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December 2023 Update

Serving the NC Life Sciences Industry

ncbioscience.net

919.281.8960

 

Clinical Research Forum: AI in trials

Hann Yew of McKinsey & Company moderated a panel comprising Duke Medicine's Lana Wahid, M.D., and Tyler Van Horn of Science 37. IQVIA's West Barnes participated remotely.

A panel of experts explored the potential of AI and machine learning to improve clinical trials by reducing costs, improving speed and increasing the probability of success at the Nov. 8 Clinical Research Forum hosted by the NC Life Sciences Organization at the NC Biotechnology Center. 

 

The most effective use cases for AI and machine learning identified by the panelists included recommendations and forecasting, patient identification, medical record review and site staff task management. 

 

The event was sponsored by ADP, Clancy & Theys Construction Company and YourBio Health.

 

Hann Yew, partner at McKinsey & Company, moderated a panel comprising 

  • West Barnes, senior director of product management at IQVIA;
  • Tyler Van Horn, vice president of corporate strategy and chief of staff at Science 37; and
  • Lana Wahid, M.D., associate chief of hospital-based clinical trials and research program, Duke University School of Medicine.

Yew kicked things off by discussing the challenges of clinical trials and the potential of digital analytics to improve problems such as longer timelines, higher costs and more complex protocols. She also said that the number of trials is increasing, but the patient pool is limited, which can make it difficult to recruit participants. 

More at NCLifeSci >>

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STATE UPDATES

 

300,000 join Medicaid rolls in North Carolina Dec. 1

Up to 300,000 North Carolinians who currently receive limited Family Planning benefits under Medicaid now qualify for full Medicaid coverage and were automatically enrolled on Dec. 1. More than 600,000 North Carolinians are ultimately expected to qualify for Medicaid.

 

On Nov. 6, the NC Department of Health and Human Services began contacting those enrolled in Medicaid’s limited Family Planning program who are eligible for full NC Medicaid benefits to let them know to look out for a letter from their local Department of Social Services.

 

"Getting eligible North Carolinians registered for Medicaid expansion is a top priority, and it’s monumental that we can automatically enroll up to 300,000 people whose coverage will go into effect Dec. 1," said Gov. Roy Cooper. "As we prepare for more people to sign up, we want to make sure automatic enrollees look for information that’s coming in the mail."

 

Family Planning Medicaid provides reproductive health care at no cost to people with incomes up to 195% of the federal poverty line ? an income of about $2,370 a month for a single person. Not everyone with limited Family Planning Program benefits will be automatically enrolled in full coverage through NC Medicaid. More at Associated Press

Apply now for One NC Small Business matching, incentive funds

Applications are now being accepted for a new round of grantmaking from the One North Carolina Small Business Program, a key source of capital for North Carolina’s emerging technology companies.

 

The One NC Small Business Program works in conjunction with two federal technology grants, the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. The matching funds portion of the program, which has been offered for many years, awards matching funds to North Carolina businesses who have already received a federal Phase I SBIR or STTR award. In the current fiscal year, a pool of more than $2.4 million is available to support this class of grants.

 

Following recent changes, the program can support North Carolina companies as they prepare and submit initial proposals to the federal government. These incentive funds can reimburse qualified North Carolina businesses for a portion of the costs incurred in preparing and submitting Phase I SBIR or STTR proposals to federal agencies. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, a pool of $400,000 is available for these preparation grants.

 

Federal SBIR and STTR grants are the single largest source of early-stage technology development and commercialization funding for small businesses?more than $3.8 billion annually nationwide.

 

Applications to the One North Carolina Small Business Program can be accepted until June 30 or until funds have been exhausted for the program’s 2023-24 fiscal year funding cycle. 

 

Details on applying for either the incentive or matching grant solicitations, as well as additional program information and application instructions, are posted at commerce.nc.gov.

2024 Election updates

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) announced his run for the U.S. Congress in NC District 14. The newly drawn district covers six counties from west Charlotte up through Kings Mountain. Moore will be facing former Green Beret Pat Harrigan in the primary.

 

Former health care executive Jesse Thomas (R) ended his gubernatorial bid and announced instead that he will be running for Secretary of State. If he wins the Republican primary, he will face current Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (D) who has held the position for over three decades.

 

Durham County District Attorney Santana Deberry (D) announced her candidacy for attorney general. She will be running against U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson (NC-14), Duplin County attorney Charles M. Ingram and Fayetteville lawyer Tim Dunn in the Democratic primary. The winner of the primary will likely face Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-8) in the general election. 

