CBICC supports growing company: INDIGO Biosciences

CBICC member-INDIGO Biosciences- is positioned for greater growth thanks to the success of innovative products that are positively impacting the pharmaceutical and medical fields.

Founded by Dr. Jack Vanden Heuvel and Dr. Blake Peterson in 2005, INDIGO Biosciences got its start in the CBICC’s business incubator at technology Park.

INDIGO’s testing and screening technology determines how various compounds affect the receptors inside a cell’s nucleus. The company’s innovative products and services are designed to improve the speed, cost and risk of the drug discovery process, helping clients validate products and identify potential product side effects.

Aided by the development of a proprietary cell preservation process, the company’s traditional mission as a contract research company changed in 2008. As a result, INDIGO needed more space and moved to its current location in the Zetachron facility near Science Park Road in 2009.

In 2011, funding from the CCIDC’s Revolving Loan Fund, combined with local bank financing, provided the necessary working capital for the expansion of the company’s sales and marketing activities; introduction of a new product; building of in-house service capacity; and establishment of robotic liquid handling capabilities, which enhanced INDIGO’s ability to satisfy its increasing client demands.

With a new CEO hired in late 2013 to move the company from the start-up phase to a profitable business, INDIGO is positioned for even greater growth.

Fred Marroni, a former executive-in-residence at Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, is securing new distribution channels for INDIGO’s products and services, and the company is beginning to realize success in the biotechnology, food, agriculture and nutriceutical industries, as well as in the pharmaceutical field.

Marroni said support for INDIGO over the years has come in a variety of ways from a number of organizations, including the CBICC, CCIDC and Ben Franklin Technology Partners to name a few.

“We are growing nicely,” he said. “We are working toward profitability and expect to achieve that goal this year.”

Marroni said growth has been aided by increased opportunities on the service side as many large pharmaceutical companies have downsized in-house experts, and a new distribution agreement to boost worldwide sales.

INDIGO currently has 12 employees, and plans to hire three more people by year’s end.

“We have a love for science, that’s what we do here,” Marroni said. “We want to stay and grow in State College because of the access to faculty, talent and capital.”