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Technology Transfer
University Spin Game
Success is rare and slow for spinoff companies, but the potential rewards -- visibility and income - keep schools playing.
 Technology: Topical skin preparation to treat actinic keratosis and other skin cancers. Shown in photo: Stephen Chakoff[Photo: Daniel Portnoy] |
Boca Raton (FAU)
Stephen Chakoff, co-founder, president and CEO
Elliot Hahn, co-founder and industry adviser, who is also chairman emeritus of Fort Lauderdale generic-drug maker Andrx, now owned by Watson Pharmaceuticals
Spun off: 2005
Sales: N/A
Market: Pharmaceutical companies and possibly over-the-counter sunscreens
Research by Herbert Weissbach at Florida Atlantic University’s Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology led to a combination of agents that work together to target and kill cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. CHS, located at the Technology Business Incubator at Florida Atlantic Research and Development Park, is performing a “proof of concept” study with Skin and Cancer Associates in Plantation and is preparing for discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on potential applications, which may include a formulation sold in an over-the-counter sunscreen.
