Navya Biomedical Technologies, LLC - Office of Research ...

Navya Biomedical Technologies, LLC
Developing Fullerenes to Image and Destroy Tumors
Navya Biomedical Technologies, LLC (Navya) is a privately held biotechnology company that designs,
develops, and commercializes novel proprietary polyhydroxy fullerenes to non-invasively
image and destroy solid tumors with minimal damage to healthy tissue. The company is founded
on breakthrough scientific discoveries by renowned cancer and nanoparticle researchers from the
University of Florida. Their work demonstrates the untapped potential for improving precision in
diagnostic procedures and cancer treatments.
Technology
The company’s proprietary technology
is based on the unique
photothermal and photoacoustic
properties of polyhydroxy
fullerenes (PHF) that make
them highly effective for cancer
treatment. The outpatient
procedure takes approximately
30 minutes with an injection of
PHF solution/nanoparticle suspension
directly into the tumor,
which is then exposed to an infrared
laser. This treatment has
shown a decrease in tumor size
by average of 32 percent (up to
72 percent) within 2 hours of
treatment, with little effect on
normal body tissue. Twenty
hours later, only a blister is visible.
PHF permits controlled and
localized heat generation, which
PHF is injected into tumor, imaged by photoacoustic tomography and exposed to nearinfrared
laser. The tumor shrinks within two hours of exposure, and 20 hours later only a
blister is visible at the tumor site.
allows for selective laser-assisted surgery with minimal damage to surrounding tissue, as well as
controlled drug release and delivery. Navya’s proprietary technology will lead to products well
positioned in the marketplace, with competitive advantages over existing cancer treatments. Functionalized
fullerenes are biocompatible, biodegradable, and are easily eliminated from the body in
urine – unlike carbon nanotubes or gold nanoshells, which are not biodegradable and accumulate
in the liver and spleen. Polyhydroxy fullerenes exhibit beneficial biomedical characteristics that
could lead to multiple product lines. Research has demonstrated their ability to stimulate growth
and reproduction, up-regulate the immune system and impede tumor growth / resorption, inhibit
allergic response, and protect the central nervous system and brain tissue from oxidative stress.
Market Potential
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States: One out of every 2 men and 1 out
of every 3 women will develop at least one form of the disease. The National Institutes of Health
(NIH) estimated the overall cost of treating cancer in 2010 at $264 billion: $103 billion for direct
medical costs, $21 billion for indirect morbidity costs; and $140 billion for indirect mortality costs.
Navya’s technology can treat all malignant or benign tumors. Navya intends to begin developing
and commercializing treatment applications for solid tumor cancers, beginning with breast cancer
– the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States.

Strategy
Navya is seeking $5M in private equity funding to support execution of the clinical studies needed to
bring the PHF technology to the marketplace. Funding will also support ongoing R&D for new products
and applications and offset basic operational costs. The company has acquired key PCT applications,
which are protected by national phase patent applications.
Management Team
Ravi Kiron, Ph.D., MBA – Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Kiron has 25 years’ experience in the pharma and healthcare industry. He was a professor at Cornell
Univ. Medical College, New York; and developed Cardiovascular, CNS & Oncology R&D programs
at Pfizer Inc. and J&J (ALZA). Dr. Kiron earned a B.S. (Chem) and M.S. (Microbio) at Bombay University,
India; a Ph.D. (Biochem) at Indian Institute of Science, and an MBA from Rensselaer, NY.
Abhita Batra, M.S. – Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder
Ms. Batra offers broad business development, marketing and technical experience in the pharma and
healthcare industry. She is the Founder and Managing Director of ABC; a consulting firm providing
expertise in the establishment and sustenance of global business for pharma and biotech companies.
Ms. Batra earned a B.E. in Biotechnology at Panjab University (India), and M.S. in Biotechnology and
Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.
Amit Vohra, Ph.D. – President and Co-Founder
Dr. Vohra has comprehensive expertise in new product development and product lifecycle management
in the regulated healthcare and biomedical industry. He serves as Director, Engg. & Mfg. at a
medical-device startup, and leads development of products in the prostate cancer domain from ground
research phase to final commercial product. Dr. Vohra received his doctorate from UF.
Scientific Advisory Board (University of Florida)
Brij Moudgil, Ph.D., Director of the Particle Engineering Research Center, has published more
than 300 technical papers, presented more than 50 papers, received 13 patents and won several major
awards. He completed his graduate education at Columbia University.
Vijay Krishna, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Particle Engineering Research Center. He
is the primary inventor on 15 patent applications and has authored 12 journal articles. Dr. Krishna
earned a B.E. in Chemical Engineering at Bangalore University and a Ph.D. at UF.
Ben Koopman, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences,
has authored more than 120 journal publications. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering at Oregon
State University and a Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley.
Stephen Grobmyer, M.D, an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, earned his M.D.
from the University of Texas Southwestern and completed surgical training at NY Hospital Cornell
Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He serves as Co-Director of the Women’s
Cancer Collaboration between the UF Shands Cancer Center and Moffitt Cancer Center. He is a
surgical oncologist with expertise in the management of solid tumors including breast, skin, and gastrointestinal
cancers and authored 90 peer reviewed publications.
Contact Information
Ravi Kiron, CEO
Navya Biomedical Technologies, LLC
(650) 224-3836 • rkiron@navyabiomedical.com
For more information about this UF startup company or other spinoff
opportunities from the University of Florida, contact:
UF TechConnect ® (352) 846-1840