BHI Weekly News Archives

Looking forward to the Autumn of 2024, the BioHealth Capital Region is gearing up for three major events, September 17th, 18th, and 19^th, 2024, that promise to bring together industry leaders, investors, and innovators from across the biopharma and healthcare sectors. Whether you’re a company seeking investment, an entrepreneur ready to showcase your innovations, or an industry professional looking to network and gain insights, these events are not to be missed. Mark your calendars and stay tuned as registration and application sites will be going live soon.

10th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum

Dates: September 17-18, 2024
Venue: US Pharmacopeia, Rockville, MD

Celebrate a decade of achievements and advancements at the 10th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum. This milestone event will reflect on ten years of progress within the BioHealth sector and set the stage for future innovations. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, participate in networking sessions, and connect with hundreds of C-level executives from government, academia, and industry. If you’re looking to stay on the cutting edge of biopharma developments, this is the place to be.

Are you a recent PhD graduate eager to blend your scientific expertise with business acumen? BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is looking for an Entry-Level Life Sciences Business Strategist to join their team. This remote opportunity is ideal for early-career scientists passionate about accelerating the adoption of new technologies to improve lives.

What Will You Do? As a Business Strategist at BHI, you’ll support growth-stage businesses by developing commercialization plans and crafting federal grant proposals. You’ll also engage with expert Entrepreneurs-In-Residence and other professionals, fostering relationships that drive the commercial potential of emerging technologies in fields like therapeutics and medical devices.

Who Should Apply? If you hold a Ph.D. in biological sciences and have strong writing and analytical skills, you might be the perfect candidate. We’re looking for driven individuals who are adept at managing multiple projects and keen on making a significant impact in the biohealth industry.

Why BHI? Joining BHI means you’ll be part of a team dedicated to growing the BioHealth Capital Region through innovative commercialization strategies. This position offers a unique chance to develop your career at the intersection of science and business, engaging with key stakeholders across the industry.

Interested in making a difference in the biohealth sector? Learn more about this exciting opportunity and how to apply by clicking here. Join BHI and help shape the future of BioHealth.

MCB Real Estate, the developer of Harborplace in Baltimore, announced on Thursday that it will lead the development of VIVA White Oak, a mixed use project planned for a 280-acre site in eastern Montgomery County, Maryland.

The land, near US 29 and Cherry Hill Road, is next to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration headquarters and near the Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center. It’s also close to the University of Maryland’s College Park campus, the Interstate 95 corridor and BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport. County officials have approved it for more than 12 million square feet of mixed-use development.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M^™ adjuvant, has entered into a co-exclusive licensing agreement with Sanofi (Nasdaq: SNY).

The terms of the agreement include: a co-exclusive license to co-commercialize Novavax’s current stand-alone adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine worldwide (except in countries with existing Advance Purchase Agreements and in India, Japan and South Korea where Novavax has existing partnership agreements); a sole license to Novavax’s adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine for use in combination with Sanofi’s flu vaccines while Novavax retains the right to and is developing its own COVID-19-Influenza Combination vaccine candidate; a non-exclusive license to use Novavax’s adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine for use in combination with non-flu vaccines; and a non-exclusive license to use the Matrix-M adjuvant in vaccine products. In addition, Sanofi will take a minority (<5%) equity investment in Novavax.

BALTIMORE, MD – May 13, 2024 – NextStep Robotics, a University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) spinout company dedicated to commercializing cutting-edge stroke rehabilitation technologies, was awarded the $20,000 Grand Prize in the 2024 Pitch Dingman Competition’s All Stars Track. The signature annual competition is hosted by the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, part of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park.

NextStep is also pleased to announce the appointment of new board members. These expert business executives bring a wealth of experience in the healthcare and technology sectors, which will be invaluable as NextStep Robotics continues to grow.

BALTIMORE, MD, US, May 10, 2024 – Linshom Medical, a Maryland based start-up medical device company was selected as one of eight companies to represent the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant portfolio at the Angel Capital Association (ACA) annual meeting in Columbus, OH on May 13-15, 2024.

After a competitive evaluation of 190 applications, Linshom Medical was chosen by the National Heart Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI) as 1 of 8 companies to represent an NIH portfolio of over 1,000 companies.

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nanochon, a Washington, DC-based orthopedic device biotech company has raised $4 million in its series seed prime fundraising round.

The round was led by The University of Virginia Licensing and Ventures Group Seed Fund, with participation from Cultivate (MD), Alumni Venture Group, and Mountain State Capital, among others.

Nanochon intends to use the funds to initiate its first in human clinical trials in the US in 2024, deepen research and development efforts, expand the company’s patent profile and grow its team.

May 2, 2024, Emily Wishingrad, Washington, D.C.
Maryland’s life sciences market, one of the largest in the country, has a lot of things going for it — a hearty talent pipeline, federal research agencies and relatively cheap real estate prices.

