admin, Author at BioHealth Innovation

600th Edition, March 19, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

Transforming Healthcare: Insights from John Sackett, Adventist Healthcare COO on BioTalk

Discover the Future of Healthcare with John Sackett, Executive Vice President & COO of Adventist Healthcare, on BioTalk with Rich Bendis.

In this episode, John Sackett shares his insights into the changing landscape of healthcare delivery. From his early days as an administrative assistant to his current role, John’s journey offers invaluable lessons on leadership and innovation in the healthcare industry.

Join us as we explore Adventist Healthcare’s role in the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) and explore the transformative changes in healthcare delivery. Gain valuable insights into the challenges and innovations reshaping healthcare post-COVID and learn how Adventist Healthcare is leading the way in patient-centered care.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform:

Apple – https://apple.co/3PrPeCp
Google – https://bit.ly/3TGMaos
Spotify – https://spoti.fi/49YKgFf
Amazon Music – https://amzn.to/3Vt96sF
TuneIn – https://bit.ly/3Voub7o

In a candid and inspiring segment, John opens up about his personal journey of managing cystic fibrosis while excelling in his career. Discover the remarkable advancements in the treatment and life expectancy of CF patients, highlighting the power of innovation and resilience in overcoming adversity.

Don’t miss this enlightening episode as we navigate the evolving landscape of BioHealth Innovation and the BHCR Region with John Sackett, a visionary leader shaping the future of healthcare.

Bill Enright, CEO at Barinthus Biotherapeutics, reveals the philosophy that built his biotech business

Navigating the uncertain road of entrepreneurship

This year marks the year of the dragon in Chinese culture. The dragon symbolises nobility, good fortune, and vitality and presents a year of auspicious opportunities. Against the backdrop of 2023, I’d say this is a fortune well worth getting behind.

The past year has been difficult for most companies, but for business leaders it has meant summoning inner strength and resilience. If you’re an entrepreneur, give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve taken an ambitious and courageous leap to launch and build a company during what has been a challenging economic climate for life sciences and biotech startups. The post-pandemic financial downturn saddled us with the impacts of inflation, volatile supply chains, and a stagnant venture funding environment. Research and developing innovation are a risky business even in the best financial conditions, so give yourself credit for tackling this important work during a time of uncertainty.

Rockville’s Expert Systems Celebrates a Milestone with Eilean Therapeutics: Initiation of First-in-Patient Trial of Balamenib, a Selective Best-in-Class Menin Inhibitor

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Expert Systems, a leader in AI-enabled drug discovery, proudly announces a significant milestone in partnership with Eilean Therapeutics LLC: the start of Phase 1 trial of balamenib (ZE63-0302), a highly selective inhibitor of the menin–KMT2A binding interaction, under the Clinical Trial Notification (CTN) scheme of the Australian Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA).

“Balamenib has a highly differentiated pre-clinical profile which indicates important advantages over molecules in the same class in safety, tolerability and feasibility of outpatient treatment,” commented Bill Farley, CBO at Expert Systems. “We are proud that our comprehensive hybrid AI-based platform has helped accelerate the development of a new promising & safe treatment for AML.”

Northern Virginia’s Zephyr AI Raises $111 Million in Series A Financing

MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Zephyr AI, Inc. (“Zephyr AI”), a healthcare technology company committed to developing fast and explainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to democratize precision medicine, today announced it has successfully closed a $111 million Series A funding round with participation from Revolution Growth, Eli Lilly & Company, Jeff Skoll, and EPIQ Capital Group, among others. The company is developing improved data federation tools along with various machine learning algorithms in the areas of oncology and cardiometabolic disease.

BioBuzz: JLABS Brings Companies and Investors Together for Third Annual Partnering Day Event

Dozens of life sciences startups and early-stage company companies are honing their pitch decks and looking to head to New York, the center of the financial world, for a one-day investor and partnering event in hopes of securing financial partnerships.

In May, Johnson & Johnson – JLABS will hold its third annual Investor & Partnering Day in New York City at the New York Genome Center, a non-profit hub for collaborative genomic research and the home of JLABS @ NYC. The partnering day offers participating companies multiple meetings with investor organizations to highlight their science & technology, expand their investor network, and potentially securing funding to support ongoing and future operations.

WBJ: Rockville biotech raises $140M following layoffs, program cuts

By Sara Gilgore – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal – Rockville’s RegenxBio Inc. (NASDAQ: RGNX) has raised $140 million in a public offering, four months after making significant cuts to extend its cash runway.

The clinical-stage biotech, which is developing gene therapies for retinal and neurodegenerative diseases, closed the previously announced offering Monday, a company spokesperson confirmed to the Washington Business Journal.

Copyright BioHealth Innovation 2024
All Rights Reserved.

March 19, 2024

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599th Edition, March 12, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

BHI Celebrates Women Life Science Leaders serving the BioHealth Industry

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate and recognize the remarkable women of BHI for their invaluable contributions to advancing healthcare innovation and shaping the future of biohealth.

ARPA-H Takes on Rare Diseases

There are more than 10,000 known rare diseases and only a few hundred have safe, effective treatments. ARPA-H’s latest project aims to change that and deliver hope and improved outcomes to millions of Americans.

Introducing MATRIX. Short for ML/AI-Aided Therapeutic Repurposing in eXtended uses, MATRIX intends to build a machine learning platform to rapidly pinpoint and validate existing medications to treat diseases that have no therapies.

• The platform will be open-sourced and include an interactive heatmap displaying predicted efficacy scores for approved drugs against other diseases.

TEDCO Invests in Sonogen Medical

Life science company working to develop ultrasonic bone fracture healing technology

COLUMBIA, Md. (March 11, 2024) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $200,000 Seed Funds investment in Sonogen Medical, a medical device company based in Maryland.

“Roughly eight percent of the seven million bone breaks annually in the United States fail to heal on their own. At Sonogen Medical, we are combining decades of experience to create a device that supports faster more efficient healing processes for patients,” said Jason Winder, CEO of Sonogen Medical. “Thanks to TEDCO’s investment we can continue our research and development efforts, propelling us towards an efficient, cost-effective solution.”

