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New Diagnostic Tests Could Change The Landscape For Leukemia Prevention And Treatment

Omer Awan, Contributor

Aug 3, 2023

By the time you are done reading this article, at least one person in the United States will be diagnosed with a blood cancer. Approximately every three minutes someone in America is diagnosed with one of the types of blood cancers.

Leukemia, a type of cancer of the body’s blood forming tissues, usually involves one’s white blood cells, or the cells that help fight off infection. In patients with leukemia, the body produces an excess amount of white blood cells that don’t function properly. According to the American Cancer Society, there have already been over 59,000 new cases of leukemia diagnosed this year, and nearly 24,000 deaths from it in America. Although the exact cause is unknown, most scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors play a role.

Leukemia is felt to occur largely when blood cells acquire changes, or mutations, to their genetic material. The cancer is usually diagnosed through different blood tests and bone marrow biopsy, a procedure that involves taking a small sample of bone and blood from the pelvis to evaluate for abnormal cells. More advanced tests are also sometimes used such as molecular and genetic tests that specifically attempt to identify genes, proteins and mutations that are associated with leukemia.

A Montana based molecular diagnostic company, Alercell Inc., is pioneering novel techniques to augment the way leukemia is diagnosed, treated and ultimately prevented. Their CEO and founder, Frederic Scheer, is working tirelessly to advance cancer detection and prevention after fighting his own battle with cancer.



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Inimmune Corporation announces First Subject Dosed in First-in-Human Phase 1 Clinical Trial of its novel intranasal TLR4 agonist, INI-2004, for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis and FDA Clearance of IND application for INI-2004

Milestone marks transition of Inimmune Corporation to a clinical-stage company

Press Release

August 2, 2023

Inimmune Corporation (“Inimmune”), a clinical-stage company focused on the development of innovative immunotherapeutics, today announced that the first subject has been dosed in Inimmune’s phase 1/1b First-in-Human clinical trial of INI-2004, Inimmune’s TLR4 agonist product candidate under development as a potential treatment of allergic rhinitis.

The phase 1/1b trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of INI-2004 in healthy volunteers and participants with allergic rhinitis (AR). The phase 1 trial is a single ascending dose (SAD) study with up to 4 cohorts, and healthy volunteers are to be randomized 3:1 to receive a single intranasal dose of INI-2004 or placebo. This portion of the study is being conducted in Australia under Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) authority and Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) oversight.

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Solo-Dex Nominated for Prestigious 2023 Prix Galien USA Awards

Press Release

August 8, 2023

Solo-Dex, a leading innovator in the healthcare technology industry, is proud to announce its nomination for the esteemed 2023 Prix Galien USA Awards. The Galien Foundation has recognized our significant contributions in the "Best Medical Technology" category.

Solo-Dex's ground-breaking non-opioid acute pain management product has demonstrated remarkable innovation in the world of medical technology, enhancing the quality of patient care while maximizing efficiency in treatment strategies.

The Prix Galien USA Awards, bestowed by The Galien Foundation, honor outstanding achievements in improving the human condition through the development of innovative therapies and technologies. The award recognizes leading companies that have introduced significant technological, scientific, or solution-driven breakthroughs in healthcare.

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Keeps us going’: Crow nonprofit gets $180K grant for health equity

By Nora Mabie, Billings Gazette

August 8, 2023

In January 1984, Alma McCormick gave birth to twins — a boy and a girl. But when the children turned 1, McCormick’s daughter, Camie, was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. Camie and her family made 10 trips to Denver for her chemotherapy treatments, and she lived almost another year before dying in December 1985.

“That experience really filled my heart with passion,” McCormick said. “I had a passion and desire to develop something for my Crow people.”

McCormick’s passion paid off last month when her organization was awarded $180,000 to promote health equity...

In July, Genentech, a biotechnology company, awarded a $180,000 unrestricted grant to Messengers for Health to promote health equity.

Danica Richards, senior manager of giving and social impact at Genentech, said Messengers for Health stood out among other applicants because the organization uses “local cultural strengths to develop community-driven solutions.” “It’s pretty intuitive that communities know what they need, so what we wanted to do is develop a fund that leans into that,” she said.

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University of Montana working on vaccine for fentanyl, heroin overdose

By Keila Szpaller, Daily Montanan

September 17, 2023

A vaccine to prevent overdosing on fentanyl and one for heroin are in the works at the University of Montana and partner institutions.

Human trials are expected to start in early 2024 for both vaccines, according to UM.

UM researcher Jay Evans, who leads a campus center working on the vaccines and co-founded university corporate partner Inimmune, said recently the vaccine is unusual in that it’s generating an antibody response against a drug rather than against a bacteria or virus.

