It is our mission to secure Indiana’s position as a global leader in life sciences by advocating, connecting, promoting, and delivering tangible benefits on behalf of our diverse corporate members.

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News From Around the Industry

IHIF Celebrates 30 Years!

2024 will be a big year for so many reasons but one of the biggest is that the Indiana Health Industry Forum will be turning 30! We have a lot of special events and reasons to celebrate throughout this year and we look forward to doing it with our Members and Friends!

NEW IHIF Member Benefit!!

Access to capital is the #1 issue we hear from our members, so we are offering you a NEW member-only service to help you access non-dilutive funding from the government. By teaming up with G2G Consulting, which has secured over $528 million in government funding since 2007, you will receive a monthly report on life sciences grants and a monthly webinar with government funding experts to ask questions and gain insights on how to obtain funding. This Government Biosciences Grant Report or GBG Report is updated and published monthly with all life sciences opportunities spanning from NIH to BARDA to DoD to USDA to NSF to ARPA-H included.

Learn More

Not an IHIF Member? Sign up here to access this benefit and more!

New statewide Pre-Seed Fund officially launches for startups

Indianapolis-based Elevate Ventures and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. have officially launched the new Pre-Seed Fund, the venture capital firm announced Thursday. The $3 million fund is designed to provide direct investments to pre-seed companies throughout the state with the goal of helping startups attract additional investment. More

LISTEN: IEDC Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Small Business David Watkins said the move is the culmination of an effort to gather feedback from founders and entrepreneurs on how to grow Indiana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. More

RayzeBio to be acquired by drugmaker Bristol Myers for $4.1B

RayzeBio is building a large factory on the northwest side of Indianapolis to make radioisotopes for cancer treatment. More (Source: IBJ)

BioCrossroads names Vince Wong as new CEO

Vince Wong, a former executive at Roche Diagnostics and a biotech startup, has been chosen as the new president and CEO of BioCrossroads, an Indianapolis-based group that promotes and invests in the state’s $77 billion life sciences sector. Wong, 52, began his new job Wednesday. He succeeds Patricia Martin, who stepped down in April after four years in the position. More

With BIO Business Solutions (BBS), IHIF members are eligible for discounts and savings on a wide variety of products and services geared towards life sciences companies and general business needs. From lab supplies, waste removal and insurance, to office supplies and credit cards, there is something here for every company. Explore your options and enjoy the benefits of being an IHIF member!

Featured Program

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BIO Business Solutions provides cost-savings offers to eligible IHIF Members. To learn more about the programs and services available, please click here. Not an IHIF member? Join today!

Now Available: Contract research services for imaging and analysis 

Do you need to collect microscopy data but the timing is not right for a big instrument purchase? Access professional instrumentation, software, and expert microscopists at the Nikon BioImaging Lab. 

Exactly what services are provided? How does this all work? That’s up to you. Mix and match services and service levels to best match your research needs and budget.

Visit the imaging lab onsite to perform your research or leverage the expertise of professionals who provide quality cell culture, sample preparation, and data analysis services. Simply send the research and guidelines and get professional analysis in return - it's that easy!

Exclusive Savings for BIO and IHIF Members

BIO Preferred Partner, Nikon, is excited to collaborate and help accelerate your research with imaging services and analysis. That's why for a limited time, they are offering a free consultation and up to four hours of imaging. 

Additionally, get members-exclusive discounts on:

• Full-service imaging
• Consumable supplies
• Lab assisted equipment use
• Lab occupancy fee

Enjoy these benefits as a member of BIO or IHIF. Email [email protected] to confirm your eligibility. 

IHIF Membership

Be sure to check out the new IHIF Member Directory featuring company descriptions and an alphabetical listing.

Welcome New IHIF Members!

Krauter Cleanrooms is an Indianapolis based design build company specializing in cost effective modular construction. From controlled lab space to ISO and USP rated facilities. Krauter Cleanrooms is a one stop local source that delivers: Consulting / Design services, Sales / Technical / Engineering Support, Expert Installation, Partnerships with Sub-Trades and Suppliers for turn-key solutions Directory Link

Helmer Scientific provides medical-grade, temperature controlled storage and processing solutions and services for pharmacy, blood bank, laboratory and research. Directory Link

Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global real estate services firm that helps clients transform the way people work, shop and live. It has some 45,000 employees in more than 70 countries.

