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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe assets of ill-fated Elona Biotechnologies Inc. will be auctioned on Sept. 27, presenting a rare turnkey opportunity for entrepreneurs interested in jumping into the life sciences industry.
Indianapolis-based Key Auctioneers will place on the block Elona’s 50,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Greenwood, plus intellectual property including a patent for making generic insulin.
Elona went into receivership in June after Greenwood officials filed a foreclosure lawsuit against the firm. The company failed to open its Greenwood facility after receiving more than $8 million in economic development incentives from the city.
In 2010, Greenwood loaned the firm $6.4 million to help it build the production plant southeast of Interstate 65 and County Road 950 North. The city also gave Elona $1.5 million to help it win approval for its insulin from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and $500,000 for equipment. The firm said it expected to hire 70 workers.
Founded by a former Eli Lilly and Co. scientist, Elona once was seen as a rising star in the biotech world. Gov. Mike Pence even visited the company in March 2012 as part of his “jobs tour,” a key element of his gubernatorial campaign.
However, the firm struggled to find investors. In January, Elona officials notified the city of financial troubles and said it was running out of cash. That information prompted the Greenwood Redevelopment Commission to declare Elona in default on $8.4 million in economic development incentives.
Key Auctioneers is offering Elona’s key insulin patent, intellectual property and lab equipment as a $2.2 million package deal through Friday. If not sold by then, they will be auctioned with the rest of Elona’s assets on Sept. 27.
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