Jay Evans, director of the UM Center for Translational Medicine, and his team expect to start Phase 1 human trials for fentanyl and heroin vaccines in 2024. (UM photo by Tommy Martino)

A person addicted to fentanyl who wants to quit and goes through rehab has an 80% to 90% chance of relapsing in the first two years, Evans said. Sometimes, people overdose and even die because their bodies are not accustomed to the drug anymore.

“We’re developing a vaccine to help people quit and prevent overdoses,” Evans said.

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Golden Helix Receives New NIH SBIR Grant

Pharmacogenomics Workflow: Identifying Biomarkers and Treatment Options

From PR Newswire

September 26, 2023

Personalized medicine leveraging pharmacogenomics is gaining momentum to optimize drug choice, dosage, efficacy, and safety for individual patients. This grant allows Golden Helix to research pharmacogenetics analytics capabilities as an integrated component of NGS-based genetic testing. The ultimate goal is to move away from "one drug fits all" or "one dose fits all" strategies. The PI of this grant Dr. Scherer, President and CEO of Golden Helix, says, "Our long-term goal is to support healthcare providers to enhance clinical outcomes, reduce adverse drug reactions, and achieve cost-effective healthcare by integrating pharmacogenomics into routine clinical practice. We appreciate the support of the NIH in this endeavor."

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Montana State announces eighth class of Hilleman Scholars

By MSU News Service

AUGUST 17, 2023

Fifty-three high school graduates from across Montana have been selected for their effort and potential as the eighth class of Montana State University’s Hilleman Scholars Program, which is named after Maurice Hilleman, one of the state’s most influential native sons and an MSU graduate. 

Hilleman was born on a farm near Miles City in 1919. His twin sister died during childbirth, and his mother died two days later. He was raised by an uncle and aunt and, as a child, helped the household make ends meet by raising chickens. Hilleman had planned to work at a local department store, but his brother told him that MSU – then Montana State College – offered scholarships. Hilleman applied, won a scholarship and graduated in 1941.

Over the next 43 years, Hilleman became the world’s leading vaccinologist, developing more than 40 important vaccines for human and animal health. Of the 14 vaccines commonly given to children, Hilleman developed nine. Among them are vaccines for measles, mumps, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia. He spent the majority of his career at Merck & Co., which recently estimated that his vaccines have been given to more than 750 million people worldwide. 

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Incoming Montana State University Hilleman Scholars are pictured in Norm Asbjornson Hall on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Bozeman, Montana. MSU photo by Colter Peterson

UM Recieves $8M Grant to Benefit the

L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation

By UM News

16 AUGUST 2023

Only three years after its creation, the University of Montana and University of Montana Foundation today announced a significant investment to benefit the L.S. Skaggs Institute for Health Innovation.

Known as SIHI, the institute will use this investment to expand its influence as a statewide hub for health education, research and outreach — with a goal of improving access to emerging health innovations for all Montanans. The $8 million grant to the University of Montana Foundation from The ALSAM Foundation will allow the UM to engage a wide variety of stakeholders who are committed to improving health outcomes of Montanans, as well as construct a community facing high-tech space to house SIHI programs.

“SIHI is a driving force that is bringing the UM College of Health together to solve some of the most pressing health care challenges facing our state,” said Donna Beall, interim dean of the UM Skaggs School of Pharmacy. “Without the generosity of key stakeholders, alumni and philanthropists, UM and the College of Health would not be in the position to build a healthier and more equitable world where every individual has access to quality health care services and the opportunity to live a fulfilling life. We are grateful for all those who contributed to enabling us to improve the overall well-being of our communities.”

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Montana State RNA editing research featured in new publication

By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service

September 22, 2023

New technology developed by researchers at Montana State University, featured this month on the cover of the journal Science Advances, could have powerful impacts on the way scientists study viruses, make vaccines or splice genes. 

The research repurposes CRISPR – an immune system that bacteria use to recognize and fight off viruses – to the editing of RNA, which is a type of genetic material responsible for making proteins and amino acids within cells. MSU professor Blake Wiedenheft, whose lab is housed in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology in MSU’s College of Agriculture, has studied CRISPR systems for years, supported in part by a $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Anna Nemudraia, left, and Artem Nemudryi are lead authors on a new paper exploring the use of CRISPR technology to edit RNA genetic material. MSU photo by Adrian-Sanchez Gonzalez.