State plans $30 million biologics training center in Wilson

North Carolina has allocated $30 million to develop a biologics training center in Wilson in Eastern North Carolina.

 

This center will provide customized training and education for life sciences manufacturing across the region. The center is expected to include about 35,000 square feet of total space and will be housed at Wilson Community College.

 

WCC's existing biotechnology program offers instruction in biology, chemistry and related fields that help prepare students for employment in life sciences. More at WRAL TechWire

Duke, UNC, NCSU rank on start-ups list

Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University were all included in a recent ranking of the top 100 colleges with the most startup founders over a 10-year period by venture capital data firm PitchBook.

  • Duke landed at No. 19 with 530 university alumni involved in the creation of 506 companies and raising $17.4 billion.
  • UNC ranked No. 49 with 288 alumni involved in 267 companies raising a combined $4.1 billion.
  • N.C. State landed at No. 96 with 173 alumni involved in the creation of 158 companies raising $2.7 billion.
 
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NATIONAL UPDATES

 

If there are any topics or issues that are affecting your business

or you want to know more about, please contact Laura Gunter.

 

Congress buys time with stopgap funding bill

The U.S. Congress passed a stopgap spending bill that will fund the government into the new year.

 

The bill includes two deadlines for funding the government, one on Jan. 19 and one on Feb. 2. The bill also delays cuts to hospitals with large portions of Medicaid or uninsured patients through Jan. 19.


There are a number of health policy priorities that remain to be addressed, including the reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, and the U.S. global HIV program, PEPFAR. Lawmakers are also working to address doctor Medicare payment cuts and telehealth policy.

Senate confirms Monica Bertagnolli as NIH director

The Senate confirmed Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., to lead the National Institutes of Health in a 62-36 vote Nov. 7.

 

Bertagnolli is a cancer surgeon who most recently served as the director of the National Cancer Institute. She is the first surgeon and second woman to hold the position of NIH director.

 

Bertagnolli's nomination was held up for months by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who was concerned about her commitment to lowering drug prices. Sanders eventually relented after the Biden administration struck a deal with biotech company Regeneron that included a reasonable pricing clause for a COVID therapy it is developing with federal assistance.

 

In her confirmation hearing, Bertagnolli pledged to improve clinical trials and make them more inclusive. She also said that she would work to address the high cost of prescription drugs, but she did not commit to any specific policy proposals.

Woodcock, Tierney leaving roles at FDA

Principal Deputy FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock plans to retire in early 2024, capping a nearly four-decade career at the agency.

 

Woodcock served as the FDA’s acting commissioner when President Joe Biden first entered office, holding the position until the Senate confirmed Robert Califf to the post in February 2022.

 

She began her agency career in 1986 at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and later was named director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, leading the FDA’s drug approval work. Woodcock plans to leave the agency at the end of January, according to reports.

 

FDA chief of staff Julie Tierney will shift to a new agency job in December as the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research's deputy center director for strategy, policy and legislation, according to an internal email from FDA Commissioner Robert Califf.

 

It is notable because of the role the FDA chief of staff plays for Califf. Tierney often served as “first-line review” for his priorities and helped respond to multiple crises, including Covid-19, mpox, the infant formula shortage and drug supply-chain problems, according to Califf.

 

Andrew Zacher will step in as acting chief of staff. He has been serving as deputy chief of staff, a role he began in April.

 

More at Reuters

Gilead product-safety lawsuit could have broad consequences

The pharmaceutical industry and its supporters are concerned that a California lawsuit against Gilead Sciences over its HIV drug TAF could have far-reaching consequences for innovation.

 

The lawsuit alleges that Gilead delayed the development of TAF, which is considered safer than its predecessor TDF, in order to maximize profits from TDF. If the plaintiffs are successful, it could set a precedent that could make it more difficult for companies to develop new products.

 

The drug industry argues that holding companies liable for not developing the "safest" product possible would stifle innovation. They contend that companies need the freedom to make decisions about which products to develop based on a variety of factors, including scientific evidence, market demand and financial feasibility.

 

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, however, argue that Gilead's actions were negligent and that the company should be held accountable for the harm that was caused to patients who took TDF. They say that Gilead had enough clinical data in the early 2000s to know that TAF was a safer alternative and that the company chose to prioritize profits over patient safety.

BIO joins Ag Bioeconomy Coalition

BIO has officially become a member of the Ag Bioeconomy Coalition. ABC was founded to advance federal policy initiatives that can foster growth in the agriculture bioeconomy. The coalition also serves as a forum and platform for information sharing about the ag bioeconomy for stakeholders within the industry. 

