BHI News Section

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have a clinically proven, new treatment option with the Food and Drug Administration’s approval Thursday of vamorolone, a steroidal-type, anti-inflammatory drug developed based on research performed at Children’s National Hospital. 

Created by ReveraGen BioPharma Inc., vamorolone has a molecular structure similar to traditional corticosteroids, which are currently used to treat DMD. Yet its structure was found to be chemically different enough to reduce unwanted side effects, including brittle bones and reduced stature. Nearly two decades ago, ReveraGen leaders – President and CEO Eric Hoffman, Ph.D., and Vice President for Research Kanneboyina Nagaraju, D.V.M., Ph.D. – launched research efforts into the drug when they led the Center for Genetic Medicine Research at Children’s National. They worked with then-Chief Academic Officer Mark Batshaw, M.D., on the new clinical option. 

Dive into the world of viral safety with the upcoming 2024 PDA Virus Conference. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Amsterdam, this event promises to be a melting pot of knowledge, innovation, and networking.

? Dates to Remember:

• Conference: Jun 26 – Jun 27, 2024
• Abstract Submission Deadline: November 30, 2023

? Location: Amsterdam Marriott Hotel, Stadhouderskade 12, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Nestled amidst iconic attractions, the hotel offers a blend of luxury and convenience.

? Theme: “Viral Safety Reloaded – the Finalized ICH Q5A (R2)”

? Highlights:

• A unique opportunity to attend two conferences in a week, with the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product Conference preceding this event.
• Engage with a diverse Scientific Program Planning Committee, featuring stalwarts from ViruSure, Eli Lilly, Merck KGaA, U.S. FDA, and more.
• Submit your abstracts! Remember, they should be non-commercial and focus on breakthroughs in Virus Safety.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to its clinical program investigating pemvidutide for the treatment of NASH.

NASH is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is a leading cause of liver failure and liver transplantation globally. NASH is a growing public health concern, and there are currently no approved treatments. The Fast Track designation is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of new drugs intended to treat serious conditions and address unmet medical needs.

“The FDA’s decision was informed by the results of Altimmune’s studies including its Phase 1b randomized, placebo-controlled study of pemvidutide in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which showed class-leading relative reductions in liver fat and non-invasive markers of hepatic inflammation and a favorable safety and tolerability profile,” said Vipin K. Garg, Ph.D., President and CEO of Altimmune. “The Fast Track designation reflects Altimmune’s commitment to patients with NASH and efforts to find safe and effective treatments for this condition.”

MCLEAN, Va. & BEDFORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MITRE announced a new five-year contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to operate the CMS Alliance to Modernize Healthcare, a federally funded research and development center, more commonly known as the Health FFRDC.

Established in 2012, the Health FFRDC serves the public interest by tackling complex, cross-cutting challenges affecting health and well-being. As the Health FFRDC operator, MITRE serves as an objective advisor to CMS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Administration for Children and Families, and all the operating divisions across HHS, as well as other governmental organizations with health missions.

Projects will broaden opportunities for traditionally underrepresented students in STEM

In a historic first for Montgomery College (MC), three different teams of faculty and administrators have won grant awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF) totaling over $3.24 million. The grants include EmpowerED: Building the Future Workforce Together, part of the new Enabling Partnerships of Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program; Beginnings: Democratizing Research and Experiential Education for Microelectronics (DREEM), part of the new Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) program; and AUSEM: Achieving Upward Socio-Economic Mobility, part of the competitive Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program. Each project begins this month, and will expand opportunities for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.

Maryland Venture Fund Authority advises and consults with TEDCO regarding the administration of the InvestMaryland program

COLUMBIA, Md. (October 24, 2023) – TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the FY24 Maryland Venture Fund Authority (“Authority”) members, including new appointees Vishal Amin, Ricardo Alvarado and Bei Ma.

“TEDCO is excited to welcome these new members to the Maryland Venture Fund Authority,” said Jack Miner, TEDCO’s chief investment officer. “Through their efforts, we know FY24 will be productive, allowing for the continued growth, development and diversification of Maryland’s economic development.”

Authority officers include:

• Grace Garry, Chair
• Renée Winsky, Vice Chair
• Mike Thielke, Secretary

The Authority consists of nine members, seven appointed by Governor Wes Moore with the advice and consent of the Senate, one member appointed by the president of the Senate and one member appointed by the speaker of the House.

As part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Commerce identified regional centers primed for technological innovation and job creation.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), today announced the designation of 31 Tech Hubs in regions across the country. This is the first phase of the new Tech Hubs program, which is an economic development initiative designed to drive regional innovation and job creation by strengthening a region’s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness.  The program invests directly in burgeoning, high-potential U.S. regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers.