By Conor Gowder & Mark Skinner

The Feb. 7, 2025, memo from the NIH Office of the Director (NOT-OD-25-068), now on hold because of two federal judge actions, announced the implementation of a flat 15% Facilities and Administrative fee (F&A) “across all NIH grants.” While the historic average F&A, or indirect cost rate, paid for by NIH is between 27 and 28%, the memo stated, the agency has previously allowed private small businesses without a negotiated F&A rate to charge up to 40% on their SBIR/STTR awards without further justification, drastically lowering their administrative burdens. Thus, a flat 15% fee on F&A if ever implemented would likely lead to some hardship for the small businesses.

The sixth cohort will undergo the first iteration of the program’s new structure

COLUMBIA, Md., (February 13, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the sixth SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab cohort that will consist of 28 companies. Through this program, companies will learn about foundational skills in business planning, commercialization and proposal writing.

“TEDCO is committed to uplifting Maryland’s entire ecosystem; one way we do that is by providing opportunities to engage with experts and receive comprehensive training materials,” TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall explained. “The success of this program has prompted its growth into two parts – one focusing on foundational skills and the second focusing on opportunities to enhance quality and submission readiness of the proposals.”

TG Therapeutics to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation® technology and ExPERT™ platform to support the development and commercialization of azer-cel, its allogeneic CD19 CAR T cell therapy program, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MaxCyte, Inc., (Nasdaq: MXCT; LSE: MXCT), a leading, cell-engineering focused company providing enabling platform technologies to advance the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell-based therapeutics, today announced they are entering into a strategic platform license (SPL) with TG Therapeutics, a fully integrated, commercial stage, biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for B-cell diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, TG Therapeutics obtains non-exclusive research, clinical and commercial rights to use MaxCyte’s Flow Electroporation^® technology and ExPERT™ platform. In return, MaxCyte is entitled to receive annual licensing fees and program-related revenue.

As we celebrate Women in Science Day and Women’s History Month, we are proud to spotlight the women of Volition.  From driving groundbreaking innovation to shaping strategic direction, our team do a fantastic job and we’d like to kick off the month of celebrations by featuring our female Directors on our Board.

The women on our Board of Directors are at the forefront of advancing science, fostering inclusivity, and paving the way for the future of health and medicine.

Dr. Ethel Rubin, who joined our Board in September 2024, has dedicated over 20 years to the life sciences sector, driving innovation and commercialisation strategies. Her advice to young women entering science? “Let your intellectual curiosity guide you.” She encourages future scientists to be true to themselves in choosing their career paths—whether they’re solving real-world problems or diving deep into basic biology. Ethel also highlights the importance of perseverance:

By Brian Darmody: While the Maryland economy is facing budget uncertainties, the state can help surmount these challenges by growing private growth industries, converting research into jobs, connecting the region, and attracting federal funding from those few federal budgets (defense and economic competitiveness) that are likely to grow.

Here’s how:

Winning the technology race with China will be a bipartisan effort in Congress and with the White House and state of Maryland has a role to play. The Department of Defense (DOD) R&D budget is expected to grow, including its University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) that ensure essential engineering and technology capability are maintained.

New Study Highlights Importance of Measuring Well-Being in Mental Health Research

WASHINGTON (February 10, 2025) – A new study published in Nature Mental Health underscores the critical role of assessing well-being in clinical research and treatment. 

Led by Fallon Goodman of the George Washington University, the study highlights how well-being, beyond the absence of mental illness, is essential for long-term health outcomes, including resilience, recovery, and overall quality of life.

Despite its importance, well-being is often overlooked in mental health research. The study identifies challenges in measuring well-being, such as inconsistencies in assessment methods, and offers recommendations to improve research approaches. By incorporating well-being metrics into clinical trials and treatment evaluations, researchers and clinicians can gain a more comprehensive understanding of mental health and enhance patient outcomes.

What does it take to establish Maryland as a powerhouse for biotech commercialization? In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Dr. Deborah Hemingway, Founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital, shares her insights on the current investment landscape in the BioHealth Capital Region. She discusses the strategic advantages that make Maryland uniquely positioned for success, the critical gaps that must be addressed, and how state and local governments can provide essential support through tax credits, grants, and economic incentives.

