Cancer treatment firm seeks big boost

After $10 million in research and product development into treating animals with cancer, officials with Tampa-based biotech firm Morphogenesis believe the firm is on the verge of what could be a big breakthrough: Adding a line of immunotherapy-based cancer treatments for humans, particularly people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and melanoma.

A just-as-big obstacle: getting capital to fund trials and more research.

That's why the privately held firm recently announced plans to raise $20 million in a common stock offering for accredited investors. The capital raise, at $5 a share, is through the Federal JOBS Act, which allows companies to access a wider pool of investors quicker through online channels. With Morphogenesis that includes an interactive digital presentation with videos and animations.