Saladax Biomedical – Because No Two Patients Are Alike

careinnovators  | July 13, 2010

Location – Bethlehem, PA (HQ)

Startup Description – Saladex Biomedical is the inventor and developer of MyCare™, a line of chemotherapy monitoring assays tests to aid oncologists in adjusting chemotherapy drug dosing by measuring their concentration in the blood of cancer patients.  Saladex also works with pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics to achieve optimal patient benefit for drugs in the development pipeline. In June 2010, Saladax partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop clinical diagnostics. Watch a video on Saladax here. 

Who are the target clients? Physicians, oncologists, diagnostic and pharmaceutical firms

So what? While Saladax’s technology platform can address a variety of therapeutic areas, the initial focus is oncology. By addressing dose optimization, a routine aspect of therapeutic drug management but not as common in oncology, Saladex is able to objectively assess whether patients are receiving the optimal dose of their prescribed medications in order to increase efficacy and reduce toxicity.

What does CI think is innovative? Pharmacogenomic testing is only half of the equation in optimizing drug dosage in oncology.  After making a best guess of the right drug, and the right dose, there’s still room for error in the individual patient.  Companion diagnostics (CDx) to determine drug levels is part of the solution for post-prescription monitoring and titration.  Saladax is creating blood tests that can accurately monitor drug levels, giving physicians greater control in cancer treatment to optimize efficacy and toxicities.

Help this start-up! According to its website, Saladax actively pursues strategic alliances for co-promotion and/or distribution of its proprietary line of MyCare™ products. It also seeks leaders in the in-vitro diagnostic industry that market instrument platforms on which MyCare tests will be performed, major reference laboratories that would offer MyCare testing services, and pharmaceutical companies that market anticancer drugs that would further enhance patient outcomes via the Saladax MyCare technology platform.