Women’s Health Innovation Summit USA – Hear from ARPA-H, White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research and WHAM

Hear from ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn, PhD and White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research Director Carolyn Mazure, PhD on the new $100M ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health Program and the White House plans, plus insights from WHAM Founder Carolee Lee and AMWA President Elizabeth Garner, MD. If you are an innovator, founder, funder, researcher or care about driving meaningful change in advancing the health of women, this event is for you!

BiomX Announces Entry into Merger Agreement with Adaptive Phage Therapeutics and Concurrent $50 Million Financing

Acquisition will create phage therapy company with an advanced pipeline with two Phase 2 assets, BX004 for the treatment of chronic pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis (“CF”) patients and BX211 for the treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis (“DFO”)

Concurrently with entering into the definitive merger agreement, BiomX entered into a definitive agreement for a private placement financing of $50 million that will be used to advance two lead product candidates through Phase 2 clinical readouts in 2025

VCU’s new Startup Accelerator will propel university research that has market potential

Program to ‘fast-track’ emerging companies reflects how innovation and entrepreneurship are growing as VCU sets funding records.

After years of supporting startups that license inventions created by university researchers, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation has launched its first formal Startup Accelerator program.

“Our accelerator will fast-track our VCU-borne companies, giving them more personalized coaching and advisory services from our lineup of entrepreneur experts-in-residence,” said P. Srirama Rao, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation. “Innovation is taking place at a rapid pace at VCU, and this program will further raise our national visibility and continue to position Central Virginia as a key American technological hub.”

Council on Strategic Risks: The National Security Rationale for Stockpiling Key Pharmaceutical Ingredients

By Vic Suarez – The COVID-19 global pandemic has underscored the critical need for resilient and secure supply chains, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. As the United States grapples with near-all-time high drug shortages1 and the vulnerability of its supply chain, it has become a national security imperative to address the overreliance on imports for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) to the United States. Today, China is the sole source for about 20% of the API of our most vital medicines.2 More dangerously, China’s overwhelming global dominance of the key starting materials (KSM) required to produce these essential medicines cannot be readily substituted due to the current levels of market concentration: approximately 45% of KSM, a vital subcategory of API, are solely sourced from China, according to the API Innovation Center.3 To be sure, this level of import dependence on any single nation poses a serious risk to the nation’s general preparedness and resilience, and could become devastating in a crisis.

Copyright BioHealth Innovation 2024
All Rights Reserved.

March 12, 2024

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598th Edition, March 5, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

TEDCO Announces SSBCI Investment in Linshom Medical

Maryland company continues toward goal of supporting improved patient safety

COLUMBIA, Md. (February 29, 2024) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $400,000 investment into Linshom Medical, Inc., a medical device company developing an innovative wearable sensor technology to support patient respiratory monitoring. This recent investment came in two parts – $250,000 from the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) funding and $150,000 from the Venture Funds – and was done in conjunction with Abell Foundation.

TEDCO’s SSBCI funds were provided after the State of Maryland chose TEDCO to be one of the various stewards of this essential funding, allowing for more investments in target communities and areas with small, micro and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) businesses. Click here to learn more.

Gain Therapeutics Announces the Initiation of the Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) Part of the Phase 1 Clinical Trial of GT-02287, a Novel GCase-targeting Small Molecule Therapy for GBA1 Parkinson’s Disease

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gain Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GANX) (“Gain”, or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the discovery and development of the next generation of allosteric small molecule therapies, announces the initiation of the Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) part of the Phase 1 clinical trial of GT-02287, Gain’s lead drug candidate for the treatment of GBA1 Parkinson’s disease.

Based on the safety and tolerability profile observed in the Single Ascending Dose (SAD) cohorts of the study, the Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) in Australia approved the start of the MAD part of the study in parallel with the completion of the last SAD cohorts. Following the HREC approval, administration of GT-02287 in the MAD part of the study has been initiated.

ATCC and Tissue Dynamics Announce a Strategic Collaboration to Bring a Transformative Heart Organoid Model to Market

MANASSAS, Va. & TEL AVIV, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ATCC, the world’s premier biological materials management and standards organization, and Tissue Dynamics, a disruptive pharma-tech company integrating advanced artificial intelligence tools with bionic human organoids, today announced a partnership to develop workflow friendly cardiac organoids-based kits for improved cardiac safety testing in drug development. The collaboration will be done under the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD) framework, which awarded both companies a two-year grant. The BIRD Foundation, established in 1977, bolsters transformative partnerships that stimulate, promote, and support industrial research and development in a wide range of technology sectors.

BioBuzz’s 10 Women in the Life Sciences That You Should Know in the BioHealth Capital Region

In honor of Women’s History Month, which kicks off today, we wanted to highlight 10 incredible women making a mark in the life sciences in the BioHealth Capital Region. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Arti Santhanam, Executive Director, Emerging Technology Centers (ETC)
Dr. Arti Santhanam was recently appointed Executive Director of Emerging Technology Centers (ETC). While new to the role, Dr. Santhanam is a long-time player in the BioHealth Capital Region.

Dr. Santhanam’s contributions over the last decade at TEDCO, especially within her role in the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII), have been instrumental in fostering Maryland’s diverse and innovative ecosystem. Established in 2012, MII has invested $52.3M, resulting in 176 startups from notable universities like Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, and Morgan.

In her new role, she’ll be introducing a new public-private operational model enhancing support for Baltimore’s tech entrepreneurs, activating her extensive expertise in startup leadership, venture capital, and life sciences.

Prior to TEDCO, Dr. Santhanam worked in global health at MITRE Corporation and in private consulting, collaborating with USAMRIID and ECBC. Dr. Santhanam earned her Master’s in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Madras, India, and a PhD in Microbiology from Rutgers University, NJ, followed by a postdoc at the National Cancer Institute. She’s held roles on METAvivor Research and Support, Inc.’s Board and various Maryland advisory boards, demonstrating her leadership in health and innovation.

