NCBiotech News

Ad Astra Diagnostics (AAD) of Morrisville has been awarded a $5 million federal contract for the development of an improved diagnostic system to deliver faster complete blood count (CBC) test results and the earlier detection of severe infection, including sepsis.

The contract, awarded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), has the potential to reach $12.6 million, the company announced in a news release.

Contract development and manufacturing organization SmaBio Labs recently celebrated the official opening of its new home in RTP. The 9,000-square-foot facility expands the company’s ability to support every stage of drug development -- from discovery to commercialization. It was also designed to streamline workflows by enhancing scalability and operational efficiency.

Radiopharmaceuticals, once a very niche drug class, are now on the brink of transforming cancer treatment and diagnostics, and North Carolina is at the heart of this change.

These radioactive drugs consist of radioisotopes linked to targeting biomolecules that recognize specific types of cells. This combination allows precision delivery of radiation to cancer cells, without the collateral damage that comes with traditional radiation treatments. 

Durham-based EydisBio Inc. has received an Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for EYD-001, a treatment for systemic sclerosis. This rare and debilitating autoimmune disease involves hardening and tightening of the skin.

EydisBio is a Duke University spin-out leveraging a novel approach to treating various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases — including rare diseases — which have significant needs for safer and more effective treatments. EYD-001 is a highly selective and potent, orally bioavailable TAK1 inhibitor. 

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, hosted a five-day biotechnology camp for 12 high school students at the Merck Biotechnology Learning Center at the Gateway Research Park South Campus.

The camp is a result of N.C. A&T and Merck’s ongoing partnership efforts to provide teaching, research and engagement opportunities not just to faculty and students on campus, but to young scientists in the local community.

CSL Seqirus, a global vaccine maker with a massive manufacturing plant in Holly Springs, has received two federal grants totaling $155.4 million to expand production of a human vaccine against avian influenza, or bird flu, in case of a major outbreak of the disease.

The two awards bring to six the total number of pandemic preparedness grants the company has received from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The head of Cary-based Lucerno Dynamics, a small medical technology company with a stake in nuclear medicine, is urging stronger federal regulation of radiopharmaceutical injections to support patient safety, care and transparency.

Ron Lattanze, chief executive officer of Lucerno, wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to require nuclear medicine centers to report cases of faulty injections as “medical events.”

G2G Consulting provides comprehensive government affairs, public relations, and economic development services to businesses and nonprofits, including the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech). We have enjoyed partnering with the NCBiotech team to educate the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch on the vital life sciences work taking place in North Carolina and to strengthen the biotechnology ecosystem in the state.

Over the summer, the Biomedical Emerging Technology Applications (BETA) Summer Fellows Industry Program provided six educators with an eight-week opportunity to learn what it is like to work at a biotech company or institution so that they can better prepare their students for this workforce. 

A $13 million grant from Golden LEAF Foundation will fund training equipment at Wilson Community College to support Johnson & Johnson’s new biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson and other life sciences companies in eastern North Carolina.

Atsena Therapeutics, a Durham company developing gene therapies to treat genetic causes of blindness, has received another incentive from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help boost the development of its leading product candidate.

Johnson & Johnson, a global health care and medtech company based in New Jersey, plans to invest more than $2 billion to build a new biologics production facility in Wilson.

Three years ago, Joyce Galarza moved from Puerto Rico to North Carolina with her husband and young child. In this unfamiliar place, she knew only a few people and found herself struggling to find a job. While chatting with another mom at a park she learned about an opportunity to receive training through the BioWork certificate program at Wake Technical Community College as part of a cohort supported by Dorcas Ministries. 

Merz Aesthetics, the largest global dedicated medical aesthetics business, has opened its new Research & Development Innovation Center, North America, in Raleigh. 

The advanced facility brings together U.S. research and development employees, who previously were split between Raleigh and Mesa, Arizona, as well as additional research staff. Executives, researchers, other staff and guests celebrated the launch on Sept. 18 with ribbon-cutting and facility tours. 

Recently, I was asked to reflect on the North Carolina Biotechnology Center as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. It’s been my pleasure and privilege to work with the NCBiotech team for almost 15 years.