Weekly Quick Hits (BioHealth Capital Region) – Week of March 6, 2023
By Sarah Ellinwood, Alex Keown, and Mark Terry
March 10, 2023
Funding and Collaborations
IIVS and Toxys Partner to Offer ToxTracker® for In Vitro Genetic Toxicity Evaluation
The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) and Toxys have entered into a license agreement that allows IIVS to offer the ToxTracker® assay, an innovative in vitro assay that can identify genotoxic and potentially carcinogenic properties of novel and existing drugs, (agro)chemicals, cosmetics and other substances without the use of animal testing.
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals Signs Agreement With UI Pharmaceuticals for Formulation and Clinical Batch Manufacture of Ropidoxuridine for Brain Tumor Clinical Trial
Shuttle Pharmaceuticals, a Rockville-based specialty pharmaceutical company that is improving the outcomes of cancer patients treated with radiation therapy (RT), has signed an agreement with the University of Iowa (UI) Pharmaceuticals for formulation development and clinical batch manufacture of drug capsules of Ropidoxuridine. This is expected to be the final step required in the drug manufacturing process for use in Shuttle Pharma’s upcoming Phase II clinical trial evaluating Ropidoxuridine in combination with radiation therapy for the treatment of glioblastoma. The company plans to submit an IND to the FDA to start the trial at the end of Q2.
In the Clinic.
CEL-SCI Shares Phase 3 Data for Multikine Therapy
Vienna-based CEL-SCI shared data from its Phase 3 study, which they call “the largest study ever conducted in newly diagnosed locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).” The data, which showed a 43% survival extension, were presented at the 10th European Congress on Head & Neck Oncology (ECHNO) in Lisbon, Portugal. CEL-SCI plans to submit a BLA to the FDA and other regulatory agencies for approval of Multikine®* (Leukocyte Interleukin, Injection) in the treatment of newly diagnosed SCCHN in patients deemed at lower risk for recurrence (LR).
New Products
InVita Healthcare Technologies Deploys an Industry-First Counterfeit Drug Testing Software Solution
InVita Healthcare Technologies, a leading provider of software solutions for healthcare, blood centers, public health, and public safety organizations, deployed PharmaDefense, the industry’s first purpose-built software solution for counterfeit drug testing at a leading pharmaceutical company. This new tool will enable teams to build legally defensible cases, support discovery requests, and share data across testing laboratories worldwide to identify illegal manufacturers.
Research Roundup
Johns Hopkins Researchers Send Heart Tissue to Space to Research Aging, Impact of Space Flights
Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers, along with NASA, are poised to send human heart “tissue-on-a-chip” specimens into space as early as March. The project is designed to monitor the tissue for changes in heart muscle cells’ mitochondria and ability to contract in low-gravity conditions.
People on the Move
MaxCyte Forms Scientific Advisory Board
MaxCyte, a leading cell-based medicines and life sciences company, established a new Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) that comprises distinguished researchers and industry leaders from around the world. The SAB will provide scientific and strategic advice to MaxCyte’s executive team on scientific and clinical development, including the advancement of the company’s proprietary ExPERT™platform.
Charlottesville-based TearSolutions Builds Advisory Boards, Expands Leadership Team
TearSolutions, a clinical-stage ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company developing a therapies for the treatment of Dry Eye Disease (DED), called Lacripep, announced that it has established a Strategic Advisory Board (SAB), appointed five Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) with DED expertise to its Medical Advisory Board (MAB) and promoted James Cook to Chief Development Officer.
BioHealth Innovations Bids Sarah Miller, VP of Economic Development, Fairwell as She Moves to New Opportunites
Miller has played an integral role in BHI’s mission to accelerate the commercialization of BioHealth technologies and worked tirelessly to build and maintain strong relationships with industry stakeholders and partners. The team said “her dedication and hard work will be greatly missed, and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
BioBuzz is a community led, experience focused, biotech and life sciences media and events company. BioBuzz highlights regional breaking news, industry professionals, jobs, events, and resources for business and career growth. Their weekly newsletter is subscribed to by thousands in the BioHealth Capital Region and Greater Philadelphia as the go-to for industry updates.
