News

By Phil Liles: The University of Virginia has named Mark Esser as the first chief scientific officer of the upcoming Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology.

Esser will work with scientists to accelerate the development of new medicines and treatments for illnesses like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Morning Edition Host Phil Liles spoke with Esser about his desire to turn a corner on incurable diseases, which he noted, requires significant federal funding. That funding is now uncertain as President Donald Trump halts $1.8 billion dollars in grants from the National Institutes of Health.

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Biologics License Application (BLA) seeking accelerated approval for clemidsogene lanparvovec (RGX-121) for the treatment of Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II), also known as Hunter syndrome.

The FDA granted the BLA Priority Review with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of November 9, 2025.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel peptide-based therapeutics for liver and cardiometabolic diseases, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC), a leader in debt financing for life science companies, for up to $100 million in a credit facility, with a $15 million tranche funded at closing. Additional tranches will become available upon achievement of certain clinical and financial milestones aligned with the Company’s pemvidutide development plans and financing needs.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Remedy Plan Therapeutics (Remedy Plan), a privately-held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel, hyperbolic NAMPT inhibitors, today announced the company has raised over $18 million in an oversubscribed insider financing round. The round includes participation from Schooner Capital and Alexandria Venture Investments. This brings the company’s total funding to date to $55 million.

The financing will accelerate the advancement of the company’s first-in-class NAMPT inhibitor, RPT1G, into a Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with AML or high-risk MDS. This builds on the momentum of an ongoing first-in-human study in healthy adults (NCT06667765), which will conclude later this month. The investment will also support the continued development of Remedy Plan’s pipeline of NAMPT inhibitors with applications across solid tumors, autoimmune diseases, and obesity.

Awardees receive funding to accelerate research and development of stem cell therapies

COLUMBIA, Md., (May 13, 2025) — The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission (“Commission”) announced awarding over $18 million in grants aimed at accelerating cutting-edge stem cell and regenerative medicine research across Maryland.

This funding supports 52 investigators from top Maryland based research institutions and companies working on almost 50 different medical conditions and diseases including sickle cell anemia, diabetes, cancers and chronic pain to diseases directed to heart, bone, blood, digestive and neurological conditions. This year’s grant recipients feature innovative companies such as Seraxis Inc., Britecyte Inc., SereNeuro Therapeutics Inc. and Diagnostic Biochips, Inc. They are joined by academic researchers from Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences/Henry Jackson Foundation. The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore is newly represented among this year’s funded institutions, strengthening statewide support for regenerative medicine research.

COLUMBIA, Md., (May 7, 2025) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced the appointment of its chief development and marketing officer, Tammi Thomas, as the elected president of the Maryland Economic Development Association’s (MEDA) Board of Directors. She began her two-year term on April 28, 2025, during the MEDA Annual Conference.

Thomas’ leadership comes as the organization reaches a record high of 576 members, marking a new chapter for MEDA as it continues to promote inclusive economic growth throughout Maryland. In addition to record breaking membership numbers, the organization finished the conference by raising more than $12,000 during the annual silent auction for the Rhonda Ray Scholarship and the Lofton Scholarship Fund. These two unique scholarship opportunities offer support to individuals in economic development or public policy courses.

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Theriva Biologics (NYSE American: TOVX), (“Theriva” or the “Company”), a diversified clinical-stage company developing therapeutics designed to treat cancer and related diseases in areas of high unmet need, today announced the pricing of its “reasonable best efforts” public offering for the purchase and sale of up to 6,818,180 shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants in lieu thereof) and warrants to purchase up to 6,818,180 shares of common stock at a combined offering price of $1.10 per share and accompanying warrant (the “Offering”). The Company expects to receive aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $7.5 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses, and assuming no exercise of the warrants. The warrants will have an exercise price of $1.10 per share, will be exercisable immediately and will expire five years from the issuance date.

GAITHERSBURG, Md. & OAKLAND, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS), a leader in delivering improved health outcomes through genomic insights, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Fabric Genomics, a pioneer in AI-powered genomic interpretation. Together, GeneDx and Fabric Genomics are ushering in the next era of genomic medicine, enabling decentralized testing powered by centralized intelligence to set the standard of care across the globe.

“Healthcare is at an inflection point where genomic insights must be integrated into standard care to improve outcomes and reduce costs,” said Katherine Stueland, President and CEO of GeneDx. “With Fabric Genomics now part of GeneDx, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver earlier and more accurate diagnoses worldwide, from NICUs and pioneering newborn screening programs to health systems across the globe.”