DATE: Wednesday, February 10, 2016

LOCATION: Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 800, Rockville, MD 20850

Southern Maryland's Energetics Technology Center (ETC-MD) announces it is opening Montgomery County's newest technology business incubator as part of the ETC-MD TechFire incubator network at the former National Labor College located at 10000 New Hampshire Avenue.  This incubator is sponsored by the Army Research Labs and is purposed to serve companies interested in commercializing ARL developed technologies although other technology companies will be considered as well.  Find out how you can work successfully with the Army Research Lab at this informative session.  

The World Medical Innovation Forum is shaping up as a fantastic showcase of cancer innovation, breakthrough science and thought leadership from across the oncology community. I encourage you to join me at this unrivaled gathering. For a full list of all of the speakers, visit the website at: worldmedicalinnovation.org/speakers

Alexandria LaunchLabs™ has opened its doors to local, cutting-edge life science startups at 708 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg, MD.

Alexandria LaunchLabs was created by a consortium of world-class partners to fill a specific unmet need in the market for early-stage life science companies. The consortium, which includes Alexandria Venture Investments (the strategic venture capital arm of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.), BioHealth Innovation, Montgomery County, and the City of Gaithersburg, recognized that in addition to providing early-stage life science companies with specialized state-of-the-art lab and office space, access to first- class supporting resources, services, and capital, is critical for innovation and growth. As such, consortium members will extend their respective networks to Alexandria LaunchLabs’ tenants, while BioHealth Innovation will provide access to its Startup and Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs. Additionally, co-location will provide a collaborative ecosystem in which tenants will be able to further assist one another in identifying resources and sharing best practices. The creative startup environment fostered at Alexandria LaunchLabs will dramatically accelerate the growth of local early-stage life science companies.

Since the World Health Organization started raising alarms about the mosquito-born Zika virus spreading throughout the Americas, deep-pocketed pharmaceutical companies have been racing to find a vaccine.

But a seven-person biotech company based in Rockville, Md., is trying something different.

Available lab space in Montgomery County's I-270 corridor has dropped to levels not seen since before the Great Recession struck in 2008, according to the latest update from Rockville-based commercial real estate group Scheer Partners.

That's after a remarkably active year for biotechs in 2015, said Matt Brady, a Scheer vice president who specializes in office, research and development, and industrial leasing. "People grabbed up a lot of space in a really short amount of time. That's the story here," Brady said.

The president and executive director of Maryland Technology Development Corp. (TEDCO) has resigned and the agency’s chief operating officer has been promoted to president. TEDCO announced Thursday that Robert Rosenbaum, who has served as the quasi-government agency’s leader for the past five years, would step down effective immediately to “pursue other interests.”

While fourth-quarter venture capital funding slid in most industries amid fears of an economic slowdown, biotechnology investment sprinted ahead. The question is how long the run can last.

Total U.S. venture funding reached $72.30 billion in 2015, its highest level since 2000, despite fourth-quarter investment declines in consumer services, information technology, and other markets, according to industry tracker Dow Jones VentureSource.

Partners HealthCare is expanding its Innovation Fund from $35 million to $100 million, the Massachusetts health system announced today at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

The fund, which was launched as an experiment in 2007 with funding from Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, provides startup capital to early stage life sciences companies. To date, it has funded 25 companies. This second fund, at $100 million, is geared in particular towards therapeutics startups – with aims to provide early seed investments.

Texas Medical Center added a second class of startups to its accelerator program and acknowledged that it has tweaked its approach.Although the second group will focus on digital health, the next cohort starting in July will be devoted to medical device innovation.

ImmunoCellular (NYSEMKT:IMUC), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has entered into a research collaboration agreement with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, focusing on immunotherapies for cancer. The company said the agreement includes three projects, which together have the potential to improve the efficacy of dendritic cell, T-cell, and combination immunotherapies for cancer and lead to enhancements to both of ImmunoCellular’s dendritic cell and Stem-to-T-cell platforms. IMUC fell to $0.24 at closing on Tuesday, at the bottom of 52-week range $0.21 – $0.73.

For more evidence that tech is moving into the mainstream economic conversation for Baltimore, look no further than the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore’s annual report. The 2015 edition was published earlier this month.

Tarveda Therapeutics, Inc., formerly Blend Therapeutics, today announced that it has secured $38 million in Series C financing co-led by new investor Novo A/S and existing investor New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The company also announced the change of its corporate brand to clearly highlight the company’s differentiated approach to treating cancer.

The 2016 Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the opening of the nomination period for FLC positions!