Chandra Briggman, CEO, Activation Capital
Chandra Briggman is President and CEO of Activation Capital, a leading innovation ecosystem development organization providing social, knowledge, and financial capital to tech clusters across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Before being named the CEO in May 2020, Briggman was Director of Venture Café Foundation located in Cambridge, MA, and was responsible for the strategy and operations of the global network’s flagship Venture Café Cambridge innovation hub. She played a key role in helping expand the revenue and the footprint in New England. Before her work in ecosystem development in Massachusetts, she held innovation roles with the United States Postal Service in Washington, D.C., culminating with her work as the Director of Digital Platforms and the Innovation Lab. Her prior experience comprised leadership roles with multiple startups, including Founder as a serial entrepreneur.

Click here to keep reading via BioBuzz.

Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) Announces BioBoost Series (March 20, 2024)

Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) is set to launch its first BioBoost series on March 20, 2024, in Rockville, MD. This pioneering event, titled “The Future of Bio/Life Science Funding in 2024,” promises to be a cornerstone for professionals in the bio/life science sector. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to delve into the latest investment trends, overcome industry challenges, and discover new funding opportunities through insightful discussions led by esteemed industry experts.

Three Congressional Letters Show the March-In Debate Has Shifted

When the Biden Administration unleashed its proposed march-in guidelines last December, it claimed they would be a powerful tool for lowering drug prices by allowing the government to “march in” to license copiers under the authorities of the Bayh-Dole Act.

It did so despite previously joining every other Administration denying price control petitions as not authorized under the law. It should have known the proposal would have minimal impact on drug prices—but would have a devastating impact on American innovation. That’s because the guidelines apply to all federal R&D agencies—not just the National Institutes of Health — so they cover inventions across the spectrum, not just the life sciences.

Cartesian Therapeutics Establishes New Corporate Headquarters and State-of-the-Art mRNA Cell Therapy cGMP Manufacturing Facility in Frederick, Maryland

New facility expected to support expanded cGMP manufacturing of clinical and commercial supply of Company’s pipeline of mRNA cell therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases

GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering mRNA cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, today announced its plans to transition its corporate headquarters to Frederick, Maryland. The approximately 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) compliant facility has clinical and commercial manufacturing scale capabilities designed to support the Company’s maturing pipeline of innovative mRNA cell therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Copyright BioHealth Innovation 2024
All Rights Reserved.

March 6, 2024

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597th Edition, February 27, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

Empowering Change: Lance Kawaguchi’s Journey with the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation

Join us for an engaging episode of BioTalk as we sit down with Lance Kawaguchi, Chief Executive Officer of the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. Lance’s career trajectory from global finance to non-profit leadership is as inspiring as it is impactful, driven by a personal mission to combat brain cancer following the loss of his mother.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platforms:
Apple: https://apple.co/48uln2K
Google: https://bit.ly/48uzlBC
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3IeTEIy
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3OVRFwE
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/2M60Wmx

In this episode, we explore Lance’s journey from senior investment banker to non-profit leader, propelled by personal loss and a vision for change. We delve into the SouthPoleTrek4Cancer initiative, spearheading a global effort to raise awareness and funds for brain and rare cancer charities, culminating in a historic journey to the South Pole. We recognize Lance’s leadership achievements, including ringing the Nasdaq bell twice as a cancer charity CEO, and his success in bringing the GBM AGILE Clinical Trial Platform from the US to Australia, accelerating breakthrough research efforts.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc.’s Rich Bendis Named Finalist for the Community Builder Award in the 2023 BioHealth Capital Region Annual Awards

Rockville, MD – BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is proud to announce that our Founder, President & CEO, Rich Bendis, has been named a finalist for the Community Builder Award in the 2023 BioHealth Capital Region Annual Awards, hosted by BioBuzz.

Rich Bendis’ dedication to fostering innovation and supporting the biohealth ecosystem has been instrumental in driving growth and collaboration within the industry. His visionary leadership at BHI has created a platform for emerging companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs to connect with resources, expertise, and opportunities, significantly contributing to the region’s economic development and public health advancements.

Beyond the Breakthrough: Overcoming Georgetown’s spinout challenge

Being a university in Washington DC poses interesting challenges, but Georgetown University’s Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak is determined to turn them into opportunities.

Weirdly, being located at the heart of the US capital doesn’t always help Georgetown University when it comes to creating spinout companies. State universities often have economic development mandates that they can follow, but in Washington DC Georgetown is in something of a vacuum — with little direction for what to focus on, less set funding and fewer people pushing to advance the technologies coming out of the institution.

TEDCO Generates $2.7 Billion in Economic Benefits for Maryland’s Ecosystem in 2023, According to Independent Study

COLUMBIA, Md. (February 21, 2024) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the findings of an independent economic impact study detailing the contributions of TEDCO’s six core programs to the state of Maryland.

Conducted by the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute, the study found that TEDCO continues to be a significant economic driving force in Maryland creating nearly $2.7 billion in statewide economic activity as of 2023. TEDCO has invested in or supported the growth of a portfolio of 442 of Maryland’s leading technology companies, more than doubling the number of companies identified in the first TEDCO impact study in 2008.

Emergent BioSolutions Appoints Industry Leader Joseph C. Papa as New President and CEO

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS), a global company providing solutions that address public health threats and delivering life-extending products to market, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Joseph C. Papa as president and CEO, effective February 21, 2024. Mr. Papa succeeds Haywood Miller, who will step down from his role as interim CEO, effective February 21, 2024.

“Following a thorough search process, we are pleased to appoint Joe Papa as president and CEO of Emergent,” said Zsolt Harsanyi, Ph.D., chairman of the Board of Directors. “He is a recognized industry leader with unparalleled experience in all facets of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. Joe has a solid track record of driving growth and successfully navigating companies through periods of transformation. His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening Emergent’s balance sheet and returning to growth, as we continue to deliver on our mission to protect and enhance life. On behalf of the Board, I would also like to thank Haywood Miller for his leadership and contributions during this interim period.”

AstraZeneca Completes Acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies

AstraZeneca today announced the successful completion of the acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. (Gracell, NASDAQ: GRCL), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, furthering AstraZeneca’s cell therapy ambition.

