News Archive

GSK announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new subcutaneous formulation of Benlysta (belimumab) for the treatment of adult patients with active, autoantibody-positive SLE who are receiving standard therapy. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus, a chronic, incurable autoimmune disease producing autoantibodies that can attack almost any system in the body. The approval marks the first subcutaneous self-injection treatment option for patients with SLE.

Since 2013, Shire has been stepping up its strategy to become the world’s leading company for people with rare diseases. McKinsey senior partners Martin Dewhurst and Andy West recently talked with Shire’s CEO, Flemming Ørnskov, about the company’s efforts to transform and the importance of staying three steps ahead of the organization you’re leading. In this interview, part of our Biopharma Frontiers series on how the pharmaceutical industry is evolving and how leaders can adapt, Ørnskov discusses his vision for the future and the critical elements of leadership. An edited transcript of their conversation follows.

Elon Musk just tweeted that his Boring Company tunnel project has received “verbal [government] approval” to build a hyperloop connecting New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.

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The University of Maryland’s Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Technology Entrepreneurship educates and empowers students to launch and lead innovative startups and corporate ventures. Our unique experiential learning model incorporates online instruction and coaching, global networking opportunities, and funding opportunities with leading investors. This 100% online offering is a 15-month, part-time program for approximately $20,000.

Live Information Session July 24, at 1 p.m., EST

A startup that spun out of research at the University of Maryland School of Medicine was acquired 18 months after forming.

In a deal announced this week, Living Pharma was acquired by Lentigen Technology Inc., a Gaithersburg-based subsidiary of Miltenyi Biotec GmbH. Terms were not disclosed.

VLP Therapeutics, LLC (“VLP”), a biotechnology company focusing on the research and development of therapeutic and preventative vaccines and antibody agents, today announced the appointment of Jacob Licht as Chief Operating Officer. 

Richard Mason is head of J&J Innovation for the EMEA region, and identifying and investing in the most promising early-stage drug ideas outside the company is one of his key roles.

This ‘open innovation’ strategy is being pursued by all the big pharma companies – and now it’s simply a matter of who executes best on this approach.

The Maryland Department of Commerce has an opportunity for you to soft land in the Hague Security Delta (HSD) — the largest security cluster of Europe — providing you with access to the full EU market.

Benefits of participating in the program:

• Access to shared office space at the HSD Campus — the national innovation centre for security in The Hague — at no cost to you.
• Mentorship from HSD, InnovationQuarter and the Dutch Chamber of Commerce.
• Greater exposure to global partners and opportunities to pursue clients.
• Support in accessing financial resources, engaging strategic partners, and refining business models for market opportunities in the EU region.
• Option to apply for Commerce’s ExportMD program to partially fund your travel and marketing costs.

The 2017 American Small Business Cybersecurity Xchange on October 12th will bring together cybersecurity thought leaders from government and industry and executives from small and  edium-sized businesses (SMB) in a unique one-of-a-kind event. Cyber Crime Expert and Author Kevin Poulsen will give a keynote addressing this year’s theme, Preparing for Current and Emerging Threats. Designed exclusively for SMBs, the conference establishes a trusted forum for insights and action where attendees come to:

• Gain insights about current and emerging cybersecurity threats to their organizations
• Learn about new and upcoming regulatory, legislative, and supply chain requirements for cybersecurity
• Hear from government and industry experts about best practices and solutions to improve SMB cybersecurity
• Network with other SMB executives to promote information sharing and collaboration
• Learn about available cybersecurity tools and resources

Lentigen Technology Inc., a subsidiary of Miltenyi Biotec GmbH, announced today its acquisition of immunotherapy start-up Living Pharma, Inc. Eduardo Davila, PhD, Living Pharma Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, who is also a faculty member of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), along with Koji Tamada, MD, PhD, UMSOM, invented Living Pharma’s anti-tag-chimeric antigen receptor (AT-CAR™) technology.