Company Spotlight

News about PABC-member companies

2/17/2023

 MERLIN Biotech CEO Randall N. Hyer delivers details – and a comprehensive strategic plan – for the company’s promising mRNA technologyMERLIN Biotech, a spinout from the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, presented its first asset last month at the 15^th Annual Biotech Showcase, an investor conference focused on driving advances in biotechnology and life sciences. “MER-101 triggers multiple anti-cancer pathways in one therapy that inhibits the growth of both the injected tumor as well as distant, non-treated lesions,” said CEO Randall N. Hyer, MD, PhD, MPH. “It’s the first of many highly innovative therapeutics we intend to develop for diseases in which few currently exist.” More here.

1/9/2023

Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in Doylestown is epicenter of startups, investment

Timely state investment and cutting-edge laboratories and support has positioned the Doylestown-based Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center as crucial cog in Bucks County's burgeoning scientific industry. The center looks to maintain its pace by maximizing the investments it receives and improving upon its academic offerings. It recently received a $5 million investment from the state for the center's Academic Innovation Zone program. It will directly support early-stage companies and academic technologies in the life sciences at both its Doylestown and Philadelphia incubators. More here. 

1/1/23

Pennsylvania Drug Discovery Institute (PDDI) Chemical Compound Collection (PC³)  

The PDDI is a non-profit organization dedicated to support entrepreneurs in biotechnology and non-profit research organizations (www.padrugdiscovery.org).  One of the activities of the PDDI has been to re-purpose assets from pharmaceutical companies in the region as they have downsized to that those assets are available to the broader scientific community. Please read more  here. 

9/29/22

Couple’s complementary skill sets help local company bring products to market

WeThrivv is one of the more than 80 companies comprising the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC), a life sciences incubator, in Buckingham Township. While most of the member companies are involved only in research and development, WeThrivv already has products on the market and has set up two-pronged marketing with one channel directed to physicians and another to consumers. Please read more  here.

9/21/22 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Partners with Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center to Support Life Sciences Growth in Philadelphia 

The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) announced that Thermo Fisher Scientific has become a founding sponsor supporting the PABC campus in Doylestown, Pa., and their new B+Labs incubator in Philadelphia, where emerging life science companies can accelerate their journey to commercialization. Philadelphia recently ranked as one of the top markets in the U.S. for life sciences, with continuous growth and $4B in new construction that supports the industry’s expansion. Please read more here.

9/19/22 

Antengene announces ATG101 granted orphan drug state designation by the U.S. FDA – Antengene

Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene" SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative, commercial-stage global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class and/or best-in-class medicines for hematology and oncology, today announced that ATG-101, the company's in-house developed novel PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody, has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This ODD will help Antengene facilitate regulatory communication with the FDA, accelerate the clinical development and the future registration of ATG-101. Please read more here. 

8/23/22

VeraDermics Inc. secures licensing of first-in-class antiviral targeting the treatment of molluscum contagiosum, other poxviruses

VeraDermics Inc., developer of drugs for dermatology, today announced that it has entered into a definitive license agreement with the University of Pennsylvania for patent rights covering a newly developed compound for the specific treatment of molluscum contagiosum developed by Penn and Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center Inc. – adding to VeraDermic’s growing dermatology portfolio. The lead compound identification reflects nearly a decade of research by leading experts in poxvirus replication led by Robert Ricciardi, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and Allen Reitz, PhD, and Rick Scott, PhD, of FCCDC. Please read more here.

7/14/22

Local startups receive $25,000 investments and $5,000 grants from Bucks Built startup fund

 Five high-potential, early-stage startups have been selected to receive a total of $125,000 in investment funded by the Bucks County Industrial Development Authority along with 12 months of advisory support from Startup Bucks. Also this round, seven additional applicants were awarded a total of $25,000 in grants sponsored by Penn Community Bank. More here.

7/13/22

Eliksa Therapeutics launched with investments  from the University of Utah’s Commercial and Clinical-Stage Regenerative Medicine Technology

Eliksa Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine company developing novel therapeutics for a range of debilitating diseases, announced today it has launched with investments from the University of Utah (U) and Militia Hill Ventures (MHV) to develop and commercialize multiple clinical programs using the regenerative medicine technology developed at the U. More here.