The acquisition enriches AstraZeneca’s growing pipeline of cell therapies with GC012F, a novel, clinical-stage FasTCAR-enabled BCMA and CD19 dual-targeting autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. GC012F is a potential new treatment for multiple myeloma, as well as other haematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Lab Space Available at Johns Hopkins Science & Technology Park

Attention life sciences companies seeking lab space in Baltimore: Starting June 1st, a fully built-out lab/office space will be available at the Science & Technology Park at Johns Hopkins, located at 1812 Ashland Avenue. This 170,000 square foot facility is designed to accommodate companies at any stage, from startups to established firms.

The building hosts the Johns Hopkins “Fast Forward” innovation hub, promoting the advancement and commercialization of innovations. Situated within a community focused on research and development, it offers an unparalleled opportunity for companies to grow and collaborate in a leading-edge environment.

Don’t miss this chance to locate your company in a premier life sciences hub. Contact Matthew L. Seward with Cushman & Wakefield for more details.

LABIOTECH: Biotechs in the US Capital: seven key players based in Washington DC

Washington DC: The heart of the BioHealth Capital Region

The BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) encompasses Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., and more than 1,800 life science and companies are established there. BHCR is among the top-performing biotech clusters in the U.S., with first-class educational facilities, innovative companies, and over 70 federal labs. While the area of Washington D.C. is smaller than Virginia and Maryland where companies are spread across, Washington is still a destination of choice with innovative biotech companies and events.

The BHCR was ranked third biopharma cluster in the U.S. by Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News behind the San Francisco Bay Area and the Boston/Cambridge area. The criteria to measure the performance of these hubs were the National Institutes of Health funding, venture capital funding, the number of biotechnology patents, the total lab space, and the number of jobs. This region, with Washington D.C. at its heart, is one of the most dynamic in the biotech industry.

Biden-Harris Administration’s ARPA-H commits $100 million to accelerate women’s health research

First Lady Jill Biden announces funding as first major deliverable from new White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research

As the first major deliverable of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), today announced the ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health, which commits $100 million towards transformative research and development in women’s health. ARPA-H, which was created in 2022 as part of President Biden’s bipartisan Unity Agenda, seeks to advance and accelerate health solutions.

Three Congressional Letters Show the March-In Debate Has Shifted

When the Biden Administration unleashed its proposed march-in guidelines last December, it claimed they would be a powerful tool for lowering drug prices by allowing the government to “march in” to license copiers under the authorities of the Bayh-Dole Act.

It did so despite previously joining every other Administration denying price control petitions as not authorized under the law. It should have known the proposal would have minimal impact on drug prices—but would have a devastating impact on American innovation. That’s because the guidelines apply to all federal R&D agencies—not just the National Institutes of Health — so they cover inventions across the spectrum, not just the life sciences.

Copyright BioHealth Innovation 2024
All Rights Reserved.

February 27, 2024

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596th Edition, February 21, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

WBJ: New CEO at Children’s National lays out her vision

By Sara Gilgore – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal – Feb 15, 2024 –

It was her mother’s 86th birthday when Michelle Riley-Brown received a call that would change the trajectory of her career.

Holding the phone to her ear in her Houston home on March 3, 2023, the veteran health executive learned she was not only the first woman — but the first African American woman — to be named president and CEO of Children’s National Hospital in D.C.

The New Orleans native and youngest of five siblings — four of whom went into health care — immediately thought of her late father, a general surgeon who dedicated his life to medicine.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc.’s Rich Bendis Named Finalist for the Community Builder Award in the 2023 BioHealth Capital Region Annual Awards

Rockville, MD – BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is proud to announce that our Founder, President & CEO, Rich Bendis, has been named a finalist for the Community Builder Award in the 2023 BioHealth Capital Region Annual Awards, hosted by BioBuzz.

Rich Bendis’ dedication to fostering innovation and supporting the biohealth ecosystem has been instrumental in driving growth and collaboration within the industry. His visionary leadership at BHI has created a platform for emerging companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs to connect with resources, expertise, and opportunities, significantly contributing to the region’s economic development and public health advancements.

Emergent BioSolutions Appoints Industry Leader Joseph C. Papa as New President and CEO

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS), a global company providing solutions that address public health threats and delivering life-extending products to market, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Joseph C. Papa as president and CEO, effective February 21, 2024. Mr. Papa succeeds Haywood Miller, who will step down from his role as interim CEO, effective February 21, 2024.

Fierce Biotech: NIH to invest another $515M over 4 years for long COVID research

The National Institutes of Health is investing $515 million more into long COVID research efforts, three years after launching the initiative with $1.15 billion.

The cash infusion for the Recover program, announced Tuesday, will bolster ongoing research into the underlying biology and potential treatments for long COVID. NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., said in a release that nearly 90,000 people were participating in ongoing Recover observational trials across more than 300 sites.

Waisman Biomanufacturing and RoosterBio Announce Collaboration for GMP Manufacturing of Cell and Exosome Therapies

FREDERICK, Md., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Waisman Biomanufacturing, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) which is strategically part of the University of Wisconsin Madison, announced today a strategic partnership with RoosterBio, Inc., a leading provider of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), highly engineered media solutions, and bioprocess development services.

Children’s National performs first ever HIFU procedure on patient with cerebral palsy

In January, a team of multidisciplinary doctors performed the first case in the world of using bilateral high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) pallidotomy on Jesus, a 22-year-old patient with dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

The procedure is part of a clinical trial led by Chima Oluigbo, M.D., pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s National Hospital.

Career Opportunity with BHI: Life Sciences Business Strategist

BioHealth Innovation (BHI) is an innovation intermediary that facilitates the commercialization of emerging technologies in the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, DC and Virginia). We are seeking an entry-level Life Sciences Business Strategist to join our team remotely.

TEDCO Generates $2.7 Billion in Economic Benefits for Maryland’s Ecosystem in 2023, According to Independent Study

COLUMBIA, Md. (February 21, 2024) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the findings of an independent economic impact study detailing the contributions of TEDCO’s six core programs to the state of Maryland.

Conducted by the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute, the study found that TEDCO continues to be a significant economic driving force in Maryland creating nearly $2.7 billion in statewide economic activity as of 2023. TEDCO has invested in or supported the growth of a portfolio of 442 of Maryland’s leading technology companies, more than doubling the number of companies identified in the first TEDCO impact study in 2008.

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All Rights Reserved.

