Description
Bionovo Inc was originally incorporated in California in February of 2002. In March of 2004, it re-incorporated in the state of Delaware and in June of 2005 changed its name from Bionovo, Inc. to Bionovo Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. On April 6, 2005, Bionovo Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. became public through a reverse merger with Lighten Up International, Inc., whereby Lighten Up Enterprises International, Inc. acquired all the outstanding shares of Bionovo Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. in exchange for restricted shares of its common stock in a reverse triangular merger. The acquisition was accounted for as a reverse merger in which Bionovo Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. was deemed to be the accounting acquirer. The Company operated as Lighten Up Enterprises International, Inc. until June 29, 2005 when the Company assumed the name Bionovo, Inc. The Company is a clinical stage drug discovery and development company engaged in women's health and cancer. The Company's drug candidate, Menerba, represents a new class of receptor sub-type selective estrogen receptor modulator for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause, or hot flashes. It has designed Menerba to selectively modulate estrogen receptor beta and to provide a safe and effective alternative to existing FDA approved therapies that pose a significant risk to women for developing breast cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, blood clots and other serious diseases. In preclinical studies, Menerba does not to the tumor formation in either breast or uterine tissues and it does not increase the risk for clotting. The Company is also developing Bezielle, an oral anticancer agent for advanced breast cancer. Bezielle is designed to take advantage of a metabolism of cancer cells, with a well-characterized mechanism of action for selective tumor cell DNA damage and the death of cancer cells, without lasting harm to normal cells. It has a pipeline of additional preclinical drug candidates in both women's health and cancer. The Company has internally discovered and developed all of its drug candidates using its proprietary biological and chemical techniques. Its drug development process uses herbs and other botanical sources, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and believed to produce biologically active compounds. It applies its clinical knowledge, experience with natural compounds and knowledge of proper scientific screening tools to isolate and purify botanical compounds and extracts for pharmaceutical development.
