NCBiotech News

Mucommune, a Morrisville-based biotechnology company with roots at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been awarded up to $29.4 million in federal funding over six years to research and develop a novel cancer therapy.

Precise Bio Inc., a Greensboro-based clinical-stage regenerative medicine company, has announced the world’s first transplant of a cell-based, functional, 3D-bioprinted cornea. The procedure took place Oct. 29 at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, as part of the company’s ongoing Phase I clinical trial.

New legislation proposed by a bipartisan and bicameral group of Congressional legislators and supported by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center would establish a dedicated national center aimed at strengthening U.S. innovation, capacity and workforce for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

Innatrix, an agricultural biotech startup based in RTP, is addressing one of agriculture’s biggest challenges — pathogen and pest resistance to conventional pesticides.

Liquidia officials were joined by Pathway Triangle leaders for a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s new manufacturing facility at 1000 Science Drive in Morrisville. 

Tract Bio, a Boston-based biotechnology company developing novel therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases, has opened a new research laboratory in Charlotte with plans to grow. The 4,000 square-foot leased lab is located at Connect Labs Charlotte in Atrium Health’s innovation district, The Pearl.

URO-1, a Greensboro medical device company in prostate and soft tissue cancer diagnostics, said it was recently approved by Novant Health as a designated vendor for URO-1’s SUREcore and coreCARE platform.

As artificial intelligence begins to play a more central role in drug discovery, how do researchers and scientists achieve the right mix of AI-driven insights, data integrity, human involvement and ethical considerations?

Novartis Gene Therapies, a division of Switzerland-based Novartis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, plans to expand in the Research Triangle with $771 million of investments at multiple locations, creating its first biologics drug substance facility in the United States and adding small molecule manufacturing and new fill/finish capabilities.

Six months after launching research-grade human collagen, Phoenix-based Humabiologics announced its first expansion, to Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter, on Nov. 12.

The company will use the Innovation Quarter site to accelerate development and manufacturing of first-in-market medical devices made from native human collagen, establish a new base for clinical collaboration, device innovation and manufacturing growth, the announcement said. The company’s base will remain in Phoenix.

Alcami Corp., a leading U.S.-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), will expand its laboratory services at its Creekstone Drive facility in Durham, N.C. 

The 20,000-square-foot expansion began in Q4 2025 and is expected to be finalized in 2026. It will strengthen Alcami’s analytical capabilities in support of biologics, peptides, oligonucleotides, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and cell and gene therapy (CGT) drug substances and drug products. 

Bringing cutting-edge pharmaceuticals or medical devices to market is a complex process that can be challenging for some companies to navigate alone. To help bridge that gap, Morrisville-based Kymanox Corporation has entered into a non-exclusive collaboration with Jabil Inc., which is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, to support companies developing and commercializing drug-device combination products and other complex life science innovations.

Believer Meats has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its cultivated chicken label and large-scale production facility in Wilson, N.C. 

The greenlight from the USDA authorizes the company to begin commercial production and sales of cultivated chicken in the U.S. and to export products to international markets. 

Three research scientist entrepreneurs with roots in university labs and life sciences startup companies have announced formation of what they deem “the first AI-powered cell manufacturing platform,” a Chapel Hill-based company they’ve named iOrganBio.

Morrisville-based Locus Biosciences has announced another in a series of research collaborations, this time with Viatris Pharmaceuticals to develop precision-engineered therapies targeting ophthalmic bacterial infections.