Roswell Park Launches Global Biotechnology & Cancer Therapeutics at BIO International Convention in San Francisco, CA

SAN FRANCISCO — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center today announced at the BIO International Convention the formation of Global Biotechnology & Cancer Therapeutics (GBCT), a company that will guide and support biotech and life-sciences startups. The partnership links Roswell Park’s world-class cancer research capabilities with GBCT’s expertise in assisting biotechnology and cancer therapeutics startup companies, including those arising from Roswell Park’s own laboratories.

“GBCT will allow outside biotechnology companies to partner with a scientifically respected entity that will provide infrastructure for drug development and investment — everything from clinical trials to anticancer agents and vaccines, cellular therapies, immunotherapies and surgical devices,” says GBCT’s Chief Operating Officer, David Donovan, who is also Senior Executive Director of Business Development at Roswell Park. “GBCT is fueled by the top-flight facilities and intellectual capital of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.”

As a for-profit spinoff of Roswell Park, GBCT will provide new avenues for maximizing the impact and community benefit from Roswell Park discoveries and resources. “It further allows venture capitalists to invest in biotechnology that has been vetted by Roswell Park scientists and is being developed in a strategic and scientifically sound way,” says Thomas Schwaab, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GBCT, Associate Professor of Urology and Immunology and Chief of Strategy of Business Development and Outreach at Roswell Park.

GBCT will utilize strong local and international partnerships to help inventors raise startup capital, obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and license inventions through Roswell Park’s Office of Technology Transfer. Resources available to clients include Roswell Park’s DataBank and BioRepository; OmniSeq Precision Medicine Technology, a Roswell Park spinoff company; the Center for Personalized Medicine; and the Center for Immunotherapy, one of the few centers in the U.S. capable of developing novel immunotherapies from discovery to clinical trials.

“Immunotherapy and personalized medicine, in particular, have shown immense promise in benefiting our patients,” notes Roswell Park President and Chief Executive Officer Candace S. Johnson, PhD. “By using our existing innovative research advances, GBCT will assist in developing biotechnology that may have a significant impact on our mission to understand, prevent and cure cancer.”

GBCT’s reach extends across the United States and the world, with partnerships in China, Russia, Nigeria and Cuba. The company’s formation was officially announced today at BIO 2016, an international biotechnology convention held in San Francisco. For more information, please visit roswellpark.org/gbct.