Located in the northern part of Maryland along the I-270 Technology Corridor, Frederick County is home to more than 80 bioscience companies. With proximity to Fort Detrick, home to the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, the county boasts a powerful environment of life sciences intellectual prowess.
Over a period of four days, life sciences companies from across the globe will descend on San Diego for the annual Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) meeting. Multiple companies from Maryland, as well as the Department of Commerce, will be among them, showcasing the strength of the BioHealth Capital Region.
Frederick, Maryland has its fair share of impressive features: it’s just 40 miles from both Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, it’s home to more than 10 craft breweries, and it’s also the site of over 80 biotech businesses.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced the signing of a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire an approximately 48,000 square foot research and development (R&D) facility in Frederick, MD to support Tonix’s expanding infectious disease pipeline, including TNX-1800, a live replicating viral vaccine designed to protect against COVID-19, TNX-801, a live vaccine designed to protect against smallpox and monkeypox, and TNX-3500, a small molecule antiviral to inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2.
We previously highlighted the need for industry-academia partnerships to recruit and retain talent in the BioHealth Capital Region. As qualified life sciences job candidates continue to be in high demand in the region, institutes such as Frederick Community College (FCC) have stepped up to the plate to help fill the local talent pipeline and diversify the next generation of the workforce.
Beckham Gumbin Ventures (BGV), a commercial real estate investor and developer, is beginning construction on brand new R&D laboratory spec suites and amenities at Ballenger Bio (321 Ballenger Center Drive) in Frederick, Maryland. Ballenger Bio will offer several 3,000 to 7,000 SF R&D laboratory spec suites, with the ability to combine up to 37,000 SF of contiguous space on a single floor. Building such spec labs will allow for growing biotech companies to focus on their business as opposed to construction costs and timelines.
The BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) has been witnessing a strong upward growth trajectory in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened the need for increased research, diagnostic and domestic manufacturing needs in the region. But while workforce needs are in demand, the right skills are in short supply.
Kemp Proteins, a leading provider of gene-to-protein and monoclonal antibody development services, announced today that the company has appointed Carter Michell, Ph.D. as its new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Carter will lead the scientific and technological development of Kemp Proteins as the company continues its impressive growth following its purchase by Six02 Bioservices in January 2019.
The coronavirus pandemic has had profound negative impacts on large swaths of the U.S. economy. However, certain sectors like the life sciences have remained steady or have even grown, as many of these companies have pivoted to producing COVID-19-related tests, materials, therapeutics, and vaccines.
Photo Credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University Good News Stories Emerging from the Capital Region Show Solidarity Amid Coronavirus Endless social media scrolls, 24/7 news channels, newspapers, and radio [….]
