June 16, 2026

Rich Bendis, Founder, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), will represent BHI and the BioHealth Capital Region at the 2026 BIO International Convention, taking place June 22–25 at the San Diego Convention Center. As one of the world’s largest gatherings for the biotechnology industry, BIO brings together companies, investors, research institutions, economic development leaders, and partners from across the global life sciences ecosystem.

During the convention, Rich will be available to discuss the BioHealth Capital Region’s continued growth as one of the fastest-growing BioHealth regions in the country, as well as BHI’s work supporting commercialization, early-stage companies, non-dilutive funding strategies, investor readiness, and ecosystem development. Those interested in connecting with Rich during BIO can contact him at rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org or meet with him at the Maryland Booth.

Registration is now open for the 12th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum and BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference, taking place September 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2026, at US Pharmacopeia (USP) in Rockville, Maryland.

This year’s BioHealth Capital Region Week theme, “Growing the BioHealth Capital Region of Tomorrow,” reflects the region’s continued focus on collaboration, commercialization, investment, and leadership during a time of change and opportunity across the biohealth ecosystem.

The BioHealth Capital Region Forum will be held September 15th and 16th and will bring together leaders from industry, academia, government, investment, and entrepreneurship for two days of high-level discussion, regional updates, thought leadership, and networking. The Forum continues to serve as a central gathering point for the people, companies, institutions, and public-sector partners helping shape the future of biohealth across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and beyond.

SPARK for Innovations in Pediatrics, a BARDA Accelerator Network hub led by Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, is now accepting applications for the SPARK Pediatric Medical Countermeasures Summit Prize Competition 2026. The competition seeks breakthrough technologies that can help protect pediatric populations from health security threats, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious diseases. Eligible focus areas include diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, medical devices, digital health tools, and enabling technologies that address BARDA mission-relevant pediatric health security threats, as well as tools that support pediatric evidence generation, such as digital twins, organoids, organ-on-chip systems, PK/PD models, and clinical trial simulation platforms.

Up to $50,000 in non-dilutive prize funding is available. Applications are due July 22, 2026, and finalists will be invited to pitch live at the SPARK Pediatric Medical Countermeasures Summit in Washington, DC, on September 22, 2026. A virtual information session will be held on July 1, 2026.

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Jeffrey N. Hausfeld, M.D., Chairman of the Board and Chief Medical Officer of BioFactura Inc., and Darryl Sampey, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Capitol Biologics, join the conversation to discuss the launch of Capitol Biologics as BioFactura’s CDMO division.

Jeff and Darryl explain how BioFactura’s experience building biologics development and clinical manufacturing capabilities created the foundation for a more personalized CDMO model. The discussion explores the gap Capitol Biologics is designed to fill for emerging biotech companies that need integrated development support, scientific depth, analytical expertise, phase-appropriate quality, and early GMP manufacturing without being pushed into a large commercial-scale CDMO model too soon.

GERMANTOWN, MD / ACCESS Newswire / June 15, 2026 / Precigen Inc. (NASDAQ:PGEN) has gained an important advantage in the marketing of its new treatment for adults with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare and debilitating disease of the respiratory tract.

The commercial-stage precision medicines company was just granted orphan drug exclusivity by the FDA for PAPZIMEOS™ (zopapogene imadenovec-drba), its treatment for RRP, a disease that typically requires patients to undergo multiple surgeries each year to remove benign tumors called papillomas that grow in the respiratory tract.

Orphan drug exclusivity is granted to certain drugs and biologics approved for rare diseases or conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. The orphan drug exclusivity means the FDA can't approve any similar drugs to treat RRP for seven years, extending PAPZIMEOS' market exclusivity through August 2032.

"This regulatory exclusivity, together with Precigen's patent portfolio covering PAPZIMEOS and its therapeutic use, enhances the product's value by strengthening market protection and long-term revenue potential, which in turn supports continued innovation for rare diseases," said Helen Sabzevari, PhD, President and CEO of Precigen.

Applications are now being accepted for the BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition, returning as part of the 12th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Week, taking place September 15, 16, and 17, 2026, at US Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Maryland. Apply today at https://bit.ly/CrabTrap2026.

