Predictive Biosciences Raises $10 Million in Funding to Revolutionize Cancer Management Using Novel Biomarkers

Tony Shuber Joins Company as Chief Technology Officer

LEXINGTON, MA (December 18, 2006 ) –Predictive Biosciences, a pioneer in developing diagnostic products for informed cancer management™, announced today it has secured $10 million in Series A financing. Highland Capital Partners and IDG Ventures Boston co-led the investment in the company, which was jointly founded by the investors, leading entrepreneurs and internationally renowned scientists. “Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States resulting in more than 500,000 deaths per year,” said Michael Greeley, general partner, IDG Ventures. “With current approaches to screening, diagnosing, monitoring and predicting cancer being inconsistent and often painful to patients, we believe great value exists in developing diagnostic products that provide doctors and patients with more reliable results and convenient methods. Predictive Biosciences’ products enable physicians to provide patients with timelier, personalized cancer treatment, which will result in improved patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. We are thrilled to back the commercialization of revolutionary biomarkers from the labs of Dr. Marsha Moses and Dr. Bruce Zetter, world class scientists and senior principal investigators in the Children’s Hospital Boston Vascular Biology Program, whose director is Dr. Judah Folkman.”

In conjunction with the funding, Highland’s Paul Maeder and IDG Ventures’ Michael Greeley will become members of the company’s board of directors. They join a premier group of industry leaders that includes Robert Langer, Institute Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Mara Aspinall, President, Genzyme Genetics; and Marsha A. Moses, Professor, Harvard Medical School, Senior Institute Investigator, Children’s Hospital Boston, and Co-Founder of Predictive Biosciences. Predictive Biosciences also announced that Tony Shuber, former Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for EXACT Sciences, has joined the company as Chief Technology Officer.

“With more than two decades of highly successful research, development and commercialization experience in diagnostics and applied genomics, we are very excited and fortunate to have Tony join Predictive Biosciences as our new Chief Technology Officer,” said Paul Maeder, managing general partner, Highland Capital Partners. “We backed Tony as part of the early EXACT team and his tremendous track record in commercializing products from concept to launch will be a huge asset to the company as it looks to boost overall scientific efforts and build its research and development team.”

Most recently, Tony served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for EXACT Sciences, a premier applied genomics company focused on developing proprietary non-invasive, DNA-based screening tools for the early detection of cancer. There, he spearheaded development of DNA-based molecular technologies utilized in commercial cancer screening applications. He has also held key scientific and management roles with Genzyme Genetics / Integrated Genetics as well as earlier research and management positions. Tony holds over 30 patents and has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers.

Tony joins Predictive Biosciences Co-founder and Vice President of Business Development, Eugene Chiu, and Chief Financial Officer, Bob Crane. “Predictive Biosciences is leading a new era in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine,” said Eugene Chiu, co-founder of Predictive Biosciences. “We have an extensive proprietary and in-licensed IP portfolio from Children’s Hospital Boston and its collaborating institutions, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital. With this exceptional scientific foundation, outstanding scientific founders, and an experienced team, Predictive Biosciences has attracted substantial initial funding to build breakthrough products for significant commercial opportunities.”

About Predictive Biosciences
Predictive Biosciences is applying proprietary urinary protein biomarkers to develop and commercialize patient-friendly diagnostics across multiple cancer types. The company is initially focused on diagnostics for the precise, real-time management of cancer survivors. Predictive Biosciences is privately funded by Highland Capital Partners and IDG Ventures Boston and is based in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit Predictive Biosciences’ website at www.predictivebiosci.com.

About Highland Capital Partners
Highland Capital Partners was founded with the mission of helping great people build great companies. Since its inception in 1988, the firm has taken a sector-focused approach to investing in exceptional healthcare, information technology, communications and consumer companies. With over $2.6 billion of committed capital, Highland has invested in and worked to create such firms as Ask Jeeves, Avid Technology, CheckFree, Conor Medsystems, EXACT Sciences, Lycos, MapQuest, Mitotix, Ocular Networks, Odyssey Healthcare, Origin MedSystems, Renal Treatment Centers, Sybase, Telica, US Labs and VistaPrint. For more information, visit Highland's web site at www.hcp.com.

About IDG Ventures Boston
IDG Ventures Boston is an independent partnership that enables entrepreneurs to grow innovative, global companies. With $280 million under management, the firm is focused on investing in early stage information technology and life sciences companies and is led by a team with more than half a century of combined experience in venture capital. IDG Ventures Boston is affiliated with the IDG Ventures network of funds, a global $1+ billion network of independently managed funds spanning Asia and North America. For more information, visit www.idgvb.com.

###

 

Contacts:        

Peter Steinerman                                        Kate Castle
Steinerman Biomedical Communications        IDG Ventures
(516) 374-3031                                           (617) 534-1228
prsteinerman@aol.com                                kcastle@idgventures.com


Download this Press Release as a pdf file.