> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hibiotech.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Pacific Business News Coverage (November 2002) - URL: https://www.hibiotech.com/press-2002-11-08-pbn/ - Published: 2002-11-08T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T18:57:03.000Z - Description: From the Hawaii Biotech archive: The next time Hawaii is hit with a dengue fever outbreak, a local company may have the cure. - Author: The Hi, Biotech Newsroom - Tags: Press Archive, Press Coverage Hi, Biotech is an independent publication with no affiliation with Hawaii Biotech, Inc. This page preserves a historical record from the company's original press archive, republished for research and archival purposes. Copyright in the original material remains with its original owner. Innovation, vision give Hawaii Biotech an edge By Debbie Sokel Pacific Business News The next time Hawaii is hit with a dengue fever outbreak, a local company may have the cure. Hawaii Biotech Inc., an Aiea-based company, is gearing up to start clinical trials on a vaccine for the mosquitoborne disease, marking a major milestone for the company. The trials will start early next year. "The same technology is applicable to a number of other dis S$ Or mosquito-borne diseases including West Nile and malaria," said David Watumull, president of the company. "We are fast-tracking a West Nile vaccine, and our development time to achieve animal-efticacy results will be about six to nine months, versus five to seven years in dengue." Over the next five years, Watumull would like to have several pharmaceutical products complete phase-two clinical trials and be licensed to major pharmaceutical or biotech companies. and a pipeline of 10 to 15 additional potential pharmaceuticals in research and development. Finding vaccines to cure mankind of major ailments has been the company's mission since it started 20 years ago. It has developed pharmaceutical and diagnostic products and conducted research on acute cardiovascular therapies and drugs targeting infectious diseases and cancer. Last. month, Hawaii Biotech won its second Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The award is given annually to companies Small Business Innovation Research grant program has to offer. Hawaii Biotech has received more SBIR money and matching state grants than any other local company. It has received 52 phaseone awards and 13 phase-two awards amounting to $14 million, as well as $1 million in matching state grants. An innovator in technology, research and development, Hawaii Biotech is applying that same approach to the core of its mission: business planning and Strategy. A notable change occurred when the company hired Watumull as its president in February 2001, according to Greg Kim, a partner in the com- pany. Watumull's vision and industry experience are rapidly changing the company and attracting venture capital investments, Kim said. Reach Debbie Sokel at 955-8042 or dsokei@ bizjournals.com. This article appeared in the November 8, 2002 issue of the Pacific Business News. It has been reprinted by the Pacific Business News and further reproduction by any other party is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2002, Pacific Business News, 1833 Kalakaua Avenue, 7th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96815.