| 
| 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2010
Flagstaff, AZ
NACET – A New Home for PathoGene, LLC and its Experienced Management Team
Flagstaff and the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies (NACET) are soon to be home to a molecular diagnostics development company, PathoGene. This venture is being championed by top tier scientists, successful laboratory managers and experienced biotech executives who are using Northern Arizona University (NAU) and The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) as launching pads for building a successful business. The founders and management team all call Flagstaff their home… and intend to keep it that way.
PathoGene develops novel molecular diagnostic assays to improve the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. The goal is to help control the spread of life-threatening “super bugs” and to improve outcomes once patients become infected. This should lower the overall cost of healthcare and save lives currently being lost to infectious diseases. Lofty ambitions perhaps but PathoGene believes they are well within reach.
Specifically, the company is focused on the diagnosis and targeted treatment of infectious disease pathogens including Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) (a common “super bug” and potentially deadly hospital-based infection that already kills more people each year than HIV in the US), Influenza (including H1N1) and Valley Fever (human and animal). Currently the global market for molecular diagnostics is $4B and it is expected to grow to $35B by 2015.
The aim is to take the world-class science coming out of laboratories at NAU and TGen and convert it into diagnostic tools that help medical practice achieve a higher standard of care. A board and management team has been assembled who have significant experience doing just this. “The combination of unique, high value technology with a well balanced and experienced management team focused on a rapidly growing worldwide market creates a tremendous business opportunity for PathoGene and important addition to the Flagstaff bioscience community” said Todd Snowden, President of PathoGene. PathoGene board members include founding member, Dr. Paul Keim. Dr Keim is Director of the Pathogen Genomics Division of TGen and is a Regents Professor and holder of the Cowden Endowed Chair in Microbiology at NAU. He is internationally known for his work in human pathogen epidemiology using DNA identification techniques, including his groundbreaking work with Anthrax. Additional board and executive team members bring a full complement of skills and experiences that will contribute to PathoGene’s commercial success. Dr. Thomas Vorpahl is a board certified pathologist with over thirty years experience in laboratory medicine, including several successful entrepreneurial endeavors. David Engelthaler is the Director of Operations at TGen North where he oversees a group of investigators working on pathogen genomics projects targeting clinical medicine, public health and bio-defense. David was previously the State Epidemiologist for Arizona. William Gibbs is CEO of Norchem Laboratories, which is also based in Flagstaff and currently employs over 60 people. Norchem is a high volume toxicology laboratory which has experienced 25% annual growth since 1997. Jeanne Ambruster recently joined PathoGene as Board Chair and is CEO of The Avenues Company - a local consulting group that has been focused for over ten years on the translation of bioscience innovations from bench-top to clinical practice. Prior to that, she was instrumental in growing W.L. Gore and Associates’ medical device business and launching a genetic testing company through the completion of a successful IPO. Todd Snowden recently joined PathoGene as President and combines extensive experience in medical device and diagnostic sales, marketing and business development with a track record of success in operating and growing his own business. Together this team has the experience to develop and grow PathoGene’s business and hopes to provide high quality local employment in the years ahead.
Contact Information:
PathoGene LLC
2225 N. Gemini Drive, Suite E-11
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Phone: 928-863-3248
Email: Pathogene Press Releases
###