This year the FLC will elect five national positions: Finance Officer, Recording Secretary, and three Members-at-Large; as well as Regional Coordinators and Deputy Regional Coordinators for the Midwest, Far West, and Mid-Atlantic regions.

If you are a Consortium Representative or Consortium Participant, you are welcomed and encouraged to nominate yourself or someone else. The nomination period will run from Wednesday, January 27 through Friday, February 26, 2016.

Hospitals and health systems are clinging tenaciously to the belief that their economic survival depends on their embracing continuous quality improvement and Lean methods. After all, in a time of ratcheted-down reimbursement, the need for a little belt-tightening and quality improvement seems obvious.

The 100 Rising Stars in this, the inaugural Global Corporate Venturing awards, represent the top 1% of the industry.

Global Corporate Venturing (GCV) selected these stars as representing the brightest prospects, and those who have already been changing the industry. The selection process involved researching more than 10,000 industry professionals across more than 1,000 corporate venturing units to identify these stars. GCV was looking for those below the top rank of the venturing hierarchy in long-established units, based on their deals, career development so far, being an heir apparent and being the glue in the unit.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 - National Press Club 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor  Washington, D.C.

Kauffman Foundation President and CEO, Wendy Guillies, will present the 2016 State of Entrepreneurship Address highlighting an actionable policy agenda for renewing economic growth. “America’s New Entrepreneurial Growth Agenda” will present recommendations culled from some of the nation’s foremost thinkers on how to foster dynamism, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity.

 Following the address, a panel of contributors will present recommendations from “America’s New Entrepreneurial Growth Agenda,” and policy leaders will share their own insights.

The UM BioPark-based PathSensors, Inc. has been awarded a new firm fixed price contract through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the design and development of a CANARY® detection system for biosecurity.  The focus of phase I of this research contract will be on the development of biosensors for Abrin and Ebola.  The research supported by this contract will further enhance the robustness of the CANARY® technology opening up a broad range of deployment opportunities for quick and accurate detection of harmful pathogens. 

Dubbed the Apollo Therapeutics, the new fund will see the three pharma companies work with Imperial College London, University College London and the University of Cambridge. Together they aim to "significantly improving the speed and potential of university research being translated into novel medicines".

Leidos Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LDOS) CEO Roger Krone describes his company’s new agreement to combine with Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (NYSE: LMT) Information Systems & Global Solutions business as a landmark moment for the government services space. "I am convinced that this transaction is the kind of event that is often sought after but rarely found,” Krone said in a conference call Tuesday after the $5 billion deal was announced.

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq:NVAX), a clinical-stage vaccine company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of recombinant nanoparticle vaccines and adjuvants, today announced that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $200 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior unsecured notes that will mature on February 1, 2023 (the Notes). The Notes will be offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Novavax also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the Notes an option to purchase up to an additional $30 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes, solely to cover over-allotments.

The Food and Drug Administration aims to ensure hackers can’t remotely access or control medical devices, and it’s asking the private sector to do more to protect those devices.

Earlier this month, FDA issued draft guidance directing manufacturers to conduct “postmarket” evaluation of their devices, ensuring device security vulnerabilities won’t affect clinical performance.

Alexandria is the largest and leading urban office REIT uniquely focused on collaborative science and technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations. The firm currently has more than 19 million rentable square feet of operating properties, as well as development and redevelopment projects under construction, with another 11.6 million square feet in near-term and future ground-up development projects. Alexandria was the first to pioneer this niche under CEO Joel Marcus' vision when he founded the company in 1994. Since then, the firm has established a dominant market presence across the industry in locations such as Greater Boston/Cambridge, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland and Research Triangle Park.

Stephanie Fertig and Kory Hallett from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will give an overview of SBIR and STTR Small Business programs at the NIH.

The talk will include:

• A description of the programs and goals
• Tips on applying
• Resources available to researchers and small/startup businesses interested in translating their technologies into commercial products.

At the end of their presentation, the speakers will respond to questions from the audience.

If you want to find ways to expand your biomedical startup using NIH funding, you won't want to miss this webinar!

T. Rowe Price sunk gobs of money into companies such as Cloudera, Dropbox, Apptio and Evernote in recent years, oftentimes at lofty valuations.

Now, the giant mutual fund manager is resetting some of those bets. According to a report in The Information (subscription required), T. Rowe Price has marked down its stakes in a number of companies.

British pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline is reportedly discussing terms of a medtech joint venture with US chipmaker Qualcomm.

