Biohealth Innovation - 643rd Edition, February 4, 2025

MaxCyte® Acquires SeQure Dx to Broaden Cell Engineering Offerings with On-target and Off-target Editing Assessments

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.

MCEDC: Nearly $3 Billion Invested in Montgomery County, Maryland Companies in 2024

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

Processa Pharmaceuticals Announces Pricing of $5 Million Public Offering Priced At-The-Market Under Nasdaq Rules

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.

MIMETAS Launches OrganoPlate UniFlow Technology at SLAS 2025

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.

Kalocyte Selected to Join Blue Knight

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).

Theradaptive's OsteoAdapt™ SP Launches in Maryland with First Patient Dosed and $1 Million MSCRF Grant Support

FREDERICK, Md., Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Theradaptive, a Maryland-based, privately held, clinical-stage biologics company, today announced the initiation of patient dosing in Maryland for the ongoing OASIS Phase I/II clinical trial assessing OsteoAdapt™ SP, the company's lead product for spinal fusion.

Two patients were treated at MedStar Health in Maryland by Dr. David A. Weiner in January 2025, marking the first clinical cases in Maryland. This procedure is part of the company's OASIS Phase I/II clinical trial, currently enrolling to measure the safety and efficacy of OsteoAdapt SP for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the lumbosacral spine. OsteoAdapt SP is designed with the goal of offering a promising alternative to current therapies while minimizing off-target effects, addressing both the efficacy and safety concerns related to existing standards of care. Theradaptive does this by utilizing a modified variant of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), called AMP2, to stimulate the body's stem cells for targeted bone regeneration. This method ensures targeted delivery of therapeutic benefits.

United Therapeutics Corporation Announces FDA Clearance of its Investigational New Drug Application for the UKidney Xenotransplantation Clinical Trial

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.

United Therapeutics expects the first xenotransplant in this trial to be performed around mid-year 2025.

citybiz: ETC Baltimore Marks Milestone with Opening of Venture Hub at Connect Labs Baltimore

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.

Exciting Opportunities for BioHealth Companies in Montgomery County, MD in 2025 and Beyond

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.

MIMETAS Launches OrganoPlate UniFlow Technology at SLAS 2025