Gene Therapy Companies in Maryland
Maryland is home to one of the largest life science clusters in the nation. According to the Maryland Department of Commerce, the State has nearly 2,300 life science companies and 476 private research and development biotechnology firms (NAICS 541714), which represents 5.3% of this U.S. industry.
Some of the nation’s most important research occurs within Maryland at National Institute of Health (NIH), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), federal laboratories, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Maryland. In fiscal year 2018, Maryland received $1.5 billion from NIH for biomedical research, behind four other states (NIH 2018 report):
Compared to these other NIH funded states, Maryland holds a global lead in vaccine research and it was home to the first rapid test for Ebola. The Baltimore Sun reported, “...Maryland is home to 20 percent of the top influencers worldwide in vaccine development” (Baltimore Sun Article 2017). Broadening their research and development opportunities, Maryland biotechnology companies are within “...two-hour access to 80 percent of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry” (Maryland Department of Commerce).
One achievement in Maryland that caused a surge in genomics research and created a lasting ripple through the scientific world was the sequencing of the human genome and completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. This historic event has helped scientists understand diseases, genotype viruses, identify mutations linked to cancers, and design medicines with better accuracy. The outcomes of the Human Genome Project reinvigorated the gene therapy industry.
Haishan Li, Senior Scientist III at AGT
During the Human Genome Project, numerous scientists were trained in sequencing and gene technologies in Maryland. The sequencing of the human genome fueled a tremendous amount of research and development at Maryland Universities, corporations, and startups.
Armed with the latest tools from the companies that innovated, refined, and reduced the cost of sequencing in the industry, the Human Genome Project created an explosion of genetic research and development that radiated out from the Rockville Maryland epicenter.
Genetic research that followed the Human Genome Project helped advance viral vectors and other gene-editing techniques that underlie a vibrant gene and cell therapy industry that continues to grow in the State.
Gene therapy can modify the expression of an individual's genes or repair defective genes. The potential of this new industry is broad-ranging, and will likely represent an important economic growth wave in the State. Gene therapy’s potential to cure rather than treat disease will allow Maryland to be at the center of additional scientific breakthroughs in medicine.
As of July 2019, the FDA has approved 17 cellular and gene therapy products, some of which treat different cancers or genetic disorders (list of FDA approvals). Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research publicly stated, “...by 2025, we predict that the FDA will be approving 10 to 20 cell and gene therapy products a year based on an assessment of the current pipeline and the clinical success rates of these products” (BioSpace).
In 2018, Goldman Sachs analysts predicted that genomic medicine will grow to a $5 Trillion (annual) industry (see video). To put that in perspective, the total revenue of the current global pharmaceutical market is just a little over $1 Trillion today (Deloitte 2018 Global Life Sciences Outlook). You may ask where the money will come from to pay for all of those new drugs. According to Deloitte’s 2019 Global Healthcare Outlook, global healthcare spending is expected to be approximately $10 Trillion per year by 2022, and is expanding at a compound annual growth rate ranging from 5% to 9%. A significant portion of global spending is associated with palliative care (long-term treatment of symptoms) for diseases that are likely to be cured in the coming years.
“One and done” (one time) treatments that cure diseases can actually reduce the overall cost of long-term (frequently lifetime) treatments, thus transferring healthcare costs to drugs that not only cure, but also reduce societal costs and provide better quality of life for patients.
Society stands at the precipice of a revolution in healthcare, and Maryland has established a position on the cutting edge.
Role of Gene Therapy in Maryland
The state’s gene therapy cluster is thriving. The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund's 2018 Annual Report announced that Maryland was "at the forefront of the cell therapy market and [has] all the right assets to take the lead in this emerging industry, in particular, to fill the critical need of manufacturing." Many gene therapy product successes are staged to happen in Maryland. In fact, this year, Rockville, Maryland’s gene therapy company REGENXBIO (RGNX) received its first FDA approval for ZOLGENSMA which was created as a one-time fix for spinal muscular atrophy in toddlers under the age of two (press release). REGENXBIO’s platform technology that applied to spinal muscular atrophy was sold to Avexis and later Novartis for $8.7 billion (Novartis press release).
Nidal Muvarak, Preclinical Development Scientist at AGT
Shady Grove, Maryland’s clinical-stage company Autolus focuses on immunotherapies for hematological cancers. Similar to American Gene Technology’s ImmunoTox cancer therapy in development, Autolus’s technology assists the immune system’s T cells to identify and kill cancerous tumors.
Kite Pharma, a Gilead company, opened a manufacturing facility in Frederick County, Maryland. The company made history when its CAR-T cell therapy Yescarta was the second gene therapy approved by the FDA for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Upon its approval, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. stated “Today marks another milestone in the development of a whole new scientific paradigm for the treatment of serious diseases. In just several decades, gene therapy has gone from being a promising concept to a practical solution to deadly and largely un-treatable forms of cancer” (for more information, read Biobuzz blog).