One thing that it doesn’t have pinned down quite yet: the urban, mixed-use, flexible developments that are most attractive to today’s tenants.
Local leaders and industry executives at Bisnow’s Mid-Atlantic Life Sciences and Biotech Summit last week said that for the area to keep up with its peer markets like Boston-Cambridge and San Diego, developers need to start thinking outside the traditional life sciences box.

The first living recipient of a UThymoKidney, in conjunction with a heart pump implant, is recovering after a successful transplant

This transplant builds on two successful UHeart transplants completed in 2022 and 2023

SILVER SPRING, Md. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR), a public benefit corporation, today announced the world’s first successful transplant of a UThymoKidney™, which the company produced, into a living person on April 12, 2024. This transplant represents several historic firsts for transplantation:
– The first-ever transplant of a xenothymokidney into a living human recipient;
– The first-ever combined mechanical heart pump and organ transplant; and
– The first-ever xenotransplant into a living human using only FDA-approved immunosuppressive medicines

The transplant is the third xenotransplant using United Therapeutics’ xeno organs, following two successful UHeart™ transplants at the University of Maryland Medicine in 2022 and 2023.

BETHESDA, Md., April 24, 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 positive results from the single ascending dose (SAD) part of its Phase 1 study. GT-02287 was generally well tolerated up to and including the highest planned dose level, and there were no serious adverse events. The good safety and tolerability profile and the appropriate range of plasma exposure levels achieved after oral administration further bolster GT-02287’s best and first-in-class potential.

Shenzhen Salubris commits additional funding to continue research and development of novel, complex biologics

First patient enrolled in RENEU-HF, the Phase 2 clinical trial of JK07 in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

Clinical trial application filed for JK06, SalubrisBio’s first-in-class biparatopic ADC

April 22, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
GAITHERSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Salubris Biotherapeutics, Inc. (SalubrisBio), a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing novel complex biologic therapeutics, today announced a new capital infusion of $35 million to fund continued research and development of clinical and pre-clinical programs. SalubrisBio also provided progress updates for JK07, the first investigational antibody fusion protein for heart failure, JK08, the first investigational IL15-CTLA4 antibody fusion for solid tumors and JK06, a first-in-class biparatopic antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting a known tumor antigen.

Pioneering Move Unites Medical and Pharmacy Benefits, Enhancing Access, Affordability, and Adherence for Specialty Medications and Procedures

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Healthcare technology pioneer DrFirst today announced it has acquired substantially all assets of Myndshft Technologies, Inc., a leader of end-to-end real-time medical benefits and automated prior authorization (PA) software-as-a-service (SaaS). This strategic acquisition aims to improve the patient experience and expedite access to vital specialty medications, such as infusions and in-office injectables primarily covered by medical benefits. Combined with DrFirst’s platform and scale, the technology will also lighten the substantial administrative load on healthcare providers and their staff.

Founded in 2018, Myndshft is the only unified platform that streamlines prior authorization and related services for both medical and pharmacy benefits. This innovative technology uses AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation (RPA) to automate and streamline complex benefits, pricing, and PA processes across various payers and therapeutic classes into one seamless, intuitive workflow. The Myndshft platform also supports labs, imaging, and other procedures covered under medical benefits, which are often prerequisites for patients prescribed specialty medications.

Maryland biotech company continuing mission to provide antibiotic sensitivity precision diagnostics

COLUMBIA, Md. (April 15, 2024) – fdfsTEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $250,000 Seed Funds investment in Astek Diagnostics, a biomedical company.

“From the early days in my basement during the pandemic, TEDCO saw potential in our idea and supported us with our very first check,” said Mustafa Al-Adhami, CEO of Astek Diagnostics. “Today, our team stands strong at nine, having achieved the milestone of our first version of the product and partnerships with urology practices and hospitals across the globe.”

Over my 40 years as a physician-scientist, I’ve had the privilege of advising many patients facing serious medical diagnoses. I’ve seen them go through the excruciating experience of waiting for the results of a critical blood test, biopsy or scan that could dramatically affect their future hopes and dreams.

But this time, I was the one lying in the PET scanner as it searched for possible evidence of spread of my aggressive prostate cancer. I spent those 30 minutes in quiet prayer. If that cancer had already spread to my lymph nodes, bones, lungs or brain, it could still be treated — but it would no longer be curable.

Why am I going public about this cancer that many men are uncomfortable talking about? Because I want to lift the veil and share lifesaving information, and I want all men to benefit from the medical research to which I’ve devoted my career and that is now guiding my care.

COLUMBIA, Md. (April 8, 2024) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $100,000 Pre-Seed Builder Fund investment in Aloe Therapeutics, a company working to deliver cancer cures. TEDCO’s Pre-Seed Builder Fund is housed under TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds which were created to engage and invest in economically underserved founders and communities.

