IN BRIEF - Loveland Reporter-Herald

IN BRIEF

Numiera gets matching state funds to advance brain cancer treatment

Numiera Therapeutics Inc., a client company of Fort Collins-based Innosphere and a pharmaceutical pioneer in small-molecule drugs for oncology, announced Friday that its lead candidate has received “orphan drug” designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating malignant gliomas, and that the company has been awarded 2:1 matching funds from the state of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

The orphan drug designation provides Denver-based Numiera with a number of incentives, including seven years of post-approval market exclusivity, tax credits and fee waivers. This designation significantly bolsters the company’s efforts to bring an innovative treatment for brain tumors to clinical trials and market.

Numiera is working to revolutionize cancer treatment by targeting fatty-acid metabolism in cancer cells. Unlike traditional approaches that focus on glucose metabolism, Numiera’s research has uncovered a critical vulnerability in cancer cells that rely on fatty-acid oxidation for energy production. By inhibiting the carnitine palmitoyl transferase pathway, Numiera’s lead candidate aims to “stall the engines” of cancer cells, slowing tumor growth and enhancing patient outcomes.

“Our approach represents a paradigm shift in neuro-oncology,” Izi Stoll, co-founder and CEO of Numiera, said in a prepared statement. “By targeting how these cancer cells generate energy through fatty-acid oxidation, we are not only addressing an unmet need for glioblastoma patients but also paving the way for broader applications in the field of oncology.”

Innovative Food Holdings acquires LoCo Food Distribution

A Florida-based gourmet specialty food distributor has acquired Fort Collins-based LoCo Food Distribution LLC for $358,000.

Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. purchased the business via its subsidiary Golden Organics Inc., from Elizabeth and Ben Mozer, who also own The Lyric theater in Fort Collins.

The couple started LoCo Foods in 2011 to deliver fresher, healthier foods to the market. According to a press release, LoCo Foods sales have reached $4.7 million in the last year, serving more than 200 customers along the Front Range, including retailers, hotels, hospitals, schools and restaurants.

The purchase included $187,000 in equipment, as well as retiring all of the company’s long-term debt, which financed the company’s growth over the years, according to the release.

The business operates out of a 9,000-square-foot leased warehouse in Fort Collins. The lease expires in March 2025, at which point LoCo Foods will be moved and consolidated with the operations of the Golden Organics business in Denver.The company signed a consulting agreement with Elizabeth Mozer and will continue to use the LoCo Foods brand name.