Alercell Celebrates National Cancer Survivors' Day® 2023

Press Release

June 4, 2023

Bozeman, Montana, June 4th, 2023, Alercell celebrates today National Cancer Survivors’ Day. National Cancer Survivors’ Day Foundation invites all cancer survivors to celebrate this day and Alercell joins all survivors to celebrate another beautiful day of life. It is the 36th annual Celebration of Life and it needs to be celebrated.

Life with cancer is a rough road full of obstacles and challenges but also full of hope and expectations. “Today we are celebrating life” said Frederic Scheer Alercell CEO, a cancer patient himself.

Alercell wants to go further, Alercell believes that a world without cancer is within reach, but we need to modify our overall attitude toward cancer. Today we have made tremendous progress in curing and healing cancer, but we need to go further. We need to eliminate it completely like we have done for numerous plagues before our time. It is possible and this is the mantra of Alercell: “Stop it before it starts!” It is possible. 

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Microbion to Present New Data Demonstrating that Pravibismane Disrupts Bacterial Bioenergetics at ASM Microbe 2023

June 16, 2023

News Provided by Microbion Corporation

• Pravibismane is the first of a new class of drugs with broad-spectrum potency against a wide range of pathogens
• Poster presentation will highlight the results of a gene knockdown study suggesting pravibismane's mechanism of action impacts bacterial bioenergetics and fatty acid biosynthesis

Microbion Corporation today announced that the company has been selected to present a poster highlighting the results from an E. coli CRISPR/Cas gene expression knockdown study characterizing pravibismane's mechanism of action at the ASM Microbe Conference to be held in Houston, TX from June 15-19th, 2023.

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Tonix Pharmaceuticals Enters into Agreement to Acquire Two FDA-Approved, Marketed Migraine Products from Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC

Press Release

June 26, 2023

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix Pharmaceuticals or Tonix) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Tonix Medicines, Inc. (Tonix Medicines), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that they have entered into an agreement to acquire two currently-marketed products from Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC (Upsher-Smith): Zembrace® SymTouch® (sumatriptan injection) 3 mg and Tosymra® (sumatriptan nasal spray) 10 mg. Zembrace SymTouch and Tosymra are both indicated for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults. Zembrace SymTouch is the only branded sumatriptan autoinjector professionally promoted in the United States and is designed for ease of use and favorable tolerability with a low 3 mg dose. Tosymra is a novel intranasal sumatriptan product formulated with a permeation enhancer that provides rapid and efficient absorption of sumatriptan. Collectively, these products generated product sales of approximately $23 million for the full year 2022. Zembrace SymTouch and Tosymra each may provide onset of migraine pain relief in as few as 10 minutes for some patients and currently have patent protection to 2036 and 2031, respectively.

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Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces Agreement and Initiation of Enrollment in Phase 2 Trial with the University of Washington to Study TNX-1900 (Potentiated Intranasal Oxytocin) for Social Anxiety Disorder

Press Release

July 17, 2023

Social Anxiety Disorder Affects 15 Million U.S. Adults and is More Common Among Women than Men

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP), a biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the first participant has been enrolled in a Phase 2 investigator-initiated, proof-of-concept study of TNX-1900 (potentiated intranasal oxytocin) for enhancing social safety learning in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Tonix entered into an agreement with the University of Washington to examine the potential role of TNX-1900 with Angela Fang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Washington as the principal investigator.

“We are excited to collaborate with the University of Washington and Dr. Fang on the development of TNX-1900 for social anxiety disorder,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix Pharmaceuticals. “In the past decade, there has been an increase in studies examining oxytocin’s effects on social cognition and behavior in animals and humans due to translational discoveries showing that intranasal oxytocin appears to reach central nervous system targets1. Specifically, evidence suggests that oxytocin may enhance the importance of social cues or have anti-anxiety properties2,3. These studies have shown that intranasal oxytocin may hold therapeutic promise for psychiatric disorders involving social deficits3-5. TNX-1900 is a proprietary formulation of oxytocin that contains magnesium, which Tonix has shown in animal models potentiates the action of oxytocin at oxytocin receptors and potentially improves the consistency of treatment by reducing paradoxical high-dose inhibition.”

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Solo-Dex, Inc. Strikes Groundbreaking Master Distributor Agreement with CH Trading Group LLC and Farouk, Maamoun Tamer & Co. for the Distribution of its Fascile(R) Non-Opioid Acute Pain Management Suite in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Press Release

July 26, 2023

Solo-Dex, a leading player in the development, manufacture, and sales of innovative non-opioid acute pain management solutions, is pleased to announce a strategic master distribution agreement with CH Trading Group LLC and Farouk, Maamoun Tamer & Co. This groundbreaking partnership will pave the way for the distribution of Solo-Dex's revolutionary Fascile® suite of products within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

CH Trading Group will spearhead the continued commercialization of Solo-Dex Fascile® products across the Middle East and North Africa markets, with opportunities to broaden distribution across the wider Islamic world. This alliance also holds potential for further expansion to encompass other solutions within Solo-Dex's non-opioid pain portfolio.

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Montana State University Extension and Montana Department of Agriculture join new USDA regional food business center partnership

From the MSU News Service

JUNE 8, 2023

 Montana State University Extension and the Montana Department of Agriculture were recently announced as partners in a $30 million U.S. Department of Agriculture effort to establish a regional center to create opportunities for food producers and increase food security.

Co-led by Colorado State University and Oregon State University, the new Northwest and Rocky Mountain Food Business Center is part of a larger effort nationwide, for which the USDA announced $400 million in funding last September.

“This funding represents a great opportunity to both identify and fill gaps that need attention while leveraging the strengths that exist within Montana’s food supply chains,” said Andy Fjeseth, bureau chief of the state of Montana’s Agricultural Finance, Trade and Development Bureau.

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Montana State researchers harness artificial intelligence for cancer diagnosis

By Marshall Swearingen, MSU News Service

JUNE 27, 2023

While the linguistic feats of ChatGPT and other chatbots have been capturing headlines, researchers at Montana State University have been steadily advancing another, more ordinary — and potentially life-saving — application of artificial intelligence: helping to diagnose and treat prostate cancer.

By using new computing methods to detect visual patterns in biopsy scans, the scientists and their medical collaborators are developing technology that could one day help doctors more confidently recommend effective treatment.



“What we’ve learned is that three different pathologists could look at the same slide and assess the cancer differently,” said John Sheppard, professor in the Gianforte School of Computing in MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. “Our goal is a computer-assisted process that can make diagnosis more consistent and hopefully more accurate.”

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MSU researchers Brittany Fasy, left, and John Sheppard pictured in Barnard Hall on May 31, 2023. MSU photo by Colter Peterson

‘Fighting like a Mother': UM Neuroscience Hunts Cure for Young Boy

By Erika Fredrickson, UM News Service

July 19, 2023

Amber Freed was like any mother looking for answers. Her twins – born in 2017 – were still babies when she and her husband noticed Maxwell wasn’t advancing at the same pace as his sister, Riley. The doctors tried to reassure the family, but Freed knew there was something wrong. Soon the doctors did, too.

Amber Freed visits neuroscience Professor Mike Kavanaugh at the University of Montana. (Courtesy of Amber Freed)

“I noticed the doctor's tone change from, ‘You’re just a crazy new mom,’ to one of panic,” Freed said.

After some medical tests, the Freeds learned Maxwell has a genetic mutation that causes a spectrum of neurodevelopment disorders that can include epilepsy, developmental delays, movement disorders and features of autism. This genetic mutation was so rare it is only known as SLC6A1, named after the affected gene location.

While SLC6A1 is now listed among the top-10 gene variants associated with autism or epilepsy, at the time there were only 30 kids in the world with the SLC6A1 diagnosis. The doctors told the Freeds to watch and wait. Social services told them, “Go home and give him the best life you can.”

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FDA approves first RSV vaccine

May 3, 2023 

By Clary Estes

Drug makers have been racing at a breakneck pace to develop respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines this year. On May 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it has approved Arexvy, the first-ever RSV vaccine for individuals 60 and over.

The FDA’s greenlighting of GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) Arexvy vaccine signals the first company to reach the finish line and successfully get a product to market. 

“Older adults, in particular those with underlying health conditions, such as heart or lung disease or weakened immune systems, are at high risk for severe disease caused by RSV,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Today’s approval of the first RSV vaccine is an important public health achievement to prevent a disease which can be life-threatening and reflects the FDA’s continued commitment to facilitating the development of safe and effective vaccines for use in the United States.”



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FDI Industry Spotlight: Bioscience

Montana’s long-standing expertise in fueling and feeding the world complements our expertise in international biomedical research. This has been made possible by the dedicated and tireless efforts of research scientists and clinicians working in both public and private institutions. 

Watch the Montana Bioscience Industry Overview!

Pioneering research is ongoing at our two R1 universities, agile bio startups and established pharma firms, investigating many specialty areas such as infectious disease, neuroscience, chronic wasting disease, TBI, Alzheimer’s, CRISPR gene editing research, alternatives to opioids, cancer research and more.

Montana was at the forefront of the global COVID-19 response with Montana universities and private firms working on a variety of countermeasures including diagnostic testing and vaccine protocols. A number of research groups at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases pivoted to studying numerous aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This facility was featured on local, state, national and international media sites for its essential work in combating COVID-19 and other serious emerging infectious diseases.

The privately owned McLaughlin Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences in Great Falls is a nationally recognized center for neurogenetic research on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other degenerative nerve diseases. 

Click Here to Read the Case Study: GSK!

