Indiana Centers for Applied Protein Sciences (INCAPS) changes name to Monarch LifeSciences™ and refocuses on biomarker discovery and development services
The Indiana Centers for Applied Protein Sciences (INCAPS) announced that they have changed their name to Monarch LifeSciences. The new name was chosen to highlight the significance of proteomics–the company’s primary focus. Proteins are the major functional entity responsible for all biological processes within an organism, and the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly is often used to illustrate the importance of proteins in biology. Butterflies and caterpillars have the same genome, yet their appearance is completely different. Changes at the protein level are responsible for these differences.
Originally formed as a BioCrossroads company, Monarch LifeSciences is a contract research organization that provides research services on proteins and biomarkers for biotech and pharmaceutical companies interested in developing drugs and diagnostic tests. They work with large pharmaceutical companies, medium and small biotech firms, and academic investigators from North America and Europe. One notable project is that they have received a portion of a $7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to develop and validate biomarker discovery tools in the hopes of advancing clinical applications.
Monarch’s focus, protein biomarker discovery, development and validation, are key areas for the future of drug development and disease research. Proteins/biomarkers enable researchers to understand disease because they can be correlated with the health or disease of an individual. While genes are static and stay the same from conception, proteins are dynamic and are always changing (physical appearance and diseases are determined by proteins). The large scale study of proteins, or proteomics, can not only aid in drug development, but it can also help in diagnostic areas such as monitoring patient response to a certain drug and eventually play a central role in personalized medicine.
Monarch has an active internal research program in collaboration with the Indiana University School of Medicine. The partnership allows the company to continually improve their techniques and publish in peer-reviewed journals to expand the proteomics biomarker knowledge base.
The company has recently expanded their services and technology platforms and now offers high throughput mass spec-based protein assays (LifeMarker™ Assays). These assays measure specific protein biomarkers without the need for antibodies. “Monarch’s base business is to help expedite the research and development time for new therapeutics and diagnostics,” said Shawn Comella, the newly named President and CEO of Monarch LifeSciences. Our new LifeMarker ™ assay is of particular interest to our customers as it offers a faster and more cost-effective way to develop and validate biomarkers compared to currently available technologies”
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