20/20 Gene Systems Partners With Zacks Investment Banking and AmeriTech Advisors for Growth Capital Campaign
CHICAGO, July 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 20/20 GeneSystems, Inc. ("20/20") has partnered with Zacks Investment Banking (ZacksIB) and AmeriTech Advisors to raise $4 million in growth capital to support a nationwide roll-out of its proprietary early lung cancer detection test and continue expansion of its pipeline of biotech products for cancer detection and treatment support. "Both firms are steeped in bio-pharm and understand our firm and the space very well; we see it as a win/win; investors take comfort in that two experienced firms have vetted and structured the offer and we get their combined experience and investor reach" explains Jonathan Cohen-CEO
Limited Competition and Immense Market for Early Detection of Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and early stage cancer is much easier to treat and results in much higher rates of survival. With a target market of over $1.5 billion in the U.S. and $4 billion in China, the demand for products that discover lung cancer early is immense. 20/20's lung cancer screening test uses a proprietary panel of biomarkers in the blood to detect early stage lung cancer. Their technology has been demonstrated to have a 50% higher sensitivity rate than the only other blood test currently marketed to primary care physicians in the U.S.; thus, 20/20's test catches more cancers early (74% vs. 42%). The competitor's product reportedly generated revenues of over $10 million in 2013, tapping into this large demand for early detection.
Strong Product Pipeline in Development
20/20's products include a highly profitable biosecurity product for the emergency responder community and a test to assist people with advanced kidney cancer to select the optimum treatment plan. The company also is also testing various microfluidics technologies to permit cancer testing at a retail pharmacy level with only a fingerpick blood samples. "To get big, we need to get small," suggested 20/20's CEO Jonathan Cohen referring to the anticipated benefits of "lab-on-a chip" technologies to reach mass population screening.
50% Refund from Maryland Available to Early Investors in this Round
As a qualified Maryland biotech company all of the 70+ investors in 20/20 over the past eight years —regardless of whether they reside or pay taxes in Maryland --have received, or are entitled to receive, one half of their investment retuned from the state of Maryland within 12 months of investing pursuant to the Maryland Biotechnology Investor Tax Credit program. "The biotech industry is highly competitive and the rapid nature of scientific innovation makes it challenging to market new products," explains Danny Mulcahy of ZacksIB. "The Maryland program substantially reduces investors' risk and is what makes investing in biotech companies located in Maryland so attractive. No other state offers this high a refund to investors."
Due Diligence Completed by Top Global Angel Investor Network
Earlier this year a 120 page due diligence package was completed by an expert team from the Keiretsu Forum, the world's largest network of Angel investors. Copies of this due diligence report are available to prospective investors upon request.
20/20 Gene Systems
20/20's mission is to help "bend the curve" of cancer mortality around the world through early detection and precision medicine. The company headquarters are in the heart of the biotechnology corridor in Rockville, Maryland, in close proximity to the National Institutes of Health.
Zacks Investment Banking and Ameritech Advisors
LBMZ Securities, Inc. (DBA- Zacks Investment Banking (ZIB)) is Chicago based and a leading full service broker-dealer (member of FINRA/SIPC). A division of the Zacks Group, one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America, serving clients in all 50 states, with over $4 billion in total assets under management, more than 600 employees worldwide, and more than 1 million investor relationships.
Working with our affiliates, Zacks Investment Research and Zacks Investment Management, we integrate a comprehensive, customizable and scalable suite of financial services, giving client's full access to the powerful products and services that, previously, only the largest institutions could offer. We assist both public and private small-cap companies with capital formation, M&A services, valuation opinions, and general advisory services. Additionally, we provide individual, institutional and corporate clients a full complement of financial services including institutional sales & trading, equity research as well as asset management.
AmeriTech Advisors is a New York City based full service broker dealer (member of FINRA/SEC) dedicated to providing M&A advisory and capital raising services to emerging growth companies in the technology and healthcare sectors with market capitalizations of between $25 million and $500 million. AmeriTech Advisors was spun-out of the NYC office of ThinkEquity Partners in 2009 and has continued to work with growth biotechnology and med tech companies to raise capital and execute mergers and acquisitions. Most of ATA's senior investment bankers have 20+ years experience in the industry and 100% have experience as senior managers at public companies or as sellside and/or buyside research analysts.
Media Contacts:
Zacks Investment Banking
Daniel Mulcahy, Managing Director – Private Placements (312) 265-9376, [email protected]
Ameritech Advisors
Dan D'Agostino, Jr., Managing Director - Head of Investment Banking (212) 209-3885 [email protected]
20/20 GeneSystems, Inc.
Media inquiries: Jennifer K. Zimmons, Ph.D., Zimmons International Communications, Inc.
(917) 214-3514 [email protected]
Investor inquiries: (240) 453-6339 x102, [email protected]
SOURCE Zacks Investment Banking
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