The high saturation of gene and cell therapy companies with therapeutics nearing clinical-stage could make Maryland the nation’s number one leader in medical innovation in the next decade. For a better look into Maryland’s gene and cell therapy industry, here is a list of 170 companies developing therapeutics in the State:
| Company Name | Public/Private | Maryland City | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/20 GeneSystems | Private | Rockville | Develops and commercializes machine learning algorithms and biomarker tests for the early detection of cancer. |
| A&G Pharmaceutical | Private | Columbia | Discovers develops personalized medicine products that improve screening, monitoring, and targeted treatment of cancer and human diseases. |
| ABL | Private | Rockville | Manufacturing and immunological testing capabilities toward advancing your candidate vaccines and therapeutics through preclinical and clinical development. |
| ACUITYnano | Private | Rockville | R&D centric company leverages new methods that integrate optics, algorithms, and microfluidics to meet the critical needs that emerge at the convergence of nanotechnology and life sciences. |
| Advanced Biomimetic Sensors | Private | Rockville | Develops and commercializes innovative reagentless diagnostic medical devices. |
| Advanced Biotechnologies | Private | Eldersburg | Produces and supplies virology products and services to researchers and manufacturers. |
| Akonni Biosystems | Private | Frederick | Develop, manufacture, and sell molecular diagnostic (MDx) tools. |
| Altimmune | NASDAQ: ALT | Gaithersburg | Focused on the development of products to stimulate robust and durable immune responses for the prevention and treatment of diseases. |
| Ambay Immune Sensors and Controls | Private | Hagerstown | Developing a new approach through innovative technologies, to revolutionize the diagnosis, initial disease focus is in the area of cancers and specifically, breast cancer. |
| America Pharma Source | Private | Rockville | Biopharma focuses on a portfolio. |
| American BioInnovations | Private | Sparks | Manufactures Advanced Drug Intermediates/APIs, Cell Culture/Stem Cell Culture Media, Biological Buffers & Custom Media catering to the needs of Pharma companies/Biotech/Academia. |
| American Gene Technologies | Private | Rockville | Uses a proprietary gene delivery platform to rapidly develop patented gene and cell therapies to cure infectious disease, monogenic disorders, and cancers. |
| American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) | Private | Gaithersburg | Focused on areas of functional cell biology supporting basic and translational research. |
| AnGes | TYO: 4563 | Bethesda | Biopharma research and development of gene-based medical products. |
| Angimmune | Private | Rockville | Biotech developer of an immune modulating protein. |
| APSciences | Private | Columbia | Integrated Discrete Multiple Organ Culture plate (IdMOC) provides a method to model in vivo multiple-organ interaction in vitro. |
| Arcellx | Private | Germantown | Develops a format for T cell-mediated therapies for the detection and treatment of tumors. |
| Arraystar | Private | Rockville | Provides Integrated Microarray and Next Generation Sequencing Services. |
| Artgen | Private | Rockville | Developing novel non-viral gene therapies for the treatment of vascular diseases. |
| Athena Environmental Sciences | Private | Baltimore | Specializes in the development and commercialization of advanced biotech-based products. |
| Avant Diagnostics | OTCQB: AVDX | Gaithersburg | Focused on commercializing biomarker technologies that have the potential to improve treatment outcomes in the areas of oncology and neurology. |
| Bio-Molecular Technology | Frederick | ||
| BioAssay Works | Private | Ijamsville | Powers the development of the finest rapid immunoassays. |
| BioElectronics Corporation | OTCMKTS: BIEL | Frederick | Manufacturer of innovative consumer medical devices that are designed to treat both acute and chronic pain. |
| BioFactura | Private | Frederick | Develops and commercializes biodefense drugs, novel drugs, and high-value biosimilars. |
| BioIVT | Private | Baltimore | Provider of high-quality biological specimens and value-added services. |
| Biological Mimetics | Private | Frederick | Inventors of the Immune Refocusing Technology, a method for the rational design of antigens. |
| BioMarker Strategies | Private | Rockville | Biotech develops tissue-based cancer diagnostic systems. |
| BioProducts MD | Private | Middletown | Manufactures and markets molecular and immunological products and services to the bioscience research community. |
| BioReliance Corporation | Private | Rockville | Provides testing and manufacturing services to companies that span the product cycle from early preclinical development to licensed production. |
| BioStorage | Private | Baltimore | Offsite biological storage facility. |
| BioStorage Lab Services | Private | Middle River | A preclinical contract research organization that provides lab services and lab products. |
| BluePoint Bioscience | Private | Ijamsville | Focused on application-directed development of monoclonal antibodies to enhance the field of immunodiagnostics. |
| BriJen Biotech | Private | Baltimore | Research and development of new products and technologies in Bioenergy-environment-bioremediation and diagnostic-vaccine-therapy. |
| BTE Technologies | Private | Hanover | Provides advanced evidence-based physical therapy systems for clinics, hospitals, and private practices. |
| Cannabics | OTCMKTS: CNBX | Bethesda | Developing a platform which leverages novel drug-screening tools and artificial intelligence to create cannabinoid-based therapies for cancer that are more precise to a patient’s profile. |