While CRISPR – which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats – has been used for decades to cut and edit DNA, similar methods for editing RNA were unavailable, said Artem Nemudryi, who has been a postdoctoral researcher in Wiedenheft’s lab for five years. Nemudryi and fellow postdoctoral researcher Anna Nemudraia are lead authors on the paper “CRISPR-based engineering of RNA viruses,” which published last week. Nemudryi recently received an NIH Pathway to Independence Award for his CRISPR research, one of the agency’s most prestigious recognitions for early-career scientists.

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Led by sciences and engineering, Montana State research spending hits record $230 million

By Marshall Swearingen, MSU News Service

September 19, 2023

For a fifth straight year, Montana State University recorded an all-time high for research expenditures — the funding put toward scientific discovery and other scholastic and creative pursuits. MSU is the largest research enterprise in the state, and its total expenditures exceed the research expenditures of all other institutions in the state combined.

MSU’s annual report to the National Science Foundation showed that its research activities accounted for roughly $230 million in expenditures during the fiscal year that ended in June. That figure is a 14% increase over the prior year, which was the first time in Montana history that research expenditures at an institution of higher education ever topped $200 million.

Montana State senior Kari Perry poses for a portrait in a Barnard Hall lab in April 2023. Perry recently won a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to study water moving around melting icebergs to better understand climate change and its effects. MSU photo by Colter Peterson

"Montana State's steadily growing research enterprise serves the people of Montana in a variety of ways," said Alison Harmon, MSU’s vice president for research and economic development. "Research is an engine for economic growth, and many of MSU’s projects are developing innovations that can be commercialized and stimulate small business growth across the state."

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Central Montana Medical Center begins $15.6 million cancer center project

By Daily Montanan Staff

September 13, 2023

The mission is simple: Cancer care closer to home.

And on Wednesday, Central Montana Medical Center broke ground on a $15.6 million cancer center that will bring comprehensive cancer care services to central Montana. That means residents living in central and northern Montana won’t have to travel as long for cancer treatment.

The project is made possible by $9 million in grant funding from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and the support of the community.

Once complete, the 17,830 square-foot cancer center will offer medical and radiation oncology services to nine rural counties in central Montana, filling a huge coverage gap by providing high-quality cancer care closer to home for nearly 50,000 residents. The CMMC cancer center will help relieve the stress and burden of patients and families who currently travel up to 220 miles, sometimes five days a week, to Great Falls or Billings for diagnoses, radiation treatments and other services.

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Biden plans $100 million drive to combat drug-resistant 'superbugs'

By Trevor Hunnicutt

September 27, 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden will announce on Wednesday a $100 million research drive to fight deadly drug-resistant bacteria, according to a White House official. More than a million people worldwide lose their lives each year due to infections resulting from bacteria resistant to antibiotics, according to the World Health Organization.

In the United States, that number is over 35,000 annually, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said. The problem is believed to have grown in recent years as more people with COVID-19 were hospitalized, where they were treated with antibiotics and exposed to infection. Global health officials have repeatedly warned about the rise of antimicrobial-resistant microbes due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, which encourages microorganisms to evolve into "superbugs."



There has long been an acute need for new antibiotics to combat these resistant bacteria, but there is little incentive among drugmakers as antibiotics are not especially profitable and overuse must be discouraged, keeping sales down.

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Pfizer Amends U.S. Government Paxlovid Supply Agreement and Updates Full-Year 2023 Guidance

Press Release

October 13, 2023

Albert Bourla announces an important agreement with the U.S. government that will make it easier for patients to access Pfizer’s oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19. This will help ensure that the United States will have a robust stockpile for future use and helps provide more clarity on the commercial market for COVID related products. This is the next logical step in Pfizer’s unrelenting effort to help ensure every eligible patient continues to have access to this potentially life-saving medicine.

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On the international outreach front, the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative (MTBSCI) was pleased to welcome a two-person delegation from Saudi Arabia to Montana in September. One of the two inbound participants studied biological engineering at Montana State University, graduating in 2017. This affinity connection to Montana coupled with present-day MTBSCI outreach brought him and a colleague to Montana to: better understand the statewide bioscience ecosystem –which has yielded the highest percentage increase of biopharma employment in the U.S. in recent years; initiate pathways leading to collaborative R&D; and evaluate what investments might help propel the bio ecosystem forward. Ron Zook, Vice President, represented the Montana BioScience Alliance.

And on October 10 – 13, MTBSCI led a group to Yokohama Japan for BIOJapan 2023. Montana Companies attending are: Golden Helix Inc, Outstanding Innovations. Solo-Dex, Purcell Bio, Inc., Inimmune Corporation, Endo-Logic, Inc., Montana BioAgriculture, and BioSurface Technologies Corporation. They were accompanied by staff from the Montana Department of Commerce and the Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative.

