The tax rebate offered to Deciphera Pharmaceuticals in order to keep this important firm in Lawrence was poorly handled leading to an unfortunate and otherwise avoidable controversy. Subsequently a number of individuals have commented in the form of signed letters to this paper and in anonymous e-mail messages as well. Persons on all sides of this issue have a right to their opinions and to enlist to the best of their ability others to share their view. However there have been a number of allegations attributing ugly motives to some of the City Commission that are unfortunate. In addition, particularly in the anonymous blogs, there have been a number of wrong or misleading positions advanced that should be corrected in the interests of fairness.

It has been questioned, for example, whether Dan Flynn is a faculty member of Kansas University and whether the discoveries being pursued at Deciphera were made at KU and are now being pursued there for commercial gain. This is not true. Flynn is an adjunct (unpaid) professor in the medicinal chemistry department from which he graduated decades ago. This position is honorific, does not lead to compensation, and he has no laboratory or office at KU.

The work at Deciphera was conceived in the state of Massachusetts and is neither an extension of nor related in any obvious way to work going on at the university. None of this work has been licensed from KU. Deciphera established its laboratories in Lawrence due to the desire of Flynn to return to his home state and because the cost of laboratory facilities is dramatically less here than on the east or west coasts where start up firms are plentiful. Deciphera Pharmaceuticals occupies laboratories on private ground owned by a private local businessman. It is adjacent to university property but does not belong to the university.

Questions have been raised as to whether Deciphera personnel are local. To the best of my knowledge, the vast majority are local residents and taxpayers. It has further been questioned why Deciphera has no more employees at present. The answer is that the present facilities are full. One of the main reasons for seeking new quarters is to allow for growth.

It has been questioned whether the promised additional employees will materialize. Part of the agreement under discussion involves requirements that this take place according to a defined time schedule before funds will be released. Given the level of scrutiny that this arrangement has already generated, I am confident that this agreement will be honored.

It would be tragic if Deciphera had to leave Lawrence for a better offer due to the withdrawal of the tax incentives in question and the ugly motives being attributed by some to the participants. It is perhaps fortunate that the whole question is now under review by competent authority since this will clear the air and, hopefully, vindicate the actions that were taken if not the procedures that were unfortunately followed.

To avoid if possible another firestorm of ugly charges, this author states that he has no financial interest in Deciphera, does not consult for them and stands to profit no more from Deciphera’s activities than any other citizen of Lawrence.