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Perceptive Advisors leads round to execute study in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)

BALTIMORE, MD, July 26, 2023– AsclepiX Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotech company leveraging computational biology from Johns Hopkins to identify and develop peptides for improved treatments of retinal diseases, announced today that it has secured a $10 million Series A-3 financing. The round was led by Perceptive Advisors with participation from the existing investors Hibiscus Capital Management Fund II and Rapha Capital Management and its managed fund, Rapha Capital PE Life Sciences Fund VI, in addition to a new outside investor.

NORTON, Va. and PETERBOROUGH, ON, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – Solar Biotech Inc., a Norton, Virginia-based provider of complete sustainable and scalable biomanufacturing solutions, continues to build out its vertically integrated organization by acquiring Noblegen, an advanced digital biology company based in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Noblegen will now operate under the name Solar Biotech Canada, continuing as the organization’s food-grade-certified (SQF9) biomanufacturing and research & development hub in Canada. The new company will leverage both partners’ strengths in microbiology and biomanufacturing to offer revolutionary biotech and synthetic biology (“SynBio”) solutions for a wide range of applications.

SILVER SPRING, Md. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR), a public benefit corporation, announced today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the district court decision in the patent litigation United Therapeutics brought against Liquidia Technologies, Inc. The Federal Circuit affirmed that Liquidia’s proposed Yutrepia™ product infringes a United Therapeutics’ patent, U.S. Patent No. 10,716,793 (the ’793 patent). As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot grant Liquidia final approval for its Yutrepia product until expiration of the ’793 patent, May 14, 2027, except in certain circumstances discussed below.

Galen Robotics has claimed a de novo device clearance from the FDA for its digital surgical assistant, designed to provide a helping hand during ear, nose and throat operations.

The motorized ES system helps stabilize the surgeon’s direct manual control of their instrument—with the goal of reducing natural hand tremors and other movements—to supply greater precision in minimally invasive procedures on soft tissue, as well as offer the ability to let go of the swappable tool and have it remain in place.

The Baltimore-based company, with technology originally spun out of Johns Hopkins University, also aims to promote the device through a “digital-surgery-as-a-service” platform. 

The 6th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Investor Conference is just around the corner! Taking place on September 21st, 2023, at the US Pharmacopeia, this in-person event brings together ambitious entrepreneurs, startup-up companies and innovative BioHealth companies with a diverse group of influential investors, offering funding opportunities ranging from pre-seed to Series A.

The BioHealth Capital Region is renowned for its vibrant biotechnology and life sciences community, a breeding ground for groundbreaking advancements and success stories. The conference’s history is marked with exceptional achievements, from initial funding rounds to subsequent financings, successful IPOs, and engaging M&A activities.

Andrew Lees has received The Derek Horton Award in Industrial Carbohydrate Chemistry for outstanding contributions to industrial carbohydrate chemistry.

The Derek Horton Award in Industrial Carbohydrate Chemistry is awarded by the CARB division of the American Chemical Society and acknowledges distinguished achievements in and outstanding contributions to industrial carbohydrate chemistry.  Lees’ award was for his contributions to the field of protein polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, including the development of CDAP chemistry and a low-cost CRM₁₉₇ carrier protein.

• Emergent has been delivering CYFENDUS™ vaccine to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services since 2019, under pre-Emergency Use Authorization status, and will continue to work with the U.S. government to transition to post-approval procurement

GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CYFENDUS™ (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted), previously known as AV7909, for post-exposure prophylaxis of disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis in persons 18 through 65 years of age when administered in conjunction with recommended antibacterial drugs. The efficacy of CYFENDUS™ vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis is based solely on studies in animal models of inhalational anthrax.

“The approval of CYFENDUS™ vaccine is symbolic of Emergent’s longstanding partnership with the U.S. government and our shared commitment to helping protect public health,” said Dr. Kelly Warfield, Emergent’s senior vice president, science and development. “The 20-year journey from early development to approval is a major milestone that attests to Emergent’s scientific and technical prowess and partnering capabilities. We are grateful for the yearslong collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and early support from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Congratulations to the Emergent team and all our partners for advancing this product to approval.”

Talented, diverse, and experienced leaders tapped to support Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies

COLUMBIA, Md. (July 20, 2023) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, held its annual election for the board of directors’ executive officers, reaffirming another term for Chair Omar Muhammad of Morgan State University (MSU).

TEDCO’s full slate of executive officers are:

• Chair – Omar S. Muhammad
• Vice Chair – Ellen Flowers-Fields
• Secretary – Kathie Callahan Brady
• Treasurer – Jeffrey Rhoda
• Assistant Treasurer – Eben Smith

“I’m excited to continue serving on the board of directors. Our work has focused on supporting TEDCO’s mission of creating an enhanced, diverse and inclusive ecosystem throughout the state, and we look forward to continuing this mission through the various resources and programs TEDCO has to offer,” said Omar Muhammad, chair of the board. “In particular, I am excited to move forward with the Cultivate Maryland initiative, a major project that will support the growth of a diverse innovation economy thereby increasing Maryland’s competitiveness as an innovation economy and supporting larger retention and attraction of trained workers.”

Licensing agreement utilizing MilliporeSigma’s CRISPR genome-editing technology supports the advancement of Vita’s pipeline

‍Baltimore, MD, July 18, 2023 – Vita Therapeutics, Inc. today announced a licensing agreement between Vita and MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Under the agreement, Vita will leverage MilliporeSigma’s foundational CRISPR patents to advance the development of its preclinical asset VTA-100 for the treatment of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2A). Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Our purpose is to impact life and health with science, empowering customers to deliver breakthroughs such as Vita’s impactful, health-advancing research,” said Christopher Arnot, Director of Licensing and Business Development, Gene Editing, MilliporeSigma.

“For people with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, the calpain 3 (CAPN3) gene is mutated in satellite cells,” said Douglas Falk, MS, Chief Executive Officer at Vita Therapeutics. “MilliporeSigma’s proprietary CRISPR genome-editing technology will allow us to insert a functional copy of the gene into those cells, taking us an important step forward in advancing the development of VTA-100 as a potential cell therapy.”

The Small Business Transition Grant application period is now open, providing a valuable opportunity for early-career academic scientists to transition into entrepreneurship. Graduating students and postdoctoral researchers who have engaged in technology discovery during their academic pursuits and are prepared to embark on a small business venture are encouraged to apply. The eligible technology must fall under one of the following categories: therapeutics and preventive agents, imaging technologies, interventional devices, and in vivo diagnostics, as well as in vitro and ex vivo diagnostics and prognostics.