BY SHIRA HANAU JANUARY 19, 2022 2:22 AM ...  Read more

• Descartes-25 engineered to deliver a combination of synergistically active anti-myeloma therapies directly to tumor microenvironment
• Product generated from Company’s Part 1271-compliant Master Cell Bank of human umbilical cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells
• Fifth IND in the five years since Cartesian was founded

Gaithersburg, Md., January 25, 2022 – Cartesian Therapeutics, a fully integrated clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering RNA cell therapy in and beyond oncology, today announced that it has dosed the first patient in a Phase 1/2a multicenter clinical study evaluating Descartes-25 in patients with multiple myeloma.  To the company’s knowledge, Descartes-25 is the first off-the-shelf RNA cell therapy to enter clinical trials for any cancer and marks the company’s fifth FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) allowance in five years.  Descartes-25 is produced at Cartesian’s wholly owned cGMP manufacturing facility with the company’s proprietary RNA Armory^® cell manufacturing platform.  This platform now includes an internally developed, Part 1271-compliant Master Cell Bank of human umbilical cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) that was used to engineer Descartes-25. ...  Read more

January 26, 2022 ...  Read more

Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED) has launched a brand new website for all-things manufacturing in Frederick. “MadeInFrederickMD.com” is a one-stop shop for anyone interested in exploring the local industry, and features a business directory, an original video series, helpful resources, local job postings, upcoming events, and more! ...  Read more

Social Capital Builders, a resident company at the Maryland Innovation Center (MIC),  announces the results of a proprietary survey designed to test the level of social capital literacy of Americans and the results aren’t good – Less than 50% of Americans show enough social capital literacy to effectively search for a job or properly assist young adults in their career development efforts. ...  Read more

Internet connectivity is a “must have” for people today. So it’s no surprise that more than 70 percent of multifamily housing residents surveyed recently cited pre-installed Wi-Fi solutions as an important amenity when moving into a new apartment or condominium, according to the 2020 NMHC/Kingsley Associates Apartment Resident Preferences Report. ...  Read more

The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL) signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Frederick Community College (FCC) to establish a closer partnership to support the future science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce in Frederick. ...  Read more

Rare disease-focused REGENXBIO hit the ground running in 2022 with its developmental programs for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and wet age-related macular degeneration. The Maryland-based company received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate a first-in-human study of its gene therapy for the rare form of muscular dystrophy. ...  Read more

BALTIMORE, MD (January 26, 2022) — The Maryland Department of Commerce today announced that Heather Gramm has been named the new assistant secretary for the Department’s Division of Business and Industry Sector Development. In her new role, Gramm will oversee the team focused on job creation, which deals primarily with business assistance, retention, and attraction across the state. She will also oversee several other divisions within the agency, including the Office of Finance Programs; Strategic Industries and Entrepreneurship; International Investment and Trade; and Military and Federal Affairs. Gramm takes over this role from Signe Pringle, who was named deputy secretary in early 2021. ...  Read more

January 24, 2022 ...  Read more