Dr. Hemingway also highlights Ecphora Capital’s impact, having deployed $15 million in the last two years, and reveals the firm’s strategy for future investments, including SPVs and a dedicated fund. With deep experience in medtech commercialization, strategic partnerships, and early-stage investing, she offers valuable perspectives on where the industry is headed in 2025 and how companies can thrive in an evolving biotech ecosystem.

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Tune in for a compelling conversation on innovation, investment, and the future of biotech in the BioHealth Capital Region.

GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 06, 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 it has filed for CE Mark registration for the Eversense^® 365 CGM system.

Eversense 365 is the world’s first and only one year CGM, which was approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration in September of 2024 and launched across the country in October of the same year.

Newswise — Children’s National Hospital and Virginia Tech are expanding their research partnership, building on a successful collaboration established in 2019. This partnership will advance pediatric health through innovative discoveries and therapies with an initial focus on pediatric cancers, including brain tumors.

The partnership brings together Children’s National, ranked among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, and Virginia Tech, a leading academic research institution. Together, they aim to deliver transformative advancements to enhance outcomes for children facing devastating diagnoses.

“Over the years, our partnership with Virginia Tech has demonstrated the power of combining top-tier research expertise with a shared commitment to improving pediatric health,” said Catherine Bollard, senior vice president and chief research officer and director of the Center for Cancer and Immunology Research. “This expansion underscores our belief that by working together, we can accelerate discoveries and develop life-changing therapies for children with cancer and other rare diseases.”

In an interview with ACT Associate Editor Don Tracy, Peter Ronco, CEO, Emmes, discusses the "Choosing the Right Allies: Ensuring Clinical Trial Success for Small Biopharma" session.
ACT: Today, you were a part of the Choosing the Right Allies: Ensuring Clinical Trial Success for Small Biopharma session. Can you provide a brief synopsis of what the session entailed?

Ronco: When we kicked off this morning, Andy Lee spoke in the main session about how he has leveraged Merck and their clinical trial development group to execute a portfolio of work. That model works well for Merck—they have the money and resources. However, many mid-sized and small biotechs don’t have that level of funding and can’t afford to hire thousands of CROs.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUPN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ONAPGO (apomorphine hydrochloride) injection, formerly known as SPN-830, as the first and only subcutaneous apomorphine infusion device for the treatment of motor fluctuations in adults with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). Supernus will make ONAPGO available in the second quarter of 2025 with a support team of experts, including a robust nurse education program, and access support at launch.

Over 100,000 patients in the United States have IPF, with only two approved therapies available that only slow the course of disease progression

Top line data expected in the first half of 2026

SILVER SPRING, Md. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR), a public benefit corporation, announced full enrollment of the TETON 1 study evaluating the use of Tyvaso® (treprostinil) inhalation solution (nebulized Tyvaso) for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

WASHINGTON and SAN DIEGO, Feb. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda) (Nasdaq: VNDA) and AnaptysBio, Inc. (Anaptys) (Nasdaq: ANAB) today announced an exclusive, global license agreement for the development and commercialization of imsidolimab (IL-36R antagonist mAb), which has successfully completed two registration-enabling global Phase 3 trials, GEMINI-1 and GEMINI-2, evaluating the safety and efficacy of imsidolimab in patients with Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP).

SILVER SPRING, Md. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR), a public benefit corporation, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug application (IND) to initiate a clinical study of the company’s investigational UKidney™ derived from a 10 gene-edited source pig. The study will enroll an initial cohort of six end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, expanding to up to 50 participants, and is intended to support a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the FDA.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Businesses in Maryland’s Montgomery County experienced a surge in investment funding in 2024. Mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private funding deals totaled $2.9 billion, a 36% increase over 2023’s total of $2.2b. Spanning 106 deals across 96 companies, this surge in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and private investment reflects Montgomery County’s continued prominence as a regional economic leader. 

Diverse Industries Driving Growth 

Read more ...

