New Study Further Suggests PAX2 is a Viable Therapeutic Target for Cancer

In a recent article, entitled Are Pax proteins potential therapeutic targets in kidney disease and cancer?, Dr. Gregory R. Dressler of the University of Michigan, states that “the Pax family of proteins represents new pharmaceutical targets that merit exploration and further development”, and that “combining Pax inhibitors with other chemotherapeutic drugs may improve their efficacy”.  A link to the article can be found here. 

Disclosure: Dr. Dressler has served as a paid consultant for Genentech and Morrison and Foerster with respect to the patent infringement case filed by Phigenix.

Phigenix Hires Top Law Firm DLA Piper

As part of it's initiative for expanded IP technology development, strategic partnering and licensing, PHIGENIX is pleased to announce that we have acquired the services of DLA Piper, LLP.  Dr. Carlton D. Donald, President and CEO of PHIGENIX, commented, "Our meeting today with representatives of DLA Piper's Global Life Sciences team was both exciting and encouraging.  Their proven track record and experience in counseling clients on strategic patent matters, including patent prosecution, product clearance, patent portfolio mapping, and patent mining evaluations and analyses will be instrumental in assisting Phigenix in reaching its goals."  DLA Piper has been named “Game Changer of the Past 10 Years” by Financial Times (2015), and have 34 DLA Piper lawyers from 10 countries recognized as world’s leading patent practitioners by Intellectual Asset Management IAM Patent 1000 (2017), among other distinctions.

Phigenix Adds Quark Ventures Advisor to its Board of Directors

Phigenix appoints Mr. Michael C. Shores, who currently serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at Quark Ventures, to its Board of Directors.  Dr. Carlton Donald, President and CEO of PHIGENIX, commented, “We are excited to welcome Michael Shores to the Board of Directors.  He brings a wealth of experience across numerous sectors, including healthcare". Click here to download the press release.

Phigenix is Featured in The Atlanta Business Chronicle

Phigenix was profiled in the September 30, 2011 edition of the Atlanta Business Chronicle as part of their segment featuring "interesting new technologies developed by Georgia companies and researchers".  The article stated that "Phigenix is seeking to patent a way to prevent or treat prostate cancer.  The method inhibits the expression of the PAX2 gene".  The article goes further to say that "Phigenix has also filed for a patent for a treatment for breast cancer.  Learn more about Phigenix at http://phigenix.com".

Phigenix's Tissue-based Biomarker DEFB1 Correlates with Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer

In a recent study, Human beta defensin-1 (DEFB1) loss was observed in 95.6% of Gleason 3 and 90% of Gleason 4 biopsies, and it was concluded that DEFB1 loss is a useful indicator to identify patients with high risk of developing prostate cancer (Hong et al., APMIS. 2017 Sep 8). Phigenix is currently developing a DEFB1-based diagnostic test for prostate cancer.

Study Finds that the Phigenix Prostate Cancer Screening Biomarker is Detectable in Urine

It has been reported that an aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor has been developed which can detect EN2 at low levels for the detection of prostate cancer in urine (Settu et al., Anal Biochem. 2017 Oct 1;534:99-107). These finding will be instrumental in Phigenix developing its EN2 screening test and EN2-targeted therapy for prostate cancer.

What Bloomberg Got Wrong About Phigenix

On September 29, 2017, Bloombeg BNA News published an article written by Dana A. Elfin, which state "Atlanta-based Phigenix is a nonpracticing entity (NPE), which means it buys up patents and makes money from selling licenses for them. "  This assessment is incorrect and mischaracterizes Phigenix and its corporate mission.  Phigenix was formed in 2007 by Dr. Carlton Donald as a "spin-off" biotech company from the Medical University of South Carolina, where Dr. Donald was a clinical researcher, to further develop novel therapeutic compounds and companion diagnostics that he invented.  Several publicly available resources describe Phigenix's research efforts in the area of Personalized Medicine.  The Bloombeg article can be read here: https://www.bna.com/phigenix-seeks-undo-n73014470365/.