Biohealth Innovation - 347th Edition

BioHealth Innovation

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March 26, 2019

FOUNDING MEMBER OF

MedImmune spinout Viela Bio raising another $75M - Washington Business Journal

Viela Bio had raised $282 million when it launched at the end of February 2018.

Interview: Viela Bio Eyes BLA for Lead Asset Only One Year After Launch | BioSpace

One year after spinning out from AstraZeneca’s MedImmune, Viela Bio is already anticipating filing a Biologics License Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead asset, inebilizumab.

2019 Fifth Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum - Only 2 Weeks Left to Register

April 8 + 9, 2019

One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

This invitation-only event is free for executive level biotech leaders and is presented by BioHealth Innovation, VirginiaBio, Maryland Tech Council, University System of Maryland, Children’s National Health Network, HemoShear, GSK, BeneVir, Quality Biological, Johns Hopkins University and AstraZeneca. Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC set the bar high for biotech innovation. So please join us for our Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum that will highlight the accomplishments of today and chart our successes of tomorrow.

REGISTER TODAY!

For more information about our speakers and event schedule, please visit www.bhcrforum.com.

Emergent BioSolutions Initiates Phase 3 Clinical Study to Evaluate AV7909 for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis of Anthrax | Vaccines | News Channels

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) today announced the initiation of a Phase 3 trial to evaluate the lot consistency, immunogenicity, and safety of AV7909 (anthrax vaccine adsorbed with CPG 7909 adjuvant) following a two-dose schedule administered intramuscularly in healthy adults. AV7909 is being developed for post-exposure prophylaxis of disease resulting from suspected or confirmed Bacillus anthracis exposure.

Join us April 4, 2019 - PATHFINDER INNOVATION PROGRAM

Successful Marketing and PR Strategies for Your Startup

PR and Marketing – What’s the difference?
How do you establish your brand?
Are there tips for marketing on a tight budget?
What should an effective marketing plan include?
How can a strong digital strategy build credibility?
How do I get press coverage for my product/service/technology?
What type of budget is realistic for marketing/public relations activities?

SPEAKERS

Sasha Whitaker - American Gene Technologies
Warren Ellis - Montgomery County Economic Dev. Corp.
Jennifer Owers and Rachel Wojnilower – Clark Concepts

SCHEDULE

8:15 a.m. - Networking and Coffee
8:30 a.m. - Discussion with Q&A (in person/by videoconference)
9:45 a.m. - One-on-One Meetings with Experts*

Pre-Registration REQUIRED: RSVP by NOON, 4/3 at BHI@BioHealthInnovation.org

No charge to attend

More Details »

*In person attendance during the discussion is required to participate in 1:1 meeting with experts.

Altimmune Announces Positive Results from NasoVAX Extension Study

Altimmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALT), a clinical-stage immunotherapeutics company, today announced additional positive data from a Phase 2 extension study of its NasoVAX intranasal influenza vaccine candidate. Data from this study demonstrated that 100% of the evaluated subjects remained seroprotected, and the seroconversion rate was unchanged more than one year after vaccination.

2019 NCI and FNL Technology Showcase - Keynote Speaker: BHI's Rich Bendis

We are excited to announce that Rich Bendis of BioHealth Innovation will be the keynote speaker at the 2019 Technology Showcase. Now in its third year, the Technology Showcase promises to be a "must attend" event for biotech stakeholders in Maryland/DC/VA region. Check out the event page to learn more about our keynote speaker and some of the great panel sessions that we have planned.

Make sure to reserve time on your calendar for the afternoon of Wednesday, June 12.

The 2019 Technology Showcase is a half-day event that will showcase technologies being developed at the NCI and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) to encourage startup company formation, technology licensing and collaborations. Innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and business development professionals should attend.

Paragon Bioservices Appoints New CTSO, Bolsters Leadership Ranks to Support Late-Stage Clinical and Commercial Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing - Paragon Bioservices, Inc.

Paragon Bioservices, the leading private equity-backed, biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) announced today the appointment of Thomas VanCott, Ph.D., as Chief Technology and Strategy Officer (CTSO), along with several key promotions and new hires.

Johns Hopkins spinout Vixiar gets $1.5M for tablet-based cardiac measurement system | MobiHealthNews

Vixiar, a Johns Hopkins spinout marketing a tablet-based point of care system for assessing cardiac filling pressure, has raised $1.5 million in Series A funding. This brings the company’s total funding to $3 million.

GSK pancreatic cancer drug heads to phase 1 combo with Merck's Keytruda after positive mouse trial | FierceBiotech

GlaxoSmithKline’s experimental drug GSK095 is designed to work in tandem with checkpoint inhibiting medicines in the hopes of empowering the immune system to launch a more aggressive attack against tumors than it does with checkpoint inhibitors alone. Early results from a preclinical trial of a related GSK drug suggest that the combo holds promise in treating pancreatic cancer—so much so that the company is launching a phase 1 study of the drug in combination with Merck’s blockbuster PD1 checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda.

Takeda and HemoShear Therapeutics Extend Exclusive Drug Discovery Partnership in Liver Diseases

HemoShear Therapeutics, LLC, a privately held biotechnology company, today announced an extension of its partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited to discover and develop additional novel therapeutics for liver diseases, including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Researchers at Johns Hopkins offer new protocol to potentially cure sickle cell disease

There's new hope for patients who have blood diseases. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say a new protocol offers the possibility of a cure. One patient who tried the treatment says it didn't just change her life, it saved it.

What's behind sky-high valuations of biopharma startups? - MedCity News

2018 was undoubtedly one of the most important years ever for biopharma, setting records for valuations and dealmaking. But a paper published in January called some of that exuberance into question, noting that many startups over the years have managed to become unicorns – with valuations of $1 billion or more – despite having little or no published, peer-reviewed data.

Top 10 Immuno-Oncology Collaborations

A sampling of recent reports shows just how much immuno-oncology continues to grow. Last month, GrandView Research projected a more than doubling of the global cancer immunotherapy market, from the $58.1 billion it tallied in 2018, to $126.9 billion by 2026. As GEN noted when it ranked the top immuno-oncology startups in February, market projections range from $124.88 billion (Transparency Market Research) to $173 billion (Market Research Engine) by 2024.

How Do You Start A Biotech Company?

To launch a company that might attract the investment you need to develop a promising new drug candidate or research tool you need to assemble at least two, but preferably all, of these three things: (a) intellectual property (IP), (b) proof of principle, and (c) team with some biotech experience.

Flagship Pioneering raises $824M in new fund - MedCity News

A life sciences-focused venture capital firm has raised more than $800 million for its latest fund.