317th Edition – August 21, 2018

In this episode of BioTalk, Jeff Galvin, CEO & Founder of American Gene Technologies (AGT) joins host Rich Bendis to discuss genetic medicines, funding strategies, company goals, and the BioHealth Capital Region. 

Jeff earned his BA degree in Economics from Harvard in 1981. He has more than 30 years of business and entrepreneurial experience including founder or executive positions at a variety of Silicon Valley startups. Several of his companies were taken public and/or sold to public companies. In 2007, he met Dr. Roscoe Brady, an accomplished research scientist at National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and founded American Gene Technologies with the mission to transform peoples’ lives with genetic medicines. Jeff Galvin’s current focus is to grow AGT and he expects AGT’s patented, lead candidate for an HIV Cure to enter the clinic in 2019. AGT is a gene and cell therapeutics company with a proprietary lentiviral platform targeting major diseases, including HIV, Phenylketonuria (PKU) and cancer. The company has a diverse portfolio of patent filings surrounding key tools and components in viral vectors, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine. AGT’s immuno-oncology approach of stimulating gamma-delta (γδ) T cells to attack a variety of cancers has recently been awarded four patents. In collaboration with Stanford Medical School’s Dr. Dean Felsher, this novel approach to stimulate the body’s immune system to attack solid cancer tumors is showing promising results in animal models and is expected to enter human trials in the next 24 months.

Listen now on iTunes , Google Play , and TuneIn. 

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Are you seeking funding or about to launch a fundraising campaign? Sign up today to attend Life Science Nation’s Fundraising Bootcamp.  Pre-registration is required but there is no charge to attend (lunch for RESI attendees only).  Your choice of two locations:

Monday, 8/27 – Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc.

4539 Metropolitan Court, Frederick, MD 21704

(register: info@fitci.org)

OR

Tuesday, 8/28 at bwtech@UMBC – Tech South

1450 South Rolling Road

Halethorpe, MD 21227

(register:  BHI@BioHealthInnovation.org)

BOTH WORKSHOPS HAVE THE SAME CONTENT – Register for the one that is most convenient for you. Workshop: Fundraising Boot Camp for Life Science Startups – 10-11:30 a.m.

Presenter: Dennis Ford, Founder and CEO, Life Science Nation; Creator of the RESI Conference Series; Author of The Life Science Executive’s Fundraising Manifesto

• About Life Science Nation (LSN)
• Raising Capital: The 3 Most Important Questions
• The Changing Investor Landscape
• Debunking the Top 10 Old Myths in Fundraising
• Planning & Infrastructure for an Outbound Fundraising Campaign
• Building Your Brand Through Consistent Messaging
• Key Components of Fundraising Marketing Collateral

Networking:  11:30am – 12pm

Interactive Lunch: Upcoming RESI Prep (RESI registrants only) 12-2 p.m.

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Does your small business need assistance in commercializing its HHS SBIR/STTR-funded technology? Was that technology developed with a Phase II HHS SBIR/STTR award that was active at any time between August 2013 and August 2018? (Your company does not need to have a currently active award as any HHS Phase II SBIR/STTR award active in the last 5 years would qualify.)

If your answers to both these questions is “Yes,” then your company should consider applying to the NIH Commercialization Accelerator Program (CAP).

Companies are invited to apply online exit disclaimer icon . Due to popular demand, the deadline for submissions has now been extended to August 23, 2018 11:59pm (PDT). Selected companies will be notified in early September 2018.

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Maryland biotechnology firms Profectus BioSciences Inc. and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. will receive up to $36 million to develop and manufacture a new vaccine against a type of virus that causes hemorrhagic fever.

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PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES TO SPUR BUSINESS GROWTH

We help you navigate available programs, grants and incentives to identify immediate opportunities and plan for long-term success. Check out the very successful MOVE program, small business programs and incentives geared to specific industries.

