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The Innovation 50

A listing of the most inventive small companies in entrepreneurial America.

The Innovation Factor

1. Isis Pharmaceuticals
Carlsbad, CA
Develops small-molecule RNA-based drugs
Number of patents: 452
Revenues ($000): $53,000
Total staff: 430

2. Tessera Technologies
San Jose, CA
Makes packaging technol-ogy for silicon chips
Number of patents: 183
Revenues ($000): NA
Total staff: 73

3. Icos
Bothell, WA
Develops therapies for serious medical conditions
Number of patents: 153
Revenues ($000): $93,400
Total staff: 469

4. Neurogen
Branford, CT
Develops small-molecule drugs for neurologic and other disorders
Number of patents: 146
Revenues ($000): $11,500
Total staff: 200

5. Ramtron International
Colorado Springs, CO
Makes random-access memory chips
Number of patents: 137
Revenues ($000): $22,800
Total staff: 110

6. Heska
Fort Collins, CO
Makes products and services that benefit the health of companion animals
Number of patents: 134
Revenues ($000): $48,300
Total staff: 336

7. InterDigital Communications
King of Prussia, PA
Designs wireless technology and product platforms
Number of patents: 116
Revenues ($000): $57,000
Total staff: 350

8. Augustine Medical
Eden Prairie, MN
Makes surgical warming blankets and medical devices
Number of patents: 108
Revenues ($000): $64,000
Total staff: 250

9. Immersion
San Jose, CA
Incorporates tactile-feedback systems into hardware and software
Number of patents: 107
Revenues ($000): $19,200
Total staff: 132

10. Ranpak
Concord Township, OH
Makes protective-packaging materials
Number of patents: 103
Revenues ($000): $90,000
Total staff: 180

11. Valence Technology
Austin, TX
Makes lithiumion batteries
Number of patents: 90
Revenues ($000): $8,700
Total staff: 200

12. Xoma
Berkeley, CA
Develops drugs to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and other disorders
Number of patents: 85
Revenues ($000): $17,300
Total staff: 208

13. Alliance Pharmaceutical
San Diego, CA
Develops a "blood substitute" to help diagnose heart disease
Number of patents: 83
Revenues ($000): $1,900
Total staff: 160

14. Ligand Pharmaceuticals
San Diego, CA
Develops small-molecule drugs to treat cancer and other diseases
Number of patents: 82
Revenues ($000): $76,300
Total staff: 430

15. Energy Conversion Devices
Rochester Hills, MI
Makes products for energy storage and generation and information technology
Number of patents: 81
Revenues ($000): $71,400
Total staff: 520

16. Lynx Therapeutics
Hayward, CA
Develops technologies to identify genetic patterns and genomic variations
Number of patents: 80
Revenues ($000): $19,200
Total staff: 182

17. CardioGenesis
Foothill Ranch, CA
Makes laser devices for heart surgery
Number of patents: 77
Revenues ($000): $22,200
Total staff: 123

18. Caliper Technologies
Mountain View, CA
Miniaturizes and automates lab processes and stores them on chips
Number of patents: 76
Revenues ($000); $29,600
Total staff: 250

19. Tularik
South San Francisco, CA
Develops small-molecule oral drugs that regulate gene expression
Number of patents: 75
Revenues ($000): $32,600
Total staff: 393

20. Igen International
Gaithersburg, MD
Develops biological-detection products for numerous markets
Number of patents: 74
Revenues ($000); $31,400
Total staff: 360

21. Cell Therapeutics
Seattle, WA
Develops drugs to treat cancer
Number of patents: 68
Revenues ($000): $6,200
Total staff: 259

22. Hybridon
Cambridge, MA
Develops therapies and tests using synthetic DNA
Number of patents: 67
Revenues ($000): $1,500
Total staff: 22

23. NeoRx
Seattle, WA
Develops drugs to treat cancer
Number of patents: 63
Revenues ($000): $2,900
Total staff: 110

24. Physical Optics
Torrance, CA
Makes high-tech optical and electro-optics devices
Number of patents: 62
Revenues ($000): $16,000
Total staff: 85

25. QuickLogic
Sunnyvale, CA
Makes semiconductors that combine standard products and programmable logic
Number of patents: 60
Revenues ($000): $32,300
Total staff: 175

26. Applied Medical Resources
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Develops technology for minimally invasive surgery
Number of patents: 58
Revenues ($000): $50,000
Total staff: 380

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