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In seeking to combat emerging infectious diseases and other 21st century health threats, the path to better prepared, protected, and healthy individuals, families, and communities could rely on unlocking the collective power of the global community. BLUE KNIGHT™ seeks to answer this call.

On December 8-10, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS and BARDA will virtually convene the emerging Blue Knight community of thought leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs for a three-day symposium, including interactive sessions focused on key areas of interest in infectious disease, public health, and company acceleration. Sessions will explore high priority areas of interest for scientific and technological innovation aimed for improving our preparedness and response to emerging health security threats.

Image: https://blueknightsymposium2020.splashthat.com/

BLUE KNIGHT™, a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), offers emerging life science companies an opportunity to join the JLABS incubator ecosystem with additional support from BARDA. BLUE KNIGHT™ companies, selected for their mutual alignment to Johnson & Johnson and BARDA areas of interest, may have an opportunity to receive additional support including fee assistance and mentorship. At JLABS @ Washington, DC and other select JLABS sites, BLUE KNIGHT™ companies will join the full breadth of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, including opportunities for funding, third-party services, educational events and access to R&D experts from medical technology, consumer healthcare product and Janssen pharmaceutical teams.

About Blue Knight

Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS is collaborating with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a component of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to form Blue Knight.

This collaboration aims to stimulate innovation and incubation of technologies that improve health security and response through companies focused on public health threats and emerging infectious diseases. Find out more about BARDA and its mission at www.PHE.gov/BARDA.

If you are looking to learn more about the Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS model, JLABS @ Washington, DC, BLUE KNIGHT™, mutual areas of interest between Johnson & Johnson and BARDA, and what the application process entails, join us for our Informational Session! We are currently accepting applications.

South Korea’s leading biologics companies will invest hundreds of billions of won to building additional plants that would push the total amount of private investments for the biohealth industry to 10 trillion won by 2023.

Samsung Biologics will pour 1.7 trillion won into its new Plant 4 while Celltrion will invest 500 billion won to its Global Life Science Research Lab and Plant 3, all in Songdo, Incheon.

As its action plan for a more robust bio-industry ecosystem, the Government also pledged a 1.7 trillion won budget in 2021, up 30 percent from last year’s. The budget will prioritize pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and digital health care.

Image: Samsung Biologics will pour 1.7 trillion won into its new Plant 4 – https://www.econotimes.com

ROCKVILLE, Md. & DURHAM, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc., (“ITI”), a privately-held clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the study of nucleic acid immunotherapy platforms, and CoImmune, Inc. (“CoImmune”), a privately held clinical-stage immuno-oncology company developing cell-based therapeutics to treat unmet medical needs in blood-borne and solid tumor indications, announced today that the companies have entered into a license agreement for ITI to use CoImmune’s proprietary dendritic cell process for certain ITI cell therapy vaccine programs. The partnership highlights the oncology pipeline of ITI and CoImmune’s expertise and technology in the development and manufacture of cell-based therapeutics.

KENILWORTH, N.J., & ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and OncoImmune, a privately-held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire all outstanding shares of OncoImmune for an upfront payment of $425 million in cash. In addition, OncoImmune shareholders will be eligible to receive sales-based payments and payments contingent on the successful achievement of certain regulatory milestones. OncoImmune recently announced positive top-line findings from an interim efficacy analysis of a Phase 3 study evaluating its lead therapeutic candidate CD24Fc for the treatment of patients with severe and critical COVID-19.

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering has established its first research and innovation alliance by joining forces with Northpond Labs, the research and development-focused affiliate of a leading science and technology-driven venture capital firm, Northpond Ventures. Through the alliance, Northpond Labs will provide $12 million to create a Laboratory for Bioengineering Research and Innovation at the Wyss Institute and to support impactful research with strong translation potential.

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — TIME Magazine has named the Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 dashboard a top invention of 2020.

The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center was called “2020’s Go-To Data Source” by the magazine. The dashboard, which reported Wednesday the U.S. recorded 250,000 coronavirus deaths, has tracked the spread of coronavirus around the world.

The annual list, which was announced Thursday, recognized 100 groundbreaking inventions that “are making the world better, smarter and even a bit more fun.”

Image: TIME

Pantheon 2020 on Thursday, December 3, will feature breakout sessions, including “Diversity & Disruption: How 2020 Will Make Life Sciences Stronger”.

Join us as we discuss how everyone in life sciences can approach diversity and inclusion from end-to-end to create a sustainable path forward for all of us and a new blueprint for life sciences success.

I am pleased to announce today the selection of Gary Disbrow, PhD, as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). BARDA, a component of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, invests in the innovation, advanced research and development, acquisition, and manufacturing of medical countermeasures – vaccines, drugs, therapeutics, diagnostic tools, and non-pharmaceutical products – needed to combat 21st century health security threats.