With its expansion into Lake Nona, Protean BioDiagnostics is positioning itself as a leader in Florida’s growing biosciences sector.
Orlando-based life sciences company on a growth trajectory
Over his decades of work as a cancer researcher and pathologist, Anthony Magliocco MD has witnessed tremendous strides in how cancer is diagnosed and treated. But despite the promise of those rapid advancements, he still sees significant barriers: Not all patients have access to the latest knowledge and the latest diagnostic and treatment advances, nor do all doctors.
Magliocco’s Lake Nona-based life sciences company, Protean BioDiagnostics is changing that.
“This rapid increase in human knowledge and changes in the way we diagnose and treat cancer has led to increased confusion about treatment opportunities and diagnostic services,” Magliocco says in his podcast series Cancer Informant, one of the many outreach services he provides to help empower people. “It’s confusing, and it’s also confusing to doctors.
“I think it’s important that cancer patients be aware of their choices.”
Protean BioDiagnostics advances precision oncology through cutting-edge diagnostic technology and streamlined cancer treatment access and bridges gaps in cancer care by ensuring patients receive timely and appropriate testing and treatment. Magliocco, a board-certified pathologist with extensive experience in molecular diagnostics, founded the company in 2017. A member of Cenfluence ’s life sciences cluster, Protean BioDiagnostics has about 20 employees and recently was named a Top 50 Florida Company to Watch by GrowFL , a program that recognizes high-growth, second-stage businesses demonstrating exceptional innovation and market potential.
Connecting Patients with Cutting-Edge Care
Magliocco has co-authored more than 400 research publications in cancer biomarker research and led research programs in molecular diagnostics, epidemiology, translational research, and clinical trials.
As the former chair of Anatomical Pathology and Executive Director of Esoteric Laboratory Services at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, one of the biggest and busiest cancer research and treatment centers in the country, Magliocco personally saw the pace of research and discovery outpace the ability of all patients and oncologists to reap the benefits of innovation.
Magliocco notes that, while advances in cancer biology have identified molecular subtypes that respond to targeted therapies, access to essential molecular testing remains inconsistent. For example, less than half of U.S. lung cancer patients receive proper EGFR mutation testing, even though such mutations often determine treatment success. The fragmentation of cancer care, particularly beyond major academic centers, makes it challenging for oncologists to stay updated on rapidly evolving diagnostics and treatment options. To address these issues, Protean BioDiagnostics has developed its Protean MAPS™ platform, a comprehensive precision oncology system. The platform serves patients and physicians by:
* Organizing testings into guideline-based bundles for easy accessibility;
* Providing pathology review services to ensure correct diagnoses and appropriate sample selection; and
* Offering decision-support tools, virtual tumor boards, and clinical trial matching to assist oncologists in community settings.
Protean BioDiagnostics’ accredited and certified laboratory is licensed to serve all U.S. states. The lab offers proprietary testing, such as cancer screening and monitoring tests, genetic risk assessments, AI-powered pathology evaluations, rapid molecular testing and large-panel genomic analysis and 3D genomics and global methylation profiling.
Protean facilitates sample collection through a national phlebotomy network and at-home testing options and its ultra-rapid testing services deliver results within days.
“Good cancer care is also about advancing research by enrolling patients in appropriate clinical trials, hopefully helping both that patient and future ones as new targeted therapies are approved,” Magliocco says.
Strengthening Orlando’s Role in Cancer Innovation
Magliocco first launched Protean BioDiagnostics at USF CONNECT , the innovation incubator at the University of South Florida’s Research Park. But the company quickly needed additional space, drawing it to Orlando, where it joined the UCF Business Incubation Program . Protean opened its new headquarters in Lake Nona in mid-2020 and subsequently more than doubled the size of its team.
With its expansion into Lake Nona, Protean BioDiagnostics is positioning itself as a leader in Florida’s growing biosciences sector. The company plans to hire additional scientists, lab technicians, and AI specialists.
Magliocco envisions Protean as a global leader in precision oncology, dedicated to accelerating access to the most effective cancer treatments. “Our goal is to close the existing cancer care gap and ensure that every patient, regardless of location, has access to the best diagnostic and therapeutic options available,” he says. Learn more about Protean BioDiagnostics at https://www.proteanbiodx.com/.