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University research has grabbed plenty of headlines over the past few months. Not for the breakthroughs that propel so much of American innovation. Not for the work that advances our health and well-being, that protects our safety, our security, our sustainability. Even so, the discoveries keep coming.

No, the new headlines about academic research deal in the grave threats it now faces: massive cuts in the way university R&D is funded, the revocation of grants that don’t align with federal priorities, the slow-walking of new grant approvals.

Defending science and scientific inquiry is vital right now, for all the reasons you might imagine—and for one you might not. When academic research is an integrated, meaningful part of the undergraduate experience, it develops students into more critical and creative thinkers, better communicators, collaborators, and problem solvers. Undergraduate research builds learners’ confidence and focuses their career plans. It predicts better grades and graduation rates, and reduces equity gaps, particularly in STEM. Students consistently say that research is among the most valuable components of their college career.

GERMANTOWN, Md., May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Senseonics Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: SENS), a medical technology company focused on the development and manufacturing of long-term, implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for people with diabetes, today announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten public offering of a total of 115,000,000 shares of its common stock, which included the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 15,000,000 shares of common stock, at a public offering price of $0.50 per share.

The aggregate gross proceeds from the public offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses were $57.5 million. All of the shares in the offering were sold by Senseonics.

CE Mark approval for the HYDRAFIL System was granted based on a clinical study of 75 patients that showed that those treated with HYDRAFIL experienced clinically and statistically significant improvements in pain and disability. Results demonstrated a more than 80% improvement in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores and greater than 70% reduction in Numeric Pain Rating Scale scores after HYDRAFIL treatment, with reductions sustained for two years in the 63 patients that have completed their two-year follow-up visit.

ASHBURN, Va., May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: QNRX) (the “Company” or “Quoin”), a clinical stage, specialty pharmaceutical company focused on rare and orphan diseases, today announces FDA clearance to initiate a second Netherton Syndrome (NS) pivotal clinical study CL-QRX003-002 for QRX003. Quoin’s lead product, QRX003, is a topical lotion formulated with a broad-spectrum serine protease inhibitor that has been shown to significantly downregulate the hyperactivity of the kallikreins in the skin responsible for the excessive skin shedding associated with this disease. Clinical data from Quoin’s ongoing studies has demonstrated clear evidence of rapid, prolonged and almost complete skin healing following twice-daily application of QRX003 to the treatment areas along with the almost complete elimination of key symptoms such as chronic, debilitating pruritus and has facilitated zero nightly sleep disturbances.

GAITHERSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS), a leader in delivering improved health outcomes through genomic insights, today announced the publication of a new article in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, demonstrating GeneDx’s leadership in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate and enhance genetic diagnostics. The article was published as part of an essay collection written by global experts addressing how AI is shaping, and will continue to shape, the future of medical genetics.

The GeneDx-authored article, “AI in the Clinical Genomics Laboratory,” underscores the promise of harnessing AI to increase diagnostic yield, reduce manual workflows, and scale precision medicine for all patients with suspected genetic conditions.

By Sara Gilgore – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal – May 21, 2025 – Once the Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a plan to cut 10,000 positions, United Therapeutics Corp. didn’t waste time.

The publicly traded Silver Spring drugmaker saw an opportunity to scoop up some of that talent, hiring a handful of former HHS employees, including from the Food and Drug Administration, and entering into consulting agreements with others, according to Dewey Steadman, UT’s head of investor relations. The 1,305-person company, which counts about 250 D.C.-area employees, has even created a role for one professional with “specific skills that are critical to us,” he said.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ: UTHR) isn’t alone. AstraZeneca, Lonza Group, Kite Pharmaceuticals and Thermo Fisher Scientific are among the local life sciences firms actively hiring, and while no one is cheering the loss of so many public-sector jobs, “there’s a clear opportunity to connect federal talent with private-sector innovation,” said Richard Bendis, president and CEO of Rockville’s BioHealth Innovation Inc.

“These are folks with deep regulatory, scientific, and policy expertise who know how to navigate complex systems and bring big ideas to life,” Bendis said. “And in a region like ours, that’s a serious asset.”

Navigating the Shifting Federal Funding Landscape

Strategies, Insights, and AI-Driven Approaches for Winning Non-Dilutive Capital

The federal funding landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. With a new administration in office, the dynamics of securing non-dilutive capital are shifting—requiring organizations to move strategically and with precision to stay ahead. In this high-impact 45-minute session, Grant Engine and BioHealth Innovation bring together their leadership to break down the latest changes, clarify what remains uncertain, and showcase what top-performing companies are doing right now to secure meaningful, large-scale funding.

ASHBURN, Va., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: QNRX) (the “Company” or “Quoin”), a late clinical stage, specialty pharmaceutical company focused on rare and orphan diseases, today announces that it has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in Europe by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its lead product QRX003 in Netherton Syndrome.

Orphan Drug Designation in Europe affords the Company incentive benefits including scientific advice on study protocols, various fee reductions and access to EU grants. If approved, QRX003 will be granted 10 years of market exclusivity in Europe for the treatment of Netherton Syndrome.

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced the closure of a non-dilutive, limited recourse royalty bond agreement of up to $250 million with Healthcare Royalty (HCRx). This agreement monetizes select anticipated royalties and milestones, and provides both immediate and expected future, non-dilutive capital.  REGENXBIO received $150 million at closing, extending the Company’s expected cash runway into early 2027.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel peptide-based therapeutics for liver and cardiometabolic diseases, today announced that it has enrolled the first subject in the RECLAIM Phase 2 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of pemvidutide in subjects with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Pemvidutide is a novel, investigational GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist under development for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), obesity, AUD and alcohol liver disease (ALD). IMPACT, a Phase 2b trial of pemvidutide in MASH, is expected to read out topline data in the second quarter of 2025, and a Phase 2 trial of pemvidutide in ALD is expected to initiate enrollment in the third quarter of 2025.