$86 Million Biotech Initial Public Offering

Five St. Louisans are making a bet on biotech. A big one. Dr. Frank O'Donnell plans to take his $26 million Accentia Biopharmaceuticals public. He has enlisted the help of St. Louis businessmen Dr. Dennis Ryll, John Dubinsky, C. Ray Holman and Steven Stogel, who have agreed to become directors of the Tampa, Fla.-based company, according to a Feb. 11 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. The five are stockholders in Accentia, which sells eight pharmaceuticals: Xodol, a pain narcotic; Respi-TANN, a decongestant; and six Histex-branded products to treat coughs, colds and allergies.

St. Louis Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2005/02/21/story1.html)