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GlycoMimetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLYC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small-molecule drug candidates to treat rare diseases, announced today that the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has issued Patent No. 6366150, for uproleselan (GMI-1271). The newly issued patent covers uproleselan’s composition of matter as well as pharmaceutical formulations, and expires in December 2032.

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Due to company graduations,  co-working and individual office space is becoming available at the Montgomery County innovation centers located in Rockville and Germantown.  Each location offers shared meeting and kitchenette/lunch room space, and affordable, flexible lease terms.  Tenants in these facilities also have access to BHI Entrepreneurs-in-Residence analysts, and other professional staff for additional support. For more information, contact BHI.

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Calling all pediatric cardiovascular devices $100K competition now accepting proposals

We are now accepting proposals for our annual pediatric medical device pitch competition! New this year, the competition is focused on pediatric cardiovascular devices – a significant unmet need for children. The competition will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Penn. at our 6th Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium. The deadline to apply is Monday, Sept. 10. For additional competition details and to apply, click here.

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The Emmes Corporation today announced that it was selected as one of the best places to work in the greater Washington area. The Washington Post’s 2017 Top Workplaces list ranked private, public, nonprofit and government agencies based on the highest engagement ratings from their employees. The Washington Post used Workplace Dynamics to conduct the survey, with 3,000 area companies invited to participate and 150 organizations selected as Top Workplaces. Emmes was ranked 15th out of 25 in the large company category and was one of only two biotechnology organizations to make the list.

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RegenxBio Inc. (NASDAQ:RGNX) raised $175.5 million through the sale of 2.7 million shares at $65 in a follow-on underwritten by Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays and Raymond James.

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Only 7 percent of patients live five years after diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the lowest rate for any cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Elliot K. Fishman, MD, a researcher and radiologist at Johns Hopkins, is on the forefront of trying to change this statistic, and he’s using artificial intelligence to do it.

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This networking event is for BioTech Professionals in the BioHealth Capital Region. We encourage all professionals, post-docs and scientist to attend – it is a great opportunity to get to know others who are working in science in our region.

This free industry wide event will include music, games, hors d’oeuvres, drinks.

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Listen to, network with the hottest startup CXOs in the biohealth capital region at our first in a series of four annual meetups around the Capital Beltway on “OMICS, Digital Health and Precision Medicine Data Science” Panel discussion with refreshments, drinks and networking

Meetup #1: Digital OMICS Innovators Meetup. September 20, 2018, Thursday; 5:00-8:00PM

Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus 9605 Medical Center Dr, Rm 121, Rockville, MD 20850

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A Harvard scientist thinks he’s reached a new milestone: a genetic test that helps identify people who are at high risk of having a heart attack. Can he convince doctors to use it?

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Popper and Co., a strategy consulting and transaction advisory firm serving the needs of the medical technology and life sciences industries, announced today that Co-Founder and President Caroline Popper, M.D., will speak at the 10th Annual Next Generation Dx Summit on August 22 at 5 pm ET at the Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, DC.

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Venture investor Krishna Yeshwant uses a healthy amount of skepticism when vetting potential companies to invest in. His favorite time to invest is when one of his partners at the fund is excited about a particular company, even if nobody else is.

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The Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever generic version of EpiPen Thursday — a move the agency says could help lower costs for the drug, which can carry a price tag of more than $600.

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When:Thursday, December 13, 20187:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. EST

Where:VisArts Rockville155 Gibbs StreetRockville, MD 20850United States

The HERstory Gala is the premier event for our chapter and supporters. This elegant event attracts men and women from industry, government, non-profits, and academia from across the Capital Region Metro Area and provides unique opportunities to meet with some of the region’s most successful women. This event is focused on highlighting women trailblazers in the life sciences who have made a significant impact in the region during the year. Ticket price includes open bar, cocktail reception, seated 3-course dinner, and access to biotech industry leaders in the Capital Region.

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