Monthly Archives

October 2020

Oct 28
0

BioBuzz: Strengths of Our Region: Combating Infectious Diseases Forum Roundup

By | BioBuzz, News | No Comments

Over the past nine months, more than $7 billion in federal money has poured into the BioHealth Capital Region in support of therapies, diagnostics, and vaccines against COVID-19. In that short time, the region has shown its importance in halting the spread of the ongoing pandemic.

At the 6th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum, COVID-19 was a central focus of attendees and panelists. One panel, Strength of Our Region: Combating Infectious Diseases, included representatives from four companies in the region that provided an overview of the region’s role in combating the novel coronavirus as well as other infectious threats. Company representatives from Novavax, Emergent BioSolutions, BioFactura, and Aperiomics pointed to the work conducted by their organizations in COVID, as well as other infectious diseases, including Ebola, influenza, RSV, and SARS. The panel was moderated by Karen Smith, chief medical officer of Emergent BioSolutions, who said she was struck early on in the pandemic that companies in the BioHealth Capital region battling the pandemic are “all in the same storm, just in slightly different boats.” She said they are all trying to figure out a solution to this pandemic but in different manners due to their areas of expertise.

“Our organizations are different, and the places we started are different,” she said.

Click here to read more via BioBuzz

Oct 27
0

REGENXBIO TO RECEIVE $80.0 MILLION MILESTONE PAYMENT FROM NOVARTIS AG

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– Milestone payment based on achievement of $1.0 billion in cumulative net sales of Zolgensma® –
 

– Zolgensma is the first gene therapy based on REGENXBIO’s NAV® Technology Platform approved by the FDA and other regulatory authorities –

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX), a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to improve lives through the curative potential of gene therapy based on its proprietary NAV® Technology Platform, today announced that it will receive a milestone payment of $80.0 million from Novartis AG based upon the achievement of $1.0 billion in cumulative net sales of Zolgensma. REGENXBIO expects to recognize this revenue in the third quarter of 2020.

“Zolgensma is a transformative, one-time gene therapy for the treatment of pediatric patients with SMA, a debilitating and potentially deadly disease, and the first approved gene therapy based on REGENXBIO’s NAV Technology. We believe that this achievement provides further validation of the broad potential of NAV Technology to improve the lives of patients in need,” said Kenneth T. Mills, President and Chief Executive Officer of REGENXBIO.  “We are pleased to have contributed to a therapy that has impacted the lives of over 700 patients with SMA and their families around the world.”

Zolgensma uses REGENXBIO’s proprietary NAV AAV9 vector and was designed and developed by AveXis, Inc., now known as Novartis Gene Therapies. In May 2019, Zolgensma was granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in pediatric patients who are less than two years of age, and has since been approved in Europe, Japan and other countries. REGENXBIO continues to receive tiered royalties on sales of Zolgensma. Since FDA approval in 2019, REGENXBIO has earned more than $140.0 million in revenues from royalties and commercial milestone payments related to Zolgensma through the third quarter of 2020.

About REGENXBIO Inc.

REGENXBIO is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company seeking to improve lives through the curative potential of gene therapy. REGENXBIO’s NAV Technology Platform, a proprietary adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene delivery platform, consists of exclusive rights to more than 100 novel AAV vectors, including AAV7, AAV8, AAV9 and AAVrh10. REGENXBIO and its third-party NAV Technology Platform Licensees are applying the NAV Technology Platform in the development of a broad pipeline of candidates in multiple therapeutic areas.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements express a belief, expectation or intention and are generally accompanied by words that convey projected future events or outcomes such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “design,” “intend,” “expect,” “could,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “would” or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to, among other things, REGENXBIO’s cash flow. REGENXBIO has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by REGENXBIO in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors REGENXBIO believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with REGENXBIO’s expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timing of enrollment, commencement and completion and the success of clinical trials conducted by REGENXBIO, its licensees and its partners, the timing of commencement and completion and the success of preclinical studies conducted by REGENXBIO and its development partners, the timely development and launch of new products, the ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of product candidates, the ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for product candidates and technology, trends and challenges in the business and markets in which REGENXBIO operates, the size and growth of potential markets for product candidates and the ability to serve those markets, the rate and degree of acceptance of product candidates, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health crises on REGENXBIO’s business, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of REGENXBIO. Refer to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of REGENXBIO’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and comparable “risk factors” sections of REGENXBIO’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, which have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on REGENXBIO or its businesses or operations. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to rely too heavily on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. REGENXBIO does not undertake any obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Zolgensma® is a registered trademark of Novartis Gene Therapies. All other trademarks referenced herein are registered trademarks of REGENXBIO.