The Crab Trap Competition highlights promising early-stage biohealth companies developing new technologies, products, and solutions across therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, research tools, and other areas of life sciences innovation. Each year, the competition gives selected entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their companies in front of experienced investors, industry leaders, subject matter experts, and regional ecosystem partners.

Five finalists will be selected to pitch live during BioHealth Capital Region Week. Each finalist will deliver a seven-minute company presentation, followed by a three-minute question-and-answer session with the judges. The format gives entrepreneurs a focused opportunity to explain the problem they are solving, the strength of their technology, market opportunity, commercialization strategy, management team, funding progress, and key milestones.

GLEN ALLEN, Va. and LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADIL) (“Adial” or the “Company”) today announced that it has acquired Azora Therapeutics, Inc. (“Azora”), a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for serious inflammatory diseases. The acquisition brings Azora’s lead asset AT177, a proprietary colon‑targeted aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist designed to enable localized activation with limited systemic exposure, into Adial’s pipeline.

Concurrent with the acquisition, Adial entered into a definitive agreement for a concurrent private placement of up to $64 million in gross proceeds to Adial, before deducting placement agent and other offering expenses. The private placement is composed of (i) an initial upfront financing of approximately $32 million in gross proceeds (including the conversion of outstanding notes assumed in the acquisition) in exchange for pre-funded warrants to purchase 11,780,948 shares of Adial’s common stock, representing a purchase price of $2.7489 for each pre-funded warrant sold at the...

The 2026 BIO International Convention takes place June 22–25, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. This four-day event serves as a premier global gathering for the biotechnology and life sciences industries, bringing together an expected 20,000+ attendees from pharma, biotech, academia, government, investment, and beyond.

The convention's programming is extensive, featuring more than 130 sessions spanning 18 focus areas. Key topics include AI and digital health, cell and gene therapy, biomanufacturing, oncology, rare disease, infectious disease and vaccines, and patient access, among others. Signature events like the AI Summit and Start-Up Stadium highlight cutting-edge innovation and emerging companies shaping the future of biotech.



Beyond education, BIO 2026 places a strong emphasis on connection and dealmaking. Attendees can engage through BIO Partnering™, the exhibition floor, company presentations, and Global Innovation Hubs — making it one of the most important annual gatherings for networking, business development, and advancing partnerships across the global life sciences ecosystem.

BioHorizons: Partnering to Secure the Future of Biotechnology is an invitation-only forum taking place on August 11, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Fulton, Maryland. The event is hosted by APL and is designed to bring together senior leaders across the biotech and national security sectors for a full day of immersive engagement.

The forum is grounded in priority areas aligned with the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, with a focus on two key themes: Biomanufacturing and Response Technologies, and Advanced Sensing for Detection and Triage. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience live technology demonstrations from APL experts, gain insights into national security-driven biotech priorities, and explore joint initiatives aimed at mobilizing public and private resources.

BioHorizons is built for relationship-building and strategic alignment, connecting innovators, scientists, engineers, and decision-makers from across the biotech ecosystem. The event offers a unique opportunity to shape investment and innovation strategies in alignment with national security goals. Registration closes July 31, 2026, and interested participants can register through the Johns Hopkins APL event portal.

COLUMBIA, Md., (June 10, 2026) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a $25,000 investment through its Pre-Seed Rural Business Innovation Initiative (RBII) Fund in Stemora Inc.

“Current osteoarthritis treatments are typically geared toward managing symptoms rather than targeting solutions. With our stem cell research, we are hopeful that we can start working to reverse it entirely, thereby providing patients with a better quality of life,” said Srujana Cherukuri, founder and CEO of Stemora Inc. “With this funding, we are excited to continue our research and development efforts and hope to find a solution to completely stop and reverse cartilage degeneration.”

Stemora Inc, located in Frederick, Md., seeks to convert osteoarthritis treatment through targeting cartilage degeneration at its source. Through this approach, regenerative therapy aims to deliver lasting structural restoration and functional recovery, addressing the root cause of the disease.

