The company’s mission is to develop diagnostic biomarkers that can guide physicians in choosing the most effective therapeutic approach(companion diagnostics for cancer).
There are currently no reliable means of predicting the efficacy of therapies given to patients. Many therapies are effective only in a subset of patients. There is an urgent unmet clinical need to reliably predict the outcome of these therapeutic regimens. A companion diagnostic test may predict an improved outcome for the patient, at a lower cost, with fewer side effects. The presence (or absence) of biomarkers may guide the physician and treating oncologist, in determining the appropriate course of treatment.
ProgenLifeSciences will commercialize these assays in a New York State Certified, CLIA waived laboratory, established at the Long Island High Technology Incubator, on Stony Brook University’s campus. Additional prospective studies will be performed with the department of pathology at Stony Brook, for appropriate treatment regimens for various cancer, based on the expression of molecular biomarkers.
ProgenLifeSciences is ideally positioned to commercialize companion diagnosticsin oncology applications, combining the expertise of Stony Brook University scientists, leveraging the Long Island High Technology Incubator facilities, and building on the commercial experienceof clinical diagnostics, by the founder and president, Dr. Mohan Chellani. Dr. Chellani is a life sciences executive with over 20 years of experience. He has served in senior management roles at large healthcare companies. Most recently he was the Vice President of Scientific affairs, at EnzoBiochem, and a Director at Quest Diagnostics. Dr. Chellani has worked with the most innovative technologies in molecular diagnostics, and commercialized novel laboratory developed tests.
The goal of ProgenLifeSciences is to be a leader in developing companion diagnostic biomarkers, to help guide oncologists using proprietary tests,and optimizing the therapeutic regimens available for cancer patients.