News Archive

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a late stage biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announced that it has initiated its first Phase 3 study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373, Novavax’ COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The trial is being conducted in the United Kingdom (UK), in partnership with the UK Government’s Vaccines Taskforce, and is expected to enroll and immunize up to 10,000 individuals between 18-84 (inclusive) years of age, with and without relevant comorbidities, over the next four to six weeks.

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020

Earlier this year, the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced a four-year contract worth $354 million for Richmond-based Phlow Corp. to manufacture medication components and drugs in the United States that could treat COVID-19 and other diseases.

If extended to the maximum 10 years, the contract could be worth $812 million. Phlow is a new company, co-founded and formally launched this year by Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering professor and alumnus B. Frank Gupton, Ph.D., and three-time VCU alumnus Eric S. Edwards. Edwards earned his B.S. in biology from the College of Humanities andSciences in 2002, his Ph.D. from the School of Pharmacy in 2011 and his M.D. from the School of Medicine in 2013.

Image: Phlow co-founder Eric Edwards, an alumnus of VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences, School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine, speaks at a School of Pharmacy Graduate Advisory Board meeting in 2019. (Danny Tiet, School of Pharmacy)

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Why We Vaccinate, Inc., a 501(3)(c) educational organization dedicated to provide a credible and trusted source for honest and factual information on vaccines, their efficacy, safety and importance to public health, announced today the appointment of eight new board members. These additions to the organization’s leadership further its efforts to develop educational programs and facts-based messages. Our goals are to put forward information on the science and safety of vaccines, educating the population on the value of all vaccines and immunization programs.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — A broad range of 49 Montgomery County, Maryland companies made the list in this year’s annual Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-owned companies in the United States. The recognized companies span industries that include software, IT system development, health, biotech, consumer products, advertising & marketing, construction, government services and financial services. 

Among the Montgomery County companies, there is a prevalence in software, healthcare/bio and government services—a natural fit with access to one of the country’s most highly  educated workforces and local proximity to world-class federal research institutions in science, health, medicine and cybersecurity such as NIST, NIH, FDA and NCCOE.    

The George Washington University (GW) Technology Commercialization Office is pleased to host the inaugural DC Startup Showcase.

DC Startup Showcase will present companies developing disruptive healthcare innovations.

Log on to our live YouTube channel to see pitches from entrepreneurs seeking funding to bring the fruits of high-impact research to market.

Then join our Zoom rooms to follow up with specific startups, ask questions of our legal sponsors, and/or mix and mingle with DC’s best entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders.

In an effort to improve communication among children, hard-of-hearing, and Deaf individuals, ClearMask is working to provide accessibility to everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ClearMask teamed up with Montgomery County-based business Xometry, the largest on-demand manufacturing platform, to produce the PPE design for its fully transparent surgical mask. Xometry has one of the largest 3D printing plants in the Mid Atlantic region.

Image: https://open.maryland.gov

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cellphire, the global leader in long-term stabilization and storage of platelets, is proud to announce that the Armed Services Blood Program (ASBP) has awarded Cellphire President G. Michael Fitzpatrick, PhD, with the 2020 ASBP Lifetime Achievement Award for his service and significant contributions to ASBP and the warfighter.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Emmes today announced that Dr. Christine Dingivan has joined the company as its new president and chief executive officer.  She is succeeding Dr. Anne Lindblad, who is retiring after 38 years at the company.  Dr. Dingivan will be Emmes’ fourth chief executive since the company was founded in 1977.

Image: https://www.biospace.com

Unlike some other manufacturers, Samsung Biologics has enjoyed a revenue boost from the novel coronavirus pandemic, and it’s accelerating its expansion plans to match. With a $2 billion “super plant” in the offing, Samsung now has a new Big Pharma supply deal in place to keep driving growth.

AstraZeneca tapped Samsung Biologics for a $331 million supply pact to produce bulk drug substance and “drug product to support AstraZeneca’s biologics therapeutics” at the CMO’s Plant 3 facility in Incheon, South Korea, the partners said Tuesday.

Image: Samsung Biologics’ expansion plans include a $2 billion “super plant” at the CMO’s Incheon complex. (Samsung)