Contacts:

Tricia Truehart
Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
347-926-7709
ttruehart@regenxbio.com

Investors:
Eleanor Barisser, 212-600-1902
eleanor@argotpartners.com

Media:
David Rosen, 212-600-1902
david.rosen@argotpartners.com

(PRNewsfoto/REGENXBIO Inc.)

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regenxbio-to-receive-80-0-million-milestone-payment-from-novartis-ag-301160023.html

SOURCE REGENXBIO Inc.

Oct 26
0

5 Questions with John Newby, CEO, Virginia Bio

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“5 Questions With…” is a weekly BioBuzz series where we reach out to interesting people in the BioHealth Capital Region to share a little about themselves, their work, and maybe something completely unrelated. This edition features 5 Questions John Newby, CEO, Virginia Bio.

John Newby is the CEO at Virginia Bio, the statewide non-profit trade association for the life science industry. Approximately 300 companies spanning biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, med tech, diagnostics, digital health, bioinformatics, agriculture, and industrial bio and related fields are based in Virginia, mainly clustered around research universities and medical institutions. Virginia Bio is the sole state affiliate and works closely with key national industry organizations BIO, AdvaMed, MDMA, PhRMA and We Work for Health.

Newby was formerly the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS), where he led an 850-member Agency located across 50 Virginia locations, delivering employment, education, benefits, behavioral health, and long term health care services to Virginia’s Reservists, Guardsmen, transitioning service members and 725,000 veterans. Prior to leading VDVS Newby practiced corporate, intellectual property, and Hatch-Waxman biopharmaceutical law at international law firms in Richmond and Washington DC, and at a multinational company. Newby previously commanded an Air Force special operations unit supporting the U.S. Army’s 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups (Airborne), and served in Iraq as an aviator aboard the Boeing B-1B Lancer strategic bomber. Newby received a B.S. from the United States Air Force Academy, with Military Distinction, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

1. You recently transitioned into the BioHealth world after various roles with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Share with us a little about your career path.

To be honest, I probably do not follow what most define as a “career path”; I probably more accurately adhere to a “career philosophy.”  Coming from a military family and being a veteran myself, I have always held a philosophy of and desire for public service, doing things that focus on a larger community and a mission worth supporting.  After leaving the military I went to law school with the same thought in mind: get some skills that would allow one to serve in innumerable capacities.  And glad I did!  It allowed me to practice in the biopharmaceutical space, do pro bono work for veterans filing claims for disability compensation, and led me to an opportunity to run Virginia’s Department of Veterans Services.  And, ultimately, brought me back to the life science community with a wonderful opportunity to lead the Virginia Biotechnology Association, our state’s premier organization supporting all aspects of life science.

2. You’ve been with Virginia Bio for a little over a year. Tell us about your role.

Our mission at Virginia Bio is to promote innovation and growth through strengthened networks, advocacy, capital investment, talent development, and retention, and advance the next generation of leaders. We are a member-driven organization comprising over 270 organizations representing all facets of biotechnology: MedTech, diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines; research institutions; and investors. My role is simple: to support our Board and lead a team of professionals to execute that mission. I am primarily focused on network building within the BioHealth Capital Region, attracting capital to Virginia, and ensuring that our state policymakers appreciate and support our industry as we continue to innovate and save lives.

3. The industry in Virginia goes beyond just NoVa. What are some of your favorite stories from companies in the Commonwealth that most of the BioHealth Capital Region wouldn’t know about?

Yes, the industry goes well beyond one region!  For instance, the Richmond area is home to the 34-acre VA Bio+Tech Park, occupied by 70 companies, research institutes, and state/federal laboratories.  The Richmond region also has several major life science employers, such as Phlow Corporation (recent recipient of a $354 million BARDA grant to domestically produce certain API’s), Kaleo, FUJIFILM Wako Chemicals, and GlaxoSmithKlein Consumer Healthcare.

The Charlottesville area has an industry cluster of 179 firms and organizations in biotech and medical devices related industries that employ 3,033 workers, many with connection to the University of Virginia. Over the past 10 years, the region has seen nine major exits from companies within the biotech industry, including the 2018 acquisition of Type Zero by Dexcom and the Jazz Pharmaceutical’s 2019 $315m acquisition of Cavion.

