457th Edition, May 25, 2021

BioHealth Innovation

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May 25, 2021

FOUNDING MEMBER OF

BHI NIH Entrepreneur-In-Residence Job Opening

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), is a Montgomery County innovation intermediary which translates market-relevant research into commercial success by bringing together management, funding, and markets. BHI is seeking an experienced life science professional with venture investment experience to join the BHI EIR team and serve as a part time Entrepreneur-in- Residence (EIR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

This position will report to and work closely with our lead at the NIH Office of the Director, Office of Extramural Research and specifically support the portfolio of companies funded by NIA’s ~$130M annual investment in small businesses focused on Alzheimer’s disease & related dementias, disorders of aging and supportive technologies for senior living and care providers.

Click here for more information.

BHI EIR Feedback Day May 26th. – Register Now!

Are you a biohealth 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. Pre-registration is required; Sign up here tinyurl.com/EIRfeedback

For questions/more information, contact BHI.

miRecule Inc. closes $5.7 M to Create Breakthrough RNA Therapies for Cancer and Muscular Dystrophy

Gaithersburg, MD. (May ____ 2021) miRecule, Inc. (“miRecule”), an emerging biotech company focused on the development of cutting-edge RNA therapeutics, announced today it has closed over $5.7M in seed funding. The funding round was led by Alexandria Venture Investments, along with Boutique Venture Partners, Pathway Bioventures, Alumni Ventures Group, and national angel investors, with additional funding coming from the Maryland Momentum Fund and the FSHD Society. This funding includes a non-dilutive $2M Phase II SBIR grant from the National Cancer Institute.

NIH spinout fighting cancer with RNA therapeutics raises millions – Washington Business Journal

The startup is developing therapeutics for drug-resistant cancers — and applying its technology to other arenas, including Covid-19.

Image: MiRecule CEO Anthony Saleh, shown here in 2018, views protein molecules in a silver stained gel. JOANNE S. LAWTON

Biohealth Innovation – SBIR Virtual Office Hours (BHI and MCEDC) (June 9)

Are you and early stage company with innovative biohealth technology? Have you considered non-dilutive funding to advance your technology? Learn more about whether or not federal or state non-dilutive funding makes sense for you. Discuss potential strategies for success. Sign up for a free 1:1 advice and feedback regarding non-dilutive funding strategy and applications with BHI staff who have helped companies secured SBIR, STTR and other awards—at twice the national average win rate.

Rockville’s Vigene Biosciences strikes deal to be acquired by Charles River Laboratories for $292.5M – Washington Business Journal

Charles River Laboratories is diving headfirst into gene therapy with another acquisition, this time paying $292.5 million upfront for Maryland-based Vigene Biosciences.

Image: https://www.bizjournals.com

Qiagen N.V. – QIAGEN Receives U.S. FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Fast and Easy-to-Use Digital Test to Detect SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Antibodies

GERMANTOWN, Md. & HILDEN, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)– QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced it has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the fast and easy-to-use QIAreach® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Total Test.

The authorization means QIAGEN can start making its portable antibody testing device available to health-care professionals in the U.S. Each antibody test takes only about 10 minutes to identify whether a person carries antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a result of prior infection. Individual test results are read on a digital eHub device that can process up to 32 tests per hour – and will eventually also run the antigen test.

Rockville’s Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc. Awarded $16.3M Contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to Develop a Treatment for Marburg Virus Disease · BioBuzz

Integrated BioTherapeutics Inc. (IBT), a Maryland biotechnology company specializing in emerging infectious diseases, announced today the receipt of a contract valued at up to $16.3 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop IBT-T03H, a monoclonal antibody for treatment of Marburg virus disease (MVD). MVD is caused by either of two marburgviruses, Marburg virus and Ravn virus, and has reemerged several times since it was initially described in 1967. IBT-T03H, discovered in collaboration with the University of Maryland, has been shown in preclinical studies to be protective against both Marburg and Ravn virus.

RoosterBio Releases RoosterGEM™, Cell and Gene Therapy’s First Complete Transduction Medium

RoosterBio Inc., a leading supplier of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (hMSC) working cell banks and hMSC bioprocess systems for cell and gene therapy product developers, today announced the launch of its product RoosterGEM™, a stand-alone, complete gene transfer medium that is optimized to remove key challenges in primary cell genetic modification. RoosterGEM, abbreviated for Rooster Genetic Engineering Medium, complements RoosterBio’s hMSC cell engineering system to offer a new and streamlined path for discovery, preclinical, and applied product development research – faster than ever before.

Commission Appoints Amritha Jaishankar, Ph.D. as Executive Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) · BioBuzz

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission announces the appointment of Amritha Jaishankar, Ph.D. as Executive Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF). In her role as the Executive Director of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, Amritha oversees all MSCRF activities and six programs accelerating stem cell research, commercialization, and cures. She will remain committed to helping our scientists, physicians, and companies advance their research and deliver cures to patients in need.

Maryland Tech Council Announces 2021 Industry Awards Celebration Winners | Business Wire

FREDERICK, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, the Maryland Tech Council (MTC), Maryland’s largest technology and life sciences trade association, announced the winners for its annual Industry Awards Celebration. The event recognizes the leaders and innovators in the life sciences and technology communities from Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Winners were announced at the virtual celebration event today at 4pm ET.

