Biotech industry seeks push forward
With more than $25 million, nearly all taxpayer money, a collaborative partnership of government, business and nonprofit organizations plans to build an accelerator for biotech startups in the Roanoke Valley. Supporters say the initiative will create 250 jobs through 25 new startups over five years, generating $20 million in annual salaries as 30,000 square feet […]
DNA lab capacity expansion to bring 70 more jobs to Fairfax
Lorton-based forensic DNA testing company Bode Technology will invest $2 million to expand its DNA testing lab capacity in Fairfax County, a project expected to create more than 70 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The company will reconfigure about 5,000 square feet of its lab and add laboratory benches and robotics to support increased […]
BIO-CAT plans $35M expansion in Troy
BIO-CAT Microbials LLC, part of BIO-CAT Inc., will invest $35 million in a fermentation facility in Troy, southeast of Charlottesville, creating 20 jobs, the company announced March 3. The biotech company is a producer and wholesaler of enzymes, probiotics and microbials. Founded in 1988, BIO-CAT Microbials will expand its facility to include fermentation capabilities. That […]
Va. Biotechnology Association elects new directors
The Virginia Biotechnology Association (Virginia Bio), a Richmond-based trade association representing 230 member organizations in the life sciences industry, has elected six new directors, expanding its board from 24 to 30 directors. Joining the board are: Gerry Brunk, managing director of Lumina Ventures, based in Boston, but involved in many life sciences organizations in Virginia […]
Health care
NANCY HOWELL AGEE PRESIDENT AND CEO, CARILION CLINIC, ROANOKE Agee leads Carilion Clinic, a nonprofit integrated health system that serves more than 1 million people in Virginia and West Virginia and is the Roanoke Valley’s largest employer. Agee began her career in health care as a nurse, then moved into leadership roles at Carilion. As […]
Charlottesville’s MicroGEM acquires engineering company for COVID-19 test manufacturing
Charlottesville-based molecular diagnostics company MicroGEM announced Thursday it has acquired New Hampshire-based engineering company Jump Start Manufacturing LLC. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but the acquisition will allow MicroGEM to “rapidly scale” production of its SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) testing system, which is designed to detect the virus in both symptomatic an[...]
Arlington biotech company names CFO
Regenerative tissue producer Kerecis, which has its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, announced last week it has named Mike Cadigan as its chief financial officer. With 25 years of experience, Cadigan was most recently the managing partner of Cadigan Capital, where he previously advised Kerecis since 2017. Kerecis was founded in Iceland in 2013 and established […]
U.Va. research to inform COVID-19 drug treatment
The University of Virginia School of Medicine announced Tuesday that results from a 2019 U.Va. study are being used to inform a national study looking into the effectiveness of the antidepressant medication fluvoxamine as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis say the drug may prevent dangerous […]
Sterling biotech firm launches COVID-19 test
Sterling-based biotech company Aperiomics has launched a COVID-19 test available for to medical providers nationwide for $250 per sample. Aperiomics says it has the capacity to process and deliver results on 1,000 tests per week. The company says it can turn around results from its Xplore-COVID-19 tests within 48 to 72 hours of receiving a […]