WESTCHESTER COUNTY LIFE SCIENCES UPDATE

Learn About Westchester's

Most Exciting Tech Startups at Demo Day 2023

June 15, 2023

The Element 46 Tech Accelerator Powered by Cela will host the Spring 2023 cohort's Demo Day on Thursday, June 15. Each cohort member will have the opportunity to pitch themselves and their ventures to a room of investors, technology experts and other leaders in attendance.

Demo Day is a great opportunity to learn more about Westchester's most exciting tech startups and network with some of the leading minds in the County's entrepreneurial ecosystem. If you are an investor, advisor, business leader or fellow founder interested in attending Demo Day, learn more about the event and this year's cohort members by clicking on the graphic below.

WCBA Alum & Leading Life Sciences Company Named to

2023 Round of WIN Innovators

Congratulations to two valued members of Westchester County's life sciences community for being chosen for the 2023 round of the Westchester Innovation Network (WIN) matches:

Jeannette Mahoney, PhD, a graduate of the Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator and repeat WIN participant, was chosen for her venture, CatchU. A mobile multisensory device used to predict fall risk, CatchU was matched with Burke Rehab Center.

Eric Feinstein is the CEO of Clarapath, a medical device company and creators of SectionStar, the first fully automated, all-in-one tissue sectioning and transfer system. An important part of the local life science sector, Clarapath recently participated in the exclusive tour of the life sciences cluster hosted by the Westchester County Office of Economic Development. Clarapath was matched with Montefiore Hospital.

Congratulations to the Business Council of Westchester and all involved with the WIN program!

Westchester County at BIO International Convention

Are you attending the BIO International Convention in Boston next week (June 5-8)? Come meet the team from the Westchester County Office of Economic Development at the New York State Pavilion (Booth 2235) to learn more about the County's innovative and growing life sciences ecosystem.

Cognition Therapeutics Publishes First Human Evidence that Alzheimer's Drug Displaces Aβ Oligomers from Binding to Neuronal Synapses

Purchase’s Cognition Therapeutics, Inc. announced that a manuscript, “A Phase 1b Randomized Clinical Trial of CT1812 to Measure Aβ Oligomer Displacement in Alzheimer’s Disease Using an Indwelling CSF Catheter” (doi: 10.1186/s40035-023-00358-w) has been published in the journal, Translational Neurodegeneration.

Findings from the SNAP study demonstrate that a single oral dose of CT1812 rapidly displaces Aβ oligomers from synapses. This was shown by a marked temporal increase in CSF Aβ oligomer levels after a single dose of CT1812. In comparison, no change was observed in Aβ oligomers levels following administration of placebo. In this study of three individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, CT1812 was well-tolerated, and no serious adverse events were related to study medication, but instead were due to the lumbar puncture procedure for the indwelling catheter used for CSF sampling.

Read more

Cognition Therapeutics Latest Episode of “Conversations” Podcast Features Biomarker Experts from Gothenburg University, Emory and Amsterdam UMC

Purchase’s Cognition Therapeutics Inc. released its fifth “Conversations” video podcast, a review and interactive discussion of Cognition’s CT1812 biomarker results presented at AD/PD™ 2023, the Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference. 

Cognition VP of research, Mary Hamby, PhD presents findings from an unbiased proteomic analysis of combined datasets from the first cohort of the Phase 2 SHINE study and the completed Phase 1b SPARC study, both conducted in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease patients and similarly treated with either CT1812 or placebo.

Listen to the latest episode

Regeneron Posts Promising Data From

Multiple Myeloma Study

Greenburgh's Regeneron announced updated data from a pivotal phase II study evaluating its investigational BCMAxCD3 bispecific antibody, linvoseltamab, in patients with heavily pre-treated, relapsed/refractory (“R/R”) multiple myeloma.

Data from the study demonstrated that treatment with a 200mg dose of linvoseltamab led to early, deep and durable responses in myeloma patients. With a median follow-up of six months, patients who received the recommended 200mg dose of linvoseltamab showed a 71% objective response rate (“ORR”). This includes 59% patients achieving very good partial response (“VGPR”) or better and 30% patients achieving a complete response (“CR”) or stringent complete response (“sCR”). Management also announced that the median progression-free survival was not reached.