 

BIO's participation in ABC now makes the coalition 13 members strong, which includes the American Farm Bureau, the American Soybean Association, Clean Fuels Alliance America, the Corn Refiners Association, Growth Energy, NASDA, National Corn Growers, the National Farmers Union, the National Industrial Hemp Council of American, the National Hemp Association, the Plant Based Products Council and the Renewal Fuels Association. 

 

The coalition sent a letter that will be sent to Capitol Hill urging Congress to fund the Energy Title "orphan programs" that lack baseline funding that expired on Sept. 30 tied to a new continuing resolution to fund the government. In addition, ABC is urging Congress to quickly enact a new five-year bipartisan Farm Bill as soon as possible.

House panel discusses future of AI in health care

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on Nov. 29 to discuss the future of artificial intelligence in health care. 

 

Lawmakers heard from industry witnesses about how artificial intelligence is being used in health care. This was the panel's first hearing on AI in the sector, and it reflects a growing interest among Congress members in regulating the technology.

 

No specific legislation is on the table yet. Both Democrats and Republicans agree on the need for guardrails. Democrats tended to focus on the potential for AI to discriminate against patients, while Republicans don't want to stifle innovation. There is consensus on the need for a national data privacy standard, and both Democrats and Republicans agree that current laws are not enough to protect patients and consumers.

USTR considers tariffs on additional Chinese medical products

The Biden administration is considering whether to raise tariffs on a wide range of Chinese-made medical devices and personal protective equipment beginning on Jan. 1.

 

This would increase costs for American health care companies and hospitals and could ultimately be passed down to consumers. Medical products that could be subject to tariffs include masks, gloves, gowns, X-ray tables, blood pressure monitors and surgical equipment.

The potential tariff hike comes as President Joe Biden is touting his administration's latest actions to strengthen supply chains and fight inflation. 

 

The Biden administration has renewed the COVID-19 tariff exclusions a number of times, while cutting the list of excluded products to 77 items from 99 at its height. The remaining 77 exclusions were all set to expire in September, but the United States Trade Representative announced another last-minute reprieve until the end of this year.

 

It's possible that the USTR could extend the COVID-19 exclusions again in coming weeks, but the uncertainty over that action complicates company planning as the new year approaches.

 

Medline Industries, the largest privately held U.S. manufacturer and distributor of medical products, estimates that allowing the exclusions to expire and imposing duties as high as 25 percent would increase average annual costs at each U.S. hospital by $160,000 a year.

 

During a public comment period earlier this year, dozens of health care companies filed requests for the USTR to continue the exclusions, even though the federal government's public health emergency for COVID-19 ended in May. Many organizations are frustrated with USTR's exclusion process and the uncertainty it creates for businesses.

 

The Information Technology Industry Council wrote to USTR that "Each time the expiration deadline for exclusions draws near, companies face a great deal of uncertainty without knowing whether the tariffs on products that were previously excluded will be extended or allowed to expire."

Health policy expertise departs Congress as Eshoo, Burgess, and Wenstrup exit

With the pending departure of Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-California), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) after their current term, Congress is losing a significant amount of expertise in health policy.

 

These three lawmakers have held key positions in the Energy and Commerce Committee and have played a vital role in shaping health care legislation. Eshoo and Burgess have both served as chairs of the Energy and Commerce Committee's health panel. They have a deep understanding of the complex issues involved in health policy and have been instrumental in advancing legislation on a wide range of topics, including prescription drug pricing, mental health and maternal health.

 

Wenstrup, a physician, chairs the COVID-19 select subcommittee. He has been a leading voice in the fight against the pandemic and has played a key role in developing and implementing policies to address the crisis.

 

The departure of Eshoo, Burgess and Wenstrup is part of a larger trend of experienced lawmakers leaving Congress. This is due in part to the increasing politicization of the legislative process, which has made it more difficult to get things done. It is also due to the rise of partisan gerrymandering, which has made it more difficult for moderate lawmakers to win elections.

 

The loss of these experienced lawmakers is a significant blow to Congress and to the health care system. Their expertise will be sorely missed, and it will be more difficult to address the challenges facing the health care system without their leadership.

NCLifeSci President Laura Gunter (in orange) was a member of the "State Insights on Federal Advocacy" panel at the 2023 Council of State Bioscience Associations Annual Summit.  

