OK, the Green Bay Packers are not going to be bottom of the barrel horrible this season, but nothing I’m seeing on the field tonight fills me with irrational exuberance. WisTech has linked to a story which is an excellent example of the way the States are competing for the type of business they desire.
Wisconsin attempting to lure Minnesota startup: Biotech startup Excorp Medical Inc., which recently moved to Minneapolis, now might move on to Madison, Wis. … Excorp, which is developing a bioartificial liver system, is pursuing a "competitive" proposal from Wisconsin to establish production facilities in that state. It could wind up putting its headquarters and other administrative facilities there as well. … Wisconsin has established a tax-benefit program for early-stage investors. It also has earmarked funds from its state pension investment program for state biotech businesses.A good economy with good jobs and plenty of money for the voters is the best stay in office insurance policy for the political class. Wisconsin is not bashful about using its tools at hand, the tax code and pools of pension funds, in a competitive global market for business operations. The special extra feature which may tip the decision in favor of Wisconsin is the UW Madison transplant center and biotechnology research resources.
Founded in 1996, Excorp uses specially bred pigs for its procedure, which takes the pigs' liver cells and uses them to detoxify patients' blood. The process isn't a cure; it's intended to keep a patient alive until his or her liver starts working again or a transplant can be found. Such a treatment could be used in 700,000 cases in the United States alone. An even bigger market is China, where viral hepatitis and liver cancer are both big health concerns.The bet is that cash flow in the global economy will merely trickle through the old industries like making paper or boats or cheese. On the other hand, money should eventually flood into the new industries, especially operations that are truly successful at prolonging the living. I’m skeptical the Chinese communists really desire expensive new therapies for their rural peasants but there are wealthy individuals in most every society, perhaps even in the Middle East, who would gladly pay for new millennium pig farmers to save their life a little longer.