Blacksburg is home to The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (VTCRC) situated on 230-acres with 180 resident research, technology, and support companies. Roanoke’ Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, adjacent to Carilion Clinic, has state-of-the-art facilities for molecular medicine, imaging, high-capacity data handling, and human performance analysis. In addition, the Virginia-Maryland School of Veterinary Medicine is located in Blacksburg, VA.

Hampton Roads, home to 510 life science companies that employ 8,787 workers, has experienced recent investments in a life science sector. Three research parks supporting expansion of the life sciences in the region include the Innovation Research Park @ Old Dominion University, the Tech Center Research Park in Newport News, and the future VABeachBio Research Park

And, of course, Northern Virginia itself, which has made significant investments to grow the life science sector to include the 9,000 sqft. Science accelerator and the 30,000 sq. ft. Northern Virginia BioScience Center expected to open in November 2021. The region is home to George Mason University, George Washington University Loudoun Campus, Northern Virginia Community College, HHMI Janelia Research Campus, and Inova, Sentara, Novant Health System, and several life sciences companies. Northern Virginia is home to 1,517 life science companies that employ 30,555 workers including Ceres Nanoscience, Serpin Pharma, Vibrent, ATCC, and Aperiomics.

4. What do you say to companies looking to startup or relocate to the BioHealth Capital Region about the benefits of Virginia?

Three things: quality of life, talent pool, and bioscience assets.  Regarding the quality of life: many biotechnology companies, responding to economic and employee pressures, are seeking opportunities in more economically viable and hospitable places.  Look no further than Virginia!  Our real estate and lab spaces are ½ or less the price found in Boston and California, and our cost of living and quality of life are immeasurably better!  Our talent pipeline is primed by our major research universities at Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, and others.  And regarding our assets: while other bioscience clusters are pricing new companies out of the market and are running out of lab space, Virginia is growing, with nearly 50,000 new sq. ft. of lab space coming online in the next two years.  And in addition to a robust and supportive bioscience ecosystem, another Virginia asset is the geographic proximity to our industry’s key federal agencies including the NIH, FDA, BARDA, DARPA, and NSF.  Come join us!

5. If you weren’t in this line of work, what career would you want to pursue?

Any “career” (such as it may be) that will enable me to lead a team, brought together to achieve a mission that benefits society.  Leadership is a largely underappreciated asset until tragedy strikes or major change needs to be accomplished in a short amount of time.  It is often the difference between a successful organization and one that is, at best, ineffectual and, at worst, detrimental to the community.  So, I would be attracted to anything that allows me to team with people who are working towards something greater than themselves, like what we have here at Virginia Bio.

Thank you to John Newby for participating in the ‘5 Questions with BioBuzz’ series and stay tuned for more interviews with others from across the BioHealth Capital Region and beyond.

Oct 26
0

BrainScope Wins BioHealth Capital Region 5th Annual Crab Trap Competition

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– Winning company has FDA cleared device to rapidly and objectively assess brain injury at point of care.

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, October 26, 2020 – BrainScope, a medical neurotechnology company that is a pioneer in the use of A.I. and machine learning in the creation of biomarkers of brain injuries and disease was selected from five finalists as the company with the most commercial potential at the 5th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition. The Bethesda, Maryland based company is helping hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) objectively triage the almost five million patients that present each year with suspected mild traumatic brain injuries. BrainScope’s FDA-cleared decision support tool provides a rapid and accurate assessment of the likelihood of a brain bleed and a concussion, at the point of care.

BrainScope’s outstanding 99% sensitivity to a head CT scan is performed without the use of radiation, in a fraction of the time, and can improve ED efficiency and increase patient satisfaction. Clinical studies have demonstrated that when BrainScope is used in triage, hospitals can reduce the number of patients being sent for head CT by about a third. According to BrainScope CEO Susan Hertzberg, “We are honored to have been chosen from this exceptional group of companies and are very excited by the early reception we are receiving from the emergency medical community.  Now more than ever in this COVID-19 world, emergency departments need to have fast, accurate, objective tools to rapidly assess patient status and needed care.”

In addition to BrainScope, four other finalists – CARRTECH (Frederick),  Creative Bio-Peptides (Rockville),  innara Health (MO recognized as NCC-PDI medtech innovator), and KaloCyte (Baltimore) presented their innovative technologies related to safe delivery of medications from glass ampules, neurodegenerative and chronic pain therapies, neonatal feeding technologies, and dried bio-inspired artificial red blood cells.

