MIPS Project Detail:

20/20 GeneSystems, Inc.

Powder Screening Test Kit for First Responders

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Company

20/20 GeneSystems, Inc.

Rockville

Montgomery

County

, Maryland

Founded:

2000

Website:

https://2020gene.com/

Company Description:

20/20 GeneSystems was founded to develop and promote an innovative proteomics product line that provides drug companies, biodefense specialists and life scientists with new tools for protein analysis. The company’s first product, and the focus of the company’s work through MIPS, called BioCheck®, is the “gold standard” test for the screening of unknown suspicious powders by emergency personnel and first responders. Since developing BioCheck, the company has expanded its scope to developing and commercializing innovative, proprietary diagnostic tests that aid in the fight against cancer. These tests generally fall into three categories: personalized medicine, early detection of lung cancer, and biological detection.

MIPS Project

Powder Screening Test Kit for First Responders

Project #

3404

|

MIPS Round

34 |

Starting Date:

Aug 2004

MIPS Project Challenge:
20/20 was developing its BioCheck® Suspicious Powder Screening Kit, which provides a cost-effective, reliable screening tool to quickly and easily determine whether a powder contains biological material and rule out many of the substances that cause powder incidents (e.g. talcum powder, dry wall dust, powdered sugar, etc.). The company needed researchers to improve, optimize and test the effectiveness of the product.‍

Project Scope:
Hansen had a deep background in relevant biochemistry and had previously invented chemical agents to kill anthrax spores, so he was familiar with the environment where the test kits would be employed. He made specific recommendations on improvements to (and the optimization of) BioCheck®, and ran many tests demonstrating its efficacy compared to generic protein tests.

Dr. Hansen and MIPS were essential to the success of this product, which has become an international gold standard for suspicious powder screening. Over the past seven years, thousands of government and commercial places of business have been able to safely and promptly resume operations following suspicious powder incidents through the use of this product by first responders. BioCheck® has likely saved hundreds of millions of dollars in economic waste while creating many new jobs in Maryland.

Jonathan Cohen, President and CEO, 20/20 BioResponse

Results:

BioCheck® generates revenues of about $500,000 per year with gross profit margins of about 80 percent. 20/20 has raised more than $15 million in total equity and grant funding and has launched two successful products, BioCheck® and a blood test for the early detection of lung cancer.