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.
A few weeks ago, we wrote about how the BioHealth Capital Region’s (BHCR) biotech sector is booming. Advanced biomanufacturing, cell and gene therapy, vaccine development, and the medtech industries have all seen record growth over the past few years.
AstraZeneca is reportedly in talks to shift production of its coronavirus vaccine to a Maryland-based factory operated by Catalent, Inc.
Clene Inc. (NASDAQ: CLNN) (along with its subsidiaries, “Clene”) and its wholly owned subsidiary Clene Nanomedicine, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the treatment of neurodegenerative disease using bioenergetic nanocatalysis, today announced that it is currently in negotiations to lease a 75,000 square foot facility in Elkton, Maryland, a few miles north of its current manufacturing site. Subject to the successful consummation of those negotiations, the site will be redeveloped to support Clene’s unique manufacturing needs; this redevelopment will enable the Company to materially increase its manufacturing capacity preparatory to the expected data release in H1 2022 from its Phase 3 registration trial evaluating CNM-Au8 as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Dr. Vipin Garg, Altimmune’s (ALT) CEO since 2018 and a biotech industry veteran, has successfully led the publicly-traded company through these turbulent pandemic waters. We recently caught up with Dr. Garg to discuss the pandemic, Altimmune’s deep product pipeline, his unique perspectives on the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR), and the state of the U.S. supply chain and biotech manufacturing ecosystem.
The ongoing pandemic response by the biopharma industry has been historic. Biotech companies and contract development and manufacturing organizations, along with the entire supply chain, have worked together to develop several SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, achieved Emergency Use Authorization(EUA) from the FDA, and began delivering desperately needed protection into people’s arms in less than a calendar year.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic greatly exposed a dearth of essential medications and significant vulnerabilities in the United States medical supply chain. Phlow Corporation aims to mitigate those weaknesses and manufacture essential generic medications at its Virginia manufacturing facility.
As one of the world’s top bio hubs, the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) is rife with life science assets. The region has been at the forefront of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine race and it is rapidly becoming a center for advanced manufacturing. The BHCR cell and gene therapy ecosystem is thriving, and the area boasts one of the richest and most diverse tapestries of life science talent and workforce development programming. What’s more, Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia are home to several dynamic university systems that keep the talent and tech transfer pipeline humming and full.
A new 12,000-square-foot Advanced Particle Manufacturing Plant in Prince William County’s Innovation Park will allow Ceres Nanosciences to boost production of its Nanotrap particles technology.
We spoke with Dr. Emad Hassan, Chief Science Officer at Modavar Pharmaceuticals (Modavar), about the importance of effective, impactful leadership that sparks innovation and productivity. Modavar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Indian pharma giant Cadila Pharmaceuticals. Modavar recently opened a brand new, state-of-the-art, 22,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland, adding a prestigious new life science company to the blossoming Frederick biotech hub.
