BioHealth Innovation Weekly for May 12, 2025

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May 12, 2025

From Classroom to Clinic: Neopenda’s Global Health Journey with CEO Sona Shah on BioTalk

In this episode of BioTalk, host Rich Bendis welcomes Sona Shah, CEO and Co-Founder of Neopenda, for an inspiring conversation on innovation, impact, and scaling medical technology in underserved markets. Sona shares how a formative experience teaching in rural Kenya ignited her passion for global health, leading to the creation of neoGuard, a wearable vital signs monitor tailored for low-resource settings. This episode builds on a recent article featured on the BHI News page, offering a deeper look into Neopenda’s journey, innovations, and impact in global health.

They discuss the engineering challenges of building clinical-grade hardware for hospitals with limited infrastructure, the company’s growth from Maryland’s Relevant Health accelerator, and the deployment of over 350 devices across East and West Africa. Sona also talks about Neopenda’s next wave of products, lessons in balancing cost and quality, and the importance of community, resilience, and mission-driven entrepreneurship.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platforms:
Apple - https://apple.co/4k9XSmp
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3F4U1rk
iHeart - https://ihr.fm/3Z90W9G
YouTube Podcasts - https://bit.ly/3Zcfoxy
Amazon Podcasts - https://amzn.to/454f2ge
TuneIn - https://bit.ly/3Fe2YhU

WBJ: AstraZeneca unveils $300M Rockville investment, a boost for MoCo amid federal cuts

By Sara Gilgore – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal - May 6, 2025 -

AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) has opened a new Rockville manufacturing hub, a whopping $300 million investment for the British pharmaceutical giant — and a big win for Montgomery County in a tough moment for the sector locally.

The company, which held a ribbon-cutting event Monday, intends to use its 85,000-square-foot Rockville Manufacturing Center at 9950 Medical Center Drive to initially make T-cell therapies for clinical trials in cancer. It had unveiled its plans for the project last February and is now getting ready to move people in.

“Rockville represents the future of manufacturing,” an AstraZeneca spokesperson told me over email, noting the space was built out using 3D-modeling, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, which helped speed up operational and construction timelines.

The NCI Technology Transfer Center NIH Technology Opportunity Webinar: Radiolabeled Sugars for Imaging of Fungal Infections

The NCI Technology Transfer Center has an upcoming NIH Technology Opportunity Webinar
May 28, 2025 | 11:00 AM ET
Radiolabeled Sugars for Imaging of Fungal Infections
Hosted by Joseph Conrad | Featuring Dr. Dima A. Hammoud

Join this free webinar to learn about a novel PET radiotracer, [18F]-fluorocellobiose ([18F]-FCB), developed by NIH researchers. Unlike standard FDG, this agent targets fungal-specific metabolism, enabling early, non-invasive detection and real-time monitoring.

This technology addresses a critical need in diagnosing fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.

https://bit.ly/3Srhfe9

GeneDx Announces Completion of Fabric Genomics Acquisition

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.”

Theriva Biologics Announces Pricing of $7.5 Million Public Offering

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.

Galimedix Completes First Phase 1 Dosing of Oral Alzheimer’s Drug GAL-101

KENSINGTON, Md. and MUNICH and MARTINSRIED, Germany, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galimedix Therapeutics, Inc. (“Galimedix”), a Phase 2 clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel oral and topical neuroprotective therapies with the potential to revolutionize the treatment of serious brain and eye diseases, today announced the completion of the single ascending dose (SAD) part of the Phase 1 study with orally administered GAL-101, a small molecule specifically designed to target misfolded amyloid beta (Aβ) monomers.

TEDCO’s Tammi Thomas Elected President of the Maryland Economic Development Association

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.

Beyond the Device: Neopenda’s Human-Centered Approach to Health Tech

More than a decade ago, a young engineer named Sona Shah stepped into a classroom in rural Kenya—and the beginning of a life-changing journey. What she witnessed there didn't just shape her understanding of global health disparities; it set her on a path to build solutions for those often left behind. Today, as CEO and Co-Founder of Neopenda, Shah is leading a growing team that's redefining how clinical care is delivered in low-resource settings around the world. The company's mission is simple but urgent: develop innovative, sustainable medical technologies that make high-quality care accessible to everyone.

Shah's inspiration for Neopenda was born from lived experience. After earning her degree in chemical engineering, she spent time teaching in western Kenya, where preventable illness and lack of access to healthcare were daily realities. "That experience planted a seed," she said. "I couldn't stop thinking about the kids I had taught, and the families around them who deserved more." Returning to the U.S., Shah pursued a master's in biomedical engineering at Columbia University, where she met her co-founder, Teresa Cauvel. A needs-assessment trip to Uganda exposed the two to hospitals filled with critically ill newborns, overwhelmed nurses, and donated medical equipment that sat broken and unused. "It became crystal clear that the issue wasn't just a lack of resources—it was a lack of thoughtful design," she said.

This realization laid the foundation for neoGuard™, Neopenda's flagship product: a wearable, clinical-grade vital signs monitor designed for low-resource environments. "We didn't want to create just another device—we wanted to build something with and for the clinicians on the frontlines," Shah explained. Designed to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature, neoGuard is battery-powered, lightweight, and built to function in settings where reliable power and infrastructure are not guaranteed.

Save the Date & Sponsor the Future: BioHealth Capital Region Week Returns September 23–25, 2025

Mark your calendars! The 11th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum will return September 23rd–24th, 2025, once again hosted at US Pharmacopeia (USP) in Rockville, Maryland. This year’s theme, “The BioHealth Capital Region: Where Human and Artificial Intelligence Converge in the BioHealth Industry,” sets the tone for a timely and necessary conversation. As our sector faces new challenges and opportunities, 2025 is a critical year to align on strategy, innovation, and regional collaboration.

In addition to the Forum, we are excited to bring back the 8th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference on September 25th, also at USP. Designed to foster meaningful connections between startups and investors, this conference continues to be a key driver of funding and momentum across our ecosystem.

A Call for Sponsors

We invite returning and new sponsors to help make this year’s event possible. Your support not only fuels the success of the Forum and Investment Conference but also ensures these events remain free to attend for all participants across the region. With your help, we’ll once again bring together over 1,000 leaders from government, industry, and academia to chart the course for the future of biohealth.