 

NCLifeSci Updates

 

NCLifeSci Board of Directors welcomes new members

The NCLifeSci Board of Directors met Nov. 16 at the NC Biotechnology Center. As is usual for its first gathering since the Annual Meeting, the board welcomed its new members to its ranks and also approved companies seeking to join the organization.

 

The Board elected Daniel Amburn of UCB as the new chairman of the Board of Directors succeeding Neal Fowler of Pathalys, who has served for the past three years. The Board also named Heather O'Keefe of Novozymes and Marlene Sanders of Merck & Co. to the board's Executive Committee.

 

The members of the NCLifeSci Executive Commitee are as follows:

  • Daniel Amburn, Chairman, Regional Director, State Government Relations and Public Affairs, UCB
  • Tom Adams, CEO, Pairwise
  • Sinu Bhandaru, Vice President, Operations and Information Technology, Precision Biosciences
  • Christopher Capel, Partner, Smith Anderson
  • Neal Fowler, CEO, Pathalys Pharma, Immediate Past Chair
  • Lauren Joyce, Treasurer, Partner, Hughes Pittman and Gupton
  • Bennett Love, Vice President and CFO, BioKier
  • Mike McBrierty, Director, State Public Policy and Government Affairs, Biogen
  • Julie Meigs, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
  • Heather O’Keefe, Senior Regional Strategy Manager Novozymes
  • Marlene Sanders, Director, State Government Affairs and Policy, Merck
  • Scott Sewell, Vice President, External Affairs, Corporate Compliance Officer, Cook Medical
  • Christine Vannais, Chief Operating Officer, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies 

The following new members have joined the Board of Directors:

  • Andrew Barnhill, head of public policy, Global Legal, IQVIA​
  • Rachel Hardin, head, life sciences business and market development, SAS​
  • Buck Phillips, CFO and COO, Ribometrix​
  • Russ Read, executive director, National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce​
  • Daniel VonDielingen, site head, Lilly RTP

​Entities approved for membership​ in the organization were as follows:                                   ​

BMF explores AI in biomanufacturing, bids farewell
to Brenda Summers

The use of artificial intelligence in the life sciences and in biomanufacturing was the topic of the NCLifeSci Biomanufacturers Forum quarterly meeting held Nov. 14 at the NC Biotechnology Center. 

 

Representatives from Kymanox, Human Ready and Metalytics shared insights into how the FDA is treating AI, how companies can improve efficiency with generative analytics and data storytelling and how AI can be used to model the activity in a bioreactor.  

 

Bill Monteith, who succeeds John Wagner as BMF program director, introduced himself and gave an overview of his 42-year career in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

 

NCLifeSci President Laura Gunter recognized and thanked Brenda Summers, Ed.D., who retired Nov. 30 from her role as NCLifeSci’s director of workforce programs. 

 

“She has been a friend, a colleague, a mentor, adviser, you name it and she's done it,” Gunter said. “She's in a lot of ways the heart and soul of the organization.” 

 

More at NCLifeSci

BIO names John Crowley as new CEO

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization announced that industry leader and military veteran John F. Crowley will be its new president and CEO effective March 4. He will replace Rachel King, a longtime BIO board member and industry trailblazer who has served as BIO’s CEO on an interim basis for the past year.

 

“It’s tremendously exciting that John Crowley has agreed to step up and become the next CEO of BIO,” said Ted W. Love, M.D., BIO’s board chair. “It’s a tremendous thing for me on a personal level because I’ve known John for the last decade, and he’s an exceptional leader. He cares tremendously about our industry and what we do, and he’s got great relationships both within our industry, as well as in Washington, D.C., where much of his advocacy occurs, so he really is the right person at the right time to lead this organization.”

 

Crowley is best known for his role as an entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry following the 1998 diagnosis of his two youngest children with Pompe disease, a rare and often fatal neuromuscular disorder. His children’s diagnosis inspired him to cofound a biotech company to develop a treatment that he credits with ultimately saving his children’s lives. The Crowley family journey was depicted in the major motion picture “Extraordinary Measures” starring Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser and Keri Russell.

 

In 2005, Crowley went on to help found Amicus Therapeutics, a now 500+ person global biotechnology company, where he served as Chairman and CEO from 2005-2022 and is presently the company’s Executive Chairman. He will remain in that role until he transitions to BIO. More at BIO

BIO unveils new clinical trial diversity resources

The BIOEquality Agenda aims to counteract the systemic inequality, injustice, and unfair treatment of underserved communities with a three-pronged approach focused on health equity, education, and expanding opportunities for women and underrepresented populations.CTPoP is designed to answer your questions about clinical trials,” including “everything from how clinical trials work to where to join. New resources include comprehensive directories in collaboration with TrueTrials and BlackDoctors.Org.A product of BIO’s January 2023 clinical trial diversity roundtable, the white paper is a call to action to take forward-leaning strides toward embracing insights gained from the roundtable, thereby advancing diversity in clinical trials.