Judging this year’s virtual pitch competition were Sally Allain, Head, JLABS @ Washington, DC, Christian Barrow, Executive Director, Life Sciences Banking, JP Morgan, Conley Jones, Senior Associate, Science & Technology, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Charles Andres, PhD, RAC, Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich,  Rosati Andrea Alms, MS, MBA, Fund Manager, BioHealth Capital Fund.  Rich Bendis, President & CEO, BioHealth Innovation, Inc. moderated the event and  stated “The judges made clear this was a particularly competitive group of finalists. We congratulate all the presenters on their progress to date and wish them great success in the future.”

BrainScope joins a group of prior winners all of whom have advanced their technologies and and raised funds since they presented at Crab Trap: Floreo (2019), Galen Robotics (2018), LifeSprout (2017) and Sonavex (2016).

2020 BioHealth Capital Region Pitch
A replay of the 5th Annual Crab Trap presentation can be viewed here.

Founded by BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) and MedImmune (now AstraZeneca) in 2016, the BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap annual pitch competition focuses on highlighting the region’s innovative companies working in biohealth.

About the BioHealth Capital Region

The BioHealth Capital Region, comprised of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC is the nation’s 4th largest biohealth cluster. The region encompasses more than 1800 life sciences companies, over 70 federal labs and world-class academic and research institutions. http://www.biohealthcapital.com/

About BrainScope

BrainScope is a medical neurotechnology company that is improving brain health by providing objective, diagnostic insights that enable better patient care. BrainScope is leading the way in the rapid and objective assessment of brain-related conditions, starting with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), utilizing multiple integrated assessment capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI), and digitization. The company’s technology supports the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Choosing Wisely® campaign to avoid CT scans of the head in emergency department patients with minor head injury. BrainScope’s innovative EEG-based, AI-driven platform empowers physicians to quickly make accurate head injury assessments, addressing the full spectrum of traumatic brain injuries from structural (brain bleed) to functional (concussion) injuries, providing for the first time a full picture of the injury, and doing so in less time and without radiation.

 

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Media contacts:
Richard Bendis
Phone: 301-637-6439, e-mail: rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org

Oct 26
0

NexImmune CEO Scott Carmer joins Rich Bendis on BioTalk

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Scott Carmer, CEO of NexImmune, joins BioTalk to discuss his career in the BioHealth Capital Region, recent Milestones, and his Long-Term Vision for the company

Listen now via Apple https://apple.co/3kxdC3J, Google https://bit.ly/31FlUPB, Spotify https://spoti.fi/3kuVszD, or TuneIN https://bit.ly/2TqqD3f

Mr. Carmer brings 25 years of diverse leadership experience as a senior executive and chief commercialization officer in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry, with top-tier companies including AstraZeneca, MedImmune, Genentech, Amgen and GlaxoSmithKline. At AstraZeneca, he led the US Specialty Care Division with responsibility for the company’s portfolio of specialty care biopharmaceutical products. Prior to AstraZeneca, Mr. Carmer served as Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations of MedImmune. Mr. Carmer was also Vice President, Rheumatology Sales & Marketing for Genentech, where he was responsible for the US launches of Rituxan and ACTEMRA. Prior to Genentech, Mr. Carmer held several leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Amgen, leading to his role as Executive Director of Global Marketing. Mr. Carmer started his career at GlaxoSmithKline, where he held key roles in Global Brand Management, Business Development, Commercial Operations, Managed Care and Field Sales.

Click here to download the transcript.

Oct 21
0

BioBuzz: 5 Questions with Martha Schoonmaker, Executive Director, Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC) · BioBuzz

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“5 Questions With…” is a weekly BioBuzz series where we reach out to interesting people in the BioHealth Capital Region to share a little about themselves, their work, and maybe something completely unrelated. This edition features 5 Questions Martha Schoonmaker, Executive Director, Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC).

Martha Schoonmaker is the first Executive Director for the PIC MC Foundation, the entity that develops, manages, and markets the Germantown campus on behalf of Montgomery College for company locations. PIC MC is an integrated academic, business, and research campus and is the only community college with a hospital, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, located as the anchor resident partner.

