Washington, DC, July 10 2025 – Nanochon, a Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD-based orthopedic device biotech company developing an implant for treating articular cartilage defects in the knee, is thrilled to announce that it was granted Health Canada Approval for their first in human clinical trial.
The trial will be led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Fathi Abuzgaya, who will collaborate with Sports Medicine Specialists, Drs. Joel Lobo, Kajeandra Ravichandiran and Marcin Kowalczuk as Sub-Investigators, at the Durham Bone & Joint Specialists (DBJS), located in Ontario, Canada. Dr. Fathi Abuzgaya, is an orthopedic surgeon by training and an esteemed researcher with a track record over the last 25 years, leading +600 clinical trials in all phases and therapeutic areas.
“Our team is delighted that we are the first center to start enrolling participants for the Chondrograft™ study, which represents a novel, minimally invasive treatment for patients with loss of or damaged knee cartilage,” Dr. Abuzgaya commented. “DBJS is a multidisciplinary musculoskeletal center providing non-operative and operative treatments with accessibility to a variety of sub-specialties. Our study site with dedicated researchers enables greater, more efficient patient recruitment for clinical research and we are privileged to support Nanochon.”
The Nanochon Chondrograft™ System is being evaluated in a prospective, 10 patient, early feasibility study for use in knee cartilage restoration in eligible patients between 22 and 60 years of age having femoral condyle and /or trochlea articular cartilage lesions who have failed conservative therapy, in addition to meeting other criteria. The study is designed to assess the safety and performance of Chondrograft™, and procedural goals include regrowth of the cartilage-bone matrix, improvement in knee function and pain, and delayed need for arthroplasty.
“Achieving Health Canada approval allows us to gain the clinical data needed to take a giant step forward towards design and execution of a large pivotal North American study” said Ben Holmes, CEO of Nanochon. “We have the utmost confidence in Dr. Abuzgaya and his clinical team at DBJS to help us recruit the right patients and execute the trial protocol that we have so carefully designed.”
While the first in human trial will take place in Canada, this represents just the first step towards a larger clinical program.
“Thousands of patients with chondral defects, that may evolve to osteoarthritis, live with a reduced quality of life. We are looking forward to the potential for a new treatment option and are excited to begin the Chondrograft™ study at DBJS”, states Dr. Joel Lobo. “The results of this study could open up a new surgical option, that is minimally invasive to address this unmet clinical need.”
Throughout the clinical trial design and regulatory approval process, Nanochon was supported by HN Clinical Consulting (Missouri). “Improving the lives of young adults and athletes by providing a solution to restore knee cartilage and hopefully help patients avoid costly knee replacement is a crucial therapy needed in the orthopedic world,” said Heather Neill, Founder and Principal. “We appreciate Health Canada’s thought-provoking questions throughout their review that helped us put forward the strongest application possible, which ultimately led to our approval.” HN Clinical Consulting will continue to support the full life cycle of Chondrograft™.
About HN Clinical Consulting
HN Clinical Consulting, LLC, brings a strategic focus to each project, keeping the goal of commercialization in sight. Building strong relationships with all stakeholders and maintaining a clinical strategic goal of project-oriented success to support long term Sponsor strategy/exit is key to development of clinical programs. The objective set is to stay ahead by planning for podium presence, publication, and reimbursement while designing the Clinical Investigational Plan.
About Nanochon
Nanochon is a biotech and medical device company focused on developing innovative orthopedic solutions. Chondrograft™ is a minimally-invasive implant that allows for immediate weight-bearing and motion – meaning less time spent recovering. The implant is based on research from the Tissue Engineering and Nanotechnology lab at the George Washington University, and is designed to integrate with healthy tissue over time, for maximum stability and benefit to the patient. Nanochon has the potential to deliver more successful and longer-lasting recovery for patients than current standard of care. Our mission is to develop a new approach to treat cartilage treatment so that the hundreds of thousands of young, active patients with joint damage can return to their lifestyles without undergoing costly and invasive short-term fixes.
www.nanochon.com
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Rachel Offenburg, Chief of Strategy
by Jill Rosen – A robot trained on videos of surgeries performed a lengthy phase of a gallbladder removal without human help. The robot operated for the first time on a lifelike patient, and during the operation, responded to and learned from voice commands from the team—like a novice surgeon working with a mentor.