Our life sciences real estate experts drive customized, dynamic solutions for investors, owners, developers and occupiers within the quickly evolving life sciences sector. Directory Link

Output Medical designs FDA registered medical devices that automate urine output measurements for critically ill patients at high risk of decreased kidney function. We initially target patients with substance use dependency who present with a drug overdose in acute care settings. The current standards rely upon manual methods of urine output measurement which are inaccurate, time consuming, and cannot trend the urine output – all of which adversely affect the quality of patient care. Directory Link

Element is a global Testing Inspection and Certification (TIC) company headquartered in London. It specialises in materials testing and provision of certification schemes in building material, aerospace, transportation, health sciences, oil and gas, and fire protection. Directory Link

PragmaClin is developing digital approaches to managing Parkinson's Disease. PragmaClin aims to help patients with Parkinson's Disease monitor their condition with the use of our flagship software, PRIMS. We want a world where patients can get help faster, with more accurate results. Directory Link

Grannus is an early-stage oncology drug development company, with a unique approach to a well-validated target, the chaperone protein Hsp90, that has demonstrated efficacy in clinical studies but known limitations that have prevented previous drugs from being approved. By selectively targeting individual isoforms, or versions, of Hsp90, Grannus has overcome the limitations of the previous failed programs, and unlocked opportunity across multiple tumor types as a single therapy and in combination with other approved drugs. Directory Link

Our global team designs, manufactures and markets effective, innovative solutions that support orthopedic surgeons and clinicians in restoring mobility, alleviating pain and improving the quality of life for patients around the world. Directory Link

MBX Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering Precision Endocrine Peptide (PEP) therapeutic candidates to help people with endocrine disorders live fuller and healthier lives. MBX is advancing a pipeline of PEPs for clinically validated targets designed to deliver superior pharmaceutical properties and overcome key limitations of native peptide therapeutics. MBX's pipeline includes its lead product candidate MBX 2109, which has completed Phase 1 development for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism, and MBX 1416, in Phase 1 development for the treatment of post-bariatric hypoglycemia. The company is supported by leading life science investors including Frazier Life Sciences, New Enterprise Associates, Norwest Venture Partners, OrbiMed, RA Capital Management and Wellington Management. MBX is based in Carmel, Indiana. Directory Link

Isotopia USA, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer or radioactive isotopes utilized as drug substances by radiopharmaceutical companies to produce targeted cancer therapies. Directory Link

Kovina Therapeutics is a preclinical drug discovery company focused on stopping human papillomavirus (HPV) premalignant infections before cancer develops and treating HPV cancers after detection. Kovina's novel small molecule antiviral compounds bind to and inactivate a key HPV protein always expressed in early, premalignant, and cancerous pathologies. Directory Link

Citizens Energy Group is a locally owned and operated broad-based utility service company, providing natural gas, thermal energy, water, and wastewater services to about 900,000 people and thousands of businesses in the Indianapolis area.

Family owned and operated, Biodyne USA is an environmental biotechnology company focused on harnessing the power of naturally occurring, beneficial microorganisms and other sustainable technologies for use in a variety of agricultural and environmental applications.

At Biodyne USA, we leverage close to 30 years of R&D to deliver innovative biological products. Our core products are made in the USA and consist of 100% natural, highly diverse, proprietary microbial teams with proven beneficial capabilities providing economical solutions to a variety of Environmental applications and Agricultural production systems and are used on millions of acres every year! Directory Link

As a member benefit, IHIF is pleased to share and highlight member company news! Please send press releases to [email protected].

Investigational gene therapy by Lilly restores child's hearing in 30 days

Eli Lilly and Co. announced on Tuesday that an 11-year-old boy with congenital deafness since birth because of a mutation in the otoferlin gene had his hearing restored within a month of being administered AK-OTOF, the company's investigational gene therapy, which was administered surgically. "While the gene therapy we performed in our patient was to correct an abnormality in one, very rare gene, these studies may open the door for future use for some of the over 150 other genes that cause childhood hearing loss," said John Germiller, attending surgeon and director of clinical research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where the surgery on the patient was done.

