Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization and Houston Technology Center Announce Recipients of TETF Awards

HOUSTON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gulf Coast Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (GCRCIC) is pleased to announce three companies who will receive up to a total of $2.9 million in commercialization awards from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF).  

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The TETF program was established by Gov. Perry and the Texas Legislature in 2005 to attract the best scientists and researchers to Texas, increase high-paying jobs, and help start-up companies get off the ground faster.

"The ETF was created to strengthen our state's high tech economy by supporting promising cutting-edge technologies during the critical phase between earliest innovation and market viability," Gov. Perry said. "I applaud everyone involved in these worthy endeavors and look forward to the day when we can say the cure for drug resistant bacteria, a cost and life-saving treatment plan and a successful treatment for ovarian and possibly breast cancer were all developed to maturity here in Texas."

"These innovative companies are prominent examples of how the TETF supports Houston's transformation as a global hub of technology innovation and commercialization," said Walter Ulrich, president and CEO, Houston Technology Center.  "We are committed to accelerating the award winners to bring their technologies to Texas—and the world—as quickly as possible."

The latest TETF award recipients include these HTC client companies:

AuricX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a pharmaceutical development company based in Houston.  AuricX is focused on the development and commercialization of novel anti-infectives to treat infections arising from Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other difficult to treat pathogens.  AuricX is commercializing a repurposed clinical trial stage drug which is being developed to treat S. Aureus infections.  AuricX was formed in 2006 and is managed by Chicago-based Wildcat Venture Management.  AuricX Pharmaceutical is being awarded $250,000 Pre-Seed Commercialization Award.

Blue Box Health, Inc. is a technology-enabled case management corporation focusing on early detection and mitigation of chronic disease decompensation. The business focus is on converting chronic disease decompensation emergencies to urgencies that are cared for in the normal course of business. Blue Box Health, Inc. has developed a remote biosensor for cardiac output, the Blue Scale, together with cloud-based analytics that will reduce overall costs of chronic disease management for hospitals and health providers while improve lifestyle and life expectancy of heart failure patients.  Blue Box Health, Inc. is being awarded $250,000 Pre-Seed Commercialization Award.

Oncolix, Inc. commenced operations in 2006 in South Carolina and relocated to Texas in 2009 and is focused on cancer. Their drug, Prolanta, has the potential to be the first non-chemotherapy drug approved for ovarian cancer and clinical trials will start early next year with strategic assistance from MD Anderson. Oncolix, Inc. is being awarded $2,400,000 Commercialization Award.

About Houston Technology Center

Named among Forbes' top 10 "incubators changing the world," The Houston Technology Center provides education, insight, and access to capital that entrepreneurs need for commercialization. The Houston Technology Center is a business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas, advancing the commercialization of emerging technology companies in the greater Houston area.  A 501(C)(3)nonprofit organization, HTC assists Houston-based entrepreneurs within several key sectors: energy, information technology, life sciences, nanotechnology and NASA/aerospace technologies.  For more information, visit www.houstontech.org.

About Gulf Coast RCIC

The GCRCIC is responsible for processing applications for Commercial Awards from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund from individuals and companies, located within the Gulf Coast region.  The Gulf Coast RCIC researches each application and submits recommendations to the Emerging Technology Fund Advisory Committee.  The Gulf Coast RCIC assists with commercialization of the funded technologies, as well as provides private support to the companies and workforce.

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SOURCE Houston Technology Center