Read more

Sanofi-Regeneron Highlight Dupixent Data,

Say Drug Benefit Was Swift, Sustained

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi SA (NASDAQ: SNY) presented results from a Phase 3 study of Dupixent (dupilumab) in adults currently on maximal standard-of-care inhaled therapy (triple therapy) with uncontrolled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and evidence of type 2 inflammation.

Dupixent demonstrated a significant reduction in moderate or severe acute exacerbations by 30% compared to placebo, meeting the primary endpoint. 

Dupixent significantly improved lung function at 12 and 52 weeks, with numerical improvements seen as early as two weeks. It significantly improved quality of life, with numerical improvements as early as four weeks after initiating treatment and respiratory symptoms. In a pre-specified analysis from a subgroup of patients with elevated levels (≥20 ppb) of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) – an airway biomarker of type 2 inflammation – Dupixent treatment also led to a significant 38% reduction in exacerbations compared to placebo at 52 weeks.

Read more

Accelerator Opportunity for Tech Startups:

Bank of America's Breakthrough Lab

Are you working on a pre-seed stage startup in an area such as HealthTech, FinTech or WellnessTech? Here's an opportunity for you!

Bank of America's Breakthrough Lab is an impact accelerator program that provides economic opportunity and capital access to Black, Hispanic-Latino, Native American and other underrepresented entrepreneurs in these areas. The part-time program provides hands-on mentorship to early-stage businesses by helping founders build growth models, establish industry contacts and position themselves for funding.

Breakthrough Labs is accepting applications through June 8.

UPCOMING EVENTS

All Access Healthcare:

How AI and Data Can Advance Health Equity and Access to Care

Westchester County Association

AI and machine learning are essential tools to solve complex healthcare data problems. Attend this event and hear from a panel of experts on how these tools have the potential to greatly improve existing technologies, sharpen personalized medicines, and, with an influx of big data, benefit historically underserved populations.

Date: June 7

Time: 8:00 AM – 9:45 AM

Register 

From Banker to Bootstrapper:

Funding Your Company in a Sustainable Way

Inc. & Capital One Business

At this exclusive, complimentary event produced by Inc. and Capital One Business, hear Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, discuss why she decided bootstrapping was the best decision for her business and how she’s managed to sustain funding while continuing to stay focused on its customers, culture, and mission.

Date: June 7

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Register 

ELabNYC Presents:

The 2nd Annual Pre-Check Due Diligence Masterclass

FirstXFounder

Are you a Westchester founder or work with a life sciences venture seeking to raise Pre Seed/Seed or Series A funding? Get ready for three days of advanced and fast-paced courses, delivered by experienced investors and leading business professionals. Gain valuable insights to enhance your investment skills and prepare your business for the next stage of financial growth.

Masterclass Dates: June 21, 22, & 23, 2023; 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Virtual)

Reception: June 21, 2023, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (In person, NYC)

Register 

New York State SOCRA Chapter Virtual Presentation:

Right-sizing SOPs

Research sites too often acquire a package of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) from a vendor, a partner, or an industry peer. While having SOPs in place is typically good, are your SOPs tailored to your institution? Do they align with your processes, staff, and setting? In this session we will discuss key methods in the process of identifying and developing required procedures and implementing to support fitness for purpose. We will also identify key activities to facilitate development and maintenance of quality SOPs and controlled documents.

*NYS SOCRA Chapter Program: Certificates of Attendance provided; 1 hour CE for SOCRA Members

*All are welcome

Date: June 22

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Register

CNYBAC Concept to Commercialization Virtual Series:

Challenges in Bioentrepreneurship

An interview session with CEO and Co-founder of CMTx Biotech, Joseph Scaduto. Register early for this can't-miss event and be sure to come with your questions!

Date: July 17

Time: 3:00 PM

Register

Have good news to share with

Westchester’s life sciences ecosystem?

Please let us know.

Email lifesciences@westchestergov.com.