“We are proud to celebrate and honor these companies and individuals in the life sciences and technology industries who are doing important work to improve lives,” said MTC CEO Marty Rosendale. “The work done by these industries is necessary now more than ever to help advance the state and the country. Each year, the Industry Awards Celebration brings out the best that the region has to offer, and 2021 was no exception.”

Connected DMV Announces DMV Regional Congress to Promote Economic Renewal, Social Equity

May 20, 2021 (Washington, D.C.)- Connected DMV held its ninth and final COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force meeting, where they announced the formation of the DMV Regional Congress to continue the Task Force’s mission of advancing strategic initiatives to promote economic renewal and social equity in the region. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also addressed the Task Force, where she gave an update on the District’s reopening plans. She also thanked the cross-sector regional nonprofit for its work in bringing together all of the region’s stakeholders for the shared purpose of creating a more economically vibrant and equitable future for all in Greater Washington on behalf of the District and Maryland and Virginia Governors Larry Hogan and Ralph Northam.

Image: https://www.connecteddmv.org

Blu Ventures Launches $25M Venture Capital Fund Focused on Cybersecurity

Blu Venture Investors, a Vienna, VA-based venture capital firm supporting the cybersecurity ecosystem in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond, launched a $25M fund.

The BVI Cyber Fund is targeted at Series A growth companies in cybersecurity.

Blu Ventures has and will continue to invest in forward-looking cybersecurity technologies within core areas that include Endpoint Detection & Response, Data Storage; Web & Cloud; Messaging; Network; Industrial & Internet of Things (IoT); Threat Intel; Mobile; Fraud Protection & Transaction; Risk, Compliance & Training; Specialized Threat Analysis & Protection and Security Ops & Incident Response.

A network analysis of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine patents | Nature Biotechnology

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on global health and highlighted the importance of international cooperation to effectively combat SARS-CoV-2. Since the discovery and publication of the virus’s genome in January 2020, scientists have rushed to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics on an unprecedented timescale. To date there are 80 vaccines in clinical trials and 70 more in clinical development, setting the stage for some of the fastest vaccine development and testing in modern history1. The vaccine technology platforms used by the most promising vaccine candidates range from viral vector–based and protein-based technologies to mRNA and lipid nanoparticle technology. Despite these impressive scientific achievements, barriers such as the vaccine cold chain and multiple forms of intellectual property (IP) protection stand in the way of equitable access and fair allocation.

Image: https://www.nature.com

EnTERPreneur Conference | University of Maryland Alumni Association

The Terp Entrepreneur Network (TEN) is a University of Maryland Alumni Association industry-focused group with a broad mandate to foster a vibrant Terp alumni entrepreneurship ecosystem. Bringing together UMD’s significant investments in innovation and our talented network of alumni, TEN generates tremendous value for the Terp community. TEN serves as a dedicated platform to connect Terp alumni with the resources, tools, and connections needed in meaningful ways to advance their entrepreneurial goals.

Winners announced for FastForward U’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge | Hub

FastForward U has announced the winners of its inaugural Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge, which awarded more than $100,000 to eight student startups.

The I&E Challenge gave students a streamlined process to apply for multiple funding opportunities that enable them to make progress on their ventures over the summer without having to balance a job or internship. All four awards include money to pay for room and board, co-working space at FastForward U, and access to mentors and advisers.

Image: https://hub.jhu.edu

Lankenau Ventures: New Business Model Moves Health Workers’ Inventions to Market Acapreneurial(TM) Initiative Combines Commercialization, Research and Innovation

WYNNEWOOD, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 19, 2021 / Lankenau Ventures is a new business established to accelerate development and commercialization of medical inventions conceived by frontline healthcare workers. It is an initiative comprising a leading medical research institute and commercialization and entrepreneurship experts.

The joint venture includes the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR; the research division of Main Line Health) and L2C Partners, both in Philadelphia and Early Charm in Baltimore.

Sponsored Content: New COVID-19 AI app replaces uncertainty with needed clarity and a sense of control – POLITICO

The universal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed our understanding of the lives we knew both collectively and personally. No one is immune to the effects of an “enemy” that we cannot see and at times cannot comprehend.

It would be safe to say that feelings of uncertainty and uneasiness are a normal part of our daily lives over the past year. Regaining a sense of control and the promise of returning to some semblance of safety and normalcy is a priority.

Semiconductor shortages dragged down April employment, other takeaways from a dive into the jobs data | SSTI

The April jobs report, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on May 7, generated considerable attention due to the 266,000 jobs added being far less than anticipated. Contributing to this topline number are quite a few trends moving in different directions, including a severe decline in automotive manufacturing employment — likely driven by the global semiconductor shortage — increasing restaurant and R&D employment, and declines in part-time work. Ultimately, the April employment data suggest a far more complex portrait of the economy than what is being covered in many sources.

Had You Purchased Alexandria Real Estate Equities in 2001, Here’s Your Result – My Morning Joe Stock Watch

The investment philosophy practiced by Warren Buffett calls for investors to take a long-term horizon when making an investment, such as a twenty year holding period (or even longer), and reconsider making the investment in the first place if unable to envision holding the stock for at least five years. Today, we look at how such a long-term strategy would have done for investors in Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc (NYSE: ARE) back in 2001, holding through to today.

Image: https://mmjstockwatch.com

Charles River To Acquire Vigene Biosciences For $292.5 Mln In Cash – Quick Facts | Nasdaq

(RTTNews) – Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) announced Monday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Vigene Biosciences, Inc., a premier, U.S.-based gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing viral vector-based gene delivery solutions.

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