The robot performed unflappably across trials and with the expertise of a skilled human surgeon, even during unexpected scenarios typical in real life medical emergencies.
The federally funded work, led by Johns Hopkins University researchers, is a transformative advancement in surgical robotics, where robots can perform with both mechanical precision and human-like adaptability and understanding.
Getting a biotech company off the ground takes more than science; it takes strategy, funding, and the right network.
In this episode, I’m joined by Richard Bendis, Founder, President, and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, Inc., a nonprofit that helps early-stage life sciences companies bridge the gap between great research and commercialization.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PADCG0qLA8I
We talk about what it really takes to build a biotech company today, from non-dilutive funding and EIR programs to spinouts and government partnerships. Rich brings a rare perspective from both public and private sides of the ecosystem, with decades of experience in investment, tech transfer, and innovation policy.
GAITHERSBURG, Md., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) today announced a contract modification has been secured to deliver CNJ-016® [Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)] (VIGIV) to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for smallpox preparedness. ASPR exercised an option from its existing 10-year contract (75A50119C00037) for additional doses of VIGIV, a treatment for complications due to smallpox vaccination.
The Annual BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference is the premier destination for discovering emerging companies that are redefining what’s possible in life sciences.
Taking place on Thursday, September 25, the final day of BioHealth Capital Region Week 2025, the conference brings together startups, growth-stage companies, VCs, strategics, and innovation scouts for a dynamic day of curated pitches, one-on-one meetings, and strategic networking — all hosted at US Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Maryland.
For Investors:
This is where you’ll find what’s next. The conference showcases a vetted lineup of companies spanning therapeutics, diagnostics, digital health, AI-powered solutions, and other transformative technologies. You’ll hear live pitch presentations and quick-pitches on the main stage from top applicants, including standout participants from the previous day’s Crab Trap Competition.
Investors will schedule targeted meetings with presenting companies and engage with the region’s leading commercialization partners, accelerators, and research institutions. Whether you’re looking to make your next investment or build your pipeline, this is one of the best opportunities of the year to do it.
Investor registration is open now:
https://bit.ly/BHCRIC2025
For Startups and Entrepreneurs:
The Investment Conference is designed for companies ready to raise capital or build relationships with the investors who matter most in the BioHealth space. Whether you’re seeking Seed, Series A, or strategic partnerships, this event puts you directly in front of potential funders and collaborators.
ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Maryland Tech Council (MTC), the largest technology and life sciences trade association in the state, today announced the launch of the Rural Technology Network, a new initiative to accelerate growth in rural Maryland’s technology ecosystem.
The Rural Technology Network will strengthen economic growth in rural Maryland through strategic business development and by offering companies enhanced access to networking, cost savings, education, mentorship and other resources. It also seeks to foster partnerships between the private sector, educational institutions, and local governments to enhance commercialization and grow the pipeline of local businesses and talent.
In this episode of BioTalk, Rich Bendis welcomes Dr. Helen Sabzevari, President and CEO of Precigen, to discuss the company’s cutting-edge science in gene and cell therapy. Dr. Sabzevari shares how Precigen’s unique AdenoVerse® platform has powered the development of PRGN-2012, a potential first-in-class therapeutic currently under FDA priority review for the treatment of adults with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare and devastating disease. She also highlights advances across Precigen’s broader pipeline in immuno-oncology and autoimmune disease and reflects on how Maryland’s BioHealth Capital Region has supported the company’s innovation and growth.
Listen now on your favorite podcast platform:
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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.