Biotech Company Licenses IU Discoveries

(Image courtesy of Indiana University.) Mark Kelley has three decades of experience as a cancer researcher.

An Indianapolis-based biotechnology company is looking to commercialize discoveries made at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Apexian Pharmaceuticals Inc. has licensed all technology discovered by the Mark Kelley, Betty and Earl Herr Chair in Pediatric Oncology Research at the school.

Kelley is also the chief scientific officer for Apexian. Steve Carchedi, Apexian’s chief executive officer of Apexian, says one of the main projects the company is focusing on is the development of a new cancer therapy.

"Mark has published more research in the field than I have seen in my entire 30-year career," said Carchedi. "His extensive work in the field will bring forward APX3330, a therapy that could transform the way cancer is going to be treated in the future. It is rare that one gets the opportunity to work with someone of his caliber, resulting in bringing forward the next novel oncology discovery. At Apexian, we are grateful for the partnership with IU and Mark’s exceptional research."

Apexian has received grants from the National Cancer Institute to study APX3330. Last month, the institute awarded Kelley a $2.9 million grant to study the side effects caused by chemotherapy. A phase one oncology trial is expected to begin sometime this year.