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Vaccitech is a spinout company from the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute, one of the oldest and most renowned vaccine research centers in the world.

You probably haven’t heard of them, but they are now working alongside AstraZeneca on a COVID-19 vaccine the World Health Organization believes is leading the race in creating an inoculation against SARS-CoV-02.

Data posted this month from just over 1,000 patients in a phase 1/2 trial showed it to be broadly effective in creating an immune response, though many questions remain and a series of bigger, late-stage tests is necessary to find those answers out.

Image: Bill Enright, Vaccitech CEO (Vaccitech)

ROCKVILLE, Md. and BEIJING, July 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASI), a U.S. biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapeutics and pharmaceutical products, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering, subject to market and other conditions, to issue and sell shares of its common stock. In connection with the offering, CASI expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the shares of common stock offered in the public offering. There can be no assurances as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. All of the shares of common stock in the offering will be sold by CASI.

Driven entrepreneurs and savvy startup leaders participated in the recent “Fueling an Innovation Ecosystem for Startups to Thrive” webinar that featured prominent connectors and innovators from the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR). The virtual event was sponsored by WorkForce Genetics and covered a wide range of topics including the pandemic, critical regional resources for startups, advice for approaching investors and a list of the biggest mistakes made by entrepreneurs when seeking funding.

Manassas, VA – On June 17, 2020, Serpin Pharma was notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it may proceed with its proposed clinical investigation for the use of SP16 to treat COVID-19 hospitalized patients. The Principal Investigator is Serpin Pharma’s collaborator,

Dr. Michael Yun Shim, John L. Guerrant Assoc. Professor of Medicine and Medical Imaging, Div. of Pulmonary & Critical Care of the University of Virginia. Dr. Larry Altstiel, acting Chief Medical Officer for Serpin Pharma, said, “SP16 is a potent new antiinflammatory drug rather than a non-specific, toxic immunosuppressive drug. SP16 reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) while sparing normal and protective immune function. It is effective in several animal models of acute inflammation, in particular, following a severe lung infection. Therefore, SP16, by its ability to inhibit excess cytokine production, may attenuate the development of inflammation-induced lung injury in individuals with COVID-19 infection.”

Deloitte has launched the Life Sciences Catalyst in Cambridge, a collaborative platform enabling organisations in the biotech, medtech, pharmaceutical and technology sectors, as well as prospective investors, to come together to tackle the biggest challenges facing their industries.

The Life Sciences Catalyst will facilitate connections between people, businesses and investors to support companies with their growth, regardless of their evolutionary stage.

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cerecor Inc. (NASDAQ: CERC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on becoming a leader in the development and commercialization of treatments for rare pediatric and orphan diseases, today announced the first patient has been enrolled in a proof-of-concept trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the anti-LIGHT monoclonal antibody, CERC-002, in patients with COVID-19 cytokine storm-induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

The proof-of-concept, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will enroll approximately 82 subjects hospitalized with COVID-19 ARDS. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate that treatment with CERC-002 results in fewer instances of respiratory failure and death versus the standard of care. Patients in the CERC-002 arm will receive a single dose of drug and be followed for 28 days. Key secondary endpoints include intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, hospital length of stay, and oxygen saturation at the end of the study. Top-line data are expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

To limit the spread of Covid-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that individuals practice social distancing. When local conditions allow for retail stores to open, they confront a variety of guidelines that vary by state. For example North Carolina places specific limits on the number of customers allowed per square foot, while Oregon generally advises that the number of customers in the store should be limited so that customers can remain six feet apart. Whether or not customers are required by law to wear masks in stores depends on the state. How retailers implement these guidelines also varies among types of retailers and even within store categories. Grocery stores, for example, have adopted a wide variety of specific methods to ensure that customers remain apart.

Virologist Andrew Pekosz has a team of 15 people working around the clock in his lab at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health supporting work on a potential treatment for COVID-19. Pekosz’s lab is testing the blood of coronavirus survivors for plasma antibodies that researchers think might help treat critically ill coronavirus patients.

Image: Nekeshia Maloney, JHTV’s director of contracts

BioFactura, Inc. Co-Founder, President & CEO, Darryl Sampey, PH.D., joins BioTalk to discuss his background with the University of Maryland, the BioHealth Capital Region, and the creation of his company in Frederick.

Listen now via Google https://bit.ly/3hz2jpU, Apple https://apple.co/3eYLiUs, Spotify https://spoti.fi/3f3cqBU, TuneIn https://bit.ly/302voUG, and YouTube (Audio Only) https://bit.ly/3f3cQZ0