NCBiotech News

Five of the Piedmont Triad region’s most impactful individuals and organizations in the life sciences have been honored with Excellence Awards.

The awards were given at Triad BioNight, a celebration of the region’s life sciences industry organized by the Piedmont Triad Office of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. About 400 people attended the networking and awards event June 27 at the Grandover Resort and Spa in Greensboro.

Millions of consumers know Bayer as the aspirin company. Some even know it’s the Alka-Seltzer company. Investors know it as the German pharmaceutical, life sciences and agricultural giant that bought Monsanto in 2018.

Now Bayer is buying a bigger bite of plant technology developed by Pairwise, a North Carolina gene-based ag tech company, to expand its reach into the grocery food chain.

As NCBiotech’s Vice President of Talent and Culture Development, I have the privilege of observing and shaping our organization’s culture. On our 40th anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on the critical role that our staff, culture and collaboration play in growing North Carolina’s life sciences.  

In the largest capital investment ever in North Carolina’s life sciences, Novo Nordisk plans to invest $4.1 billion to expand its fill and finish operations in Johnston County, creating 1,000 new jobs and adding 1.4 million square feet of new manufacturing space.

The new facility will expand the Danish company’s current operations in Clayton and will grow the company’s ability to produce injectable treatments for people with diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases. 

North Carolina-based Advanced Medicine Partners has announced a new financing agreement led by Deerfield Management, with additional support from ARCH Venture Partners and other investors. Once complete, this latest funding round of $32 million will bring the total direct investment in Advanced Medicine Partners to $60 million since its separation from Jaguar Gene Therapy.

Daniel R. Saban, Ph.D., founder and chief scientific officer of Duke University spinout Piximune Therapeutics was honored with the 2024 Cogan Award from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the world’s largest association of eye and vision researchers. 

The Foundation Fighting Blindness has awarded Opus Genetics, a Research Triangle Park drug development startup focused on inherited diseases of the retina, $1.7 million in funding to help advance two preclinical therapy candidates.

Kyowa Kirin, Inc., an affiliate of Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (Kyowa Kirin), a global specialty pharmaceutical company based in Japan, this week announced that its board of directors approved plans to invest up to $530 million to build a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sanford, N.C. 

The 171,700-square-foot, two-reactor facility will accelerate the company's development and production of biologic therapies for patients with rare and serious diseases while contributing to the Sanford area's economic growth and development, according to a company press release.

Durham-based Deep Blue Medical Advances has been honored with the Angel Capital Association (ACA) 2024 Luis Villalobos Award in the life sciences category. 

The prestigious award signifies the most ingenious and innovative ideas recently backed by members of the ACA, a professional association of more than 15,000 accredited angel investors and 250 angel groups, accredited platforms and family offices across North America.

It’s an exciting time in North Carolina as we witness the steady influx of life sciences companies and the near completion of expansive high-tech manufacturing facilities. These developments mark a pivotal moment in our state's growth and innovation.

It’s also an exciting time at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), where the spirit of innovation and progress thrives alongside the state’s advancements. Over the last five to 10 years, the university has gained remarkable momentum, solidifying its position as the largest HBCU in the nation. 

Durham-based restor3d this week announced it has received $70 million in financing by closing $55 million in Series A funding by private investors and securing $15 million in debt financing. 

The designer and manufacturer of 3D-printed orthopedic implants will use the investments to release new patient-specific 3D-printed implants, invest in new 3D technology, expand its implementation of software and 3D automation tools, and provide medical education training for surgeons and its sales team. 

A Swiss contract research organization, Solvias, is establishing a cell- and gene-therapy (CGT) testing center in Morrisville, where it plans to employ more than 170 people by the end of 2025.

New research funded in part by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center shows that bioengineered platelets can be used to stop bleeding and enhance wound healing in animal models of trauma.

An industry consortium funded by a federal agency has chosen Allucent, a Cary-based clinical research organization, for its initial project award for a decentralized clinical trial involving the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein has launched at North Carolina State University.

The Bezos Earth Fund awarded NC State $30 million over five years to lead a center of excellence to create a biomanufacturing hub for dietary proteins that are environmentally friendly, healthy, tasty and affordable. The Earth Fund has committed $100 million to establish a network of open-access research and development centers focused on sustainable protein alternatives, expanding consumer choices.