February 21, 2024

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595th Edition, February 13, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

BHI Remembers Dr. William G. Hearl: A Pillar of the BioHealth Capital Region

BioHealth Innovation (BHI) deeply mourns the loss of Dr. William G. Hearl, a former BHI Board member and a prominent contributor to the BioHealth Capital Region. Rich Bendis, BHI’s President and CEO, shared, “Bill’s unwavering commitment and leadership in our region have been instrumental to its growth. His dedication to fostering innovation and supporting emerging entrepreneurs and the biotech community was truly remarkable. We have lost not just a great leader but a friend who inspired many.” Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues at Immunomic Therapeutics. To read more about Dr. Hearl’s legacy, visit https://www.immunomix.com/in-loving-memory-dr-william-g-hearl-immunomic-therapeutics-founder/

Career Opportunity with BHI: Life Sciences Business Strategist

BioHealth Innovation (BHI) is an innovation intermediary that facilitates the commercialization of emerging technologies in the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, DC and Virginia). We are seeking an entry-level Life Sciences Business Strategist to join our team remotely.

Amarex Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary

Germantown, MD, USA (February 07, 2024) – Amarex Clinical Research, LLC, an NSF company, announces December 2023 marked its 25th year advancing patient access to safe and effective clinical products through delivery of outstanding regulatory and clinical trial services to Sponsors within the life sciences industry.

Amarex was founded in 1998 by scientists from diverse backgrounds in academia, industry, and the FDA. Born from a vision of wanting better services from CRO vendors by correcting the many inefficiencies and deficiencies in the management and conduct of clinical trials, our founders revisited the clinical trial process and developed improved, cost-effective methods for clinical product development without sacrificing quality. Amarex’s unmatched value to Sponsors continues to differentiate Amarex from the competition by assigning senior level staff to every project, optimizing time and cost with efficient and effective processes and procedures, building true collaborative partnerships with Sponsors, and through a commitment to long-term client relationships in order to achieve successful clinical development program outcomes.

I-Mab Signs Agreement to Divest its Assets and Business Operations in China to Become Rockville-Based Biotech

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — I-Mab (the “Company“) (NASDAQ: IMAB), a global biotech company exclusively focused on bringing highly differentiated immunotherapies and biologics for cancer treatment to patients around the world, today announced that as part of its strategy to become a U.S.-based biotech, its Chinese subsidiaries have entered into definitive agreements with I-Mab Biopharma (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (the “Hangzhou Company“), an unconsolidated affiliate of the Company, and a group of China-based investors to divest the Company’s assets and business operations in China.

CEL-SCI Announces Pricing of $7.75 Million Public Offering of Common Stock

VIENNA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CEL-SCI Corporation (“CEL-SCI” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: CVM), a Phase 3 cancer immunotherapy company, today announced the pricing of an offering of 3,875,000 shares of its common stock at an offering price of $2.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $7.75 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by the Company. The offering is expected to close on February 13, 2024, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the continued development of Multikine*, for general corporate purposes, and working capital.

Children’s National Event: Navigating from Research to Market Approval: The AGAMREE Journey

Join Children’s National Hospital for a pivotal symposium on the journey of AGAMREE® from academic research to market approval for DMD treatment in children. This event highlights the critical role of academic entrepreneurship and collaboration with industry in advancing treatments for rare diseases. Featuring insights from experts on the Vamorolone drug development program, regulatory pathways, and the venture philanthropy business model, this symposium is for those committed to making a difference in the biotech and healthcare sectors. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and network with leaders in the field.

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February 14, 2024

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594th Edition, February 6, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) Welcomes Yaminah Leggett-Wells, Senior Director, Alliance Management at Amgen as Newest Member of the Board of Directors

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, February 5, 2024 – BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), a leading public-private nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation in the BioHealth Capital Region, proudly announces the appointment of Yaminah Leggett-Wells to its esteemed Board of Directors.

Yaminah Leggett-Wells serves as the Senior Director of Alliance Management at Amgen, overseeing global partnerships spanning all stages of drug development. With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, her expertise includes strategic leadership, clinical operations, business development, and project and alliance management.

Yaminah Leggett-Wells’ appointment to the BHI Board of Directors is a significant addition who brings valuable skills and experience to our organization,” remarked Richard Bendis, President and CEO of BHI. “Her extensive pharmaceutical industry background and commitment to our region make her an outstanding asset to our Board and our mission in the BioHealth Capital Region.”

Yaminah joined Amgen in 2023 following Amgen’s acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics. Prior to this, she played instrumental roles in the development of medicines for asthma and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder at AstraZeneca and Viela Bio, demonstrating her in-depth knowledge of drug development and regulatory affairs.

Maxim Biomedical, Inc. Secures Second NIH RADx Tech High Performance Award for Continued Development of At-Home FiarFly™ Reader and COVID-19 & Flu A/B Rapid Test

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — MaximBio, a leading innovator in next-generation healthcare diagnostic technologies, is pleased to announce that it has been granted a second follow-on award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx^®) Tech program for the continued development of its revolutionary FiarFly™ reader and COVID-19 & Flu A/B multiplex test. This additional Phase 2 award, totaling approximately $4.4 million, will be used to accelerate the development of the FiarFly™ reader and COVID-19 & Flu A/B multiplex test and quickly prepare for clinical trials targeting this influenza season.

WBJ: AstraZeneca doubles down on Montgomery County with $300M investment

By Sara Gilgore – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal – AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) is leaving no doubt about its commitment to Montgomery County, pouring $300 million into a new U.S. manufacturing hub it’s establishing in Rockville just a couple months after taking over another building nearby.

The British pharmaceutical giant said Tuesday the facility at 9950 Medical Center Drive will start out as a space to make T-cell therapies for clinical trials in cancer, and could support other disease areas and commercial work going forward. The company also said it expects to create more than 150 new jobs at the site.

GEN: Novo Holdings Buys Catalent for $16.5B; Sells Three Sites to Novo Nordisk for $11B

By Alex Philippidis -February 5, 2024 – Novo Holdings, the asset manager of the foundation that controls Novo Nordisk, has agreed to acquire contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Catalent for $16.5 billion—with the buyer standing to recoup two-thirds of that expense by selling three of Catalent’s fill-finish sites to Novo Nordisk for $11 billion upfront so it can meet booming demand for its blockbuster obesity drugs Wegovy^® and diabetes drug Ozempic^®, the companies said today.

