News Archive

Isaac Newton apocryphally discovered his second law – the one about gravity – after an apple fell on his head. Much experimentation and data analysis later, he realised there was a fundamental relationship between force, mass and acceleration. He formulated a theory to describe that relationship – one that could be expressed as an equation, F=ma – and used it to predict the behaviour of objects other than apples. His predictions turned out to be right (if not always precise enough for those who came later).

– Partnership aims to drive innovation and clinical development of novel therapeutics for cancer treatment –

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hibiscus BioVentures, a firm committed to building patient-focused companies around transformative technologies, today announced it has entered into a partnership agreement with the Detroit-based Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute (Karmanos). This partnership between Hibiscus’ venture studio, Hibiscus BioTechnology, and Karmanos seeks to leverage the combined resources of the two organizations to develop innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Karmanos is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration announced last month the winners of $500,000 planning grants to 60 jurisdictions across the country for the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Winners of Phase 2 Build Back Better will be eligible for federal grants of up to $100M to create new science and technology parks and districts, accelerators, and other technology infrastructure across the country.

Funding for the technology infrastructure must go to a nonprofit, such as a university, but the nonprofit will need the commercial real estate industry to design, build and manage this technology infrastructure.

The District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region submitted some very good bids, including ones in quantum technology, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and other topics but only Howard County for cyber security, Richmond, Virginia in bio manufacturing, and rural Southwest Virginia in transportation logistics won planning grants.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Jan. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NexImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to orchestrate a targeted immune response by directing the function of antigen-specific T cells, today announced the formation of its Autoimmune and Infectious Disease Scientific Advisory Board (AI & ID SAB). The AI & ID SAB is comprised of distinguished academic and industry leaders in the fields of autoimmune and infectious diseases, translational research, immunology and T cell biology.

“As we continue to advance our AIM nanotechnology platform, we are grateful to have the input and guidance of these established experts,” said Jerry Zeldis, NexImmune’s EVP of R&D. “Their combined experience in autoimmune and infectious diseases, translational science and clinical development will help make informed decisions as we expand our pipeline and explore new therapeutic areas.”

ROCKVILLE, Maryland – January 6, 2022 South Duvall today announced that it has submitted construction plans for permit to bring 45,000 square feet of lab space to 1450 Research Boulevard in Rockville, MD. South Duvall will renovate the façade, create new building amenities and common areas, and install brand-new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Three move-in ready lab spec suites ranging from 2,800 square feet to 3,700 square feet range are expected to deliver by the fourth quarter of 2022 with two full floors of roughly 15,000 square feet available for tenant fit out now. Leasing will be handled by Scheer Partners. “The submission of construction plans for our lab conversion of 1450 Research Boulevard begins our timeline to deliver much needed lab space to the I-270 corridor in 2022,” said Matthew Brown, director of acquisitions, South Duvall. “Our design team took lessons we have learned from other similar projects and developed an exciting plan to deliver a unique, best-in-class lab building.”  

DUBLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 6, 2022– Horizon Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: HZNP) announced today that it has signed a long-term, full-building lease with Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. to be the first tenant at the Alexandria Center® at Traville Gateway campus in Rockville, Maryland. When completed, the state-of-the-art facility will serve as the company’s primary East Coast research and development and technical operations hub. Construction at the 192,000-square-foot site is underway and Horizon expects to start work on interior improvements in 2023. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ —

• Potential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of Duchenne includes a novel, optimized microdystrophin transgene and REGENXBIO’s proprietary NAV® AAV8 vector 
• Innovative trial design, including comprehensive immunosuppressive regimen, to evaluate safety and optimal dose 
• cGMP process material made at commercial-scale to be used throughout clinical development of RGX-202
• REGENXBIO expects to initiate trial in the first half of 2022

REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced the clearance of its Investigational New Drug (IND) application by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to evaluate RGX-202, a potential one-time gene therapy for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne) in a first-in-human clinical trial. RGX-202 is designed to deliver a transgene for a novel microdystrophin that includes the functional elements of the C-Terminal (CT) domain found in naturally occurring dystrophin. RGX-202 uses REGENXBIO’s proprietary NAV® AAV8 vector. REGENXBIO plans to initiate the trial in the first half of 2022.

Maryland biotech company Zalgen Labs has moved to Frederick, illustrating the magnetism of the biotech hub for leaders like its own Dr. Luis Branco who want to capitalize on the new sense of collaboration the pandemic has brought about in life sciences companies in the region.

The move to Frederick puts Zalgen closer to the epicenter of what’s known as BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) that encompasses Maryland, Virginia and DC. Frederick alone is home to over 80 biotech companies, according to the county’s Office of Economic Development.

On this snowy start to 2022, I wanted to share with you two interviews with AHEAD100 Chief Scientist Dr. James Crowe that occurred over the last week on CNBC and Bloomberg TV. Each piece is a powerful continuation of our work to build awareness and support for the work of the Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center and lead initiative, AHEAD100 — and together, they garnered more than 100 million impressions, representing more than $1 million in advertising value equivalent.