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Beyond.com, Inc. is Top Technology Company in Deloitte's 2007 Greater Philadelphia Technology Fast 50 With 6,099 Percent Revenue Growth

    ViroPharma Incorporated is Top Life Sciences Company in Deloitte's 2007 Greater Philadelphia Technology Fast 50. Ranks Number 58 on North American Fast 500 with 3,069 Percent Revenue Growth Over Five Years

    2007 Greater Philadelphia Fast 50 Companies Post Average Revenue Growth of 736 Percent

    Philadelphia, PA, October 26, 2007 – Beyond.com, Inc. earned the Top Technology Company award on the list of the fastest growing technology and life sciences companies in Greater Philadelphia as recognized by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP at an award event held October 25 at The Hub Cira Centre in Philadelphia. ViroPharma Incorporated earned the Top Life Sciences Company award. The Greater Philadelphia Technology Fast 50, an annual awards program, ranks technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies located in the region by percentage revenue growth over five years.

    Beyond.com, Inc. and ViroPharma Incorporated also scored the honor of placing on the Deloitte North American Technology Fast 500 at the 29 and 58th spots, respectively. The Fast 500 ranks the 500 fastest growing technology and life sciences companies in North America. A total of 21 companies from Greater Philadelphia made the list in 2007.

    "Deloitte's Greater Philadelphia Technology Fast 50 companies have shown the strength, vision and tenacity to succeed in today's very competitive technology environment," said Mike Purcell, Partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and co-leader of the Greater Philadelphia Technology Fast 50 Program. "We applaud the successes of the 2007 Fast 50 companies and acknowledge them as the few to accomplish such a high growth rate over the past five years."

    This year's list is dominated by 72% technology companies and 28% life sciences versus last year's almost equal split of technology and life sciences companies with 54% technology and 46% life sciences. However, of the 36 technology companies, 25% or 9 of these companies serve the life sciences and health care industries as their primary focus. Examples of this include I- trax, Inc., TMG Health, Inc., Health Market Science and HTH Worldwide.

    In addition to Beyond.com, Inc., the top four are technology companies including: AirClic, Inc., Newtown, PA, AppLabs, Inc., Philadelphia, PA and last year's #1, I-trax, Inc., Chadds Ford, PA. Rounding out the top five is the highest ranking life sciences company, Exton, PA-based ViroPharma Incorporated.

    “The life sciences companies on this year's Fast 50 list are shining examples of how the pharmaceutical and bio-tech industries continue to drive economic growth in the region and how their presence supports many other local industries," said Fast 50 co-leader R. Terry Hisey, Vice Chairman, Life Sciences, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

    Results Reveal the Gathering Strength of the Greater Philadelphia Technology Marketplace: Innovation, Access to Financing and Technology Transfer Lead the Way.

    • The Greater Philadelphia Fast 50 results this year also mirror a national Fast 50 trend with a marked increase in the number of private companies. The 2007 rankings show an almost even split with 27 public and 23 private companies compared to 35 public and just 15 private companies last year.  This offers an indication that the region is becoming an attractive home to entrepreneurs who are staking the futures of their companies in an environment that promotes and rewards technology growth and innovation.  A strong private sector also bodes well for a vibrant IPO market as these companies seek local financing and enter the capital markets.
    • 18 companies are backed by local venture capitalists, which is a visible demonstration of the region's commitment to supporting local entrepreneurship.  Among these 18 companies are the top two on the Fast 50 list: Beyond.com, Inc. with lead financing from Safeguard Scientifics, of Wayne, PA (who also finances #45, Portico Systems); and AirClic, Inc., financed by Zon Capital Partners, of Princeton, NJ and Radnor, PA.  LLR Partners of Philadelphia are helping to finance three companies on the 2007 Fast 50 including Gestalt, LLC, eResearchTechnology, Inc., and Maxwell Systems.
    • Serving as a testament to the idea that technology transfer activities are integral to a successful and growing economy, this year's Fast 50 list shows further proof that technology transfer activities can help to grow companies and sustain growth over time.  16 ranked companies are beneficiaries of technology transfer activities from universities or research centers including ViroPharma Incorporated, AztraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Immunicon and InterDigital, Inc.

    Achieving a Fast 50 ranking requires strong revenue growth over five years yet remarkably some companies have sustained this rate of growth much longer. This year the Fast 50 welcomes back two nine-time winners – Kensey Nash Corporation, Exton, PA and Lannett Company, Philadelphia, PA; and two eight- time winners - Escalon Medical Corp., Wayne, PA and Lancaster, PA-based Herley Industries, Inc.

    Another repeat trend from last year is the existence of a strong technology cluster in and around King of Prussia home to 21 companies on the 2007 Fast 50.

    SELECTION CRITERIA
    Companies are selected based on percentage revenue growth over five years from 2002 to 2006. To be considered, Technology Fast 50 entrants must: have operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 2002 and at least $5,000,000 in 2006; be headquartered in Greater Philadelphia; own proprietary technology or proprietary intellectual property that contributes to a significant portion of its operating revenues, or devote a significant proportion of revenues to the research and development of technology. Using other companies' technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not qualify. Subsidiaries and divisions are not eligible, unless they have some public ownership and are separately traded.

    Click here for a list of the combined Deloitte Greater Philadelphia Technology Fast 50 ranking.

    The Greater Philadelphia Technology Fast 50 program is presented by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and is sponsored by Geller & Company and The Judge Group.

    About Deloitte
    Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other's acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names "Deloitte", "Deloitte & Touche", "Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu" or other related names. Services are provided by the member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein.

    Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the US member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In the US, services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP and their subsidiaries), and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.