| July 2008 |
LEGISLATIVE NEWS |
Following are the key points from Governor O’Malley’s BIO 2020 Initiative. Under this plan the State of Maryland would invest $1.1 billion in Maryland’s bioscience industry over the next ten years.
|
Alba Therapeutics’ (Baltimore) paper on its Phase IIa clinical trial was selected as the best in its class at the Digestive Disease Week Conference. Becton, Dickinson and Co. (Baltimore County) was cited as among the world’s most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute. The selection process included reviewing a company’s code of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories, evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; and looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship. Other companies on the list include General Electric Co.; Google, Inc. and McDonald’s Corporation. BioFortis (Columbia) signs a new customer. The Familial Barrett’s Esophagus Consortium, a collaboration among investigators at six academic medical centers, will use BioFortis’ Labmatrix for research data management. Harbor Bank (Baltimore) will open a 3,000 square foot branch at the John G. Rangos Sr. Building at the Science + Technology Park at Hopkins later this year. Harbor already has a presence at the UMB BioPark. Iatrica (Baltimore) a biotech start-up has moved into new space at the John G. Rangos Building in the Science + Technology Park at Hopkins. Martek Biosciences (Columbia) has entered into a 15-year licensing and supply agreement with Numico, a Dutch company and Europe’s top manufacturer of infant milks, formulas and weaning foods. Martek will serve as Numico’s exclusive supplier for all of its ARA and microbially derived DHA needs for infant formula products. Maryland Incubator Companies of the Year were announced in June and included Integrated BioTherapeutics (Frederick) as Life Science Company of the Year and Pharmathene, Inc. (Annapolis) as Graduate Company of the Year. Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.’s (Columbia) treatment for graft-versus-host disease has been cleared by the FDA for emergency use by children. The agency’s action will allow 150 medical centers around the country with approved plans to provide Prochymal to children without getting individual backing from the FDA. Some 200 children a year may now be treated. Osiris’s CEO, C. Randall Mills was named as one of Ernst and Young’s business leader entrepreneurs of the year. Plant Sensory Systems, (bwtech@UMBC Incubator) has received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation for $100,000 to help the company test new genetic modifications on its laboratory plants. The research is a crucial first step in creating plants that are more productive and environmentally friendly.
|
Use the link below to access a new communications vehicle developed by the GBC Bioscience Committee. We have contracted with two researchers to scan Web sites and publications around the county to find innovative legislative and regional initiatives from the entire United States that promote or build the bioscience community in a given area. This newsletter will go out to all of our state legislators monthly and will be available as a link to the BioConnector and on the GBC Web site.
|
| UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS |
For more news and events from the bioscience community, |