AZBio Members Iron Horse Diagnostics and NuvOx selected as finalists in the Fall Arizona Innovation Challenge.
Iron Horse Diagnostics, Inc. is a privately held molecular diagnostic company focused on the development and commercialization of novel tests to support the diagnosis and management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other neurological diseases.
Iron Horse has developed and validated assays to measure protein-based signatures of disease. We expect to launch our first diagnostic test from a central reference laboratory in late 2015. This diagnostic is for ALS and uses cerebrospinal fluid samples. Our next product will be a blood-based diagnostic for ALS, with additional prognostic assays for ALS that can be used to monitor disease progression and test the effectiveness of drugs in clinical trials. Follow-up blood-based diagnostic assays will be for TBI and neuronal injury.
NuvOx Pharma is a biotechnology company based in Tucson, Arizona with a novel patent portfolio allowing it to develop an innovative platform of dodecafluoropentane (DDFP)-based oxygen therapeutics to treat a host of human conditions. Founded in 2008, NuvOx Pharma has demonstrated therapeutic feasibility in radiation-resistant cancer, hemorrhagic shock, traumatic brain injury, myocardial infarction, retinopathy and stroke. Due to inherent structure of DDFP, a very stable and relative lack of inter-molecular attractive forces, this perfluorocarbon is known to carry large payloads of oxygen in the bloodstream. The main advantage to using DDFP is that it is a liquid at room temperature, but expands to the gas state in the body. Therefore, upon intravenous injection the transition of DDFP from a liquid to a gas in the bloodstream allows for ~600 times increased oxygen transport compared to Hemoglobin.
The Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC), powered by the Arizona Commerce Authority, awards the most money in the country for a technology commercialization challenge – $3 million ($1.5 million twice yearly) to the world’s most promising technology ventures. Awards range from $100,000 to $250,000 per company.
The 10 finalists are:
- CampusLogic Inc., a Gilbert-based provider of financial aid software for higher education schools that cuts costs, simplifies compliance and improves students’ experience.
- DermSpectra LLC, a Tucson innovator in digital medical imaging systems.
- Energy Conservation Management, a Scottsdale company that engineers and installs a proprietary technology that saves energy in boilers.
- Iris Public Relations Management, a Phoenix PR management and measurement software for agencies and in-house teams.
- Iron Horse Diagnostics Inc., a Scottsdale-based biotechnology company licensing intellectual property around biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and neuronal injury.
- NuvOx Pharma, a Tucson-based biotech company with a patent portfolio allowing it to develop a platform of oxygen therapeutics to treat a host of human conditions.
- Park Genius, a Tucson company that allows you to remotely add time to your parking meter using your smartphone.
- Pure Chat, a Scottsdale company that offers a simplified website chat feature for free to small businesses and bloggers.
- RightBio Metrics, a Scottsdale company that offers bedside fluid measurement technology for healthcare.
- Spotlight Software, a Phoenix company that is introducing SpotlightSales, a solution that drives increased sales by uncovering hidden ways to increase selling time.