These are boom times for gene therapy, an innovative type of medicine that works to treat disease at the genetic level to offer a longer-lasting treatment and potentially even a cure.

BrainScope®, a medical neuro-technology company focused on concussion and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) assessment, announced today that it had concluded both algorithm development and clinical validation studies in adolescent and young adult populations using its objective, EEG-based technology. The purpose of the studies was to create and validate an objective, personalized capability for assessment of concussion and readiness to return to activities in males and females between the ages of 13-25. The studies conducted from 2015 through 2019 at 52 clinical sites included nearly 1,700 patients and healthy controls, with over 4,000 evaluations. Funding sources for the studies included a $9.9 million research contract from the U.S. Department of Defense, award funding from the NFL-GE Head Health Challenge (in which BrainScope was a two-time awardee), and BrainScope private funding.

Outside of the private sector, colleges and universities perform the vast majority of R&D in the United States – but where do these funds come from? An SSTI analysis of data from the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSF NCSES) finds that, across the country, the federal government was the source of more than half (53.5 percent) of all R&D performed at colleges and universities in 2017. Institutional funds (25.1 percent), nonprofit organizations (6.8 percent), businesses (5.9 percent), state and local governments (5.6 percent), and other sources (3.0 percent) comprised the remaining sources of higher education R&D funding. The interactive chart below shows the breakdown of funding sources for research and development at colleges and universities for each state.

Thursday, July 19, 20184:30 - 7:00 PM EST

Spend an inspiring 10 minute ‘ideastorming’ session with the some of the most influential innovation leaders in the greater Baltimore area. To schedule a session with one of our experts, please complete the application (in addition to the event registration) at www.anchorventures.org.

Join us today as we speak with Dr. Kurt Newman from Children's National Health System about innovations in pediatrics.

Fina Biosolutions is pleased to announce that the Serum Institute of India Private Limited (SIIPL), has completed a Phase 3 study for Pneumosil® a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, in which the Serum Institute indicates all primary and secondary objectives were met. Pneumosil covers over 70% of invasive pneumococcal-disease causing serotypes and employs conjugation chemistry licensed from Fina Biosolutions under a 2007 technology agreement.

Last week, the Greater Washington Partnership (the Partnership) and Business Roundtable (BRT) held an event showcasing the Capital CoLAB (Collaborative of Leaders in Academia and Business). The Capital CoLAB is an action-oriented partnership of university and business leaders across the Capital Region, from Baltimore to Richmond, who have come together to position the region as a leading global hub for innovation.

A company that makes products for science researchers has bought one of the largest contract manufacturers of viral vectors for gene therapy.

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?
• How do we become known as an Employer of Choice?
• How can I become known as a Thought Leader in my field?
• How do we get press coverage for our products/service/technology?
• What should we budget for our website, social media, PR activities?

SPEAKERS

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

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• 8:15 a.m. - Networking and Coffee
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• 9:45 a.m. - One-on-One Meetings with Experts*

 
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NIH funding is critical to improving health outcomes and reducing the societal costs of illnesses. Congress should increase the NIH budget and then maintain regular, steady increases.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Emergent BioSolutions said on Tuesday it will begin a Phase 3 trial of a new anthrax vaccine it is developing.

The Phase 3 trial will evaluate the lot consistency, immunogenicity, and safety of the vaccine, called AV7909. AV7909 is designed to elicit a faster immune response than other anthrax vaccines that are currently available.

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.

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.

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.

It didn’t take long for the Trump administration to tap Ned Sharpless, now director of the National Cancer Institute, to take the reins at FDA for now—or for biopharma to hail the news. In fact, one team of analysts said the industry would “breathe a collective sigh of relief.”

Sonavex is first targeting the reconstructive surgery market with its new medical technology, which just earned its final FDA clearance.

Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. (PGDx), a leader in cancer genomics, today announced that it has applied the CE mark to PGDx elio™ plasma resolve. It is the first kitted plasma-based NGS oncology test to have that certification, enabling greater access to genomic testing for cancer patients in Europe.

A pair of Baltimore healthcare leaders are partnering to reach digital health startups.

Hospital network LifeBridge Health and health insurance provider CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield will be hosting an innovation challenge that includes a chance to pitch and win funding for companies.

When Kevin Tran ‘12, chemical engineering, was a student at UMBC, he took a course on sensors that made him realize the best high tech solution is sometimes a low tech solution.

Innovation is a principal driver of U.S. economic growth. In 2019, the U.S. will spend an estimated $581 billion on research and development — more than any other country in the world and about 25% of the world’s total — helping the nation rank No. 6 on the Global Innovation Index. According to the results of the ranking, knowledge and technology outputs are America’s particular strengths.

MCEDC discovers how Greg’s clinical-stage company in Montgomery County, MD is using bacteria phage to combat the worldwide crisis in multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.

It all begins at birth. That’s the starting point for Kurt Newman as he shares his poignant journey as a pediatric surgeon. Newman offers a new perspective for approaching the most chronic and debilitating health conditions. Against a backdrop of personal challenges and patients who overcame impossible odds, we learn to appreciate the importance of treating every child with early customized care, and an eye for the future.

The part of your brain responsible for ASMR catalogs music, and appears to be a stronghold against Alzheimer's and dementia.

The already much-heralded University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has just scored global bragging rights. James Allison, Ph.D., a scientist at MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, it was announced on October 1.

Eargo, a direct-to-consumer health technology company that is destigmatizing hearing loss through innovation, announced it raised $52 million in Series D funding from existing investors New Enterprise Associates (NEA), the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, Nan Fung Life Sciences, and Maveron. And new investor Future Fund also participated in this round.