BioHealth Innovation Weekly for November 26, 2024

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November 26, 2024

Transforming Emergency Medicine: Dr. Eric Edwards and MedPhlow’s Life-Saving Innovations on BioTalk

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Dr. Eric Edwards, Co-Founder and CEO of MedPhlow, shares how his innovative company is reshaping emergency medicine through cutting-edge drug delivery systems. Dr. Edwards discusses his journey from co-founding Kaléo, where he helped develop life-saving products like AUVI-Q, to leading MedPhlow, a subsidiary of Phlow Corp. Based in Richmond, VA, MedPhlow is dedicated to addressing critical challenges in essential medicine delivery, with its first product focused on improving outcomes during sudden cardiac arrest.

Dr. Edwards explains the groundbreaking technology behind MedPhlow’s platform and how it is poised to transform emergency care. He also highlights the impact of investor partnerships, such as those with Virginia Venture Partners, and discusses MedPhlow’s next milestones in its mission to make emergency medicine more efficient and accessible.

As a part of the BioHealth Capital Region, Dr. Edwards reflects on the advantages of being based in this vibrant hub of innovation and his contributions as a BioHealth Innovation (BHI) board member. Tune in to learn about the future of MedPhlow and the inspiring work being done to advance life-saving solutions in healthcare.

Listen via your favorite podcasting platform:

Apple: https://apple.co/3Z7GqWf
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3YYh6Sq
Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/4i16tXI
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/4hWAiJ7

Potomac's Versant Ventures Unveils Pep2Tango Therapeutics Inc.

POTOMAC, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Versant Ventures today announced the debut of Pep2Tango Therapeutics Inc., a startup focused on innovative, next-generation weight loss therapies. Proceeds from the significant, undisclosed round will support development of the company’s novel unimolecular tetra-receptor agonist peptides to treat obesity and related conditions.

GLP-1-based therapies have proven efficacy in treating obesity and associated co-morbidities, but come with significant drawbacks. These include up to 40% of weight loss from muscle mass reduction, potentially leading to long-term side effects, especially in elderly patients. This limitation, in addition to tolerability issues, reduces the long-term utility of these agents.

Israel's Biolojic Design Joins Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JLABS @ Washington

REHOVOT, Israel and WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biolojic Design, a biotechnology company that uses computational biology and artificial intelligence (AI) to transform antibodies into programmable, intelligent medicines, today announced that it is joining the Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS (JLABS) site in Washington, D.C. As part of JLABS @ Washington, DC, Biolojic Design will be able to access lab space, resources and collaboration opportunities as the company establishes a presence in the United States.

Maryland's IonQ to Advance Hybrid Quantum Computing with New Chemistry Application and NVIDIA CUDA-Q

November 18, 2024 01:30 PM Eastern Standard Time - COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing and networking industry, announced today the completion of an industry-first demonstration of an end-to-end application workflow that leverages the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform alongside IonQ’s leading quantum computing hardware.

Showcased via a joint presentation at SC24, the application demonstrates the seamless integration of the core workflow behind several hybrid quantum-classical approaches to calculate the specific properties of a molecule’s electronic structure. These approaches have potential relevance in many chemistry-focused commercial applications, such as identifying how drug molecules might interact with specific proteins in the human body. The achievement captures IonQ’s interest in developing solutions that combine the benefits of quantum processing units (QPUs) with the accelerated, heterogeneous computing capabilities of the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform.

TearSolutions, Inc. Secures $3M Series B Funding

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TearSolutions, Inc., a privately held biotech company developing potentially disruptive therapies for the treatment of ocular surface related diseases, today announced the successful closure of a $3M Series B round designed to accelerate its development programs for rare corneal diseases at both pre-clinical and clinical stages.

Baltimore Banner: Exciting new Concept Capital Pitch Competition at TEDCO's Entrepreneur Expo

There are several keys to successful entrepreneurship—a great idea that solves a unique problem, the willingness to take risks, leadership skills, networking, and, of course, capital. The last element listed can be especially challenging for those without significant savings, investment from wealthy family members, or generational wealth, says Graham Dodge, vice president, Venture Development at TEDCO, (Maryland Technology Development Corporation), an independent instrumentality of the State of Maryland to facilitate the creation of businesses and support their growth in all regions of the State.

DC Based NaviMed Capital Closes Fund III at $450 Million Hard Cap

Firm Remains Focused on Partnering with Healthcare Business Owners on Control Growth Transactions

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- NaviMed Capital, a Washington, DC-based private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, today announced the closing of its third fund, NaviMed Partners III ("Fund III"). The substantially oversubscribed new fund closed at its hard cap of $450 million of commitments. With the new fund, NaviMed now manages more than $850 million of capital commitments.

NaviMed will continue to focus on control investments in fast growing lower middle-market healthcare companies. The firm specializes in acquiring businesses that provide business process outsourcing services to hospitals and other healthcare providers, health insurers, and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. NaviMed seeks to invest in profitable private companies with up to $10 million of EBITDA and double-digit annual revenue growth.

BARDA Launches SPARK Hub Prize Challenge to Advance Pediatric Medical Countermeasures

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has announced the launch of the SPARK Hub Prize Challenge, offering up to $50,000 in funding to innovators working on medical countermeasures (MCMs) designed specifically for children. The challenge supports technologies and products that enhance health security for pediatric populations and is open for submissions until December 16, 2024. https://www.mcm4kids.org/funding/

About BARDA and the Challenge
BARDA plays a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by advancing the development of MCMs for various health security threats, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) hazards, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious diseases. The SPARK Hub Prize Challenge is an extension of this mission, focusing on solutions tailored to pediatric needs. BARDA's aim is to ensure that medical countermeasures are accessible to all segments of the population, including children, who have unique requirements during public health emergencies.