BIO One-on-One Partnering™ with

On-Site Meeting Space at JPM Week

BIO One-on-One Partnering™ is returning to San Francisco for 2024 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference week, and we've reserved 40% more space at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis for in-person meetings (available on a first-come-first-served basis for meetings scheduled through the Partnering system on January 8-11.).

By pre-registering for BIO One-on-One Partnering @JPM Week, you'll be able to use our proprietary system to easily identify potential partners and investors no matter where you meet: either in-person or virtually.

Learn more, Click Here!

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL TRADESHOWS

Sign up now: MEDICA

Are you interested in exporting your medical and health care products and services into the European markets? We’re ready to help you!

Join ExportMontana and up to 10 of your fellow Montana Businesses in a

USA/Montana Pavilion at Medica 2023, November 13-16, 2023, Dusseldorf, Germany.

There is little to no cost for you to participate. ExportMontana will pay for the booth and furniture via our Montana State Trade Expansion Program grant (STEP, funded by a Federal grant from the US Small Business Administration).

Want to learn more? See the attached “Medica Information” or contact Angelyn DeYoung at to discuss the opportunity. (406) 431-5075 or adeyoung@mt.gov 

The PHS 2023-2 omnibus solicitations of the NIH, CDC, and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications have been released. The first application due date is January 5, 2024, so start preparing your application today. As usual, there are four Omnibus Solicitations:

• PA-23-230: PHS 2023-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• PA-23-231: PHS 2023-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH and CDC for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Required)

• PA-23-232: PHS 2023-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• PA-23-233: PHS 2023-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required)

Please note: The SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022 (the Act), signed into law by President Biden on September 30, 2022, reauthorized the SBIR program, the STTR program, and related pilot programs through September 30, 2025.

The Act includes major changes to the SBIR and STTR programs, including:

• increased minimum performance standards (refer to NOT-OD-23-092),
• Pre- and Post- award foreign disclosure requirements (refer to NOT-OD-23-139, view the required form)
• 
  

Additionally, peer review criteria have changed. As these are significant changes, applicants are urged to read the solicitations in full.

Questions? Contact SEEDinfo@nih.gov.

2024 FAST Micro-Grants are here!

The Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP) powered by MSU TechLink Center will utilize some of our 2024 FAST funds to provide financial assistance to Montana small businesses that are actively preparing SBIR/STTR proposals in the federal fiscal year 2024.

The costs to apply for an SBIR/STTR grant or contract can be considerable. Financial assistance for early-stage companies increases their participation in the SBIR program and the quality of their proposals.

MTIP will award six FAST Microgrants to eligible SBIR/STTR applicants of up to $2,000 per year. Prospective SBIR/STTR applicants may apply to MTIP to receive Microgrants to attend conferences, travel to speak with agencies or commercialization partners, to acquire consulting services from an approved service provider for assistance with preparation of Phase I or Phase II proposals, to develop supporting project data, and to undertake other activities directly related to their SBIR/STTR proposal.

For more information and to access the application

Click Here!

Careers at Inimmune

Inimmune is a promising new biotechnology company founded by pharmaceutical industry veterans, focused on developing the next generation of vaccines and immunotherapeutics. The group has extensive expertise in synthetic and process chemistry, drug formulation, and immunology.



Open Positions:

-Senior Scientist or Research Scientist, Formulations and Drug Delivery

To find out more about the current open positions and about Inimmune, Click Here!

Open Positions:



-Technician - PCD

-Machine Operator - Liquid Filling

-Technician - Assembly & Packaging

-Custodian

-Customer Support Representative (Temporary to Permanent Potential)

-Contract Studies Laboratory Analyst

-Technician - APEX

To find out more about the current open positions and about Mesa Labs, Click Here!

Careers at Montana Molecular

Montana Molecular develops fluorescent biosensors and reporters for drug discovery and research in living cells. Our products help scientists observe and measure cell processes that are important in maintaining health and treating disease. Our team is focused on creating breakthrough innovations that empower scientists and lead to better therapeutic treatments for disease. The company is committed to building a sustainable biotech industry in the state of Montana, providing good jobs in a safe and healthy environment.

Montana Molecular is growing. We have openings for scientific staff with a desire to bring cutting edge fluorescence technology to the market place. This will involve working with a team to combine experience in molecular biology, live cell imaging and fluorescence microscopy to create new tools for discovery. The people who work here are passionate about science and dedicated to building the next generation of biosensors for drug discovery and cell biology.