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MaxCyte, Inc., (Nasdaq: MXCT; LSE: MXCT), a leading, cell-engineering focused company providing solutions to advance the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation cell therapeutics announced today the acquisition of SeQure Dx, a market leader of on-target and off-target editing assessment services for cell and gene therapies.

This strategic acquisition strengthens MaxCyte’s ability to serve ex vivo and in vivo cell and gene therapy (CGT) developers with an innovative suite of tools and services spanning early R&D through clinical development and commercialization. By integrating SeQure Dx into MaxCyte, Maxcyte will expand its service offerings and leverage its commercial and field application scientist teams to work with developers earlier in their research processes. SeQure Dx is revenue generating and expected to be accretive to MaxCyte’s revenue growth.

For the second year in a row, the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) has been ranked as a Top 3 BioCluster Hub by Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News (GEN). Montgomery County, Maryland, located in the heart of the BHCR, offers unparalleled assets, including proximity to the FDA and NIH, making it a premier destination for biohealth innovation. Adding to its already successful programs, Montgomery County is launching new initiatives to further support biotech success in 2025 and beyond.

Existing programs continue to provide strong support for growing companies. The Executive-in-Residence Program connects entrepreneurs in the County with experienced mentors who guide commercialization strategies and accelerate growth. The SBIR Matching Program helps companies amplify their non-dilutive funding by providing additional resources to build on their Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards. Additionally, the Investor Tax Credit incentivizes private investment in Maryland’s innovative companies, making it more attractive for investors to support local startups.

Building on these efforts, Montgomery County is introducing the Technology Innovation Fund and the Founders Fund, which will provide grants of up to $200,000 and $100,000, respectively. These programs are designed to support commercialization milestones for companies in sectors such as healthtech, life sciences, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies. Additional incentives like the expanded MOVE program and JOBS grants will make it even easier for companies to establish and grow their presence in the county. Partnerships with the Henry Jackson Foundation and BioHub will further enhance the local ecosystem by creating new opportunities and resources for the biotech sector. Applications for the Technology Innovation and Founders Funds are due by January 31, 2025.

ETC Baltimore, dedicated to elevating Baltimore as a national leader in tech startups, announces the opening of its inaugural ETC Venture Hub at Connect Labs Baltimore in the newly constructed 4MLK Building in the University of Maryland BioPark. This milestone marks a significant step in Baltimore’s efforts to strengthen its ecosystem for life science startups and attract high-potential companies to the city.

The ETC Venture Hub at Connect Labs Baltimore is a dedicated space designed to provide early-stage life science companies with the technology, capital, talent and resources needed to successfully grow and scale. Offering desk space, expert support, and a collaborative community, the hub serves as a launchpad for startups. This is part of ETC’s broader strategy to establish multiple footprints throughout the city. By expanding its reach, ETC aims to create a more inclusive and robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring innovators in all areas of Baltimore have access to the tools and support they need to thrive.

BALTIMORE, January 28, 2025 – KaloCyte, Inc., a pre-clinical biotech startup company developing a bio-inspired red blood cell substitute called ErythroMer™, announced today that it has been selected to join Blue Knight, a strategic collaboration between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ('BARDA') and Johnson & Johnson’s global incubator network, JLABS, supporting early-stage innovation and incubation of science and technologies to improve health security and unlock new approaches to solving health issues.

KaloCyte, a University of Maryland BioPark affiliate, will be a virtual resident within JLABS, a premier life science incubator program. They will keep their laboratories and offices in downtown Baltimore where they collaborate closely with the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Blood Oxygen Transport & Hemostasis (CBOTH).

LEIDEN, Netherlands, January 28, 2025 / Biotech Newswire / -- MIMETAS, a global leader in human disease modeling, has launched OrganoPlate UniFlow (UF), the first commercially available unidirectional, gravity-driven pumpless flow system for drug discovery and disease research. This innovative platform debuts at SLAS 2025 as a key addition to MIMETAS’ service portfolio.

