Milan's Dompé Biotec is arguably Italy's leading marketer of biotechnology products. The wholly-owned subsidiary of Dompé Farmaceutici SPA gained access to three early products of biotechnology by allying with the large multinational firms that held European rights to them. But the privately held Italian firm has since made a point of directly pursuing American biotech companies, because they have what it wants: innovative treatments for specific medical conditions. But even the most carefully considered in-licensing deals won't help Dompé grow as fast as its owners would like. The firm, now intent on expanding its reach beyond Italy, hopes its past marketing experience will attract new partners.

Oxagen's goal is to use large familial clinical groups and sample banks to identify disease genes through agreements with three groups of academic clinical investigators, located throughout Europe.