CSBI Releases the 2023 Life Sciences Workforce Trends Report at BIO International Convention

NEWS PROVIDED BY Baskerville Public Relations

June 07, 2023

The Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI) releases the 2023 Life Sciences Workforce Trends Report with TEConomy Partners this week at the 2023 BIO International Convention in Boston. The biennial report provides a national snapshot of the most pressing current and anticipated talent needs of the nation’s dynamic life science industry. This year’s report distills a set of key themes sourced from 185 executive interviews and nearly 700 survey responses from companies in eighteen states and Puerto Rico, as well as an assessment of nearly 2.8M job postings from life science companies over the last four years.

This sixth edition of the Workforce Trends report looks at trends that have gripped the industry in recent years, including: the implications of technology investments and deployment for high-demand occupations and skills; the industry’s continued and maturing emphasis on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); the solidifying of remote and hybrid work arrangements; and the need to evolve and deepen industry-academic partnerships as a cornerstone of targeted talent solutions to meet the industry’s outsized demand.

“The CSBI TEConomy report continues to stay abreast of our booming industry’s evolving talent needs,” said Rachel King, President & CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. “Its timely data, collected with the help of so many of our state and territorial trade associations and institutes, positions us to collectively work to develop a diverse workforce that will lead innovative discoveries and solutions across the globe.”

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CDC advisory panel backs use of GSK and Pfizer RSV vaccines in adults 60 and older

June 21, 2023

By Annika Kim Constantino

An advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday recommended that adults ages 60 and above, after consulting their doctors, receive a single dose of RSV vaccines from Pfizer and GSK.

The panel said seniors should use “shared clinical decision-making,” which involves working with their healthcare provider to decide how much they will benefit from a shot.

Outgoing CDC director Rochelle Walensky will decide whether to finalize the recommendation.

The panel’s decision moves the U.S. one step closer to making jabs against respiratory syncytial virus available to the public this fall, when the disease typically begins to spread at higher levels.

The recommendation also comes weeks after the Food and Drug Administration approved both vaccines, making them the world’s first authorized shots against RSV. 

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FDA Converts Novel Alzheimer’s Disease

Treatment to Traditional Approval

Action Follows Confirmatory Trial to Verify Clinical Benefit

July 06, 2023

FDA News Release

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration converted Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb), indicated to treat adult patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, to traditional approval following a determination that a confirmatory trial verified clinical benefit. Leqembi is the first amyloid beta-directed antibody to be converted from an accelerated approval to a traditional approval for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug works by reducing amyloid plaques that form in the brain, a defining pathophysiological feature of the disease. 

Leqembi was approved in January under the Accelerated Approval pathway. This pathway allows the FDA to approve drugs for serious conditions where there is an unmet medical need, based on clinical data demonstrating the drug’s effect on a surrogate endpoint—in the case of Leqembi, reducing amyloid plaques in the brain—that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients. As a postmarketing requirement of the accelerated approval, the FDA required the applicant to conduct a clinical trial, often referred to as a confirmatory study, to verify the anticipated clinical benefit of Leqembi. Efficacy of Leqembi was evaluated using the results of Study 301 (CLARITY AD), a Phase 3 randomized, controlled clinical trial.

“Today’s action is the first verification that a drug targeting the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s disease has shown clinical benefit in this devastating disease,” said Teresa Buracchio, acting director of the Office of Neuroscience in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “This confirmatory study verified that it is a safe and effective treatment for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.”

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The BIO International Convention

The BIO International Convention – June 5-8 in Boston Ma -brought together more than 20,000 people from the global biotech sector—a greater number of attendees than at the pre-COVID Boston Convention in 2018. With a record 57,000 partnering meetings taking place during the week, we can’t wait to see what develops from this opportunity. The week was a celebration of new treatments, future cures, and the enormous number of jobs our industry brings. Cassandra Sunell and Suzi Berget White did a marvelous job managing the Montana booth and had a busy 4 days, including meetings with the Council of Bioscience Associations and facilitating meetings for Montana Companies.

Just Announced: Kip Tom, former Ambassador and CEO of Tom Farms, to speak at BIO Impact Ag & Environment Conference. Montana BioScience Alliance proudly partners with BIO on this world-class event. Early Bird rates end on July 20th.

Click Here to Learn More!

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 Tuesday, September 5, 2023, 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.

2023 FAST Micro-Grants are here!

The Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP) powered by MSU TechLink Center will utilize some of our 2023 FAST funds to provide financial assistance to Montana small businesses that are actively preparing SBIR/STTR proposals in the federal fiscal year 2023.

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.



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

Open Positions:



-Production Maintenance Manager

-Senior Manufacturing Engineer

-Customer Support Representative - SDC

-Labware Processing Technician

-Lab Analyst - Apex

-Facilities Maintenance Technician II

-Technician - Mail-in Spore Testing (MIST)

-Field Applications Specialist

-Custodian

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

-Truwl

-Verafi

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.

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