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Success Stories

A number of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discoveries have been translated into new businesses and products that create jobs, advance health and generate financial returns for inventors, partners and the Center’s research. Some of our success stories include:

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corp.
This Seattle company was founded on the collaborative work of Drs. Chris Carlson, Harlan Robins and Edus Warren of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Combining the founders’ expertise in computational biology, immunology and molecular biology, Adaptive’s technology analyzes millions of molecules - known as receptors - located on the surface of T cells and B cells. This information helps researchers and scientists to better understand at a cellular and molecular level how a patients’ body responds to antigens, with applications in therapeutic monitoring and drug discovery.

Presage Biosciences
Presage Biosciences was founded in 2008 based on technology developed in the lab of Dr. James Olson, a pediatric oncologist with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The company is developing a proprietary platform for the rapid and reliable assessment of multiple cancer therapies and drug combinations within a single living tumor. In 2012, Presage partnered with Cambridge, Mass.-based Millennium, a unit of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, to help the company develop the most promising candidates for cancer treatments.

ZetaRx BioSciences, Inc.
ZetaRx BioSciences is a biotech start-up founded in 2008 based on technology from Dr. Stan Riddell’s lab at Fred Hutch. The company is developing adoptive immunotherapy for the treatment of cancers and other diseases using genetically engineered lymphocytes. Current evidence shows clinical benefit, particularly for patients with hematologic malignancies and melanoma.

Blaze Bioscience
Based on the breakthrough discovery by Dr. James Olson of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Researcher Center, Blaze is developing a “tumor paint” that allows surgeons to clearly define the boundaries of brain tumors during live surgery where millimeters are critical. Developed in conjunction with neurosurgeons, engineers and biologists from Fred Hutch and University of Washington, tumor paint gives surgeons a better chance of removing all of the cancerous cells at one time without injuring surrounding healthy tissue.

Immunex Corporation
Immunex was founded in 1981 in Seattle by former Center scientists Drs. Christopher Henney and Steve Gillis. Dedicated to developing immune system science to protect human health, the company marketed innovative products to treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, and also conducted clinical research in the areas of autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Immunex was acquired by Amgen.

Genetics Systems
Genetic Systems, founded in 1980 in Seattle, manufactured virus and infectious disease diagnostic blood tests as well as related instrument and software systems. Genetic Systems was founded in part on technology licensed from Fred Hutch. Genetic Systems became a public company through an IPO in 1985 and was subsequently acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Targeted Genetics
Targeted Genetics was founded in 1992 in Seattle as a spin-off of Immunex with technologies licensed from Fred Hutch. The company is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of cutting-edge gene and cell therapy products for both acquired and inherited diseases. Targeted Genetics became a public company in 1994.

Rosetta Inpharmatics LLC
Rosetta Inpharmatics was co-founded by Fred Hutch in Seattle in 1996. Rosetta provides services for drug discovery and development using biochip or array, technology and advanced informatics technologies. The company is focused on the identification of therapeutic compounds for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. Rosetta became a public company in 2000. Rosetta Inpharmatics was subsequently acquired by Merck & Co.

Targeted Growth Inc.
Targeted Growth was founded in 1999 in Seattle to develop products for the agriculture and animal husbandry industry based on novel methods for controlling cell growth and size and improving crop yield – in part with new technologies developed at Fred Hutch. In 2005, Targeted Growth signed a commercial licensing deal with Monsanto for the use of its yield-enhancing technologies in certain agricultural crops.

Adeza Biomedical Corporation
Adeza, located in Sunnyvale, Calif., is developing new diagnostic and therapeutic products for the women’s health market. Founded in 1985 as Aspen Diagnostics, Adeza’s first product is a novel FDA-approved diagnostic for early identification of women at risk for pre-term delivery. The product arose from research at Fred Hutch. Adeza became a public company in 2004 and was acquired by Cytyc Corp. in 2007.

Ikaria Inc.
Ikaria Inc., located in Seattle, was co-founded in 2005 by Fred Hutch. Ikaria is an early stage biotechnology company created to build on the groundbreaking research of Dr. Mark Roth at Fred Hutch on creation and management of hibernation-like states. Ikaria hopes to develop critical care and other products utilizing this fundamental research.

PhaseRx Inc.
PhaseRx, located in Seattle, was co-founded in 2006 by a Hutchinson Center researcher. PhaseRx is an RNAi delivery technology company developing a breakthrough polymer-based system that enables the systemic delivery of RNAi-based drugs and potentially other macromolecules as therapeutic products.

Argus Genetics
Argus Genetics was established in 2004 to serve as conduit between Fred Hutch and Mars, Inc. In 2007 Mars, using technology developed at Fred Hutch, launched a simple test to determine the genetic profile of a dog.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is a world leader in research to prevent, detect and treat cancer and other life-threatening diseases.