The three sites—consisting of facilities in Bloomington, IN; Brussels, Belgium; and Anagni, Italy—employ more than 3,000 people combined, about one sixth of Catalent’s total global workforce of more than 18,000 people, including 3,000 scientists and technicians.

Baltimore’s LifeSprout Enters into Licensing Agreement with Boyang Trading to Develop and Commercialize Next-Generation Lumina™ Dermal Filler in Greater China

BALTIMORE, Jan. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LifeSprout, a privately held regenerative medicine company founded with technology licensed from Johns Hopkins University, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Boyang Trading Co., Ltd. to exclusively develop and commercialize the Lumina™ dermal filler in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Lumina is the first product from LifeSprout’s proprietary Regenerative Matrix platform. The technology comprises biomimetic, biocompatible, biodegradable materials engineered to look and feel like native soft tissue.

Revolo Biotherapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA for its First-in-Class Peptide as a Potential Treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis

GAITHERSBURG, Md. and CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Revolo Biotherapeutics (“Revolo” or the “Company”), a company developing therapies that reset the immune system to achieve superior long-term remission for patients with autoimmune and allergic diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to ‘1104, a first-in-class immune-resetting peptide being developed as a potential treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Revolo submitted its original request prior to the initiation of its Phase 2a EoE study (RVLO 121-04) and submitted an amended request following positive results from an additional Phase 2 study.

The FDA grants ODD status to support the development and evaluation of potential new medicines intended for the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of rare diseases or disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Revolo believes that this ODD reflects the potential for ‘1104 to address a critical unmet need for people living with EoE.

MaxCyte and Wugen Sign Strategic Platform License to Expedite Scale-Up of Clinical and Commercial Manufacturing of Wugen’s Investigational Allogeneic, Off-the-Shelf Cell Therapies for Cancers

ROCKVILLE, Md. and ST. LOUIS, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MaxCyte, Inc., (Nasdaq: MXCT; LSE: MXCT), a leading cell-engineering focused company providing enabling platform technologies to advance the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell-based therapeutics and innovative bioprocessing applications, and Wugen, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing allogeneic, off-the-shelf cell therapies to treat a broad range of hematological and solid tumor malignancies, today announced the signing of a strategic platform license (SPL).

Under the terms of the agreement, Wugen gains non-exclusive clinical and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation^® technology and ExPERT™ platform. In return, MaxCyte will receive annual license fees and program-related revenue.

FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) Status to NeoImmuneTech’s NT-I7 for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NeoImmuneTech, Inc. (NIT), a T cell-focused therapeutics company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted NT-I7 (efineptakin alfa) (rhIL-7-hyFc) Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.^[3]

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive tumor-type associated with extremely poor prognosis. It is the third deadliest cancer in the US and European Union with a combined annual mortality of 139,000.^[1]^,[4] Advanced pancreatic cancer has a five-year relative-survival-rate of 3%. Pancreatic cancer has been labeled as a “silent killer” because it is normally asymptomatic in the early stages which implies that it is often diagnosed at a late stage when tumors are highly resistant to treatment modalities. This underscores the critical need for new and more effective therapeutic approaches.²

BioBuzz: Virginia Bio-Connect – The Success of Virginia’s First Statewide Collaborative Life Sciences Initiative

By Jelena Ivanjac | January 30, 2024 – The end of 2023 marked the completion of Virginia’s first statewide life sciences initiative, Virginia Bio-Connect, which started in April 2021. This comprehensive industry cluster strengthening project, supported by Virginia Growth and Opportunity Foundation funding and led by the Virginia Biotechnology Association, engaged thousands of life sciences professionals and hundreds of organizations and companies within the sector with the overarching goal of fostering a more connected life sciences ecosystem, providing support for early-stage companies, and driving workforce development throughout the state.

Bio: House passes bill restoring full R&D expensing

On January 31, the House passed legislation to restore the immediate expensing of R&D expenses. The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has long advocated for this change.

Until 2022, research and development expenses were 100% tax deductible each year. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 required companies to amortize domestic expenditures over five years, and international expenditures over 15 years.

The $78 billion Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, passed yesterday, would reverse the change and reinstate R&D expensing. R&D expenses would be 100% deductible through 2025.

BioHealth Innovation Insights from the 2024 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

BioHealth Innovation (BHI) was prominently represented at the 2024 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, with several Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) in attendance. The insights gathered by these experienced professionals provide a comprehensive view of the current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the biohealth industry. Here’s a summary of their observations and thoughts.

GEN: Top 10 Biopharma Takeover Targets of 2024

By Alex Philippidis – February 1, 2024 – Viewed simply by numbers of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals, 2023 was a down year: 1,078 biotech companies found buyers last year, down from 1,088 in 2022, while the number of pharma companies carrying out buyouts fell more significantly, from 778 two years ago to 679.

These numbers come from LSEG, the global financial markets infrastructure and data provider that owns the London Stock Exchange. LSEG’s data also reveals marked increases in the dollar values assigned to the biotech companies and pharma companies that are being acquired. The total value of biotech M&A in 2023 stood at $122.2 billion, up 45% from $84.2 billion a year earlier. The total value of pharma M&A jumped 38% year over year, from $98.5 billion in 2022 to $135.5 billion in 2023.

Deadline Approaching: Apply to Be Part of the Maryland Delegation at BIO 2024

The Maryland Department of Commerce invites companies to seize the opportunity to join the Maryland delegation at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, CA, this June 3-6, 2024. This event offers unparalleled networking, learning, and visibility for companies in the biotech sector.

Benefit from a complimentary Premier Access pass, which includes access to key partnering sessions, exhibitor booths, educational content, and exclusive networking receptions. Your company will also gain promotional exposure as part of the delegation.

To be eligible, companies must be registered and in good standing in Maryland. Selected companies are expected to actively participate in pre-conference and event activities, and share insights post-event.

