Emergence client Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a startup in companion animal immuno-oncology, announces its founder and chief executive officer, Ashley Kalinauskas, has been honored as the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Scalable Venture category (under $1 million in sales) by the CT Entrepreneur Awards. Kalinauskas was recognized for her entrepreneurial achievements in 2018 with the company’s first product, an autologous prescription product for dogs and cats that uses the animal’s own tumor cells to create a personalized immunotherapy.
In 2018, Torigen hit several major milestones, including completion of its Series A with a $2.3 million equity raise, and treated nearly 250 companion animals diagnosed with cancer last year. Torigen also was named the 2018 Top Animal Health Innovation at the Kansas City Animal Health Investment Forum and a Million Dollar Women Company. Torigen was nominated for the CT Entrepreneur Awards by the UCONN Technology Incubation Program (TIP), recognized as having high potential for organizational growth.
“I’m extremely proud and humbled to be a part of a remarkable team at Torigen,” said Kalinauskas. “To be considered among this distinguished group of entrepreneurs and companies is a testament to the passion we each feel in our pursuit of life-changing solutions for pets with cancer. Thank you to UCONN TIP and the CT Entrepreneur Event Organizers Consortium for making this award possible.”
The annual CT Entrepreneur Awards identify, recognize and celebrate Connecticut’s leading entrepreneurs, ventures and ecosystem elements that support them. Nominations for the 2019 CT Entrepreneur Awards began in December 2018, and finalists were selected for a 30-day community-voting period from February to March 2019. The winners were announced April 18, 2019.
Cancer is the number-one cause of death in dogs over the age of two, and one in four dogs will be impacted by cancer in their lifetimes. Torigen is offering exciting potential for pets with cancer through its Autologous Prescription Product, which works by stimulating an immune response that targets and destroys the cancer cells specific to the patient.
Experimental autologous cancer vaccines created by Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc. are regulated by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics. For use under supervision/prescription of a licensed veterinarian. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
For more information, email info@torigen.com, visit http://www.torigen.com or call 860-519-9956.
About Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc. is focused on delivering affordable companion animal immuno-oncology products. Its initial patented product line utilizes a portion of the pet-patient’s tumor to create a personalized cancer vaccine. With over 10 years of supporting pre-clinical publications, the Torigen team is focused on developing innovative veterinary cancer biologics that allow for the body to recognize foreign tumor–associated antigens and facilitate the reversal of immune senescence. For more information, please visit http://www.torigen.com.
(Source: FARMINGTON, Conn., May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb)
Note: Ashley Kalinauskas, Torigen Pharmaceuticals CEO, will present at VetHealth Global 2019, June 24-26th in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.