Click here to read more via BioBuzz

Oct 21
0

6th Annual “Virtual” BioHealth Capital Region Forum Recap

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Recordings of Keynotes, Panels and the Fireside Chat Available Online

The 6th Annual BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) Forum like many events in 2020, went virtual this year with over 1,200 online registrants and 59 speakers coming together. The Forum, which has been held at AstraZeneca (Formerly MedImmune) since 2014 in Gaithersburg, MD, brought together the BioHealth Industry with a full slate featuring leaders of industry, academia, and government. The common message throughout the entire agenda was how this region has continued to operate and innovate while working to help the world solve the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The 2020 Crab Trap Competition, typically held during the Forum, will take place at Noon on October 21st. The Crab Trap focuses on companies in therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, healthcare services, e-health, mobile health, electronic medical records, health informatics, and BioHealth cyber security. This years’ finalists include BrainScope, CARRTECH, Creative Bio-Peptides, innara HEALTH, and KaloCyte.

The entire 6th Annual BioHealth Capital Region is currently available by visiting https://eventmobi.com/biohealth2020.

NOTE: If you haven’t already registered, please enter your information for immediate access. Click on the “Agenda” line to browser all the videos now available.

Oct 21
0

BioBuzz: Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum Showcases Robust Growth Across 4th Largest Biopharma Cluster

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By Alex Keown

The Sixth Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum brought together industry leaders from across the region who discussed the accomplishments and strengths of the region as its member companies continue to innovate new therapies and medicines in one of the strongest bio-hub regions in the United States.

The forum, which drew more than 1,100 registrants and included 59 world-class speakers and panelists, had a different look this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of gathering together in the heart of the BioHealth Capital Region at AstraZeneca’s Gaithersburg facility, the forum was held virtually. The event offered multiple panels and keynotes that highlighted advancements made in the region across several areas, including cell and gene therapies, the use of artificial intelligence and the ongoing battle against COVID-19.

Rich Bendis, President, and CEO of BioHealth Innovation noted that nearly $7 billion dollars in investments over the past six months has flooded the BioHealth Capital Region, a top-four biopharma cluster in the U.S., in the last several months due to federal funding of multiple COVID-19-related therapeutics in development. Bendis made the comment during a fireside chat with former U.S. Rep. Jim Greenwood, who recently stepped down from his role as President and CEO of Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) after 16 years. Greenwood, who now serves as a Senior Policy Advisor for DLA Piper, said it was no accident that the BioHealth Capital Region has seen such an influx of investment capital.

Click here to read the entire article via BioBuzz.

Oct 20
0

BioHealth Innovation Appoints Sally Allain, Joseph F. Sanchez, PhD, and Robert Silverman to Board of Directors

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New Members Continue BHI’s Commitment and Mission in the BioHealth Capital Region

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, October 20, 2020 – The Board of Directors of BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) unanimously approved the appointments of three new board members, Sally Allain, Head of JLABS @ Washington, DC, Joseph F. Sanchez, PhD,  Director, Science Engagement, R&D North America, AstraZeneca, and Robert Silverman, Chief Business Officer, Alloy Therapeutics, Inc. BHI’s leadership also thanked outgoing Board of Director member Tracey Vetterick, formally of AstraZeneca for her contributions to the organization and support of many years.

“I am privileged to welcome Sally, Joe, and Bob to our Board of Directors,” said Richard Bendis, BHI President and CEO. “They all bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our already strong collection of leaders. We are excited to incorporate their unique skillsets to continue in our mission in growing the BioHealth Capital Region industry.”

Sally Allain

SALLY ALLAIN as Head of JLABS @ Washington, DC, sets the strategic direction and oversees all operational activities for JLABS in the greater Washington metro region, including Maryland and Virginia. In this role, Sally is responsible for the process of evaluating and selecting a strong portfolio of innovators for JLABS @ Washington, DC, and building strategic partnerships with corporate, academic, government and industry organizations that aim to strengthen the region’s life sciences innovation network.

Sally joined JLABS after serving as Senior Director, Strategy & Operations on the Global External Innovation team at Johnson & Johnson, where she supported portfolio management and reporting and strategic business development efforts across the organization. Prior, Sally was with Janssen R&D, Immunology, where she managed a team in research operations and alliance management for the early discovery to early development portfolio. Sally understands well the needs of healthcare entrepreneurs, having launched her research career at a San-Diego based biotech startup and then working internationally for a UK-based governmental economic development agency creating early-stage biotech and academic collaborative programs aimed at accelerating the development of products to address the needs of patients and consumers.

Sally received her MBA from the University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business, where she was recognized by ‘Poets and Quants’ as one of the ‘Top 50’ EMBA students across US & International Programs in 2016; a Master of Science Degree in Microbiology / Immunology from Virginia Tech; and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Virginia Tech.

