BioHealth Innovation Weekly for May 20, 2025

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May 20, 2025

Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Awards Over $18 Million to Drive Breakthroughs in Regenerative Medicine

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.

Remedy Plan Therapeutics Raises $18 Million Financing to Accelerate Advancement of Lead Asset RPT1G into Phase 1/2 Trials

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.

Altimmune Secures Up to $100 Million in Credit Facility from Hercules Capital

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.

FDA Accepts REGENXBIO’s Application for Priority Review of Gene Therapy for Hunter Syndrome (MPS II)

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.

VPM: Mark Esser wants to make Charlottesville the Silicon Valley of biotech

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.

Senseonics Announces Commencement of $50 Million Public Offering of Common Stock and Concurrent Private Placement

GERMANTOWN, Md., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Senseonics Holdings, Inc. (NYSE American: SENS), a medical technology company focused on the development and manufacturing of long-term, implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems for people with diabetes, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering, subject to market and other conditions, to issue and sell shares of its common stock. In connection with the proposed offering, Senseonics also expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the total number of shares of common stock offered in the public offering. All of the shares of common stock to be sold in the proposed offering will be offered by Senseonics.

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.