News Archive

GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced it was awarded $4.7 million from the U.S. Army Medical Research & Development Command (USAMRDC) to fund its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of T-COVID, an investigational intranasal immune modulator for the treatment of outpatients with early COVID-19. The competitive award was granted by USAMRDC in collaboration with the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), a 501(c)(3) biomedical technology consortium working in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD). The award is expected to provide Altimmune sufficient funding to cover the entire cost of conducting this clinical trial.

A drug company trying to save infants’ lives, a university center protecting hospitals from hackers, a tech company building extreme drones: three groups in the region are getting a cash boost from a fund that spurs innovation in Virginia.

Of the 26 tech companies and four universities receiving grants this year from the Center for Innovative Technology’s Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund, three are from this region: ReAlta Life Sciences, Old Dominion University and Sentinel Robotic Solutions.

Image: https://www.pilotonline.com

It’s not an understatement to say that the entire nation’s hopes are focused on what’s happening in a Maryland laboratory – step one in manufacturing a potential coronavirus vaccine.

Sean Kirk, executive vice president of Emergent BioSolutions, explained to correspondent Martha Teichner how a bioreactor is used to create the ingredients needed in the development and testing of a vaccine for clinical trials already underway in Australia. “This is where it begins, to produce the hundreds of millions of doses,” he said. 

Image: https://www.cbsnews.com

The World Health Organization said on Friday that AstraZeneca’s experimental Covid-19 vaccine is the world’s leading candidate and reached the final stage in terms of development, Reuters reported.

AstraZeneca, a potential vaccine for coronavirus which is being developed by the researchers at the University of Oxford, has entered in large-scale, mid-stage human trials of the vaccine. This week, AstraZeneca signed its tenth supply-and-manufacturing deal.

Image: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com

It has been a tumultuous 2020 for venture capital and mergers and acquisitions due to the market uncertainty sparked by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Companies seeking acquisitions and venture capital firms alike continue to find their footing, as do the life science companies progressing toward important milestones during a global public health crisis.

Image: https://biobuzz.io

Cell and gene therapy has evolved into one of the biopharma industry’s hottest markets, with a major splash of investment and a run of approvals anticipated in the coming years. To meet what’s likely to be massive demand for manufacturing capacity, industry experts are calling for “forward-looking” investments—but as one pointed out, those checks aren’t easy to write.

Image: As many as 10 to 20 new cell and gene therapies could be approved each year through 2025. (Gilead)

GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX), a late-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announced the appointment of Ben Machielse as Executive Vice President, CMC, with responsibility for overseeing Novavax’ manufacturing, process technology, quality and regulatory functions. The Company also announced several leadership promotions:

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MedTech Innovator, the premier nonprofit accelerator in the medical technology industry, today announced the 50 companies selected to participate in the organization’s flagship four-month Showcase and Accelerator program, featuring the industry’s most transformative device, diagnostic, and digital health technologies from around the globe. These up and coming startups will receive unparalleled visibility and access to leading manufacturers, providers, investors, and other industry stakeholders. As part of its Accelerator program, MedTech Innovator will award up to $500,000 in cash and in-kind prizes during its final competition at The MedTech Conference, powered by AdvaMed.

Charles Andres, Ph.D., RAC, Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and Christian Barrow, Executive Director, Life Sciences Banking at JP Morgan, join Rich Bendis for a Virtual BioTalk

Charles Andres, Ph.D., RAC, is an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He focuses on patent prosecution, strategic patent counseling, IP due diligence, drug and medical device FDA regulatory counseling, invalidity and non-infringement opinions, life-cycle management, Supreme Court and Federal Circuit amicus briefs, and related business matters.

The Life Science Network’s Digital Redefining Early State Investments (RESI)  took place online June 8-10, 2020, and featured some of the most knowledgeable voices from the BioHealth Capital Region. The region was well represented across four panels titled:

• Collaborating for Growth in the BioHealth Capital Region
• International BioHealth Companies Entering the U.S. Market
• Advancing Your Technology Through Non-Diluted Grants
• Raising Early State Capital in Difficult Times