BHI News Section

The collaboration will explore EBV and HTLV-1 antigen-specific immune responses in immunological diseases

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NexImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to orchestrate a targeted immune response by directing the function of antigen-specific T cells, today announced a collaboration with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The collaboration will focus on enriching and expanding virus-specific T cell populations and determining their activity against infected human cell lines. The goal of this collaboration is to develop adoptive cell therapies that may benefit patients afflicted with immunological disorders related to these viral infections. Initially, we will focus our efforts on studying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Human T-cell Leukemia Virus, type 1 (HTLV-1).

WASHINGTON – Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration and voice for America’s 33 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, released the following statement today after the House voted to reauthorize funding for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program:

It’s no secret that a recession could hit the United States before the year ends. No one knows for sure yet, and many economists believe that the current record high inflation and capital markets distress are symptoms of what could be a substantial economic downturn,

Possible effects have already hit the biotech and life sciences. To discuss how the Biohealth Capital Region would fare out in a potential recession, and whether it can actually avoid one, the I-270 Innovation Labs brought together an outstanding group of regional experts from across key sectors connected to both industries.

Image: https://biobuzz.io

Today, the U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded 51 “Build to Scale” grants – totaling $47 million – to organizations that support technology entrepreneurs, catalyze innovation and fuel economic growth. [Read full press release here]

EDA’s “Build to Scale” program provides annual grants that aim to accelerate technology entrepreneurship by increasing inclusive access to support and startup capital. The 2022 awardees will leverage an additional $48 million in matching funds from a variety of private and public sector sources. These EDA investments support advanced manufacturing, bioscience, clean energy and blue economy clusters in regions throughout the United States.

Image: https://content.govdelivery.com/

BELTSVILLE, Md., Oct. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing novel, first-in-class immunomedicines to treat cancer and other immune-related diseases, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial to evaluate NC410 in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with immune checkpoint refractory or immune checkpoint naïve solid tumors. In addition, NextCure announced it has entered into a supply agreement for KEYTRUDA with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada).

NC410 is a first-in-class immunomedicine designed to block immune suppression mediated by LAIR-1, an immunomodulatory receptor expressed on T cells and dendritic cells. Under the terms of the agreement, NextCure will sponsor the study and Merck will supply KEYTRUDA. The Phase 1b/2 trial will evaluate NC410 in combination with KEYTRUDA in patients with immune checkpoint refractory colorectal, esophageal, endometrial and head and neck cancers or immune checkpoint naïve patients with colorectal and ovarian cancers. The company expects to report initial Phase 1b data in mid-2023 followed by the initiation of the Phase 2 component of the study.

Is there a recession on the horizon?

Some economists say yes — and predict it’s going to be bad — while others say the United States will avoid one altogether. Still others forecast that one will linger for a while, but be relatively shallow.

But even if the country can’t dodge what many fear will follow record levels of inflation, a panel of experts in the life sciences field said on Tuesday they’re optimistic that the Frederick County biohealth sector may be spared from the worst effects of an economic downturn.

Image: Staff photo by Angela Roberts

Partnership combines miRecule’s unique RNA therapeutic discovery and conjugation platforms with Sanofi’s NANOBODY® technology to create a groundbreaking treatment for FSHD miRecule will receive an upfront payment with potential future milestone payments of nearly $400 million, in addition to tiered royalties Collaboration marks the first licensing transaction leveraging miRecule’s proprietary DREAmiR™ discovery platform, validating foundational science, and bolstering commitment to further expansion of the company’s RNA therapeutic pipeline October 04, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time GAITHERSBURG, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–miRecule, Inc., an innovator of next-generation RNA therapeutics, today announced a strategic collaboration and exclusive license agreement with Sanofi to develop and commercialize a best-in-class antibody-RNA conjugate (ARC) for the treatment of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). The collaboration marks miRecule’s first licensing transaction leveraging its proprietary DREAmiR platform.

October 04, 2022 08:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time

GAITHERSBURG, Md–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adaptive Phage Therapeutics, Inc. (“APT”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing the world’s largest therapeutic phage initiative for treatment of bacterial infectious diseases, today announced that the Defense Health Agency (DHA) has awarded an additional $5 million to support clinical development of APT’s adaptive bacteriophage (“phage”) therapy in treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO). APT is evaluating safety and efficacy of its precision phage-based therapy in the ongoing Phase 1/2 DANCE™ (DFO Adaptive Novel Care Evaluation) clinical trial.

Johns Hopkins University is teaming with two D.C.-area institutions, Howard University and the National Institutes of Health, to create a new accelerator to help companies and research scientists focused on treating neurological conditions.

The nonprofit biotechnology accelerator, NeuroTech Harbor, is funded by an NIH investment of $5 million a year over five years, which could go up to $20 million annually. The NeuroTech Harbor plans to launch 45 new neurological companies over the next five years.

Image: NeuroTech Harbor Executive Director Sri Sarma views the project as a catalyst to turn Baltimore into a the Silicon Valley of neurological technology. COURTESY OF SRI SARMA