News Archive

TERLING, Va., March 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Aperiomics, a biotechnology company deploying advanced technologies to identify the root causes of infectious disease, announced today it is now offering a test for the novel coronavirus.

Aperiomics’ Xplore-COVID-19™ test is available nationwide today and the company has already begun taking orders for the test. With the ability to process up to 1000 coronavirus tests per week, Aperiomics can provide test results within 48 to 72 hours of receiving a sample. The tests, which can be ordered for patients at a cost of $250 per sample, utilize a PCR technique designed to identify specific genetic markers within the coronavirus using samples obtained via throat swabs. This test utilizes existing sample collection, DNA extraction, and PCR identification technologies.

As more cases of COVID-19 are being reported and leaders seek tests and treatments, biotech companies are stepping up efforts to develop new tests and treatments.

That includes Maryland, where life sciences companies are working on vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. They’re also seeking to share what they’re working on and offer up resources: On Friday, Maryland Life Sciences is putting together a call with more than 15 companies where they’ll look to connect and share needs.

Cargo ships are huge polluters—in 2015, as they traveled the ocean delivering everything from smartphones to bananas, they emitted more than 200 million metric tons of CO2, roughly as much as the entire country of Vietnam. Unlike cars, which can easily be replaced with electric versions, ships are harder to decarbonize. But a relatively simple intervention from a new type of underwater robot can help significantly shrink emissions.

Image: Semcon – https://www.fastcompany.com

Executive Director of the Universities at Shady Grove, Stewart L. Edelstein, Ph.D., joins BioTalk to discuss his career, USG, and its role in the BioHealth Capital Region

Dr. Stewart Edelstein joined the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) as Executive Director in 2002 and in 2007 was named to the dual title of Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University System of Maryland (USM).

USG is a regional campus of USM that offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs from nine partner universities. During Dr. Edelstein’s tenure, USG expanded its number of participating universities, as well as the breadth and depth of its academic programs, and enrollment has grown significantly, to more than 3,000 students. The campus’s capacity for future enrollment growth has doubled with the recent opening of a new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education Facility, which is expanding degree and certification offerings in healthcare, engineering, biosciences, computer science and other areas.

The BioHealth Capital Region Forum Planning Committee has made the difficult decision to postpone our 6th annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum that was scheduled for April 14th and 15th at AstraZeneca. We believe the health and safety of all participants is of paramount importance. Following the most recent reports from the CDC, the WHO, and the state of Maryland’s ban on gatherings of 250 people or more, we have made this decision.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is teaming up with Wellcome and Mastercard to form the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, a $125 million effort to help find potential treatments for the coronavirus epidemic and future threats.

The accelerator will bring together the World Health Organization, pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, government, and other philanthropic groups to develop therapies for COVID-19.

Image: Mark Suzman. (Gates Foundation Photo)

U.S. prescription drugs can broadly be divided into two categories: 1) small molecule drugs and 2) biologics. Small molecule drugs tend to be chemically synthesized and often have molecular weights under 1,000 Daltons. Contrastingly, biologic drugs are larger and more complex molecules, for example proteins, viruses, and living cells such as CAR-T cells.

OSLO, NORWAY, March 10, 2020 – CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, today announced the expansion of its COVID-19 vaccine portfolio. CEPI will be investing a further $4.4 million in partnering agreements with Novavax, Inc. and The University of Oxford to rapidly develop vaccine candidates against COVID-19. This brings CEPI’s total investment in COVID-19 vaccine R&D to $23.7 million.