New corporate transparency reporting requirements

Womble Bond Dickinson warns that, beginning January 1, 2024, many domestic and foreign entities registered to do business in the United States must comply with new information reporting requirements under the federal Corporate Transparency Act.

 

The CTA aims to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and illicit activities. “Reporting Companies” must file and maintain a report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network that includes identifying information for Reporting Companies, beneficial owners, and company applicants. The reporting requirements have implications for a wide range of entities and may require extensive data-gathering and monitoring efforts. Learn more at WBD

New BIO working groups give growing ag, environment sector a voice

Updated regulatory working groups announced today by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization reflect the rapidly increasing diversity and impact of BIO’s Agriculture & Environment membership and ensure that all member companies’ regulatory and policy needs are met.

 

BIO’s Agriculture & Environment regulatory working groups now include an Agricultural Biologicals Working Group and a Biobased Manufacturing Working Group, as well as a Plant Working Group and an Animal Working Group.

 

The major change in the working group structure is the creation of the Agricultural Biologicals Working Group and the Biobased Manufacturing Working Group, which reflects the growth of both sectors. The agricultural biologicals sector includes, but is not limited to, food ingredients, enzymes for food processing, alternative proteins, and small molecules and microbes for crop inputs. The biobased manufacturing sector includes biobased energy, biochemicals, bioplastics, biobased materials and other products of industrial biotechnology.

 

More at BIO 

Womble Bond Dickinson offers guide to navigating pitfalls on major projects

The construction industry faces challenges in delivering major projects, which are expected to increase in the current global climate. In a recent webinar, attorneys from Womble Bond Dickinson's U.S. and U.K. offices shared insights on identifying and navigating pitfalls in domestic and international projects. 

 

Key trends include a shift towards construction management/EPCm contracts, changes in payment mechanisms, and the inclusion of ESG clauses. Protecting your organization with security packages, local law opinions, and suitable contracts is vitally important, the firm said.

 

Read More at WBD

RTP companies: Verify your address for mail delivery as Congress takes action

The Research Triangle Foundation is spearheading the effort to establish street delivery of mail in Research Triangle Park by the U.S. Post Office. The foundation is working to build a comprehensive list of businesses in RTP and to verify as many addresses within RTP as possible. This information will be shared with the USPS team to expedite bringing street delivery to RTP.

 

The foundation is also asking companies to identify a site lead or similar person who can receive updates about this and other Park-wide initiatives. 

 

The U.S. Postal Service has begun “initial steps” toward offering centralized mail delivery in Research Triangle Park, Reps. Deborah Ross and Valerie Foushee said in a news release Nov. 5.

 

As the nation's largest research park, RTP hosts more than 375 companies and 60,000 employees across 7,000 acres between Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Those companies have access to a just single post office that doesn’t offer door-to-door delivery. 

 

In September, Ross and Foushee, along with Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. Ted Budd, sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy asking him to do something before North Carolina loses businesses.

 

If you would like to provide your organization's information, use this link.

 

More at Raleigh News & Observer

NCLifeSci Member News

BD and Bio Farma, a state-owned life science company in Indonesia, signed an MOU for a joint effort to combat tuberculosis by providing access to BD's TB diagnostics portfolio and establishing a partnership to optimize the supply chain for TB solutions in Indonesia. More >>

 

BD launched new needle-free blood draw technology compatible with integrated catheters, helping to further enable the company's vision of a One-Stick Hospital Stay. More >>

 

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  and Clearside Biomedical, Inc. entered into a license agreement enabling BioCryst to develop its investigational plasma kallikrein inhibitor, avoralstat, with Clearside’s SCS Microinjector to treat patients with diabetic macular edema. More >>

 

Biogen Inc. appointed Monish Patolawala, currently president and chief financial officer of 3M Company, to Biogen’s Board of Directors effective Jan. 1. More >>

 

Chimerix promoted Michelle LaSpaluto, vice president of corporate financial planning and investor relations, to chief financial officer effective Dec. 1. More >>

 

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies hosted a Nov. 7 site unveiling celebration for its $2 billion large-scale cell culture manufacturing facility in Holly Springs. More >>

 

Grifols received approval from the FDA for its new immunoglobulin purification and filling facility at its Clayton manufacturing campus, one of the world’s largest sites for producing plasma-derived medicines. More >>

 

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center awarded 21 grants and loans totaling about $1.79 million to bioscience companies, universities and nonprofit organizations in the first quarter of its fiscal year. More >>

 

Events

Get 10% off online Genesis 2023 registration

For over two decades, the annual Genesis conference has brought key Life Science opinion leaders and stakeholders together to debate key trends, instigate deals and generate a vision of the future.

