiax has about 200 employees
now. Managers say they are involved in creating R&D solutions
in the business technology space. Organizations with which it
is working include NASA (space materials) and the Department of
Defense (tourniquets).
“We’re intrigued by the technology,”
said John Collins, president of Tiax. “The idea that analyzing
saliva to provide feedback on fertility could provide a great
deal of information for women.”
The partnership is an example of one way that
Tiax keeps its pipeline full. “We often look to smaller companies,
often one- or two-person shops with good technology, as sources
for technology that we can process and move forward.”
Lipof recently has been making the rounds of investor
conferences, to discuss funding, partnering or both. In recent
years, he has been an executive with consulting firms. Before
that, his roles have included a stint as executive vice president
of Teleglass National Corp., chief strategic officer for BeanSprout.net;
chief strategy officer of Ziplink Inc.; and president of Arch
Nationwide Paging.
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Boston Rheology Sets
a New Standard for Determining Fertility in the Animal Husbandry
Industry
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2003
BOSTON, MA -- Oct 28, 2003 -- Validating its initial
claims, Boston Rheology announced today the completion of the
company's initial clinical Animal Husbandry trials, and its ability
to determine the peak fertile period in an ovulating cow. For
cows with normal cyclic viscoelastic profiles, the results demonstrated
accuracy approaching 90%, at a confidence level near 90%. These
unprecedented results follow the completion of testing involving
the company's Shear Rheometer used to measure the viscoelasticity
of the cervical mucus in the ovulating cow. In addition, the Company's
testing was able to identify those cows exhibiting thin and thick
mucous syndrome.
The clinical tests were conducted at the University
of Vermont's Department of Animal Science under the guidance of
Dr. Karen Plaut. One expert close to the testing commented, "I
believe this marks the first time that the fertile period in the
cow has been determined with such accuracy. The implications to
the Animal Husbandry industry from an economic standpoint are
significant."
The market for Animal Husbandry extends well beyond
that of cattle to include chickens, bulls, pigs, turkey, and other
livestock that are bred commercially. It is estimated that the
market for cows alone represents well over $100 million annually
in the U.S.
The average heat detection rate of the approximately
43 million cows in the U.S. ranges from 35%-50%. Each attempt
at failed impregnation is estimated to cost several hundred dollars
of time and lost revenue. Consequently, every 1% improvement in
the pregnancy rate translates into tens of millions of potential
savings to breeders each year.
The Boston Rheology Sheer Rheometer can be used
with natural and artificial insemination to improve the pregnancy
rate. Currently, the primary method for determining the fertility
of a cow is through visual examination. While antiquated as a
methodology, the only other product on the market has a detection
of fertility accuracy of only 50%-65%.
The technology, which extends to
at least two other markets, was developed over the past thirty
years by a group of scientists and physicians. The second application
for the extension of the science is in the early detection of
Cystic Fibrosis in newborns. By measuring the viscoelasticity
of the baby's first bowel movement (meconium), the Boston Rheology
Shear Rheometer is able to screen for the existence of the disease.
This application is slated for clinical trials later this year.
A third component of the technology which is currently under development
involves the science of human fertility. This technology will
allow a woman to determine her peak fertile period through the
use of a lipstick sized device used to test her saliva. All of
the innovations are designed around a core instrument with a one
time use, disposable testing component.
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