A Seattle startup that spun out of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has raised $5 million in series A funding to develop what it calls “tumor paint.” Blaze Bioscience’s experimental “tumor paint” technology is described as a real-time, high-resolution visualization of cancer cells.
From the press release:
By binding to and illuminating cancer cells, Tumor Paint may enable surgeons to see and remove cancerous tissue that might have otherwise been undetected. An ability to more precisely view tumor margins during surgery could also allow for the sparing of critical normal tissue, such as nerve or brain.
The company was founded by Dr. Jim Olson of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. It is led by co-founder and CEO Heather Franklin, formerly of ZymoGenetics and Targeted Genetics.
“This funding is a significant milestone for Blaze Bioscience. It will allow the company to transition from the seed stage to full execution mode moving Tumor Paint into development, including product scale up and toxicology studies, on schedule,” said Franklin.
The cash was provided by Seattle area angel investors, with Xconomy reporting that total funding now stands at about $6.3 million.
