REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq:RGNX) and Dimension Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:DMTX) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which REGENXBIO will acquire Dimension in an all-stock transaction for an implied value of approximately $3.41 per share. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction.
As digital healthcare completes its migration to a mobile-centric world, profound innovations are moving full speed ahead toward solutions that aid in chronic care diagnosis, treatment, and management. “There’s a lot of noise—activities, press releases, and investments—and a lot of partnerships going on in digital health,” says Kevin McRaith, chief executive officer of WellDoc.
WellDoc, a digital health company based in Columbia, Md., is an active participant in several such key partnerships. The Columbia, Md.–based company was founded by an endocrinologist with her vision to create an engaging, effective digital health solution for adults with type 2 diabetes. More than a decade later, WellDoc has established itself as a leader in the field of digital health
Following a ceremonial signing with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao for the federal government’s $900 million Full-Funding Grant Agreement, Governor Larry Hogan started demolition to make way for the new Purple Line Operations Center and begin construction on the long-awaited Purple Line. Governor Hogan and Secretary Chao were joined by Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn, MDOT Maryland Transit Administrator Kevin Quinn, Purple Line Transit Partners officials, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Congressman Anthony Brown, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, as well as other state and local elected officials and Purple Line advocates. The Purple Line light rail project will run from New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Bethesda in Montgomery County.
A company that creates vaccines is expanding in Gatihersburg and adding to the quickly growing bio-technology industry in Montgomery County.
Gaithersburg’s Altimmune just announced that the company will expand to a new, 14,000 square foot building.
Gliknik Inc. today announced that clinicians have enrolled and dosed the first of 80 patients in the company’s phase 2 clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of biropepimut-S (GL-0817), an immunomodulatory therapeutic targeting the prevention of recurrence of squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity in patients at high risk of recurrence after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
“We are pleased to enroll the first patient in this phase 2 trial of biropepimut-S, which will further our understanding of the potential role of this advanced-design cancer vaccine with immune enhancing adjuvants in high-risk oral cavity cancer,” said Jeff Herpst, Senior Director of Clinical Development at Gliknik.
Innovative renewable energy, biotechnology, and information research is conducted in our community every day at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI).
The Fort Detrick Alliance, which serves as a community partner and liaison to the five federal agencies located at Fort Detrick, will partner with FITCI on September 6, for its 9th Annual FITCI Technology Showcase.
In conjunction with the event, FITCI will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Biotech Shared Lab. Attendees will tour the new lab and meet FITCI entrepreneurial businesses professionals. Dr. Kenneth Bertram, Principal Assistant for Acquisition, US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command at Fort Detrick, the keynote speaker, will speak about research advancements.
Paige Decker is the Manager of External Relations and Alliance Development at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). Upon her arrival at BIO, she contributed to the inaugural launch and content creation of BIOAction, BIO’s grassroots advocacy tool. She is a former staffer of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where she worked alongside Chairman Fred Upton and Chairman Greg Walden during her tenure. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a B.A. in English.
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization, represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
BIOAction’s primary mission is to engage the biotech community to use their voice against harmful policies that deter from the progress of innovation. Critical to this success is connecting biotechnology company employees and enthusiasts in the discussion with their elected officials at the federal, state and municipal level. BIOAction allows constituents to let their voice be heard in just a few clicks.
Paige will be discussing the importance of fostering and educating advocates for biotechnology; why they must lend their voice to balance the public policy debate by sharing their own stories and debunking the many myths and misinformation told about their innovation.
Q&A WITH JONATHAN GENN FOR VIVA WHITE OAK
We recently spoke to Jonathan Genn, Executive Vice President & General Counsel for Percontee, Inc. & Global LifeSci Development Corporation, about the Viva White Oak, a public-private partnership between Global LifeSci Development Corporation, an affiliate of Percontee, Inc., and Montgomery County to build a global state-of-the-art life sciences center in eastern Montgomery County.
AN INTERVIEW WITH GSK’S CHRISTOPHER MADDOX, DIRECTOR OF SITE OPERATIONS MOCONNECT
Recently interviewed GSK’s Christopher Maddox, Director of Site Operations for The Slaoui Center for Vaccines Research in Rockville. The company made news when it selected Rockville to serve as its U.S. R&D Center, furthering strengthening Montgomery County as a major player in global healthcare.
Pfizer’s interest in developing innovative ways to solve some of the current challenges with healthcare have spanned drug development to early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. A collaboration between the pharma company and Drexel University is using a variation on the Minecraft video game to improve health literacy and reduce the anxiety children and their caregivers might have of managing hemophilia, according to a news release.