Open Positions:



-Senior Research Associate - GPCR Assay Development

To find out more about the current open positions and about Montana Molecular, Click Here!

Careers at FYR Diagnostics

FYR Diagnostics is a fast growing Missoula, MT-based biotechnology company developing a powerful portfolio of PCR-focused solutions. FYR Diagnostics’ mission is to commercialize novel detection technologies to help eliminate human suffering by better diagnosing human disease states and to eliminate vast inefficiencies in the agricultural industry.

Those who work with FYR Diagnostics are members of a community that seeks to respect and celebrate all the qualities that make each of us unique. Each of us is empowered to be ourselves within this community, which cultivates and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels. FYR Diagnostics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace and Affirmative Action Employer.

To find out more about the current open positions, Click Here!

Two Bear Capital provides a job board with the different job openings from

the following companies:

-Abilita Bio

-CIQ

-Elisity

-FYR Diagnostics

-Graphiant

-Inimmune

-Novoron Bioscience

-pulseData

-Selector AI

-TileDB

For Open positions with Companies you'll love to work for, Click Here!

Work for a great company in beautiful Bozeman, MT

At Golden Helix, we are committed to accelerating ground-breaking research in genetics, drug discovery and predictive analytics, to our purpose of dramatically improving human health, our great culture, personal development, and strong values.

We are always seeking self-motivated individuals who strive for excellence and have the drive to help us on our journey. We offer competitive wages, benefits and the opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world.

Open Positions:

-Area Sales Director

-Director of Renewal Sales

-Finance Manager

-Operations Coordinator

General Employment Inquiries

Interested in a position that we're not actively hiring? Submit your resume for our files! We will archive your information and if a position becomes available that matches your qualifications, we'll contact you.

Click here to apply!

Open Solicitations From Techlink and MTIP

Dates are subject to change. Please refer to each agency site for up-to-date information.

• NIH Targeted funding announcements have varying release and due dates. Find a list of currently open program announcements and requests for applications here.

Links to all participating agencies' SBIR home pages are available here.

Reach out today for no-cost consulting and proposal reviews from one of MTIP's SBIR

experts.

Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program

What do you do after you have received Stage 1 SBIR/STTR matching funds from the

Montana Department of Commerce, have satisfactorily completed your Phase I work, the

Phase I final report has been accepted by the Federal SBIR/STTR agency, and you have

submitted your SBIR or STTR Phase II proposal?

You submit your Stage 2 application to the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds

Program. You do not have to receive notification of a Phase II award before submitting this

application. For more information, Click Here!

Questions? Feel free to contact Ann at ann.peterson@montana.edu or

Annmarie Robinson with the Department of Commerce at arobinson3@mt.gov.

How would you like to have more free time to focus on innovating and growing your business?

Are you ready to clear your plate of time-consuming daily HR tasks — such as payroll, benefits, talent, and compliance? Right now's the perfect time to see if ADP’s PEO is the right move for you, too.

What is ADP TotalSource?

• Endorsed by BIO for life science companies of any size.
• Full-service PEO (professional employer organization) partner with coverage in all 50 states
• Partner to help you attract and retain top talent more easily with access to ADP Recruiters, HR advisors and best-in-class benefits.
• Industry-leading PEO, giving you confidence that ADP does it the right way.

As an IRS certified and ESAC accredited PEO, ADP meets the highest standards for financial responsibility, ethical business conduct, and regulatory compliance.

Now is the time to start the process if you want to make a change for 2024.

UPS Healthcare brings reliability, scalability and security to life science companies every day. Its portfolio of end-to-end services is well-suited to meet today's complex logistics demands for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and laboratory diagnostic industries. Learn exactly how from UPS Healthcare.

Through Montana BioScience Alliance’s partnership with UPS Healthcare, you get access to exclusive rates on a full suite of UPS® services. And, after recent renegotiations, the savings have gotten even better. While the same popular shipping services, like UPS Next Day Air®, and UPS Worldwide Express SM, remain at reduced rates, the price band range to qualify for discounts is narrower. For example, a company that spends $1,500 to $4,999.99 weekly for UPS Next Day Air® shipping now receives a 60% discount rather than a 50-55% discount under the previous arrangement.

As a Montana BioScience Alliance member, be confident that your critical healthcare shipments will be delivered timely and with care by a quality-focused and patient-driven organization.

Montana BioScience Alliance Members Save Up To:

· 74% on UPS Next Day Air®

· 59% on UPS 2nd Day Air® & UPS 3 Day Select Services®

· 51% on UPS Ground® Commercial Services

· 68% on UPS Worldwide International Services