OrganoPlate UF addresses challenges in traditional flow systems by enabling physiologically accurate tissue models that replicate natural biological conditions. With unidirectional, gravity-driven flow, this system eliminates the need for external pumps, simplifying operation while enhancing model accuracy. Supporting up to 512 chips in a single setup, the technology is ideal for rigorous scientific studies and large-scale screening, accelerating research without compromising biological relevance.

HANOVER, MD, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Processa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCSA) (“Processa” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing the next generation of chemotherapeutic drugs with improved efficacy and safety, today announced the pricing of its “reasonable best efforts” public offering with participation from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, certain board members, and existing institutional investors of the Company, along with a healthcare focused institutional investor, consisting of 8,050,672 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) and accompanying Series A warrants to purchase up to 8,050,672 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) and Series B warrants to purchase up to 4,025,336 shares of common stock at a combined purchase price per share (and accompanying warrants) of $0.615 for the institutional investors and $0.7975 for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and certain board members.

COLUMBIA, Md., (January 27, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $100,000 investment in ReBokeh through the Pre-Seed Builder Fund, a key program under the Social Impact Funds. This initiative provides early-stage businesses with access to funding and resources designed to support their growth and success.

"Having TEDCO in our corner has been incredibly valuable for ReBokeh,” said Rebecca Rosenberg, CEO of ReBokeh. “As a company that planted its roots in Baltimore, we're both excited and immensely proud to continue being a part of the growing startup scene that calls Maryland home."

FREDERICK, Md., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAC) (the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering mRNA cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, today announced that it has received written agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) process on the overall design of the Company’s planned Phase 3 AURORA trial for Descartes-08, its lead mRNA cell therapy candidate, in myasthenia gravis (MG). The SPA agreement indicates that the FDA has determined that the proposed trial design is acceptable to support a future Biologics License Application for Descartes-08 in MG, subject to the ultimate outcome of the trial.

In this episode of BioTalk, host Rich Bendis is joined by Amitabh Varshney, Dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. Together, they explore the groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence and health computing driven by the University of Maryland (UMD).

Dean Varshney discusses the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) earlier this year. He shares insights into the vision behind AIM, the strategic hiring of new faculty, the allocation of seed grants, and the development of academic programs in AI, all solidifying UMD's position as a leader in this rapidly evolving field.

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BALTIMORE, Jan. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In two separate procedures, MedStar Health cardiac experts at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital reached new heights in cardiovascular care when they performed the state's and the system's first transcatheter tricuspid valve replacements (TTVR) using a recently FDA-approved valve, to treat life-threatening tricuspid regurgitation. On Jan. 7th, the male and female patients, both in their 80's, received the revolutionary valves delivered via a catheter, foregoing the need for conventional open-heart surgery.

COLUMBIA, Md., Jan. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, announced nine awardees for the inaugural Maryland Student Venture Showcase and Pava LaPere Innovation Awards. The awards, funded by the State of Maryland through the Pava LaPere Legacy of Innovation Act of 2024, recognize and support outstanding student entrepreneurs from colleges and universities in the Baltimore-Towson-Columbia metropolitan statistical area.

"The Maryland Student Venture Showcase and Pava LaPere Innovation Awards are a testament to the incredible talent and innovation coming out of Maryland's colleges and universities," said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO CEO. "We are excited to support these outstanding student entrepreneurs as they work to grow successful businesses."

The 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, held from January 13–16, 2025, in San Francisco, once again brought together industry leaders, investors, and innovators from around the globe. As the largest healthcare investment symposium, the event offered a platform to discuss breakthroughs in cancer, pain management, neurodegenerative diseases, artificial intelligence (AI) in drug development, and strategies for mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Several of BioHealth Innovation’s (BHI) Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) attended, sharing insights and observations from this pivotal event.

Emergent BioSolutions (Gaithersburg, US) has purchased US and Canadian rights to Kloxxado, adding to its opioid overdose treatment portfolio, which includes Narcan. The growing US opioid epidemic (including synthetic fentanyl) and its treatments will provide future growth drivers for Emergent, said Joe Papa, president and CEO of Emergent, at this year’s J.P. Morgan 43rd Annual Healthcare Conference on 15 January.

