HERSHEY, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hershey Center
for Applied Research (HCAR) prepares to welcome another international company
to its thriving research facility. Based in Dunedin,
New Zealand, Pacific Edge
Diagnostics, Ltd., a leading developer of cancer diagnostic and prognostic
technology, plans to open its first US
franchise to market the companys bladder cancer detection test, Cxbladder®, to
urologists in the United
States by the end of the year.
Looking to build a better understanding of the US marketplace, Pacific Edge chose to bring its
product to Hershey because of HCARs direct engagement in nearly every aspect
of the companys US
commercialization to date.
“HCAR Executive Director, Jack Atchason, and his staff
helped us understand the marketplace and the needs of our top prospects,” David
Darling, CEO of Pacific Edge, said. “His 18 plus years of Biotech/Pharma
commercialization experience was a big asset in helping us build key elements
of our plan.”
“Convincing a company like Pacific Edge to open a facility
in any location takes strong alignment of the location with the business needs,
a strong value proposition aligned to these business needs, resources and
support from all partners, and differentiators from other competitive
locations,” said Atchason. “Tenacity of the HCAR team to continue to build a
relationship with Pacific Edge and show their executives why HCAR was the best
choice made the difference. We work closely with the Office of International
Business Development-a division of the Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania-to offer
resources to help a start-up business like Pacific Edge achieve success
quicker.”
Darling added: “HCAR put us in touch with statewide groups
whose main objective is to find support for international organizations looking
to grow their business in Pennsylvania.”
HCAR currently has $2 million in non-dilutive capital still available for
companies looking to locate to its Knowledge Community.
Pacific Edge plans to set up shop adjacent to HCARs new Technology
Suites. This EDA-supported (Economic Development Administration of the
Department of Commerce) project will open in August and provide subsidized lab
and office suites for technology companies. The 11,348 square-foot Pacific Edge
facility will serve as an office and processing facility for the analysis of
the Cxbladder® test. The test utilizes the expression of genes in the patients
urine to detect the presence of bladder cancer accurately and non-invasively.
Planning and construction for the new facility is currently
underway. The launch of the companys franchise also calls for approximately
100 people to be newly hired and employed in Pennsylvania over the next three years.
ABOUT HERSHEY CENTER FOR APPLIED RESEARCH
As a Wexford Science and Technology, LLC and The Hershey Trust Company joint
development project, the Hershey
Center for Applied
Research (HCAR) is building a Knowledge Community. Our strategic partnership
with Penn State
University and the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical
Center offers domestic
and international-based tenants access to advanced technology and other
research resources, and immerses them in a climate of innovation.
With an ideal east-coast location convenient to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington
D.C., Hershey is an emerging
research hotspot that offers a high quality of life and access to a
well-educated and stable workforce. By leasing fully customizable research,
manufacturing and office space while also providing integrated strategic
business services tailored to each tenant, HCAR helps early stage to mature
life sciences, nanotech and clean tech companies innovate and grow. www.HersheyResearch.com
ABOUT PACIFIC EDGE
Pacific Edge Limited is a New
Zealand based cancer diagnostic company
specializing in the discovery and commercialization of diagnostic and
prognostic technology for the early detection and monitoring of cancer.
Products in development and in clinical trials are accurate and simple to use
genomic and proteomic tools for the earlier detection, improved
characterization and better management of gastric, bladder, colorectal cancers
and melanoma. The company has recently completed and released its first product
for the detection of bladder cancer, Cxbladder® and is actively marketing the
product to urologists in New Zealand, Australia and soon to be Spain and Portugal.
Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT
