In this episode of BioTalk, Rich Bendis sits down with Councilman Brian Knudsen, Jamie Schwartz of UNLV, and Vance Farrow from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development to spotlight the rapid emergence of Southern Nevada as a rising force in the biohealth landscape. The conversation covers the launch of the $10 million BioHealth Innovation Challenge, the Desert Forge Venture Fund, and the revitalization of BioTech Vegas, all designed to attract industry anchors, fuel early-stage startups, and cultivate a thriving innovation ecosystem. They also explore how strong collaboration between local and state government, academic institutions, and entrepreneurs is propelling Las Vegas into a new era of health innovation, with a focus on brain health, sports science, and workforce development.
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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant: thepodcastconsultant.com
Councilman Brian Knudsen was elected to represent Ward 1 in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, continuing his long-standing commitment to public service and community-building in Las Vegas. On December 21, 2022, he was named Mayor Pro Tem. Brian has been instrumental in driving the transformation of the Las Vegas Medical District and expanding public health infrastructure throughout the city. He serves on several boards, including the Southern Nevada Health District and the Regional Transportation Commission, and is a vocal advocate for policies that strengthen healthcare, public safety, and inclusive economic development.
Jamie Schwartz, MBA, is Director of Industry Engagement at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Office of Economic Development and President of the Board for BioTech Vegas. With deep experience in public-private partnerships and academic-industry collaboration, she works at the intersection of research, innovation, and commercialization to strengthen Southern Nevada’s biotech and health innovation landscape.
Vance Farrow serves as the Healthcare Industry Specialist for the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development. His work focuses on attracting and expanding healthcare businesses throughout the state, aligning talent development efforts, and building the infrastructure needed to support a robust biohealth sector. He plays a critical role in shaping state policy and investment strategies for the industry.
COLUMBIA, Md., (October 22, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the awardees for the second round of the Equitech Growth Fund. A total of more than $4.3 million will be distributed across nine projects from across Maryland. Of these awards, more than $2.9 million will support three projects focusing on building Maryland’s infrastructure, while more than $1.3 million will support six entities uplifting workforce development efforts.
“For the second round of this fund, we received 93 applicants – a 25% increase in interest from the inaugural round,” said TEDCO CEO, Troy LeMaile-Stovall. “We are happy to say that, of these applications, there was a 15% increase in geographic diversity with nearly all 14 categories represented with advanced manufacturing, entrepreneur development, STEM Education and Cybersecurity emerging as most popular. This level of interest indicates that the Maryland ecosystem is committed to making this our decade, embracing our role as part of the epicenter for cybersecurity talent and supporting innovative minds across the state.”
Of these awardees, five counties and six industry categories are represented. The winning organizations were officially announced by Ellen Flowers-Fields, chair of the TEDCO Board of Directors, and LeMaile-Stovall at the 2025 Entrepreneur Expo on October 21, 2025.
Over the next two years, these projects are expected to work with a total of 71 Maryland-based collaborators to train more than 660 individuals for entry or mid-level jobs in industries like data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
In total, the awards are projected to generate at least 380 direct jobs and internships, with 65% or more from underrepresented communities. Additionally, the projects anticipate at least a dozen startup companies receiving direct support through infrastructure-funded equipment and materials.
Workforce development focused projects include:
Wicomico County
• Salisbury University – $249,000 (Entrepreneur Development)
Howard County
• Consult Lemonade – $250,000 (Cybersecurity/IT)
Baltimore City
• BioBuzz Networks, Inc – $224, 800 (Healthcare, Lifesciences & Bioinformatics)
• Code in the Schools – $112,500 (STEM Education)
• Maryland Center for Construction Education and Innovation – $240,626.80 (Advanced Manufacturing)
Prince George’s County
• Energetics Technology Center – $250,000 (Cybersecurity/IT)
Infrastructure focused projects include:
Montgomery County
• Rise Therapeutics – $998,000 (Healthcare, Lifesciences & Bioinformatics)
• Xcellon Biologics – $990,000 (Advanced Laboratory Space)
Harford County
• Bright Way Partners, LLC – $1,000,000 (Advanced Manufacturing)
As part of TEDCO’s Cultivate Maryland initiative, the Equitech Growth Fund and Commission were established during the 2023 legislative session in response to a study outlining a need for more diversity and inclusion in Maryland’s technology ecosystem.
