BioCrossroads' Indiana Seed Fund Invests $285,000 in Company Developing Novel Breast Cancer Diagnostic Tool; Technology Developed by CS-Keys Can Detect Cancer in Single Cell.INDIANAPOLIS -- Americans are stricken with cancer at alarming rates. And cancer rates in Indiana continue to rise above the national average. The mortality rate of cancer patients in the state is five percent higher than the national rate and nearly 1,000 women in Indiana succumb suc·cumb intr.v. suc·cumbed, suc·cumb·ing, suc·cumbs 1. To submit to an overpowering force or yield to an overwhelming desire; give up or give in. See Synonyms at yield. 2. To die. to breast cancer each year. Nationally, more than 180,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. A new company, called CS-Keys, Inc. (CS-Keys), is determined to help patients and slash breast cancer death rates with a new diagnostic tool that can help detect cancer in its earliest stages. CS-Keys' technology was developed in the lab of Dr. Linda Malkas, Indiana University School of Medicine The Indiana University School of Medicine is the medical school of Indiana University, part of the Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Established in 1903, the school had an initial class of 25 students. Professor of Medicine and Vera Bradley Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. is an American design company best known for its soft, brightly patterned bags.[1] The Fort Wayne, Indiana company produces many products, including quilted cotton luggage, handbags and accessories which can be found at one of the 3,500 Chair for Oncology oncology /on·col·o·gy/ (ong-kol´ah-je) the sum of knowledge regarding tumors; the study of tumors. on·col·o·gy n. . This technology is expected to impact the way women with breast cancer are diagnosed and treated and potentially lead to more targeted therapeutics therapeutics Treatment and care to combat disease or alleviate pain or injury. Its tools include drugs, surgery, radiation therapy, mechanical devices, diet, and psychiatry. . It could also impact the quality of life for patients undergoing treatment. CS-Keys has identified a novel biomarker biomarker /bio·mark·er/ (bi´o-mahr?ker) 1. a biological molecule used as a marker for a substance or process of interest. 2. tumor marker. bi·o·mark·er n. 1. , an antibody, that has been shown to be highly effective in identifying malignant cells. "This new diagnostic utilizes current medical practices in use for detecting breast cancer," said CS-Keys founder Linda Malkas, Ph.D. "Pathology labs do not have to invest in any additional equipment. They only need a minimal amount of training and a stain that we have developed for this purpose." CS-Keys will use a $285,000 Indiana Seed Fund investment to complete several key scientific and business milestones. These milestones include validation and clinical studies and completing a market and product strategy study. The company will be located in Indianapolis, Ind. at the Indiana University Indiana University, main campus at Bloomington; state supported; coeducational; chartered 1820 as a seminary, opened 1824. It became a college in 1828 and a university in 1838. The medical center (run jointly with Purdue Univ. Emerging Technologies Center. The $6 million Indiana Seed Fund is a seed-stage venture fund. It is managed by BioCrossroads, Indiana's life sciences initiative, with financial support coming from the Indiana Finance Authority In order to provide economic efficiencies and management synergies and enable the State of Indiana ("State") to communicate as one voice with the various participants in the financial markets, the Indiana Development Finance Authority, the State Office Building Commission, the Indiana , the Indiana Health and Educational Facility Financing Authority and BioCrossroads. The Indiana Seed Fund was formed to help narrow the gap between the discovery of an idea and actual venture capital funding and to prepare companies for venture investments through vehicles like the Indiana Future Fund I. "Our mission is to invest in truly novel life sciences businesses, through vehicles like the Indiana Seed Fund," said David Johnson David Johnson may refer to:
All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. , like the Indiana University School of Medicine, to uncover potential businesses opportunities and match them with the resources they need to grow. "BioCrossroads' unique, market-driven perspective to growing Indiana's life sciences industry is critical, and the Indiana Seed Fund allows us to develop and support a budding budding, type of grafting in which a plant bud is inserted under the bark of the stock (usually not more than a year old). It is best done when the bark will peel easily and the buds are mature, as in spring, late summer, or early autumn. pipeline of opportunity in Indiana. We are confident that this 'elegant' technology will make an impact on the lives of women - and their families - across the globe." CS-Keys' biomarker not only distinguishes benign from cancerous cells, but can also detect the diseased dis·eased adj. 1. Affected with disease. 2. Unsound or disordered. cells when there are just a few present. Consequently, the diagnostic may be useful in identifying cancer in its earlier stages. Early detection of breast cancer can have a profound impact on mortality rates. CS-Keys' technology is easier to use than current methods, provides greater accuracy and could potentially be more cost-effective than other technologies on the market today. The market for molecular cancer diagnostics is estimated at $5 billion by 2009 in the U.S., with double-digit growth forecasted. "The finance authorities, on behalf of Governor Daniels, are proud to support Indiana's expanding network of entrepreneurial life sciences businesses," said Ryan Kitchell, State Public Finance Director. "This investment represents a perfect combination of talent, innovation and funding to drive growth in this industry." In related news, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer announced this week a $6.8 million commitment to the Indiana University School of Medicine to support cancer research, like the work of Dr. Malkas and her team, at the school. With this announcement, the Foundation has committed and/or given more than $10 million to the school to support cancer research. "The IU School of Medicine is grateful to the Vera Bradley Foundation for their continued support for cancer research. It was their generosity that made it possible for the School to recruit a researcher of Linda Malkas' talent and vision, which, in turn, has made it possible for the creation of CS-Keys, a classic example of how life science research will benefit the economy of the state of Indiana and the health of Hoosiers," said D. Craig Brater, M.D., dean of the IU School of Medicine and vice president of Indiana University with responsibility for life sciences. Additional information on the Indiana Seed Fund can be found at www.biocrossroads.com/entrepreneur/isf.htm. Indiana life sciences entrepreneurs can also submit proposals for Indiana Seed Fund investment using this website. Proposals are being accepted through August 31, 2006. The Indiana Seed Fund anticipates making investments over approximately a two to three year time period, but the final investment period will depend on the quantity and quality of the submissions received. About BioCrossroads: BioCrossroads is Indiana's life science initiative, a public-private collaboration that supports the region's research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. With government, industry and academic resources aligned to accelerate business growth, the region is fertile ground for investors and entrepreneurs to build new ventures. Learn more at www.biocrossroads.com. About CS-Keys: Formed in February 2005, CS-Keys, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control is creating cancer-specific biomarkers using advanced protein chemistry technologies (proteomics). The company is developing a new series of diagnostics to detect the occurrence or re-occurrence of cancer leading to more effective individualized in·di·vid·u·al·ize tr.v. in·di·vid·u·al·ized, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·ing, in·di·vid·u·al·iz·es 1. To give individuality to. 2. To consider or treat individually; particularize. 3. treatment strategies for primary and metastatic Metastatic The term used to describe a secondary cancer, or one that has spread from one area of the body to another. Mentioned in: Coagulation Disorders metastatic pertaining to or of the nature of a metastasis. disease, with an initial focus on breast cancer. About the Indiana Seed Fund I: The $6 million, return-driven Indiana Seed Fund was launched in June 2005 and is managed by BioCrossroads with funding coming from BioCrossroads, the Indiana Finance Authority and the Indiana Health and Educational Facility Financing Authority. The Seed Fund provides working capital in the range of $50,000-$500,000 to promising Indiana life sciences companies at the preliminary stages of operation. |
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