Applications are due by February 21, 2024. Click here to apply now. For queries, contact life.sciences@maryland.gov. This is a valuable opportunity to showcase your company on a global stage. Apply now to join the Maryland delegation at BIO 2024.

Infinity Bio Launches Next-Generation Antibody Profiling Platform Utilizing MIPSA Technology

BALTIMORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Infinity Bio, Inc. announces its new antibody profiling platform, leveraging Molecular Indexing of Proteins by Self-Assembly (MIPSA) technology. This platform offers unparalleled depth in immune system analysis, advancing immunology, virology, autoimmunity, and allergy research, providing new disease insights, and discovering new biomarkers and treatments. The MIPSA technology exploits recent advances in high throughput DNA sequencing and DNA synthesis, to create and analyze the most complete panels of immune targets available.

The immune system crafts antibodies from approximately one quadrillion options, enabling it to identify and neutralize any infectious threat. However, flaws in the immune system can result in excessive inflammation, autoimmunity, or allergies. Infinity Bio’s scientists have developed a novel technique, MIPSA, to examine the extensive array of antibodies present in blood or other fluid, providing comprehensive understanding of individual immune responses.

February 6, 2024

Love0

593rd Edition, January 30, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

Technical.ly: ETC, One of Baltimore’s Oldest Entrepreneurship Incubators, Names Arti Santhanam as New Executive Director

After a period of leadership transition and strategic planning, the organizations behind one of Baltimore’s longest-standing entrepreneurial communities have appointed a new executive director to take it to the next level.

On Tuesday, the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) and Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) jointly announced the appointment of Arti Santhanam as the new executive director of the Emerging Technology Centers (ETC Baltimore).

Santhanam most recently served as executive director of TEDCO’s Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII), a public-private effort to promote academic research commercialization across the state.

First Patient Enrolled in Rockville’s Rise Therapeutics’ Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trial

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Rise Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel oral immunotherapeutic medicines, today announced that it has enrolled its first patient in its R-2487 Phase 1 rheumatoid arthritis clinical trial.

“This is an important milestone for the company and patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis” states Gary Fanger President and Chief Executive Officer of Rise Therapeutics. “This achievement reinforces our commitment to deliver innovative new medicines to the clinical community.”

BioHealth Innovation, Inc.’s Rich Bendis Named Finalist for the Community Builder Award in the 2023 BioHealth Capital Region Annual Awards

Rockville, MD – BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is proud to announce that our Founder, President & CEO, Rich Bendis, has been named a finalist for the Community Builder Award in the 2023 BioHealth Capital Region Annual Awards, hosted by BioBuzz.

Rich Bendis’ dedication to fostering innovation and supporting the biohealth ecosystem has been instrumental in driving growth and collaboration within the industry. His visionary leadership at BHI has created a platform for emerging companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs to connect with resources, expertise, and opportunities, significantly contributing to the region’s economic development and public health advancements.

BioBuzz’s recognition of Rich Bendis as a finalist for the Community Builder Award is a testament to his unwavering commitment and impactful work in the BioHealth Capital Region, encompassing Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia.

MaxCyte Signs Strategic Platform License with Imugene to Advance their Cancer Immunotherapy Programs

ROCKVILLE, Md., and SYDNEY, Australia, Jan. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MaxCyte, Inc., (Nasdaq: MXCT; LSE: MXCT), a leading, cell-engineering focused company providing enabling platform technologies to advance the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell-based therapeutics and innovative bioprocessing applications, and Imugene, (ASX: IMU), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology and cell therapy company developing a range of new treatments that seek to activate the immune system of cancer patients to identify and eradicate tumors, today announced the signing of a strategic platform license (SPL).

Under the terms of the agreement, Imugene obtains non-exclusive clinical and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation® technology and ExPERT™ platform. In return, MaxCyte is entitled to receive platform licensing fees and program-related revenue.

QIAGEN announces partnership with Penn State University to advance microbiome sciences

Germantown, Maryland, and State College, Pennsylvania, Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced a first-in-kind collaboration with Penn State University in the United States to create a shared research and education facility for the fast-developing microbiome sciences.

The university-industry partnership will serve as a beacon for this field by investigating research opportunities that address challenges and research gaps facing the microbiome, which involves the research into a community of microorganisms that can be found living together in any given environment, including the human body.

Calling all MedTech innovators: Up to $100,000 in federal grants to be awarded

Application deadline is Feb. 15 for the pandemic network edition of “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!™

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation (APDI) and Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) have teamed up to provide a unique opportunity for innovators of pediatric medical devices, diagnostics and digital health solutions. The organizations are inviting submissions for a pitch competition that emphasizes the development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) – innovations designed to address the unique healthcare needs of children during pandemics and other disasters. MCMs play a pivotal role in bolstering readiness and response capabilities to disasters arising from a broad spectrum of threats.

PQE Group: 100+M€ In Revenues, Expansion In Emerging Markets and Business Lines

Florence, Jan. 26, 2024 – PQE Group , the renowned Life Science consulting powerhouse, concludes the fiscal year 2023 with a 10% growth and an upwardly revised income exceeding 100 million euros in revenues. The Italian headquartered global firm, celebrated as a preferred advisor to pharma manufacturing and medical device corporations and SMEs globally, marks this success as a testament to its resilience, adaptability, and strategic vision amid the complex global landscape.

“At a time when many companies grapple with geopolitical challenges, crises, and inflation rates, PQE Group stands out not only for its resilience but for its ability to thrive in uncertain times, showcasing positive growth across all financial indicators,” stated Gilda D’Incerti , CEO & Founder of PQE Group. “This success is rooted in meticulous planning, strategic investments in cutting-edge technologies, and a corporate culture that values agility and innovation.”

Haystack Oncology and TriSalus Life Sciences Enter Research Collaboration

BALTIMORE, Jan. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) company and developer of best-in-class personalized MRD technology (Haystack MRD™), has entered a research collaboration with TriSalus Life Sciences to evaluate therapeutic response and provide molecular insights in connection with the clinical development of TriSalus’ SD-101, an investigational class C toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) agonist. SD-101 is delivered via hepatic arterial infusion or pancreatic retrograde venous infusion in their phase 1 and 1b clinical trials using their proprietary Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery™ (PEDD™) to overcome the challenges associated with intratumoral pressure for patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The Daily Record: New Johns Hopkins institute aims to make Baltimore an AI hub

Johns Hopkins University has launched an ambitious endeavor that the school’s leaders say will make Baltimore a hub of the booming artificial intelligence industry.