Talks between the two companies to form a partnership to develop medical technology are "preliminary and nothing has been decided", reports Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources privy to the information. The Financial Times says the deal could be worth as much as $1 billion, and GSK reportedly has hired lawyers to help negotiate the terms of the joint venture with Qualcomm. If confirmed, FT expects the companies "to pool financial and human resources in a joint effort to develop new technology for use in the pharmaceuticals industry."

May 8 - 11, 2016 - Grand Hyatt Washington DC in Washington, DC

Health Datapalooza is a national conference focused on liberating health data, and bringing together the companies, startups, academics, government agencies, and individuals with the newest and most innovative and effective uses of health data to improve patient outcomes.

Roche will partner with the Lead Discovery Center (LDC) to identify and advance drug discovery projects intended to address diseases of unmet medical need across several areas. The value of the collaboration and the diseases to be addressed were not disclosed by the LDC, which announced the partnership today.

WIB has collaborated with BioProcess International (BPI), the biopharmaceutical industry´s leading scientific publication, to publish a four-part WIB/BPI special report series in 2016. The mission of this special report series is to provide a unique and interactive platform to reach and educate women (and all professionals) working in the life sciences with insight, mentorship, and leadership support through all stages of career development. Each edition of the WIB/BPI special report series will focus on critical issues all biotechnology professionals need to know, understand and manage in order to climb the corporate ladder and achieve the highest levels of leadership.

This is an opportunity to hear from NIST's leadership about their important mission, a multi-million dollar laboratory expansion, cybersecurity implementation, and vendor opportunities in construction and IT.

Participants will also have the opportunity to meet representatives from many of the NIST Operating Units and contracting officials at exhibitor tables, speak one-on-one with the panelists, and network with fellow government contractors.

More innovation will be the determining factor in achieving greater progress. Countries’ economic and trade policies can either help or hurt global innovation. For example, policies such as robust investment in and tax incentives for research and education support global innovation. In contrast, policies such as export subsidies or forced localization harm global innovation.

The White House has awarded Robert E. Fischell, ScD, a member of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Board of Visitors, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor for technological achievement bestowed by the president of the United States. Previous recipients have included such luminaries as Steven Jobs and Stephen Wozniak (Apple Computer, Inc.), Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. (Bechtel Group, Inc.), David Packard (Hewlett-Packard Company), Clarence L. Johnson (Lockheed Corporation), Edwin H. Land (Polaroid Corporation) and Edith Flanigen (Union Carbide).

DATE: Wednesday, February 10, 2016

LOCATION: Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 800, Rockville, MD 20850

Southern Maryland's Energetics Technology Center (ETC-MD) announces it is opening Montgomery County's newest technology business incubator as part of the ETC-MD TechFire incubator network at the former National Labor College located at 10000 New Hampshire Avenue.  This incubator is sponsored by the Army Research Labs and is purposed to serve companies interested in commercializing ARL developed technologies although other technology companies will be considered as well.  Find out how you can work successfully with the Army Research Lab at this informative session.  

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) today announced an expansion of its Research & Development (R&D) investment strategy to include early-stage companies on the leading edge of scientific innovation, providing them with both equity and access to resources for research in promising areas aligned with Pfizer’s core interests. The first four investments of the newly focused initiative include $46 million in financing to companies at early stages of the discovery process that are actively exploring Conditionally Active Biologics (CABs), immuno-oncology, neurodegenerative technologies and gene therapy. Additional opportunities will continue to be identified by Pfizer’s scientific leadership through their active involvement, and Pfizer will help recipient companies fully explore their platforms in the hopes of advancing new therapeutic pathways.

To better reflect the remarkable progress and groundbreaking innovations its members achieve in healing, fueling and feeding the world, BIO – the world's largest biotechnology trade association – is changing its name to Biotechnology Innovation Organization. The organization will continue to use the shortened, “BIO” name.

In the more than 22 years since its founding, BIO – formerly Biotechnology Industry Organization – has united scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers and the public to advance breakthrough cures and products in fields ranging from health, food and agricultural to industrial and environmental.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) today announced the anticipated executive management team of Aptevo Therapeutics Inc., Emergent’s planned Biosciences business spin-off company. Members of the Aptevo executive management team will be appointed to their positions effective upon completion of the tax-free spin-off of Aptevo, expected to occur in mid-2016.

“We are pleased to have such an experienced and talented group of individuals to lead Aptevo Therapeutics,” said Daniel J. Abdun-Nabi, president and chief executive officer of Emergent BioSolutions. “These individuals possess the expertise, commitment, and passion to build on the successes of Emergent’s biosciences business for it to grow as a stand-alone publicly-traded company.”