362nd Edition – July 16, 2019

How did Virginia manage to snag the biggest economic development prize in recent memory?

Amazon says its abrupt decision in February to pull out of a deal to build part of its giant second headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, was not about politics, despite speculation to the contrary. But when opposition in New York grew, Chairman Jeff Bezos and his team decided it only made sense to focus their efforts on the other victor in the HQ2 sweepstakes: Northern Virginia.

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Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (ITI), a privately held, Maryland-based biotechnology company, announced today the appointment of Andrew Eisen, M.D., Ph.D. as VP, Clinical Development. Dr. Eisen is a translational medicine and clinical development specialist with over 20 years of experience in the biotech and pharma sectors.

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The University of Maryland (UM) BioPark and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, today announced Illumina, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of life science tools and integrated systems, as the newest tenant in the UM BioPark’s 801 W. Baltimore St. building. The building is owned by Ventas, Inc., a life sciences real estate investment trust (REIT) and is part of Wexford’s Knowledge Community development at the UM BioPark.

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Maryland biotech Altimmune Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire California drug developer Spitfire Pharma Inc. in a move that sent the local company’s stock skyrocketing Tuesday.

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Are you a start-up in Maryland, DC or Virginia seeking feedback on your biohealth business idea, pitch deck, or commercialization plan? Schedule your feedback session with BHI EIRs on one of the following dates:

• 7/24/19
• 9/4/19
• 10/9/19
• 11/20/19
• 1/22/20
• 2/26/20
• 3/25/20
• 4/22/20
• 5/27/20

(45 minute blocks of time beginning at 9:00 in the morning. If the morning slots are filled, more time will be allotted beginning at 1 p.m.) 

These take place at BHI headquarters in Rockville or by videoconference via Zoom.

Pre-registration and forwarding of a power point deck one week before the session is required. Sign up here (“EIR resource” at BHI HQ, Rockville).  For questions, more information, or to be added to the wait list, please contact BHI.

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In honor of the new JLABS @ Washington, DC – a 32,000 square foot facility located on the new Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus from Johnson & Johnson Innovation, LLC in partnership with Children’s National Health System[1] (“Children’s National”) – Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS announces the JLABS @ Washington, DC Children’s QuickFire Challenge.

Visionaries within the fields of pediatric oncology, pediatric surgery and influenza are invited to submit innovative ideas for a total of up to $150,000 in total grant funding; one year of residency at JLABS @ Washington, DC with the use of a bench, workstation, and access to the JLABS @ Washington, DC community; and mentorship from experts at the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.

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Each of the seven startups received $150,000. To date in fiscal year 2019, $4.22 million in investments have been made through the Maryland Innovation Initiative program.

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A tech company in Charlottesville is being recognized for its groundbreaking data that could help treat chronic illnesses.

New research done by AMPEL BioSolutions shows that a blood sample, when paired with its computer coding, can detect disease activity in patients who have lupus or other autoimmune diseases.

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For Jim Allison, cancer has always been at the back of his mind. He’d lost many family members to the disease, including his mother when he was young, and is himself a cancer survivor.

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TruGenomix Combats PTSD Suicides

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Drones have made the news once again. This time, to aid in swift and reliable delivery of life-saving temperature-controlled medications required in emergency situations. A collaboration between Direct Relief, Merck (MSD outside the U.S. and Canada), Softbox, AT&T and Volans-i is pushing the boundaries and capabilities of UAVs- also known as drones, and confirmed a successful fourth pilot proof-of-concept mission was conducted in the Bahamas last week.

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Join Women In Bio-Capital Region for our annual summer networking picnic on Sunday, August 11th, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Our chapter is providing the food and it will be brunch-style, under a lovely pavilion.

This is an open event, so please feel free to bring your family and friends for an opportunity to network and eat good food with your fellow WIB community. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming annual summer networking picnic.

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Watch this video on the Dutch biopharmaceutical industry in the Netherlands and get inspired by the Dutch. The perfect location to build your biopharmaceutical business. We open our doors for you!

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A leading genomics company with international reach is opening its first commercial location on the East Coast at Baltimore’s University Maryland BioPark.

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Sea levels are rising, and that is sending more ocean water into streets, sewers and homes. For people who live and work in coastal communities, that means more otherwise-sunny days disrupted by flooding.

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