The new Data Science and Translation Institute, announced several months ago and planned for the western edge of the Homewood Campus, is expected to be “the leading academic hub for data science and artificial intelligence – a resource that will bring world-class experts to the Baltimore region and drive game-changing innovations,” said Rama Chellappa, interim co-director of the planned institute and a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at the school.

REGENXBIO Announces Positive Interim Data from Phase II AAVIATE® Trial of ABBV-RGX-314 for the Treatment of Wet AMD Using Suprachoroidal Delivery

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced positive interim data from the Phase II AAVIATE^® trial of ABBV-RGX-314 for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) using suprachoroidal delivery. Wet AMD is a chronic, life-long disease with available anti-VEGF treatment options that may reduce the risk of blindness, but require frequent injections. Investigational ABBV-RGX-314 using suprachoroidal delivery is designed to be a one-time, in office treatment that has the potential to sustain constant anti-VEGF therapy and stabilize or improve vision long-term for wet AMD patients. The new data presented at the Hawaiian Eye and Retina meeting in Maui, HI by John Pitcher, M.D., Eye Associates of New Mexico, includes 6-month results from two additional dose level 3 cohorts (Cohorts 5 and 6). ABBV-RGX-314, being developed in collaboration with AbbVie, is also being investigated as a potential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and other chronic retinal conditions.

February 5, 2024

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QIAGEN announces partnership with Penn State University to advance microbiome sciences

By adminNews

qiagen Germantown, Maryland, and State College, Pennsylvania, Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced a first-in-kind collaboration with Penn State University in the United States to create a shared research and education facility for the fast-developing microbiome sciences.

The university-industry partnership will serve as a beacon for this field by investigating research opportunities that address challenges and research gaps facing the microbiome, which involves the research into a community of microorganisms that can be found living together in any given environment, including the human body.

January 26, 2024

Love0

592nd Edition, January 23, 2024

By adminBHI Weekly News Archives

STEMCELL Technologies Announces Acquisition of Gaithersburg’s Propagenix Inc.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–STEMCELL Technologies, Canada’s largest biotechnology company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Propagenix Inc.—a Maryland-based biotechnology company focused on developing technologies to enable new approaches in regenerative medicine.

“The acquisition of Propagenix is an important step in STEMCELL’s growth journey and an achievement for Canada’s biotechnology industry,” said Dr. Allen Eaves, President and CEO, STEMCELL. “Propagenix’s technology has the potential to contribute to big advancements in scientific research in both labs and clinical settings for the treatment of cancer, airway diseases, and other disorders, and we are thrilled to welcome its portfolio into STEMCELL’s product suite.”

BioHealth Innovation Insights from the 2024 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

BioHealth Innovation (BHI) was prominently represented at the 2024 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, with several Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) in attendance. The insights gathered by these experienced professionals provide a comprehensive view of the current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the biohealth industry. Here’s a summary of their observations and thoughts.

REGENXBIO Announces Positive Interim Data from Phase II AAVIATE® Trial of ABBV-RGX-314 for the Treatment of Wet AMD Using Suprachoroidal Delivery

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced positive interim data from the Phase II AAVIATE^® trial of ABBV-RGX-314 for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) using suprachoroidal delivery. Wet AMD is a chronic, life-long disease with available anti-VEGF treatment options that may reduce the risk of blindness, but require frequent injections. Investigational ABBV-RGX-314 using suprachoroidal delivery is designed to be a one-time, in office treatment that has the potential to sustain constant anti-VEGF therapy and stabilize or improve vision long-term for wet AMD patients. The new data presented at the Hawaiian Eye and Retina meeting in Maui, HI by John Pitcher, M.D., Eye Associates of New Mexico, includes 6-month results from two additional dose level 3 cohorts (Cohorts 5 and 6). ABBV-RGX-314, being developed in collaboration with AbbVie, is also being investigated as a potential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and other chronic retinal conditions.

UMB Researchers Aim to Enhance Vaccines with $9.4M NIH Grant

January 16, 2024 – By Laura Lee – Principal Investigator Robert K. Ernst, PhD, the Dr. Paul and Mrs. Jean Corcoran Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) and Distinguished University Professor, has been awarded a five-year, $9.4 million contract from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to continue work developing and testing novel adjuvants for the improvement of vaccines. Ernst was awarded $6.4 million in funding through the same NIAID program in 2018, bringing his total funding for adjuvant development to over $16 million.

Virginia Catalyst Announces Grant Round 15 Awarded Projects

The Virginia Catalyst, also known as the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation (VBHRC), today announced that it has awarded $2.2 million in grants to four life and bioscience projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia. These four collaborative projects, involving Virginia research universities and industry partners, were awarded through Virginia Catalyst Grant Round 15 to address major unmet healthcare needs and drive job creation and capital formation in Virginia.

Through this 15^th round of funding, Virginia Catalyst has awarded 61 grants totaling $29.7 million, resulting in over $47 million in matching funds and an additional $821 million in follow-on funding to date.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) Welcomes Peter Ronco as a New Member of the Board of Directors

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, January 16, 2024– BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), a leading public-private non-profit organization dedicated to advancing healthcare innovation in the BioHealth Capital Region, is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Ronco to its Board of Directors.

Peter Ronco is an accomplished drug developer and innovative senior pharmaceutical executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Emmes, a full-service Contract Research Organization (CRO) operating in 30+ countries and across multiple disease areas, including ophthalmology, vaccines, rare diseases, cell & gene therapy, and neuroscience. With extensive global experience spanning therapeutic areas such as oncology, immunology, neuroscience, vaccines, anti-infectives, cardiovascular, and retinal gene therapy, Peter brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the BHI Board.

As CEO of Emmes, Peter is responsible for setting the strategic direction and the organization’s day-to-day operations, which collaborates with over 210 sponsors, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, government agencies, academic institutions, and non-profit foundations.

January 23, 2024

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