Navix Ready to Turn Ideas Into Products

From its founding in Hungary in 1987 to its relocation to Camarillo in 1994, the biotech company Navix focused on research, with the idea of commercialization somewhere down the road.

Somewhere down the road, apparently, has become right around the corner.

Navix has named Rebecca Hunt, former director of research and development for Navix’s parent company, Medical Analysis Systems, its new general manager. Hunt was hired for her background in both biotechnology and business, experience Navix officials believe will be necessary to take the company into the marketplace.

“There has always been a plan to come up with the technology to create a product line, but the emphasis has been to create ideas--there hasn’t been a really strong focus on commercialization,” Hunt said. “But now that we have the ideas, how do we turn them into products?”

Navix, with a staff of 14, has concentrated on three particular areas of the biotech industry: DNA probe detection, a method of measuring DNA in infectious diseases and genetic disorders; immunodiagnostics; and cost-effective production of proteins.

Hunt said the initial commercial emphasis will be on the immunodiagnostic test market.

“We are going after a point-of-care market, a rapid-diagnostic type market, so that patients can be evaluated quickly and easily in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices, so they don’t have to wait hours or days to get results back,” Hunt said.

Hunt said with immunodiagnostics and the production of proteins, her goals will include seeking business partnerships, establishing worldwide distribution and setting up a network for future outside funding.

Though the competition will be intense, she said, Navix is prepared.

“It’s difficult even to get into the market itself--Navix is a small start-up company coming out with a product line and competing with the big boys,” she said. “Our strategy is to come out with a product that meets a need in a niche market that is not currently being met.”