Full Story: BioSpace (San Francisco) (1/24), The New York Times (1/23) 

US investment set to open doors for leading Dundee biotechnology company

A company based in Dundee, Scotland which pioneers revolutionary, market-leading biotechnology has uplevelled its commitment to the US following a string of successes in a key market. Cellexus International Ltd (Cellexus) has made significant investment in the US market, the biggest for its innovative bioreactors, by ploughing funds into the manufacture of bioreactor bags for its CellMaker system. Working with Vonco Products, LLC in Indiana has ensured that consumable stock is held in-country for the first time, extending the company’s reach and efficiency.

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Adipo Therapeutics completes $1.9M seed funding bridge to advance obesity and Type 2 diabetes treatment

Adipo Therapeutics, a late-stage, preclinical biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for obesity and Type 2 diabetes, announced on Wednesday (Jan. 31) the successful completion of a $1.9 million bridge fund round.  To date, Adipo has raised a total of $4 million in seed funding to advance the development of its lead asset ADPO-002 for the treatment of obesity through increased energy expenditure. 

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What We're Following at Home and on the Hill

• Find your legislators and keep up with IHIF's advocacy efforts - here
• Policy Forum Members: Session Updates and Bill Tracker (2024 Session)

IHIF Actions:

• 2024 Session of the Indiana General Assembly underway
• Worked closely with member companies to remove pharma and med dev classifications from M&A provisions in SB 9
• Worked closely with member companies and BIO to remove clinical research from data privacy restrictions in SB 284
• Supporting American Cancer Society's biomarker testing coverage legislation (SB 273)
• Launched BIO Action campaign to encourage passage of R&D amortization fix. (see below for status)
• Click here to see all of the topics and issues IHIF is monitoring

House passes bill restoring full R&D expensing

Legislation to restore immediate R&D expensing passed the House by 357-70.

The proposal: R&D expenses would be 100% deductible through 2025 under the $78 billion Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. The bill, which includes other tax breaks, reverses a change to make companies amortize R&D expenses over five years, reducing the full deduction to 20% annually.

Why it matters: Being forced to amortize R&D expenses reduces funding available for developing new drugs and devices.

What’s next: The legislation must be approved in the Senate, where it is championed by Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Source: Good Day Bio

Rep. Greg Pence will not seek fourth term in U.S. House

Greg Pence, the older brother of former Vice President and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, is currently serving his third term representing Indiana’s 6th Congressional District. More

New Study Reinforces That Expansion of IRA Price Setting Would Further Crush Patient Health, Innovative Treatments and U.S. Biopharma Jobs 

Further expansion of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) government-mandated drug pricing policies would translate to a loss of 1.2 million U.S. jobs over the next decade and threaten billions in medical research funding for treatments in many areas of unmet need, according to a new study published today. Since 2021, venture capital investments in biopharma have dropped by 50% and IPOs for biopharma firms by 70% – with an outsized impact on investments targeting cancer treatments. A new study from research firm Vital Transformation warns of further declines in new treatments for patients – particularly seniors – if lawmakers act on plans to expand government price controls.

Read More

READ THE RESEARCH STUDY HERE

Changes to HSR Premerger Rules Would Add Unnecessary Financial and Operational Barriers to Pro-Innovation M&A

The Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act requires companies to report information to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) before a planned merger or acquisition (M&A). Under the HSR Act, the agencies enforce premerger reporting requirements that merging parties must meet before a transaction can proceed. The HSR rules are intended to give the agencies sufficient information to assess an M&A transaction for its effects on competition.

For nearly fifty years, a balanced approach to premerger reporting requirements has allowed regulators to conduct comprehensive assessments of mergers and acquisitions without undue burden for the merging parties. Now, in a complete overhaul of this well-established and reliable process, the agencies are imposing sweeping changes to the premerger requirements that could have an overwhelming and disproportionate impact on life sciences innovation.

