Ichor follows a recent trend of biotechs to partner with non-profits as sources of funding for new therapies. Preventing and treating Alzheimer's is a laudable goal in and of itself, but with uncertainty in the IPO market and with pressure on pharma patent holders to change their business model, having a foundation supporting your work is a great back-pocket strategy.
http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2009/08/06/ichor-gets-33m-alzheimers-grant/
