OKLAHOMA CITY – It is a story made for a Hollywood film – a desperate father joins forces with a brilliant scientist to develop a cure for his children’s deadly illness. Fortunately the story is true and the life-saving science generated in “Extraordinary Measures” – a CBS Films release for Jan. 22 – is based on the findings of Oklahoma scientist Dr. William Canfield, whose ground breaking science is credited as saving the lives of those suffering from Pompe disease.
Dr. Canfield and John Crowley, the focus of the movie, joined forces to started Novazyme that was a great fit in Oklahoma’s burgeoning bioscience sector. Since then Oklahoma legislators have made aggressive and attractive business incentives to companies wishing to grow in the health and science industry.
An example of companies using incentives to grow in Oklahoma is Orthocare Innovations that develops orthotics and prosthetics that monitor, analyze and react in real-time to changes in a patient’s physiology, alignment and gait.
Also made possible through Oklahoma’s business incentives is Invisible Bracelet and MedEncentive. These two companies have developed groundbreaking technologies to support the healthcare industry.
Invisible Bracelet – like a virtual medical identification bracelet – is a HIPAA-compliant Web service that allows its members to share vital health information during emergencies with participating emergency medical service providers.
As the health care reform debate continues, MedEncentive has developed a system that rewards health accountability on the part of the physicians as well as the patients for incorporating “best medical practices” and advancing patient education and empowerment, while motivating healthy behaviors.
Far beyond the glittering lights of Hollywood, Oklahoma is staking its claim and leading the way in major health and science advancements with the support of the Oklahoma legislators and business community.
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