Bioabsorbable Therapeutics, a start-up built around technology developed at Rutgers University, expects to begin conducting clinical trials on its bioabsorbable stent. The company, which is constructing the stents with polymers that contain non-sterioidal anti-inflammatories, is targeting the coronary market.

A preview of the emerging health care companies profiled in the current issue of Start-Up. This month's profile group, Convergence: What's Next at the Nexus?, features profiles of Direct-Haler, EndoBionics, Polymerix and X-Cell Medical. Plus these Start-Ups across Health Care: Discovery Genomics, FoldRx and Neuronetics.

Polymerix Corp. has developed a unique, proprietary polymerization technology that turns a drug into its own biodegradable delivery vehicle, essentially a Self-Delivering Drug. The technology should enable the polymerization of many already-approved drugs, enabling more controlled and efficient delivery, while creating new therapeutic entities that have robust intellectual property protection.

Convergence is the great hope of pharmaceutical and device companies hoping to enter into new high growth markets with differentiated products. Drug-eluting stents turned a stagnant product into a thriving $6 billion market, and now companies are trying to find the next large opportunity that combines devices and drugs. They're looking at many kinds of implantable devices that incorporate biomaterials and drugs to achieve site specific drug delivery, in cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, ophthalmology, orthopedics, wound healing, and anti-infection.