 

Genesis offers a high content mix of plenary talks and panels from key opinion leaders, 1-2-1 Partnering, an exhibition assembling an array of providers supporting the life science sector, ample networking opportunities and online Innovation Workshops.

 

NCLifeSci members can contact Amber Niebauer for a discount code worth 10% off the registration fee.

ADP, NCLifeSci present Dec. 6 R&D tax credit webinar

Now more than ever, it is crucial for companies to develop the ability to identify and capture various tax credits available, specifically the research & development tax credit. 

 

This presentation will provide a high-level overview of the R&D tax credit, how to recognize what activities will qualify, and identify the expenses associated with the credit. This course will also provide current, up-to-date legislative changes that may affect the R&D tax credit.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Research & Development Credit overview
  • Industry Spotlight and Real-Life Application
  • Tools & Technologies available

Wednesday, Dec. 6
12:00 p.m. ET

Learn more about BIO Partnering @JPM Week 2024

Want to learn more about events happening during JPM Week 2024 Jan. 8-12 in San Francisco and how you can better navigate (and survive) it all? Attend this Dec. 12 webinar at 1 p.m. to get a handle on all your options for networking and educational opportunities, hear from two panelists on how they approach this busy week. You can also start planning with BIO & Novateur's Event Guide to JPM 2024, a free mobile app.

Request your BIO 2024 discount by Dec. 15

The 2024 BIO International Convention will be held June 3-6 in San Diego, CA. As an active member of NCLifeSci, you are eligible for a $200 discount on premier or general registration rates for both BIO member and nonmember rates. 

Deadline to submit the request form to BIO is Dec. 15. There is no commitment to register by requesting a discount code. Please see the steps below to request the information and receive the code. 

  1. Contact NCLifeSci Membership Director Natacha Janvier for the link to the discount request form and password.
  2. Submit the discount request form to BIO by Dec. 15. 
  3. BIO will distribute your unique discount code on Jan. 16.
  4. Registration for the BIO International Convention opens on Jan. 23. If you use your discount code during early bird, Jan. 23-March 8, your total savings exceed $400.

Apply for Venture Connect 2024 by Jan 5

Company applications are now open for high growth startups interested in pitching at Venture Connect 2024. If selected, your company will have the opportunity to gain premium exposure as you take the stage in front of investors, corporate partners, ecosystem resources and potential talent.
 
Venture Connect 2024 is a one-of-a-kind capital conference that brings together the tech and biotech communities under one roof in North Carolina. This two-day event aims to highlight innovation across the Southeast and create an environment where powerful connections are made. If you are an early-stage or scaling company seeking investment, talent or customers, we encourage you to apply. 

 

CED welcomes scaling ventures in the tech, biotech, ag tech, food innovation and CPG sectors to submit an application for consideration.

 

Biotech
BioPharma | BioTech | Digital Health | Drug Delivery | Genomics | Immunology  | Medical Devices | Precision Medicine | Therapeutics 

 

Technology
Advanced Materials | AI/ML | AR/VR| Automotive & Transport | Big Data | Business Intelligence | Cloud Computing | Cybersecurity | Data Analytics |
E-Commerce | EdTech | FinTech | Gaming | Green/Clean Energy | IoT & Smart Devices | Logistics | Marketing Tech | Nanotechnology | Real Estate Tech |
Robotics | Wearables 

 

Food Innovation & Consumer
AgTech | Alternate Proteins | Animal Health | Cannabinoid | Consumer Products | Health Consumer | Pet Innovation | Plant Science | Traceability & Supply Chain | Waste & Recycling

 

The deadline to apply is Jan 5.

BIO Business Solutions

New BIO resource hub for start-ups

Early-stage biotechs can maximize their potential with resources from BIO's Early-Stage Resource Hub. From tips on grant funding to finding partners, BIO and NCLifeSci are here to support your growth. 

Trust UniFirst for your company's uniform needs

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