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• JANUARY 31, 2020 • Midlands Business Journal
Advances in Medicine A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
January 31, 2020
Metro is ground zero for better drug therapy, affordable care that adds more quality years by Michelle Leach
Local organizations represent early adopters, if not nerve centers, for a range of breakthroughs in the management and treatment of diseases, from osteoporosis to cancer. ProTransit Nanotherapy President and CEO Gary L. Madsen, PhD., described “impressive” genetic engineering- and medical applications-related advances; for instance, CAR-T cell therapy in cancer immunotherapy, and genetic modifications for sickle cell and other diseases using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Madsen highlighted advances in how medicines are delivered, via the use of micro and nanoparticles. “ProTransit Nanotherapy makes nanoparticles called Pro-NP that are made of a co-polymer that is biocompatible and completely
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biodegradable in the body,” he said. “There are other special ingredients added to our process that allow for long-term sustained release of the drug cargo. This is great for treatment of chronic diseases like hypertension, traumatic brain injury or stroke.” In collaboration with Creighton University, ProTransit is showing nanoparticles, when applied to the skin, can reduce or eliminate the skin cancers whose prevalence is rising worldwide due to sun exposure and the improper use of sunscreens. If, Madsen said, test results continue to show promise, next-generation sun care products could be developed to reduce the rate of disease. Madsen referenced continued improvements in cancer diagnostics through genetic testing using next-generation DNA sequencing of
Jeffrey Kaipust, assistant director for Biomechanics at the Biomechanics Research Building 3D printing lab at University of Nebraska at Omaha. “liquid biopsies,” cancer cells flowing through bones were so dense that they never broke. the bloodstream that provide early detection of Kim further highlighted how Creighton and a metastases. CHI Health represent one of the few centers in “There will also be greatly enhanced appli- the U.S. using non-invasive focused ultrasound cation of telemedicine using 5G wireless internet therapy to treat the neurological condition, Esand artificial intelligence that, together, should sential Tremor, which reportedly affects as many allow the practice of good medicine in the places as 41 million patients worldwide. with few or no doctors,” he said. Kim sees promise in breakthroughs to treat At the University of Nebraska Medical other common conditions, including TAVR for Center (Madsen is a former entrepreneur-in-res- lower- and intermediate-risk patients and the idence at its technology transfer office, UN- WATCHMAN device in the structural heart eMed), how medicine is taught is “changing space; however, he also underscored the lessbefore my eyes,” via the iEXCEL Center er-publicized MitraClip (newer models were equipped with virtual reality and augmented approved by the FDA in March). Via FDA. reality technologies to ready the next-generation gov, the MitraClip is designed to treat patients of health care professionals. with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation by Department of Medicine Professor and reducing the amount of blood that moves in the Chair Dr. Michael H. Kim highlighted numerous wrong direction through the mitral valve. advances with far-reaching implications, includKim isolated advances in medications for ing those innovated from Creighton University. the many people diagnosed with high choles“Dr. Bob Recker, chief of endocrinology, terol and cardiovascular disease. is the vanguard of osteoporosis research and, “Some people with high cholesterol can’t years ago, he developed the mutation for which tolerate the common cholesterol drugs or this [osteoporosis] drug has been made, and it statins,” he said; for instance, side effects include is considered to be one of the biggest advances muscle aches, nausea and insomnia. in 2020,” Kim said. Alternatives to statins are emerging; likeAccording to Creighton information, the wise, new drugs are designed to improve outU.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval comes (hospitalizations, risk of heart failure) of romosozumab was the first new treatment among diabetics. approach in a nearly two decades-long strategy Kim described a recently-approved cystic based on a rare gene mutation in people whose Continued on next page.
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Advances in Medicine — inside JANUARY 31, 2020
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
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VOL. 46 NO. 5
Makovicka takes football focus to physical therapy chain growth by Richard D. Brown
CombOver Contracting strives for transparency. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 In Ben Swan’s career, everything old is new again. – Page 3
p rtu Sta tem l ca ys Lo cos E
From venture capital to wealth of incubators, it’s an unprecedented time to be a startup in Nebraska. – Page 25
Native Nebraskan Joel Makovicka is taking the tenacity he showed as a Husker All-American fullback for a team that won three national championships and now applying the work ethic he demonstrated in the 1990s to his chain of 17 physical therapy locations in a multi-county area of eastern Nebraska. And the numbers continue to grow for the 44-year-old Makovicka, who now leads 165 employees, and within the next month will be announcing locations for clinics numbers 18 & 19. “We’re taking a strategic, progressive and well thought-out approach to our growth,” said Makovicka, president of Makovicka Physical Therapy, which he operates with Omaha native Natalie Harms, vice-president of finance. Both Makovicka and Harms hold doctorates in physical therapy from Creighton University. Within the past few months the burgeoning business moved its corporate offices into a wing of a Continued on page 8.
President Joel Makovicka … The physical therapy organization continues growth with plans for additional clinics. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Synergies align with the CareDx acquisition of Omaha-based OTTR by Becky McCarville
When Omaha’s OTTR Complete Transplant Management merged with Brisbane, California-based CareDx in May of 2019, the union of the organ transplant-focused companies was described by company leaders as a perfect match. The Omaha office will serve as CareDx’s technical hub for its global operations and over the next two
years, the company plans to ramp up hiring in Omaha from about 50 employees to 200. Before the acquisition, CareDx, an organ transplant diagnostic testing company, and OTTR, an organ transplant patient tracking solutions company, were each looking for more ways to improve the lives of transplant patients. “From our founding until about Continued on page 8.
Owner and energy engineer Steve McGreer, PE, left, and energy engineer Jon Fletcher, right … An interest in making green building solutions financially possible led to specialization in C-PACE financing.
Asset Environments focuses on financial strategies to fund green building projects by Savannah Behrends
From left, Matt Hunter, VP transplant software technology, and Brian White, software development manager … Ramping up hiring in Omaha to establish the Omaha office as the technical hub of CareDx’s global operations.
For Asset Environments the message for business and property owners has always been “you can have your cake and eat it too.” “We can do green improvements to your building and make it profitable for you at the same time,” said President and owner Stephen McGreer, PE. Asset Environments, formed in 2016 under Mechanical Sales
but now wholly owned by McGreer, combines energy efficient building solutions with financing strategies to make green upgrades more obtainable for businesses and investors. Solving the triple net problem While not the original focus of the company, one of the ways Asset Environments helps comContinued on page 10.