News Article

Chosen Diagnostics wins BioChallenge competition
Date: Nov 17, 2016
Source: New Orleans City Business ( click here to go to the source)

Featured firm in this article: Chosen Diagnostics Inc of New Orleans, LA



Chosen Diagnostics, a startup developing a biomarker test to diagnose a gastrointestinal disease in infants, is the winner of the 2016 BioChallenge competition in New Orleans.

The disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, is common and life threatening among preterm infants with low birth weights. Around 1,400 infants in Louisiana each year are at risk of developing the disease.

Dr. Sunyoung Kim presented the winning pitch for the company, a spin-out based on research conducted at the School of Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans that aims to spur earlier treatment and improved outcomes.

The BioChallenge is an annual competition for emerging Louisiana life sciences startups that is developed by the New Orleans BioInnovation Center.

Carre BioDiagnostics won the competition's $25,000 second prize. The company is developing a simple blood test to identify chronic kidney disease patients with coronary artery disease who are at high risk for heart attacks, allowing for earlier treatment, improved outcomes and reduced costs.

"This competition highlights emerging startups that will generate jobs and economic growth in the state, and Chosen, led by our first female BioChallenge competition winner, will significantly impact neonatal care in the region," said Shafin Khan, director of technology commercialization at the BioInnovation Center. "After working extensively with all four finalists to help them hone their business plans and pitches before this event, we look forward to seeing their progress in the years to come."

Chosen Diagnostics was also selected as the winner of the $2,500 Audience Favorite prize at the competition, chosen by audience votes.

The other finalists were advanced materials startup Grapheno and pancreatic cancer drug development company Segue Therapeutics, both companies are based in Shreveport. The four companies were selected from a statewide applicant pool of nearly 20 startups developing new disease treatments, better diagnostics, tools to improve care delivery, advanced materials and other solutions.