Biotech startups get new partner in research organization

Pittsburgh’s fledgling pharmaceutical startup industry could get a lift in a new collaboration between Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse and privately held Helomics Corp.

Helomics, a contract research organization specializing in personalized medicine, is creating flexible wet lab space at its Lawrenceville headquarters, where pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotech startups can bulk up while creating new products.

Helomics also offers an ecosystem of investors, researchers and others to nurture new companies in a way that hasn’t been done before in the city, president and CEO Gerald Vardzel said.

“We have a foundation here, leading universities and a great work ethic,” he said. “I think this is a huge step forward.”

Pittsburgh has historically been a center for the information technology and medical device startups, but pharmaceutical development has lagged behind Philadelphia, Boston and other startup hubs. PLSG is a governmentfunded, public-private investment agency specializing in life science companies.

Organizations such as PLSG can be invaluable in the growth of life science startups, said Bruce Freeman, co-founder of biopharmaceutical research company Complexa Inc., which has offices on the South Side and Philadelphia.

But he advised researchers considering the entrepreneurial arena to limit overhead costs by using the lowest cost resources available, including lab space.

Kris B. Mamula: kmamula@post-gazette.com or 412-2631699.

Helomics Helomics, a cancer diagnostics company that marketed its first product in 2005, is a privately held company that develops personalized medicine products.