“Innovation can be found across the state; that is one reason the RBII program is so influential to ecosystem growth,” said Graham Dodge, vice president of TEDCO’s Venture Development. “We are excited to support entrepreneurs on their journeys, humbled to see continued growth and enthusiastic about supporting Maryland’s ecosystem.”

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $7 million through the Build Our Future Grant Program. The recipients represent projects that will support innovation infrastructure development in eligible technology sectors.

The Build Our Future Grant Program—part of the Governor’s Innovation Economy Infrastructure Act of 2023—provides grants of up to $2 million to private companies, nonprofit entities, local governments, as well as colleges and universities. Eligible industry sectors include advanced manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, blue technology, cybersecurity, defense, energy and sustainability, life sciences, quantum, and sensors and robotics.

“Building a stronger, more competitive Maryland economy requires strategic investment in the businesses and industries that will drive growth in the coming years,” said Gov. Moore. “Once again, we’re deploying Build Our Future grants to support advances in clean energy, biotechnology, medtech, aerospace, robotics and more. This is an important part of how Maryland will win the decade.”

FREDERICK, Md., June 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAC) (the “Company” or “Cartesian”), a late clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, today announced a strategic licensing agreement with WestGene Biopharma Co., Ltd. (“WestGene”) to advance the development of novel in vivo chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies in autoimmune diseases.

“Building on our leadership in autologous cell therapy in autoimmune disease, we are partnering with WestGene to extend our mRNA payloads into in vivo delivery,” said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cartesian. “We believe that the potential for in vivo to further enhance the delivery of cell therapies in the field of autoimmune disease provides a compelling commitment to scientific innovation. This partnership provides an accelerated and efficient path to human clinical data with expected proof-of-concept being evaluated in patients with myasthenia gravis. With positive clinical data, we intend to advance programs across multiple autoimmune diseases into U.S. clinical development. We believe this collaboration has the potential to further transform the treatment paradigm for cell therapy in autoimmune diseases.”

GERMANTOWN, Md. and COLUMBIA, Md., June 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Senseonics, a medical technology company focused on implantable Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems for people with diabetes, and Welldoc®, a leader in AI-powered health solutions, today announce a strategic partnership to develop a new custom mobile application for Eversense® 365.

The next-generation app will maintain all existing features that patients currently benefit from, alongside new features to enhance user experience and facilitate better integration with popular digital health tools. As part of this, the new and improved Eversense 365 app will facilitate seamless integration with Apple Health and Google Health Connect, enabling users to compile all their most valuable health and fitness data into one place. Where available, the app will also continue to support the transformative combination of Eversense 365 with the twiist™ Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) System, which launched in the U.S. earlier this year.

Users of the world’s first and only one-year CGM can also expect a revamped app interface with improved visual components and workflows for all features and functionalities of the current app. In particular, this project will focus on enhancing the user interface and experience of sensor and transmitter integration, including pairing and activation, communication status, synchronization, data displays and alerts. These improvements will ensure that usability and functionality of the app better reflect the outstanding technology of the Eversense 365 CGM system.

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (ITI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing transformative immune therapies through its proprietary UNITE® platform, announced today that the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) has cleared the Clinical Trial Notification (CTN) for ITI-9001, the Company's investigational immunotherapy for Japanese red cedar (JRC) allergy. The CTN became effective on June 11, 2026 (Japan Standard Time), enabling the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study in Japan.

ITI is working in collaboration with CMIC, a Japan-based contract research organization (CRO), to support the execution of the clinical program. ITI-9001 is a novel self-amplifying RNA-based immunotherapy designed to address the underlying immune mechanisms of JRC allergy, a condition that affects a significant proportion of the Japanese population.

“The PMDA clearance of our CTN for ITI-9001 represents an important milestone for Immunomic Therapeutics and further validates the potential of our saRNA platform beyond oncology applications,” said Dong-Gun Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Immunomic Therapeutics. “We are excited to advance this program into the clinic and, together with our partner, CMIC, work toward delivering a potentially transformative treatment option for millions of patients affected by Japanese red cedar allergy.”