VIEW ONLINE Source: PULSE

• NEW! G2G Consulting Monthly Non-Dilutive Gov't Funding Webinar - February 15 (noon) Register
• G2G's Annual MHSRS Webinar - Learn tips for abstract submission and DoD funding opportunities - February 14, noon - 1:00 pm FREE Details and Register
• IU Kelley School of Business CBLS Research Conference: Advancing Life Science Research - Learn More
• Life Sciences Lifeline Series - Bayh-Dole, March-In Rights, and the Impact on Innovation - February 20 - 11:30 - 1:00 pm - Learn More
• Save The Date: SBIR/STTR Road Tour - Virtual and Indianapolis Visit - July 16, 2024 - Register and Learn More
• MEDCON 2024 - April 24-26, Columbus, OH (co-sponsored by the FDA) - Register and Learn More

SAVE THE DATE - ANNUAL SCOTLAND TRADE MISSION TO INDIANA

MAY 13-17, 2024

Save the date in May for the return of our friends from the Scottish Lifesciences Association! This year's annual mission will include all the regular highlights, business briefings, member mixer reception, company presentations and demos, and lots of Hoosier Hospitality! Please be in touch if you would like to meet or host the group and stay tuned for more details on who will be joining us this year!

Submit your application for Start-Up Stadium at BIO 2024!

Does your start-up have what it takes to enter the Start-Up Stadium arena at BIO 2024? Here's your chance to be considered and take the stage with a quick pitch showcasing your new technologies and therapeutic solutions to a panel of investor judges.

Finalists will be eligible for a highly discounted registration rate to attend the 2024 BIO International Convention. Learn more about applicant requirements here.

Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET on February 15, 2024.

2024 Call For Sessions

The Medtech Conference

October 15-17, 2024

Toronto, ON, Canada

Calling all medtech visionaries! Medical devices, diagnostics and digital health technologies are making a significant impact on the lives of people around the globe. What do you see as the most pressing issues or exciting opportunities for our industry? We invite you to share your unique perspective and take the stage at The MedTech Conference in Toronto in October 2024. 

Your knowledge and enthusiasm are what makes The MedTech Conference so special, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to the table!

Call for sessions is officially open! Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

Learn More

FEBRUARY 27-29, 2024

THE LODGE AT TORREY PINES

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

This conference is an exclusive global partnering forum that brings together senior executives, bankers, venture capitalists, and business development professionals from leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Join us next February 2024, where industry leaders will debate current trends, companies will showcase their latest technologies and all attendees will have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings with leading deal-makers from around the globe.

The partnering conference and the relationships you build promise to be fruitful for your business ventures this year and for many years to come. We are excited by the prospect of continuing an annual bio-pharma partnering conference that brings together leading deal makers and emerging biotechs from around the world.

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2023 - 2024

Indiana Life Sciences

Collaboration Conference Series

Since 2006, the Center for the Business of Life Sciences (CBLS) has provided a forum for various players in healthcare and life sciences to consider, discuss, and debate key business strategy issues. In presenting the Indiana Life Sciences Collaboration Conference Series, CBLS brings together key players from industry, academia, government, and economic development communities to share ideas and expertise.

Upcoming Topics

Feb 16, 2024 - Industry Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act

Apr 19. 2024 - Tech: Don't be Afraid of Healthcare!

CLICK FOR MORE INFO & REGISTER NOW

Save the Date for the 2024 Indiana Life Sciences Manufacturing Summit

In collaboration with: Purdue’s William D. and Sherry L Young Institute for Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals and Biocrossroads

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2024

Location: 16 Tech, Indianapolis

Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., is the director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Cavazzoni received her medical degree from McGill University and was later appointed to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Cavazzoni then worked in the pharmaceutical industry for several years, holding senior executive positions in clinical development, regulatory affairs, and safety risk management in large companies across multiple therapeutic areas, before joining the FDA in 2018. She will be joined in her presentation by Dr. Sau Lee, Ph.D., Deputy Director of Science, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, CDER. 

The Indiana Life Sciences Manufacturing Summits convene industry, academia, state and local governments, and other relevant organizations to promote life sciences manufacturing, research, education, and business development in Indiana. Now in their third year, the Summits discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities, how to forge global solutions with regional resources, and workforce development strategies needed to keep pace with onshoring and emerging technologies. The theme of the 2024 Summit is Regulatory Perspectives on Life Sciences Manufacturing Innovation.

More information