4/27/22

Basilea announces licensing of a novel first-in-class antifungal program from Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with bacterial and fungal infections and cancer, announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with the U.S.-based company, Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc. (FCCDC), for a preclinical program on novel first-in-class broad spectrum antifungals with activity against difficult-to-treat mold infections. More here. 

4/26/22

Antios Therapeutics Announces Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent on Phosphoramidates for the Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus

Antios Therapeutics, Inc. (Antios), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies to treat and cure chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 16/312,756, titled, "Phosphoramidates for the Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus," covering compositions containing Antios' novel Active Site Polymerase Inhibitor Nucleotide (ASPIN), ATI-2173, in combination with other therapies and mechanisms of action. More here.

2/7/22

KCAS Acquires FlowMetric

Continuing to deliver against both growth objectives and more integrated customer service offerings, KCAS has acquired FlowMetric, LLC, a provider of flow cytometry and cellular assay R&D services to biotech, pharmaceutical and cell/ gene therapy industries. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. More here. 

 

 1/13/22

WETHRIVV™ - A Beauty and Wellness Brand Launches REVIVV™ Hair Growth Serum for Men & Women 

THRIVV LLC, under the WETHRIVV brand, is methodically creating a portfolio of professional and consumer products that are poised to elevate customer experience and satisfaction in the facial aesthetics and hair growth markets. With a research laboratory at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, all of our products are made with best-in-class science, and are sold directly to consumers and professionals on our websites, www.revivv.co and www.maskad.co.  More here.

 

12/15/21

Bucks County medical device firm to be acquired in deal valued at up to $160M

Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) is the company's birthplace. A Bucks County medical device developer focused on treating new pain has entered into a deal to be acquired by a publicly traded medical technology company in a deal valued at up to $160 million. Founded in 2012, OrthogenRx specializes in what are known as visco supplementation therapies used to treat knee osteoarthritis pain. More here.

 

12/09/21

Arbutus Biopharma, X-Chem and Proteros biostructures Achieve First Milestone Under COVID-19 Discovery Research and License Agreement

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (NASDAQ: ABUS), X-Chem, Inc. (X-Chem) and Proteros biostructures GmbH (Proteros) announced today that Arbutus Biopharma has identified several molecules that inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 main protease (Mpro), a validated target for the treatment of COVID-19 and potential future coronavirus outbreaks. Upon achievement of this milestone, as part of their discovery and research agreement, Arbutus has obtained a worldwide exclusive license to the identified molecules. The parties will continue to accelerate the development of pan-coronavirus agents to treat COVID-19 and potential future coronavirus outbreaks. Please read more here.  

11/15/21

Emergex announces approval to initiate Phase I clinical trial of its next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidate 

Emergex Vaccines Holding Limited a company tackling major global infectious disease threats through the development of 100% synthetic T Cell priming vaccines today announces that it has received the necessary regulatory approvals to initiate a Phase I clinical trial to evaluate the safety and tolerability of its vaccine candidate for SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. Please read more here. 

10/28/21 

Doylestown Business Gets $1M In State Funding

Governor Tom Wolf has announced his approval of $3 million in funds for investments towards start-up companies in Pennsylvania, including $1 million for a Doylestown business. One of the companies receiving this funding will be Hatch BioFund, a Doylestown-based early stage life sciences venture fund. Please read more here. 

9/28/21

Neuropathix, Inc. wholly owned subsidiary kannalife sciences, inc. awarded $3 Million phase 2 study grant from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Neuropathix, Inc. ('Neuropathix' or the 'Company') (OTCQB:NPTX), a socially responsible pain management life sciences company, today announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Kannalife Sciences, Inc. Please read more here. 

9/10/21

Exios Bio and its International Partners Discover Human MicroRNA Biomarkers as a Novel Approach for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Exios Bio LLC, a greater Philadelphia biotech startup specializing in infectious diseases, announced today the publication of a pilot study in the open-access medical journal PLOS Pathogens. The clinical study discovered novel human small RNA biomarkers that can detect COVID-19 disease. Please read more here. 

 

8/26/21

Neuropathix, Inc. forms Dermique Incorporated it's new wholly owned subsidiary for the ownership and commercialization of the company's over-the-counter cosmeceutical assets

Dermique is a cosmeceutical company focused on the research and development of a pipeline of patented antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients for over-the-counter (OTC) use. Dermique is a subsidiary of Neuropathix, Inc. which conducts its research and development efforts at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County in Doylestown, Pa. Please read more here.

7/14/21

Bucks County Biotech Company Launches Innovative COVID-19 Vaccine Test 

 A COVID-19 Vaccine efficacy test created by Bucks County biotechnology firm FlowMetric got a boost from $750,000 in state funding secured by state Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10).  “If the last year and a half or so has taught us anything it’s that having data and information is critically important,” said Sen. Santarsiero during a press conference on Tuesday.  Please read more here.

7/13/21

Evrys Bio awarded $34 million from DOD to develop a single drug simultaneously effective against multiple viruses

Evrys Bio, a biotech company developing Next Gen Antivirals, was awarded a $34.3 million contract from the Department of Defense (DOD) to develop a drug, simultaneously effective against multiple high-risk viral agents. The proposed drug intends to improve disease survival after exposure to one or more viruses from three families: alphaviruses, arenaviruses and filoviruses. Please read more here.

7/13/21

FlowMetric Life Sciences Inc. Introduces the Breakthrough VaxEffect™ COVID-19 Vaccine Immune Response Test

FlowMetric Life Sciences Inc., a globally recognized life sciences company, announces the launch of VaxEffect™ COVID-19 Vaccine Immune Response Test, a unique and powerful platform exclusively created to quantitatively assess and track, now and over time, an individual's immune response to any of the COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States. Please  read more here.

6/29/21

WeThrivv™ how our patches are made! 

6/03/21

 OrthogenRx® Surpasses Sales of 1 Million in Syringes (Units)

OrthogenRx®, Inc., a medical device company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA), today announced the company has surpassed 1 million in syringe distribution. Additionally, they continue to exceed revenue targets via multiple sales channels and partnerships. Please read more here.

 5/05/21

Temple scientists: Drug derived from cannabis shows promising pain-halting effects in mice

KLS-13019, developed by the Pennsylvania-based bio-pharmaceutical and phyto-medical company Neuropathix Inc. (a PABC-member company), is among the most promising neuroprotective CBD analogs currently under investigation. In previous work in cell models, it was found to be more potent than CBD, and studies in animals suggested it had improved bioavailability. Please read more here.

4/20/21

Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center announces Grants

The Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center announces it has been awarded a phase I STTR grant entitled "Development of a Peptide-Drug Conjugate for Topically Treating the Viral Skin Disease Molluscum Contagiosum" and on  March 8, 2021: The Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center announces it has been awarded a Phase II STTR grant entitled "Development of Small Molecule Therapeutics Targeting Hemorrhagic Fever Virus". Please read more here.

4/20/21

Arbutus Biopharma, X-Chem and Proteros biostructures Enter into a Pan-Coronavirus Discovery Research and License Agreement

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (a PABC-member company), X-Chem, Inc. (X-Chem) and Proteros biostructures GmbH (Proteros) announced today that they have entered into a discovery research and license agreement focused on the discovery of novel inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 nsp5 main protease (Mpro). The agreement is designed to accelerate the development of pan-coronavirus agents to treat COVID-19 and potential future coronavirus outbreaks. Please read more here.

4/14/21

OrthoGenRx Announces Annual Company Highlights, Exceeding Revenue Targets

OrthogenRx Inc., (a PABC-member company and) a medical device company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA), recently announced company highlights for 2020 which have exceeded revenue targets.  Among many accomplishments, OrthogenRx is proud to have launched new pricing options to facilitate access to affordable healthcare products, needed more than ever during the health and financial crisis of 2020. Please read more here.

3/03/21

FlowMetric: Neumann University Tests Resident Students for Virus

 All of Neumann’s more than 500 students who moved into residence facilities for the spring semester were asked to present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours of their return to campus in Aston, or take a self-administered test upon arrival. The rapid testing on site was possible because of a mobile testing lab from FlowMetric Life Sciences in Doylestown. Read more here.

2/23/21

Antengene Announces NDA for ATG-010 (Selinexor) Granted Priority Review by China's NMPA

Antengene Corporation Limited ("Antengene", SEHK: 6996.HK), a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing global first-in-class and/or best-in class therapeutics in hematology and oncology, today announced that China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has granted priority review to the New Drug Application. Please read more here.

1/04/21

IO Biosciences Awarded U.S. Patent for GEMSTM Technology, Promising Breakthrough for Those Engineering Antibody Therapies and Therapeutic Gene-modified Immune Cells

Patented GEMS™ technology converts stable cell lines and therapeutic cells into a plug-and-play development system for the expression of single or multiple therapeutic genes, allowing for rapid portfolio development for antibody and gene-modified cell therapies, reducing time between therapeutic discovery and availability to patients. Please read more here.

12/25/20

Evrys Bio: What are the features of the new Covid-19/SARS-CoV-2 strain (named lineage B.1.1.7)?

Recently a distinct phylogenetic cluster (named lineage B.1.1.7) was detected within the COG-UK surveillance dataset. This cluster has been growing rapidly over the past 4 weeks and since been observed in other UK locations, indicating further spread. Please read more here.

12/23/20

Neuropathix Acquires Neuroprotective and Anticonvulsant Intellectual Property Estate

Neuropathix Inc.  has announced it acquired neuroprotective and anticonvulsant small-molecule drug technology from Advanced Neural Dynamics Inc. and Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center Inc. on Dec. 18. Neuropathix, Advanced Neural Dynamics and Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center look forward to further characterizing and developing a novel class of anticonvulsant drugs designed to treated refractory epilepsy and neuropathic pain. All three companies are located in the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in Doylestown, Pa. Please read more here.

12/16/20

FlowMetric Life Sciences, Inc. Receives Accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for its Clinical Laboratory

CAP accreditation is awarded only to laboratories that meet stringent requirements and demonstrate consistency in the high performance and accuracy of clinical testing. Please read more here.

12/13/20

Bucks County pharmaceutical firm sold to California company in multimillion-dollar deal

QrumPharma, a Bucks County biopharmaceutical company developing inhalation treatments for pulmonary infections, was acquired last week by a publicly traded drug developer for $12.8 million. Please read more here.

12/11/20

Putting Patients First: How to Do Your Part… A Small Company’s Perspective

2020 has brought the world to a standstill as we all feel the impact of COVID-19 both on a health and economic level. As the pandemic unfolds, we’ll determine how to react, pivot, and innovate. Read more here. 

12/10/20

Arbutus Announces Robust HBsAg Decline Data with AB-729 Dosed at 60 mg Every 8 Weeks in Chronic Hepatitis B Subjects

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Nasdaq: ABUS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing a cure for people with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as well as therapies to treat coronaviruses (including COVID-19). Read more here.

12/08/20

Single Use Surgical chosen to package and sterilise 1.92 million items of PPE to protect NHS staff against COVID-19

Single Use Surgical*, part of Eakin Healthcare Group, have signed a contract to package and sterilise 1.92 million surgical isolation gowns – a move that will create 45 new jobs and protect frontline NHS staff against COVID-19. Please read more here.

12/04/20

FlowMetric Launches Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Serology Assay Superior to Gold Standard

Accurate and sensitive testing to determine the presence of COVID-19 antibodies is essential for the development of safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Until now, the ELISA platform has been the gold standard for antibody testing, despite its limitations. In response to this immediate need, FlowMetric has launched a powerful advancement in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) serology testing with a flow cytometry-based multiplexed serology assay. Please read more here.

12/03/20

Antengene Submits NDAs for XPOVIO® (Selinexor) in Multiple APAC Markets for rrMM and rrDLBCL

Antengene Corporation Limited announced it has submitted new drug applications (“NDA(s)”) for XPOVIO® (selinexor, ATG-010) to the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore and to the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration for three indications. There is more here.

10/28/20

Colliers LabNotes / Oren Gilad of Atrin Pharmaceuticals

Atrin Pharmaceuticals is one of the many small but powerful companies that are members of, and operating in,  the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center. Atrin's president and CEO,  Oren Gilad, Ph.D., was interviewed recently by Joe Fetterman of Colliers Philadelphia. To watch the video, click here.

10/06/20

Kannalife, Inc. Adds to Its Global IP Estate Receiving Patent Grant from Canada for Its Novel Anti-Inflammatory Compounds

Kannalife Inc., a biopharmaceutical and medchem company specializing in the research and development of potent novel monotherapeutics, announced today that the company has been issued Canadian Patent CA2936506A1 specific to its patent known as WO2015/106108A2 titled, “Novel Functionalized 1,3-Benzene Diols and their Method of Use for the Treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy” (the “PCT Patent”). Read more here.

10/07/20 

Evrys Bio scientist presents at conference on therapeutics for COVID-19

Dr. Liudi Tang of Evrys Bio presented at the Special isirv-AVG Virtual Conference on ‘Therapeutics for COVID-19’ on Oct. 7. He presented the most recent data for one of Evrys Bio’s drug leads, which has been demonstrated to have a broad spectrum of activities against a variety of viruses involved in human disease. The slides that summarize his presentation are posted here.

9/29/20

FlowMetric Life Sciences and Penn State Announce a Collaboration Study on University and Community COVID-19 Antibody Testing

FlowMetric Life Sciences Inc., a global leader in immunology testing services, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State University announce the creation of a long-term collaboration study assessing the impact on the Centre County community's potential exposure to COVID-19 by Penn State University students returning to campus. Together with Penn State's Center for Clinical Research, the Huck Institutes will collect thousands of blood samples from Penn State students and members of the Centre County community at the beginning and end of each academic semester for four academic semesters. The samples will be sent to FlowMetric, a GLP-compliant, CLIA-certified, high complexity clinical laboratory located in Doylestown, Pa., for analysis. Read more here.

9/15/20

Arbutus Announces AB-729 90 mg Single-Dose Week 12 Data in Chronic HBV Subjects Demonstrating Significant, Continuous Reductions in HBsAg

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on developing a cure for people with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as well as therapies to treat coronaviruses (including COVID-19), today reports continued positive data from an ongoing Phase 1a/1b clinical trial (AB-729-001) with AB-729, its proprietary GalNAc delivered RNAi compound. These new data demonstrate that in chronic HBV subjects, a single subcutaneous injection of 90 mg of AB-729 resulted in a mean HBsAg reduction of 1.23 log10 IU/mL at week 12. William Collier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arbutus, stated, “The 90 mg single-dose 12-week data coupled with our previously disclosed 60 mg single-dose 12-week data mean that we now have two doses which have demonstrated meaningful reductions in HBsAg with a favorable safety and tolerability profile..." Please read more here.

9/14/20

Antengene Announces First Patient Dosed with ATG-010 (selinexor) for Relapsed or Refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma and NK/T-cell Lymphoma

Antengene Corporation, a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing global first-in-class and/or best-in-class therapies in oncology and hematology, announced today that it has dosed the first patient in a phase Ib clinical trial in China with ATG-010 (selinexor)，an oral selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE) compound，for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma (PTCL) and NK/T-cell Lymphoma (NKTL) (TOUCH trial). This trial aims to evaluate ATG-010 (selinexor) combined with ICE regimen or GEMOX regimen and sequential ATG-010 (selinexor) monotherapy maintenance to evaluate the safety, tolerability and primary efficacy in patients with R/R PTCL and NKTL who have received at least one prior multi-agent therapy. Please read more here.

7/17/20

 The Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center Announces it Has Been Awarded a Phase I STTR Grant Entitled "Soft LXR Agonists for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis"

FCCDC is pleased to announce it has been awarded a Phase I STTR research grant from the NIH with Prof. Ross Summer of Thomas Jefferson University as Principal Investigator, entitled "Soft LXR Agonists for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis." Read more here.