Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has helped launch a phase-III clinical trial to test the efficacy of a combination drug that has shown promise of preventing colon cancer. CPP was founded in 2008 to apply decades’ worth of systematic, basic research led by University of Arizona professor emeritus Eugene Gerner and former UA researcher Frank Meyskens to improve clinical practice.

“Our long-term vision is to change the status quo from treating and managing cancer to intervening before cancer manifests and prevent it altogether,” said Jeffrey Jacob, founding CEO of Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals. “The idea is just like in the approach to heart disease: Instead of waiting for heart attack or stroke to happen, we give patients cholesterol-lowering or blood pressure-lowering medicine to prevent those events from happening in the first place.”

In addition to colorectal cancer, the same treatment approach has shown promise in preventing prostate, skin and possibly other cancers as well. Colorectal cancer affects about 1 million people in the U.S., Jacob said.

Read more: UA Spin-Off to Test Cancer-Preventing Drug Combination

Tucson-based Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the launch of a three-year, Phase III colon-cancer-prevention trial in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and SWOG (formerly the Southwest Oncology Group), an NCI-supported clinical-trials group.

Read more: Tucson company launching late-stage clinical trial for its cancer-prevention drug

TJ Johnson, CEO of HTG Molecular Diagnostics states, “We are extremely proud to have the Edge design recognized as an Medical Design Excellence Award finalist. We heard loud and clear from our customers that the market needs a simple and cost effective way to perform RNA testing with fast turnaround. The Edge was designed to fulfill this unmet market need.” HTG Molecular’s Edge System is the only automated gene expression platform that delivers affordable, multiplexed results on formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue samples in 24 hours.

Read more: marketwire.com

Desert Angels portfolio company, Post.Bid.Ship., is highlighted as one only two innovative companies trying to disrupt the freight brokerage industry.

Read More: Innovation and Technology come to the Freight Brokerage Industry

Inc Magazine provides the history and an overview of Syncardia.

Read more: New Jolt of Life for the Artificial Heart

Tucson-based artificial heart maker SynCardia Systems Inc., a Desert Angels portfolio company, has raised $19 million in new, long-term growth capital from investors including a major health-care investment fund. The investment round includes a $15 million, structured financing arrangement with New York-based Athyrium Opportunities Fund, as well as a $4 million follow-on equity investment from existing shareholders.

Read more: Tucson-based SynCardia lands $19M investment

Syncardia moves up eight slots to become #69 on Forbes 2012 “America’s Most Promising Companies” list, after being ranked #77 in 2011.

Read more: Syncardia – Forbes Profile

The Arizona Innovation Challenge’s endorsement of Post.Bid.Ship as a finalist helped the company obtain $286,000 of private investor capital. In addition, Post.Bid.Ship was named a winner of the challenge and received a $250,000 grant from the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Read More: Arizona Innovation Challenge helps Post.Bid.Ship leverage additional funding

Syncardia’s growth potential and exit strategy are discussed. The 13 pound Freedom Driver which is approved in Europe and is expecting FDA approval in June, and would allow patients unprecented mobility and would greatly expand adoption of the device. Along with approval of the portable driver, SynCardia expects to reach two more milestones this year: FDA permission to test an artificial heart small enough for women and teenagers, and approval to use its heart as “destination therapy” – a more permanent solution for patients who don’t qualify for transplants because of age or illness. Together, the approvals will set the stage for SynCardia to grow – and perhaps attract a deep-pocket buyer.

Read More: Syncardia a heartbeat from leadership role

NuvOx Pharma is planning a phase II clinical trial for an injectable drug that can infuse tumors with oxygen to make them more susceptible to radiation treatment.

Read more: NuvOx Pharma set for Clinical Trials