To address this need, the fund awards grants for infrastructure and workforce development initiatives supporting the state’s economic competitiveness and growth. Learn more about the unique fund at tedcomd.com/funding/cultivate-maryland/equitech-growth-fund.
About TEDCO
TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.
Media Contact
Tammi Thomas, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, TEDCO, tthomas@tedcomd.com
Rachael Kalinyak, Associate Director, Marketing & Communications, TEDCO, rkalinyak@tedcomd.com
The expansion underscores Merck’s commitment to invest more than $70 billion in U.S. research, development and capital projects
RAHWAY, NJ, Oct. 20, 2025 – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today the start of construction for a $3 billion, 400,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at its Elkton, Virginia, site.
Merck’s investment in the Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is part of a more than $70 billion investment beginning in 2025 to expand domestic manufacturing and research and development — not including any future business development transactions in R&D — to drive its long-term growth and strengthen the status of the U.S. as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.
“Today is an important milestone for Merck, for Virginia, for manufacturing in the United States and, most importantly, for the patients we serve,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “This investment helps advance our goal of providing new, innovative treatment options for people facing serious health challenges in the U.S. and around the world.”
The $3 billion expansion celebrated today builds on Merck’s nearly 85-year history in Elkton, Virginia, enhancing the site with a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical Center of Excellence that will include both Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Product investment supporting small molecule manufacturing and testing and will potentially create more than 500 full-time roles as well as 8,000 construction jobs.
“Merck’s transformational $3 billion commitment to locate its Center of Excellence marks a giant leap forward for both America’s and Virginia’s life sciences sector,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “It deepens the company’s long-standing commitment to innovation and strengthens the Commonwealth’s position as the emerging national leader in biopharmaceutical advanced manufacturing and life sciences. With hundreds of new jobs and cutting-edge capabilities coming to the Shenandoah Valley, we’re building a future where Virginians lead the way in developing lifesaving medicines for patients around the world.”
A continued commitment to investing in U.S. innovation
For more than 130 years, Merck has been committed to saving and improving lives by developing and delivering life-changing medicines and vaccines to treat diseases in both humans and animals. And as a U.S.-based company, Merck has put capital behind American biotech projects for decades with real results — not just promises.
“Merck’s investment announced today shows exactly what happens when pro-growth policies like H.R. 1 are signed into law,” said NAM President and CEO, Jay Timmons. “By strengthening and making permanent a full suite of competitive tax policies, Congress provided manufacturers with the tax certainty we need to plan, invest, hire and lead. Manufacturers will continue to work with policymakers to advance a comprehensive manufacturing strategy that not only helps manufacturers win — it helps America win.”
This year alone, Merck has announced nearly $6 billion in manufacturing investments across North Carolina, Delaware, Kansas and Virginia that are anticipated to create more than 1,600 new American jobs — punctuated by shovels in the ground and ribbon cuttings:
- In March, Merck announced the completion of construction on a $1 billion, 225,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility to expand vaccine production capacity in Durham, North Carolina, expected to generate nearly 400 full-time roles and roughly 4,000 construction jobs.
- In April, the company broke ground on Merck Wilmington Biotech, a $1 billion, 470,000-square-foot state-of-the-art biologics center of excellence in Wilmington, Delaware, to enable the launch and commercial production of next-generation biologics and therapies.
- In May, Merck Animal Health announced the $895 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas, anticipated to create 2,500 construction jobs and more than 200 full-time commercial manufacturing roles.
In addition, Merck plans to invest $3 billion in biologics and small molecule manufacturing sites and capabilities in the U.S., which is expected to create more than 800 jobs, while also investing more than $3.5 billion in its Rahway, N.J. headquarters, which is expected to create roughly 1,000 jobs across research and clinical manufacturing. The company’s efforts across the U.S. will further fortify domestic production and distribution of U.S. medicines and vaccines to protect patients and are forecasted to create more than 48,000 construction-related employment opportunities by 2029.
“For almost 85 years, our Elkton site has been a beacon of innovation in our proud legacy of delivering leading-edge science for patients,” said Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division. “We’re proud to be part of the Elkton community, where generations have contributed to our important work with determination, accountability, teamwork and grit.”
Please visit the Merck media library for additional materials and information about our ongoing commitment to investing in U.S. manufacturing and innovation.
About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).
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Media Contacts:
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Investor Contacts:
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Study identified baseline clinical characteristics and those subjects with subsequent persistent post-concussive symptoms
Company also announces four new U.S. patents covering its concussion diagnostic/prognostic technology
RICHMOND, VA – October 17, 2025 ‐ BRAINBox Solutions today announced the publication in JAMA Network OPEN of a major analysis of the first 1,000 patients with suspected concussion (mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI) in its pivotal, HeadSMART II study of its initial test, BRAINBox TBI, for concussion diagnosis and prognosis. The analysis, the largest of its kind, identified patient characteristics at the first medical encounter shortly after injury that are associated with consequential, persistent (30-days) symptoms, setting the stage for its test for diagnosis and prognosis.
“mTBI is a potentially serious condition and distinguishing which patients with acute mTBI are likely to recover and be symptom free in 30 days and which patients will suffer persistent symptoms for 30 days or more is extremely difficult,” said W. Franklin Peacock MD FACEP, Principal Investigator, and Professor of Emergency Medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. “There are currently no objective and accurate standard of care tests to identify ER patients at risk of persistent symptoms and who may benefit from therapeutic interventions. The HeadSmart II clinical trial was designed specifically to evaluate the potential of such an objective and quantitative test.”
The HeadSmart II study supports BRAINBox TBI, which has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA; the trial was designed in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and leaders in emergency medicine, and neurotrauma. The HeadSMART II trial is evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic potential of BrainBox TBI, a multimodal test that combines clinical data, neurocognitive testing, symptom reporting, and blood-based biomarkers, with proprietary AI algorithms to generate an objective score for diagnosis up to 96 hours from the time of injury. The trial has included more than 1,650 subjects, with follow-up on symptoms occurring up to 90 days post-event.
The just published analysis focused on early clinical characteristics associated with persistent symptoms at 30 days in 803 of the first 1,000 patients in the HeadSmart II trial who had completed the first 30-day follow-up period. The study population was divided roughly equally between males (50.3%) and females (49.7%). The study found that selected mTBI patients had persistent symptoms at 30 days, which remained constant over time: from 32.1% at presentation to 35.5% at 14 days, and 29.3% out to 30-days. The headache rate decreased from 73.5% at presentation, to 62.5%. Additional analysis of the 30-day follow-up data found a group of consistent symptoms or factors at initial presentation that were significantly associated with an increased probability of symptoms at 30 days. The company will report findings from the 90-day follow-up in the future.
The patients included in the analysis were seen in an Emergency Department (ED) within a median of 90 minutes after injury and completed a 30-day follow-up. “The study is unique and critical in the short time between injury and presentation, because symptoms change over time and intervention following early identification of patients at risk of 30-day symptoms is likely to have the greatest impact on function,” noted Dr. Peacock.
“In elderly patients, primarily over 65 years of age, there is a similar diagnostic/prognostic gap in distinguishing mTBI symptoms from neurogenerative conditions such as dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease,” said co-author Damon Kuehl, MD, Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Emergency Medicine for Carilion Clinic and Vice Chair of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “The elderly cohort in the overall HeadSMART II study suggests these factors may also aid in distinguishing these conditions.”
“Suspicion of a traumatic brain injury is among the most common reasons for Emergency Department visits with more than 5.2 million such instances annually in the U.S. alone,” said Marc E. Goldberg, a member of BrainBox’s Board of Directors and founder/Managing Partner of BioVentures MedTech Funds. “The company has an enormous opportunity to create a new standard of care for mTBI, and its underlying approach – combining blood biomarkers, functional testing and AI — has shown considerable promise in the diagnosis and prognosis of other challenging neurological conditions as well.”