“At Aloe Therapeutics, we are working to increase efficacy and expand eligibility for patients with hard-to-treat solid tumors and limited treatment options,” said Martha Sklavos, founder and CEO of Aloe Therapeutics. “Thanks to TEDCO’s investment we can continue to develop our lead therapy to the clinic to ‘wake up the immune system’ with our cell-based therapeutic vaccine, Allo-Immunotherapy (AIM).

BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is investing up to $8.5 million in additional funds in SpliSense to continue clinical trials for its inhaled antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drug for people with cystic fibrosis who have certain splicing mutations and potentially other rare mutations.

The Foundation’s funding will support a planned Phase 2 clinical trial to test the efficacy of SpliSense’s inhaled ASO drug as a potential treatment for the lungs of people with the splicing mutation 3849+10Kb C-to-T. A recent Phase 1a study indicated the drug was safe and well tolerated.

“We continue to pursue diverse strategies to develop potential treatments for people with CF who can’t benefit from existing modulator therapies,” said Steven M. Rowe, MD, executive vice president and chief scientific officer at the Foundation. “Information from this study is key to advancing those efforts with a novel technology and will also provide valuable insight into the development of therapies for people with rare mutations.”

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, April 1, 2024 – BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is delighted to present a compelling episode on its podcast, BioTalk with Rich Bendis, titled “Transforming Healthcare: Insights from John Sackett, Adventist Healthcare COO on BioTalk.” In this captivating episode, John Sackett, Executive Vice President & COO of Adventist Healthcare, shares his extraordinary journey and invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery, all while managing cystic fibrosis.

John Sackett’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and innovation. From his early days as an administrative assistant to his current role as Executive Vice President & COO of Adventist Healthcare, John has demonstrated unwavering dedication to improving healthcare outcomes in the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR). Despite the challenges posed by cystic fibrosis, a chronic and life-threatening genetic disease, John has thrived professionally and emerged as an inspirational figure, defying the odds and becoming a beacon of hope for others.

In this episode, John candidly discusses his personal journey of managing cystic fibrosis while excelling in his career. His story sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals living with chronic illnesses and underscores the importance of resilience, innovation, and patient-centered care in healthcare delivery.

LaunchPort welcomes CEO Samantha Scott and her team as the latest Residents to join the Baltimore Peninsula site.

JuneBrain Inc. (https://www.junebrain.com/) offers accessible monitoring solutions for eye care and neurology. With approximately 1.3 billion individuals worldwide afflicted by conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), tracking the progression of these ailments often involves monitoring the retina. To address this need, JuneBrain has developed an AI-driven wearable eye-scanning device and SaaS platform. This innovation facilitates the detection of new disease activity and empowers clinicians to monitor disease progression and patient responses to treatment between clinical visits.

Join us in this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis as we delve into the Baltimore ecosystem with Kory Bailey, Chief Ecosystem Officer (CEO) of UpSurge Baltimore, a trailblazing organization dedicated to fostering equitable economic growth and innovation.

Kory Bailey brings over a decade of leadership experience from both early-stage startups and big tech. He has emerged as a thought leader on equitable economic growth and a champion for Baltimore’s tech ecosystem. As the CEO of UpSurge Baltimore, Kory is spearheading the vision for Baltimore to become the first Equitech hub globally, pioneering a new model for American innovation.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform:

Apple: https://apple.co/4a6C9GQ
Google: https://bit.ly/3IOlFae
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vtbl4v
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3vpZDHI
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/3VvuWvk

In this discussion, Kory unveils UpSurge Baltimore’s mission: to cultivate a thriving tech ecosystem for innovators, founders, and talent by fostering culture and connectivity and mobilizing regional and national assets around Baltimore startups.

From exploring what drew him to Baltimore to discussing the evolution and unique aspects of UpSurge, Kory shares insights into the philanthropic landscape in Baltimore and initiatives like the Equitech Accelerator, Techstars, KHU, and CareFirst. He also delves into the primary challenges facing Baltimore and UpSurge’s short-term goals focused on accountability, awareness, investment, and early-stage support.

COLUMBIA, Md. (March 20, 2024) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $500,000 Maryland Equity Investment Fund (MEIF) investment in Innate Technologies, Inc. The MEIF – which is housed under TEDCO’s Venture Funds – was created to increase private equity and venture capital in Maryland, generate financial returns, and foster economic growth.

“Our goal at Innate Technologies is to provide a solution that will fill the current void in digital manufacturing practices – data integration,” said Shawn Springs, founder and CEO of Innate Technologies, Inc. “Thanks to TEDCO’s investment we can continue our mission to revolutionize manufacturing through data collaboration.”

Innate Technologies, Inc., headquartered in North Bethesda, Md., has a mission to deliver innovative software solutions for the digital manufacturing sector. Combining cutting-edge technology with industry expertise, they look to empower businesses by bridging the gap between sales and production teams, fostering smarter manufacturing practices.

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.

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.