News Archive

FREDERICK, Md., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Digital diagnostics company Ellume, a producer of at-home COVID-19 test kits, today officially opened its new, 215,000 square foot production facility in Frederick, Maryland. Joined by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Ellume Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sean Parsons inaugurated the new facility, which has the capacity to produce approximately 15 million COVID-19 Home Tests per month and will create hundreds of new jobs.

“From the very onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ellume has been committed to supporting the U.S. government’s response. With this new facility, we now have the capacity to substantially scale production to meet any future surge in demand for home tests, while also accelerating innovation in developing solutions for the public health needs of today and tomorrow,” said Dr. Sean Parsons, Ellume Founder and CEO. “We are grateful for the support of the US Department of Defense, US Department of Health and Human Services, our partnerships with the State of Maryland, the Governor’s office and Frederick County, as well as the highly skilled workforce in Maryland’s Biotech Corridor who have helped make this facility a reality.”

PASADENA, Calif., March 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Alexandria Venture Investments, the strategic venture capital platform of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an urban office REIT and the first, longest-tenured and pioneering owner, operator and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, agtech and technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, today announced that it was recognized by AgFunder in its “2022 AgriFoodTech Investment Report” as one of the top five most active U.S. investors in agrifoodtech by number of companies in which it invested (2021) for the second consecutive year. This significant recognition demonstrates Alexandria’s leadership in venture activity that supports the next generation of companies in agrifoodtech. These impactful companies are accelerating and scaling technological innovation and broader transformations in the agrifoodtech sector, which are critical for the long-term health, accessibility, sustainability and resilience of the global food supply. Since 2000, Alexandria has diligently invested in and provided state-of-the-art infrastructure for innovative agrifoodtech companies advancing novel approaches with vast potential to address challenges related to sustainability, agriculture, food and nutrition.

We are excited to announce that Virginia Bio Connect has launched the first centralized asset resource portal VABIOCONNECT.ORG! This portal is your destination for Virginia’s life sciences resources, jobs, and events. It’s a place to connect and follow people and organizations from the ecosystem. Visit https://vabioconnect.org/ and create your profile today!

MEDA Angels is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Partnership with Tech Coast Angels (TCA) of Southern California. TCA, founded in 1997, is a leading source of angel investor funding of seed-stage and early-stage companies. It has invested more than $255 million in more than 500 companies and has helped attract more than $1.7 billion in additional capital/follow-on rounds.  

MEDA Angels, an angel investor group established in 2019, was founded by seasoned physician- and scientist-investors. Its healthcare-centric membership includes 50+ physicians, scientists, and other healthcare experts, as well as legal, financial, and regulatory professionals. Since its inception, MEDA Angels has invested in 12 companies, totaling nearly $2 million. With one exit providing a 2x ROI & 80% IRR, the unrealized gains from its existing portfolio investments stand at 1.9x ROI and 86% IRR.

WHEN: Today, Wednesday, March 30, 2022 

WHERE: CNBC’s “Healthy Returns Summit: Reality, Recovery and Opportunity”

Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC interview with Johnson & Johnson CEO Joaquin Duato and CNBC’s Senior Health & Science Reporter Meg Tirrell live during CNBC’s “Healthy Returns Summit: Reality, Recovery and Opportunity” today, Wednesday, March 30th.

Image: https://www.jnj.com/leadership/joaquin-duato

Researchers say the sensor combines accuracy levels approaching that of PCR testing with the speed of rapid antigen tests, and could be used for mass testing at airports, schools, and hospitals  

Catherine Graham March 29, 2022  

A COVID-19 sensor developed at Johns Hopkins University could revolutionize virus testing by adding accuracy and speed to a process that frustrated many during the pandemic.  

In a new study published today in Nano Letters, the researchers describe the sensor, which requires no sample preparation and minimal operator expertise, offering a strong advantage over existing testing methods, especially for population-wide testing.  

President Joe Biden didn’t forget research today, when he submitted to Congress a 2023 budget request that calls for a 9.5% increase in domestic discretionary spending. Biden is asking for a 19% increase at the National Science Foundation (NSF), a 9.6% boost for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 4.5% more for the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science, and a 5% hike for NASA’s science missions. Once again, fighting climate change and boosting sustainable energy technologies also rank high among Biden’s research priorities.

Image: https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-biden/

As increasing effort and attention gets spent on making entrepreneur ecosystems more inclusive and diverse, women entrepreneurs still face challenges that their male counterparts may not.

That might include imposter syndrome stemming from being the only woman or person of color in a room of investors. It might mean few available business-building resources, or connections to those resources. Or a first-time entrepreneur might also be balancing uneven family responsibilities or taking care of a newborn.

Image: Startup Grind Maryland’s March event speakers. (Image via startupgrind.com)

For venture capital, more money has led to new challenges. With U.S. venture smashing records for funds raised and funds deployed in 2021, the sector has become more competitive on both sides of the table: Entrepreneurs are able to be more selective about who they invite onto their cap tables, and VCs are fielding increased demand from limited partners (LPs) who want access to venture deals at earlier stages. 

What does this mean for the future of the U.S. venture ecosystem? One place to look for new trends is the formation of first funds by new venture firms, which are developing unique strategies to compete for early-stage deals. 

Image: https://carta.com/