“BrainBoxTBI has great potential to fill a key gap in identifying patients who actually have an injury, and especially in mTBI management,” said Donna Edmonds, BRAINBox Solutions’ CEO. “With the emergence of multiple mTBI therapeutics in development, the test has promise in patient selection for clinical trials by identifying those at high risk for consequential, persistent symptoms and for monitoring treatment response.” She noted that earlier this year BrainBox entered into a collaboration with Oragenics to build a comprehensive test-to-treat platform by combining BRAINBox’s multi-marker/multimodality diagnostic capabilities with Oragenics’ novel mTBI therapeutics in development.
The JAMA Network OPEN study is entitled, “Factors Associated with Persistent Symptoms Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.” The design and oversight of the study is being conducted by leading experts in emergency medicine and neurotrauma. The authors, in addition to Drs. Peacock and Kuehl include Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology, Director, Clinical TBI Research Center, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine; Martin Than, MD, Director of Emergency Medicine Research, Christchurch, New Zealand; Chad Canon, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center; Adam J. Singer, MD, Distinguished Professor of Emergency Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University of New York; Nizanin Mirashahi PhD, Director of Data Analytics, BrainBox Solutions; Justin Weppner, D.O., M.Ed, CBST-AP, Section Chief Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and Robert Gerwein PhD, Biostatistician. Drs. Peacock, Kuehl and Diaz-Arrastia, also serve on the BRAINBox Solutions Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). BrainBox assembled the HeadSMART II database and allowed access to the dataset. There was no funding support for the analysis or manuscript creation.
Four New Patents Issued
The Company also announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded four new patents covering technologies for diagnosis, monitoring, and prediction of acute disorders, such as mTBI and intracerebral hemorrhage, and Alzheimer’s Disease. The patents cover both biomarkers as well as use in combination with advanced imaging technologies. The patents further strengthen the company’s intellectual property position, which now includes 24 issued patents.
About the HeadSMART II Trial and BrainBox TBI
The overall HeadSMART II trial is evaluating the potential of the BRAINBox TBI test as the first objective quantitative test to aid in the diagnosis of concussion and to provide an assessment of the risk of post-concussive symptoms. BRAINBox TBI is multi-modal test that combines clinical data, neurocognitive testing, symptom reporting and blood-based biomarkers, with proprietary AI algorithms to generate an objective score for diagnosis up to 96 hours from the time of injury. In addition, a prognosis report is generated, providing the likelihood of injury-related symptoms occurring 30 days and up to three months after the event.
The trial has included over 1650 subjects with suspected mTBI, meeting the statistical requirements of the study protocol. The study’s primary endpoints include mTBI (also called acute traumatic encephalopathy or ATE) diagnosis, as determined by the BRAINBox TBI test, compared with the Gold Standard diagnosis and the test’s ability to predict persistent symptoms up to 30 and in the future, 90 days after an ATE diagnosis.
About BRAINBox Solutions
BRAINBox Solutions, Inc is developing the first AI‐enabled, multi‐modality approach for the diagnosis and prognosis of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, commonly referred to as a concussion. The company seeks to establish a clinical bests‐practice standard for the diagnosis and prognosis of concussion. The product incorporates a panel of proprietary, patented blood biomarkers that can be read in a few moments on a point‐of‐care instrument or using standard laboratory systems, as well as neurocognitive testing, to provide a single‐system score that measures the severity of the injury and post-concussive symptoms. The company is led by key physicians and scientific thought leaders in the field and an experienced, clinically focused management team. Learn more at: www.brainboxinc.com
For more information, contact:
Donna Edmonds
CEO
1‐804‐724‐0009
RICHMOND, Va., October 16, 2025 – Phlow Corp., a leading American advanced pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced that the active pharmaceutical ingredient for ketamine will be included in the first-ever U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) Pilot Program. This designation recognizes Phlow’s leadership in advancing domestic manufacturing of essential and life-changing medicines in the United States.