Papa presented the company’s “turnaround plan” for 2025 at J.P. Morgan. “We are focused on first stabilising the company, then turning it around and ultimately transforming the company,” Papa told the conference. “It’s a multiyear process.”

BALTIMORE, Jan. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeSprout, a privately held regenerative medicine company founded with technology licensed from Johns Hopkins University, today announced it has filed for CE Mark registration for Lumina.

Lumina is the first product from LifeSprout's proprietary Regenerative Matrix platform. The technology comprises biomimetic, biocompatible, biodegradable materials engineered to look and feel like native soft tissue.

"The CE-mark submission marks a significant milestone for LifeSprout and brings Lumina an important step closer to benefiting patients," stated Sashank Reddy, MD, PhD, co-founder of LifeSprout and Associate Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins.

COLUMBIA, Md., (January 24, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $250,000 Builder Fund investment in Nostopharma, a musculoskeletal therapeutic platform company focused on treating complications of trauma, orthopedic surgery and rare diseases musculoskeletal sequalae. TEDCO’s Builder Fund operates under the umbrella of Social Impact Funds and not only provides companies with investment funds but also offers various resources, including executive support, mentorship and assorted networking opportunities.

Eight student teams on a mission to make a positive impact on society presented their startup ideas to a panel of expert judges during the Leonsis Family Entrepreneurship Prize “Bark Tank” Pitch Competition on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, taking home $150,000 in prizes. 

Inspired by the pitches, Ted Leonsis (C’77, P’14, ’15), founder, chairman, principal, and chief executive officer of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, and his family increased the competition’s prize pool to $150,000 – furthering the financial impact and growth opportunity for each of the finalists who took the stage. This year’s prize builds on the $5 million gift the Leonsis family provided last year, which ensures the Bark Tank Pitch Competition exists in perpetuity.

ROCKVILLE, Md. and SUZHOU, China, Jan. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascentage Pharma (Nasdaq: AAPG) (HKEX: 6855) announced today the pricing of its U.S. initial public offering of 7,325,000 American depositary shares (“ADSs”), at a public offering price of $17.25 per ADS, before underwriting discounts and commissions. Each ADS represents four ordinary shares of Ascentage Pharma. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by Ascentage Pharma, are expected to be approximately $126.4 million. In addition, Ascentage Pharma has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,098,750 ADSs at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The ADSs are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on January 24, 2025, under the ticker “AAPGV” on a “when-issued” basis, and on January 27, 2025, under the ticker symbol “AAPG” for “regular-way” trading. The offering is expected to close on January 28, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES, January 21, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Linshom Medical announced today U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 510(k), clearance of the company’s two-piece, wearable respiratory sensor.

This clearance brings Linshom Medical closer to commercial launch of a product that has proven to provide clinicians 12 minutes advance notice of respiratory decline in an NIH funded clinical study at Ohio State University.

CES2025 once again brought the world’s brightest minds and groundbreaking innovations to Las Vegas. With over 4,500 exhibitors and more than 141,000 attendees, the event showcased technologies poised to shape industries across the globe. Among these, the health and wellness sector, centered at the Venetian Expo Center, stood out as a beacon of innovation. John Reinhart, Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at BioHealth Innovation (BHI), attended alongside colleagues from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to explore the transformative field of AgeTech.

AgeTech—focused on enhancing the quality of life for an aging population—has rapidly emerged as a critical area of innovation. With 1 in 4 people currently over the age of 50, and that number projected to rise to 1 in 3 by 2050, the need for solutions that address aging-related challenges is urgent and global. Reinhart’s insights from CES2025 underscored the immense potential of this growing field.

The AgeTech Collaborative from AARP led the way in promoting innovation at CES2025. With its pavilion now in its third year, AARP highlighted the collaborative ecosystem it has built to foster solutions for the 50+ demographic. Boasting 111 investor organizations, 105 business services partners, 68 testbed collaborators, and 177 startups, the growth of the Collaborative has been remarkable. Its programming featured a pitch competition and networking reception, providing a platform for startups to connect and showcase their solutions.