As RTP continues to solidify its position as a top hub for contract manufacturing organizations, the industry is making the pathway to biomanufacturing employment even easier by offering high school students in two counties the opportunity to earn a BioWork certificate. Additionally, Novo Nordisk, a sponsor of the BioWork expansion, could be making its expansion with an addition to the company’s facility in Durham.
It was a big week for the research community in the BioHealth Capital Region, with the White House and U.S. Department of Commerce designating Baltimore as one of 31 tech hubs nationally, out of 400 applicants. BioBuzz is proud to be part of the Baltimore Tech Hub, now moving into Phase 2 of the process, where between five and 10 of the Tech Hubs will receive a grant of between $50 million and $70 million each. Richmond also was named a Tech Hub to specialize in affordable drug development, and a southwest Virginia group gained funding through the program for its work on advanced manufacturing and materials. BioBuzz will be instrumental in linking talent to funded research and growing companies in a way that visibly tracks impact across the BHCR.
iQure Raises $1.2 Million, Penn Researchers win $10 million breast cancer research funding and more life science news for the Philadelphia Region. Read on for more details.
The leaves are changing, however slowly, and the Oktoberfest vibes were warm at our event Thursday night at Brookeville Beer Farm. Thanks to everyone who came to chat, build, snack and sip–including many from this week’s companies in the news!
A Research Triangle Park firm is taking charge in the fight against fentanyl addiction. Cessation Therapeutics received a $14.8 million grant to support the development of its anti-fentanyl monoclonal antibody, CSX-1004. G1 Therapeutics’ Cosela won additional support as a myeloid supportive agent in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer. New research coming from Duke University could reshape the treatment landscape for multiple sclerosis.
More insights into Long Covid, BMS’s Opdivo approved for Melanoma and more Philly Region life science stories. Check it out.
Bristol Myers Squibb bought Mirati for $4.8 billion, Courage co-founders awarded $40 million NIH grant and AstraZeneca awarded 8 postdocs special research awards. For those and more Philadelphia region life science stories, keep reading.
Several new services and products developed in the RTP area are hitting the market, including a diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s developed by LabCorp, as well as Metabalon’s Liver Fibrosis and Kidney Function Discovery Panels. Merakris Therapeutics also unveiled its new personalized autologous serum tears that can be delivered to a patient’s front door. Area scientists also advanced research into peanut allergies and triple-negative breast cancer.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore this week advocated for the direct linkage of policy to economic activity in a fireside chat on the life sciences at the University of Maryland BioPark. He pointed to asset identification and specific investment decisions that lead to local victories and industrial leadership–that’s the exact goal of the BMoreBio initiative. As Gov. Moore observed, the “peanut butter politics,” of spreading money around evenly will not make Maryland, or the broader BioHealth Capital Region, win. In Virginia, Sen. Mark Warner highlighted the strength of regional companies that innovate at the junction between federally-identified large-scale needs and innovation that drives biotech company growth. That focus on unique regional strengths is our focus every week at BioBuzz.
As a final and related note, the Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 Grant Application deadline is Wednesday, October 18! Life science companies are strongly encouraged to apply. More here.
Penn’s Karikó and Weissman win 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine, CHOP & Penn researchers receive $50 million NIH grant to study environmental influence on children’s health and more. Continue reading for more Philadelphia Region life science stories.