The FDA’s CNPV Pilot Program is designed to accelerate the development and regulatory review of projects that address a U.S. public health crisis, strengthen the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, and reduce dependence on foreign manufacturing. Phlow proposed ketamine, a critical medicine widely used as a general anesthetic in both civilian and military medicine settings, for the CNPV Pilot Program earlier this year.
With no current domestic ketamine API suppliers, Phlow’s project, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), is intended to establish a fully domestic, end-to-end supply chain, from raw materials to finished dosage form, closing a vital gap in national health security. As part of the pilot, Phlow will leverage the voucher to accelerate FDA review timelines, ensuring the timely and resilient availability of this essential medicine through secure U.S.-based production.
“Phlow is pioneering bold solutions that restore pharmaceutical sovereignty to the United States. We are deeply committed to ensuring our Nation stands ready to develop, manufacture, and deliver life-changing medicines with speed, security, and confidence,” said Eric Edwards, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Phlow. “We are honored to have been selected to participate in the FDA Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher pilot program. This critical initiative will accelerate our efforts to support domestic production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient for ketamine, further strengthening resilience in the U.S. supply chain.”
Our nation has suffered from multi-year ketamine shortages, with a notable shortage lasting from February 2018 to August 2025. By advancing U.S.-based API production, Phlow is helping to ensure a more secure, transparent, and reliable supply of this critical medicine while reducing the nation’s dependence on overseas sources.
Phlow’s capabilities span process research and development, kilo-scale and metric ton-scale API production, and strategic pharmaceutical ingredient reserves. Through this infrastructure, Phlow is reshaping how life-changing medicines are developed and manufactured in the U.S., ensuring high-quality, affordable, and sustainable access to patients and health systems.
“This is a significant initiative that validates the advanced manufacturing path that Phlow has been building from day one. It reinforces our belief that pharmaceutical sovereignty is critical to national preparedness and should send a strong signal to the market that there are real, tangible benefits to making medicines in America end-to-end,” Edwards concluded.
About Phlow Corp.
Phlow, a B Corporation™, helps brilliant minds bring medicines to life through advanced development and manufacturing in America. Focused on innovations in drug substance development, Phlow supports government and private industry customers to create innovative approaches with scientific expertise, world-class manufacturing, and tech-enabled processes that propel the industry forward to a new standard as we create the future of how medicines are made. As a modern contract development and manufacturing provider, we measure our impact by increasing speed to market, reducing waste, and offering an environmentally friendly approach to manufacturing medicines that lead to healthy, resilient communities. For more, visit phlow-usa.com.
BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is excited to participate in TEDCO’s 11th Annual Entrepreneur Expo, taking place on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at The Hotel at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD. The Expo is one of Maryland’s premier gatherings for entrepreneurs and innovators, bringing together over 1,000 of the region’s top business owners, investors, legislators, and industry influencers for a full day of networking, learning, and inspiration.
Currently, at least four of BHI’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) are planning to attend the Expo, including Ray Blanchard, Luis Gutiérrez, Albine Martin, and Steve Wolpe. Each brings deep expertise in areas spanning biotech commercialization, startup development, and investment strategy, offering valuable insights for founders and innovators navigating the path from discovery to market. Attendees are encouraged to connect with them throughout the day to learn more about BHI’s EIR program and how it supports early-stage companies across the BioHealth Capital Region.
This year’s Expo promises an action-packed agenda featuring workshops, roundtable discussions, pitches, and more than 90 exhibitors, showcasing the incredible depth and diversity of Maryland’s innovation ecosystem. From early-stage startups to established growth companies, attendees will find opportunities to exchange ideas, make connections, and explore the resources that help businesses thrive.
BHI will be hosting a table throughout the event, offering attendees the chance to meet our team and learn more about how we help entrepreneurs and life science startups access the expertise, capital, and networks they need to succeed. Whether you’re developing breakthrough technologies, looking for funding support, or seeking guidance on commercialization strategies, we invite you to stop by and connect with us.
Join us at TEDCO’s Entrepreneur Expo and be part of a day that celebrates Maryland’s vibrant spirit of innovation. We look forward to seeing you there!