News and Events - 2/26/15
TOP STORY:  Zalgen Labs' technology approved by WHO and U.S. FDA
                         for Emergency Use as first rapid test for Ebola
Germantown's Zalgen Labs announces its technology, a key component of the VHFC's ReEBOV RDT for Ebola, has received approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) and authorization for emergency use from the U.S. FDA.  Zalgen's platform enables POC detection of Ebola within 15 minutes while the only other approved tests take up to 72 hours for collection, transport andt PCR analysis at central labs. Zalgen Labs received funding from the BioMaryland Center and Montgomery County to validate this test in Sierra Leone last November.
BioMaryland News
Gaithersburg's Vaxin, a clinical stage vaccine development company, secures $16M in new financing and announces its acquisition ITS, a novel T-cell vaccine company based in London, to accelerate Vaxin's development of vaccines for public health and biodefense.

Baltimore is the new HQ location of Vaccinogen, a cancer vaccine company clinically testing a treatment for preventing the recurrence of colon cancer and potentially other solid tumors. The company recently closed its second $10M tranche of an $80M raise. 

Gaithersburg's NexImmune, developing novel immuno-therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, cancer and other related diseases, raises $2M.  The company has previously raised $3.2 million from investors including Pfizer Venture Investments.

Baltimore's Ceracor, a clinical stage company focused on treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders, acquires worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize a Phase 2-ready kappa opioid receptor antagonist (KOR) from Eli Lilly and Co.

Gaithersburg's Opgen, a molecular Dx company focused on antibiotic resistance and multi drug resistant organisms (MDROs), raises $1.2M to advance its technologies.

Bethesda's Northwest Biotherapeutics Phase III Trial of DCVax®-L for GBM Brain Cancer ia approved to proceed in Canada and currently is under way at two sites.

Aberdeen's U.S. Army Edgewood Biological Chemical Center is working on a commercial technology that will allow soldiers to accurately and rapidly detect an array of chemical and biological hazards and then transmit those results to their higher command.

Gaithersburg's MedImmune and NIST partner to advance biological therapy development. MedImmune also announced it has joined NIH Centers for Accelerated Innovations program as the program's first pharma partner.

Johns Hopkins APL receives $4M to develop a next generation retinal prothesis system.

Rockville's Sanaria expands logistics partnership with Cryoport to provide a reliable and effective distribution strategy to bring to market an effective preventative vaccine for malaria.

The first cohort of students studying environmental entrepreneurship recently completed their first semester at IMET, the Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology, which soon also will have incubator space available for these entrepreneurs or other companies.

MdBio Foundation announces three competitions for students studying in STEM fields. 

The University of Maryland's Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) has issued a RFP for leasing their 9,000 square foot GMP facility in Rockville.

Does your tablet/capsule cGMP manufacturing facility enable you to incorporate freeze- drying into your process?  Do you have experience establishing QS Regulation/GMP compliant medical device manufacturing facilities?  If you have either capability or expertise and are located in Maryland, please contact the BioMaryland Center.  

BioMaryland's market research database resources are available to Maryland biotechnology entrepreneurs developing business plans in both Rockville and Baltimore.  To use these resources, please schedule an appointment in advance.
Upcoming Deadlines and Events
    2/26  Science in the City (UMD BioPark) - Baltimore
    2/27  Awards Nomination Deadline (TCM) - Top Life Sci Co; Emerging Co; CEO; CFO
      3/5  Spring Networking Event (WIB) - Rockville
    3/10  Entrepreneur Office Hours (Mtech) - College Park
    3/11  Successfully Team with NSA Tech Transfer (T2 Speaker Series) - Rockville
    3/13  TEDCO Funding Briefing - Columbia
    3/16  Award Nomination Deadline (ICOY) - Top Incubator Company of the Year 
    3/16  50th AAPS Arden Conference - Baltimore (Poster Abstract Deadline 3/4) 
    3/17  Entrepreneur Office Hours (IMET/ Mtech) - Baltimore
    3/20  2015 Chesapeake Chapter Meeting (SRA Intl) - Baltimore
    3/24  Career Fair (15th NCI CCR-FYI Colloquium) - Rockville
    3/25  MidAtlantic Life Sciences Showcase (ISPE) - Rockville  
Look Who's Hiring

        Sanaria (Rockville)
                                                                                                     More positions listed on 
        Sucampo (Bethesda)                                                                          the
                                                                                                 BioMaryland Career Center
        U.S. Pharmacopeial (Rockville)
                                                                     
Making a Difference

PPE and oral rehydration product donations from Creatv MicroTech and CERA arrive in 
Sierra Leone to help Stop Ebola through the coordinated efforts of BioMaryland, DBED, MEMA, GOCI, IOCC, and LIFT.


The BioMaryland Center is the office within Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development which connects life sciences companies, academic and federal researchers with each other and with potential sources of capital, partners, and clients. 

The Center promotes the state's industry domestically and abroad and also provides business plan assistance, market research databases, site selection information, and other resources.    

 

We invite you to send us your BioMaryland industry news, and to visit our offices in Baltimore or Rockville if you are a Maryland life sciences organization seeking assistance or if you are interested in learning more about Maryland's vibrant life sciences industry.
BioMaryland Center
401 East Pratt Street
7th Floor  |  Baltimore, MD 21202
410.767.0505

9600 Gudelsky Drive
Rockville, MD 20850
240.314.6171
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