Joseph F Sanchez PhD

Joseph F. Sanchez, PhD, joined AstraZeneca in November 2015 as a Learning & Talent Development Business Partner supporting their commercial biomanufacturing site in Frederick, MD.  There, he led the strategic business unit through the successful global regulatory defense in support of (3) commercial product launches and multiple clinical entities.  As a career research scientist and educator, Joe has a long history of building productive partnerships between academia, government and industry peers to address the challenges of strategic workforce preparedness for the biopharmaceutical industry as a whole.  To this end, he serves on multiple boards and advisory committees to grow and strengthen the talent pipeline in each of AstraZeneca’s R&D hubs, nationally.  Joe holds a PhD in Genetics from the University of Rochester (NY) and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Robert Silvermann

Robert Silverman, Since June 2020 Bob is the Chief Business Officer of Alloy Therapeutics.  Prior to joining Alloy, Bob was a long time business developer at Roche in many roles over the years.  Starting in 2018 Bob was in a uniquely established BD role in the Roche Diagnostics division, with dual responsibilities at both a divisional (strategy) and business area (operational) level, focusing on Companion Diagnostics.  From 2013 until 2018, Bob led the “External Drug Discovery Partnering” team of Roche Pharma Partnering.  Among other matters, Bob was responsible for delivering a structured and systematic approach to venture capital that translated to reach into drug discovery stage innovation via deals originating from venture capital interactions.  From 2010 – 2012, Bob was a project leader for Merger & Acquisitions, in the Strategic Partnering Group of Roche Pharma Partnering.

From 2003 – 2010 Bob was a Global Licensing Director for Roche Pharma Partnering, responsible for negotiating intellectual property based licensing agreements across the full value chain of the Pharma business, ranging from enabling technologies and early phase opportunities to clinical stage assets to promoting and divesting marketed products.  From 2001 – 2003 Bob was a Global Licensing Attorney. Bob joined Roche in 1993.  Early in his career at Roche Bob was Senior Counsel for the US Affiliate patent department.  Bob holds a degree in Chemistry from Franklin & Marshall College and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, and is a registered patent attorney.

About BioHealth Innovation, Inc.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is a public-private nonprofit organization focused on accelerating biohealth (therapeutic, diagnostic, medtech, and health IT) commercialization in the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, DC and Virginia). BHI’s team of expert Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, in-house venture analysts, and other professional staff work in the region to:

  • Facilitate technology commercialization,
  • Raise the profile of the industry cluster and individual organizations,
  • Increase access to capital for early stage and growing companies, and
  • Expand the pool of talent with commercially relevant experience.

BHI’s early stage company support includes market research and commercialization plan development; non-dilutive funding application assistance; a jobs board; event calendar; and introductions to investors, strategic partners, business advisors, and potential clients. BHI also manages wet lab space and provides referrals to other space for early stage companies, offers soft-landing support for international companies, and works with partners to co-host the annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum and an annual BioHealth Capital Region investor partnering conference. For more information: www.BioHealthInnovation.org

# # #

Media contacts:
Rich Bendis
Phone: 301-637-6439, email: rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org

Oct 16
0

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich joins Rich Bendis on BioTalk

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Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich joins BioTalk to discuss his Career Path, the BioHealth Industry and plans to support the Industry in MoCo.

Listen now on Apple https://apple.co/37dYS5Z, Google https://bit.ly/2IC4eOp, Spotify https://spoti.fi/2IDpN11, TuneIn https://bit.ly/31cjHuZ, and YouTube (Audio) https://bit.ly/31bsiho.

Marc Elrich was elected as Montgomery County Executive on Nov. 6, 2018. He had previously served three terms (12 years) on the Montgomery County Council as an at-large member, being first elected in 2006. He served as a Councilmember on the Takoma Park City Council from 1987-2006. For 17 years, he was a teacher at Rolling Terrace Elementary School in Takoma Park.

As a County Councilmember, he was the chief sponsor of several landmark pieces of legislation and programs. He led the successful effort to increase the Montgomery County minimum wage in coordination with surrounding jurisdictions to $11.50 an hour and subsequent legislation that will eventually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. He was the first elected official to propose building a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system throughout the County to address Montgomery’s transportation and environmental problems. Ground was broken in Fall 2018 for the first BRT line, which will run along Route 29.

Throughout his political career, he has been a champion of improving tenants’ rights and for making developers pay for a greater share of the infrastructure cost to build schools and transportation solutions. He was a leader in the fight to preserve Ten Mile Creek in the Clarksburg area by limiting the proposed development that would have threatened the health of Montgomery County’s last best stream which flows into the County’s backup water reservoir.

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