In the crucible II: gene mapping: Boca Raton-based Forseti Biosciences is FAU's first bioscience spin-off

South Florida CEO, Dec, 2003

"The future of medicine and health care is going to be changed by the genetic mapping of the human genome," says Ramaswamy Narayanan. "We want to take the human genome sciences and develop treatments through effectively targeted drug therapy."

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Narayanan is the CEO of Forseti Biosciences, Inc., a start-up company located at the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) in the Research & Development Park at Florida Atlantic University. He and co-founder Gary Perry, Ph.D., Forseti's vice president and COO, believe that carefully targeted genetic treatments could be much more effective in a variety of diseases. Among other things, the firm is developing the technology needed to use gene markers for diagnosis and treatment of major cancers, including those of the colon, pancreas and prostate.

Forseti's technology centers on the discovery of two specific genes involved in solid tumors, with approval in concept for a drug that is highly specific to several types of solid tumors. "We are projecting this drug can be taken to Phase I clinical trials in 18 months," says Narayanan. "We are actively seeking funds and strategic partners."

As exciting as their discoveries are, the company's formulation is equally innovative for South Florida. Both Perry and Narayanan were professors at FAU, and Forseti Biosciences is the first faculty spin-off from the university--which is an equity partner in the company and owns the technology, licensed exclusively to Forseti.

"While Forseti is certainly a startup, we also look at it as a model for the incubation of a new business," Perry says. "Our vision is to help stimulate the development of a biomedical industry here."