Weekly Quick Hits (BioHealth Capital Region) – Week of July 10, 2023

FDA Approves Over-the-Counter Oral Contraception, 60 Degrees Launches IPO and more. Continue reading for this week’s top life sciences stories in the BioHealth Capital Region.

By Mark Terry
July 14, 2023

Quick Hits is BioBuzz’s weekly round up of all the life science news you don’t want to miss, in your region of interest. Don’t miss a beat; SUBSCRIBE to our weekly Quick Hits newsletter via LinkedIn (BioHealth Capital Region, Greater Philadelphia, Research Triangle Park) or get it delivered to your inbox every week.

Funding, Awards and Collaborations

Johns Hopkins Grad Student Wins Merck KGaA Innovation Cup

A team of graduate students led by Johns Hopkins University PhD student Anastasia Georgiou won the Merck KGaA Innovation Cup in Darmstadt, Germany. At the end of a weeklong expenses-paid “summer camp,” seven teams were formed and challenged to develop a concept and business plan. Georgiou’s team took home the $22,000 prize.

Sirnaomics Presented GalAhead, its GalNAc-RNAi Therapeutic Platform

Sirnaomics, based in Hong Kong and Germantown, Md., presented “GalAhead: A Proprietary GalNAc-RNAi Therapeutic Platform to Downregulate Single and Multiple Genes.” The presentation was by Jim Weterings, Ph.D., the company’s Senior Director of Technology Innovation in the Netherlands.

60 Degrees Pharma Announces Pricing of IPO

Washington, DC-based 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals announced the pricing of its IPO at $5.30 per unit to raise about $7.5 million. The company focuses on developing therapeutics for infectious diseases.

Current Surgical Receives $400K Grant from National Cancer Institute

Washington, D.C.-based Current Surgical, a Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS @ Washington, DC resident company, received a $400,000 grant from the NIH’s National Cancer Institute to support the development of its technology. The funds will be used for preclinical work to develop the company’s smart surgical needle technology.

IGC Full-Year Financials: Launches Phase IIb in Canada for Alzheimer’s Study

Potomac, Md.-based IGC Pharma reported its full-year financials and company update, which ended March 31, 2023. The company reported about $911,000 in revenue for the year, announced a $3 million private placement of its common stock, and a $12 million revolving line of credit from the Hong Kong Branch of O-Bank Co. It also received approval to launch a Phase IIb trial of IGC-AD1 in Canada for Alzheimer’s disease.

Thermo Fisher: Quarterly Dividend, New Board, New Product

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per common share, payable on October 13, 2023. The company also announced Jenny Johnson, President and CEO of Franklin Resources, was elected to its board of directors. Thermo Fisher also launched Scalable Diomni Enterprise Software for molecular diagnostic labs and test developers.

In the Clinic

RegenxBio Highlights AAV Pipeline for Retinal and Duchenne Programs

Rockville, Md.-based RegenxBio announced new interim data from the Phase II AAVIATE and ALTITUDE trials of ABBV-RGX-314 suprachoroidal delivery in wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy. The company also reported a comprehensive overview of its Duchenne program including initial safety data for RGX-202 and a new exon 53 program.

New Products

Thermo Fisher Launches Scalable Diomni Software for Molecular Diagnostic Labs

Thermo Fischer Scientific launched scalable Diomni Enterprise Software, allowing molecular diagnostics labs and test developers to connect workflow steps within one interface. It unites labs with instruments, assays, and Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) in one system.

Research Roundup

U of V Research: How Hearing Cells Self-Repair

Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have found out how cells that allow us to hear can repair themselves after damage. The “hair cells” in the inner ear were generally believed, once damaged, to be damaged forever. But the research suggests they can repair themselves from damage caused by loud noises or other forms of stress.

Johns Hopkins Research: Hearing the Sounds of Silence

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University published research suggesting that silence is something that can be heard. In short, auditory illusions appear to have physiological activity much like actually hearing sounds.

Virginia Tech Research: Improved Bioimaging with Quantum Photonics

Researchers from Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering and College of Science developed a nanodevice that can turn low-energy light into high-energy light across a broad spectrum. This use of quantum photonics can improve bioimaging.

Johns Hopkins Research: Steering Immune Cells with Light

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine designed a blue light-guided system to steer immune cells. This has the potential to guide immune cells to the location of an infection or developing cancer.

Johns Hopkins Research: Mouse Model that Mimics Frailty in Mammals

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine developed a mouse model that mimics the development of frailty as mammals, including humans, age. The study focuses on a biochemical pathway involving interleukin 6 (IL-6), an inflammatory protein associated with frailty, and how activating it affects mitochondria.

The NIMML Institute Publishes Computational Model of CD4+ T Cell Immune Signaling

Blacksburg, Va.-based The NIMML Institute published an article, “Computational modeling of complex bioenergetic mechanisms that modulate CD4+ T cell effector and regulatory functions” in Nature Systems Biology and Applications. The model simulates clinically relevant outcomes to help identify novel drug targets for a range of diseases.

NIH/NEI Research: Low-Dose Atropine No Better than Placebo to Slow Myopia

Research out of the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), published research suggesting that low-dose atropine eyedrops were no better than placebo at slowing myopia (nearsightedness) progression and elongation of the eye in children treated for two years. These findings contradict data from recent trials, primarily in East Asia.

On the Hill – Regulatory and Advocacy

FDA: Approved Opill for Pregnancy Prevention

The FDA approved Opill (norgestrel) tablet for nonprescription use to prevent pregnancy. This progestin-only oral contraceptive pill is offered by Laboratoire HRA Pharma, which was recently acquired by Perrigo Company.

People on the Move

March of Dimes Names Dr. Elizabeth Cherot President and CEO

Arlington, Va.’s March of Dimes National Board of Trustees announced Dr. Elizabeth Cherot was appointed its new President and CEO. Dr. Cherot previously led the organization’s Office of Maternal and Child Health Impact.

Maryland Tech Council Appoints New Chair and Board Members

The Maryland Tech Council elected Brad Stewart, SVP of Business Development at Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, as its Board Chair, and Steven M. Walker, Head of Global Marketing for Early Portfolio Strategy at GlaxoSmithKline, as Chairman of Maryland Life Sciences.

Office of Naval Research Appoints Capt. Andy “Big Tuna” Berner as CO

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global, based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, announced Capt. Andy “Big Tuna” Berner as new commanding officer. He takes over for Capt. Matthew Farr.