| Capital Biosciences | Private | Gaithersburg | Providing comprehensive services to the pharmaceutical and life science industry partners. |
| CardioSolv Ablation Technologies | Private | Baltimore | |
| CASI Pharmaceuticals | NASDAQ: CASI | Rockville | Clinical-stage biopharma, focused on the acquisition, development of drug candidates for global markets with a focus on China. |
| Cellectricon | Private | Rockville | Developing cutting-edge technologies to providers of high-value services. |
| Cellomics Technology | Private | Halethorpe | Biotech develops innovative tools for genetic engineering somatic and stem cells. |
| Cellphire | Private | Rockville | Development stabilized cellular materials for advanced tech with an emphasis on blood platelets. |
| Cerca Solutions | Private | Rockville | Devoted to diagnosing and treating cervical cancer through a technology called Photodynamic therapy(PDT). |
| Cerecor | NASDAQ: CERC | Rockville | Developing innovative therapies at the cutting edge of science. |
| Clonexpress | Gaithersburg | Biotech providing human primary cells for in vitro research. | |
| Cognate BioServices | Private | Hanover | Bioservices organization providing scientific and management expertise. |
| Commence Bio | Private | Sparks | Licenses to foundational intellectual property covering novel technologies to enhance the performance of mesenchymal stromal cells [MSCs]. |
| ConverGene | Private | Gaithersburg | Develop therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action for cancer patients with limited or no treatment options. |
| Creatv MicroTech | Private | Rockville | The mission is to dramatically reduce global cancer mortality through early detection. |
| Cybrdi | Private | Rockville | Assists researchers to identify, verify and validate molecules of diagnostic and therapeutic importance. |
| Daewong America | Private | Rockville | Sales and marketing of pharmaceutical products. |
| DNA Technologies | Private | Gaithersburg | Develop innovative products and services that expedite and enhance scientific research and collaboration in genomics and proteomics. |
| Dojindo Molecular Technologies | Private | Rockville | Synthesis of kits and reagents to support the progress of scientific research. |
| DxNow | Private | Gaithersburg | Developed in the Demirci Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine Labs. |
| eEnzyme | Private | Gaithersburg | Manufacturer and distributor of biological reagents and related bioproducts to the scientific community. |
| Elixirgen | Private | Baltimore | Focused on curing humanity's ailments through stem cell biology. |
| Empower Telehealth | Private | Rockville | Produces medical sensors and device peripherals enabled for use by consumers in a home to support telemedicine applications. |
| eNeura | Private | Baltimore | Use of portable, non-invasive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(TMS) devices for treatment of migraine. |
| Epilepsy Therapy Project | Private | Landover | To stop seizures and SUDEP, find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy through education, advocacy, and research to accelerate ideas into therapies. |
| Euveda Biosciences | Private | Lutherville Timonium | Specializes in Analytical Instruments. |
| FiberCell Systems | Private | New Market | Providing easy-to-use hollow fiber cell culture systems. |
| Gemstone Biotherapeutics | Private | Baltimore | Active in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. |
| GeneCopoeia | Private | Rockville | Manufacturer and provider of genomics and proteomics products and services for academic and governmental research institutes. |
| GeneDX | Private | Gaithersburg | Specializes in genetic testing for rare hereditary disorders. |
| GlycoMimetics | NASDAQ: GLYC | Rockville | Use novel and proprietary glycobiology technology to develop treatments for diseases, particularly where there is a high unmet need. |
| GlycoTech Corp. | Private | Gaithersburg | To discover and develop a new class of pharmaceutical compounds based on the biological functions of the interactions between glycoconjugates and their receptors. |
| GM Biosciences | Frederick | Biotech developing innovative techniques in molecular diagnostics. | |
| HanAll Pharmaceutical International | Private | Rockville | Korean biopharma development of immuno-oncology drugs and distinctive/gentrified products for intravenous nutrition therapy. |
| Immunomic Therapeutics | Private | Rockville | Clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the study of nucleic acid immunotherapy platforms. |
| ImQuest BioSciences | Private | Frederick | Provides services to evaluate the potential of new and novel pharmaceutical products for the treatment and prevention of viruses, bacteria, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. |
| In Vitro ADMET Laboratories | Private | Columbia | Provide high quality in vitro test systems and state-of-art contract research services. |
| Infinite Biomedical Technologies | Private | Baltimore | Medical device company, creating a solution in prosthetic technology. |
| Intrexon Corporation | NASDAQ: XON | Germantown | Biotech operates in the synthetic biology field, designs, builds and regulates gene programs. |
| KamTek | Private | Frederick | Offers genomics, proteomics, and glycomics solutions. |
| Kempbio | Private | Frederick | Biopharma developed a gene-to-protein protocol to provide the biopharmaceutical industry. |
| Keygene | Private | Rockville | Delivers novel enabling technologies and applications. |
| Kolon Tissuegene | 950160: KS | Rockville | Biopharma company focused on developing regenerative therapies for the treatment of various orthopedic disorders. |
| Kydes Pharmaceuticals | Private | Halethorpe | Biopharma design scientifically sound and cost-effective pharmaceutical products based on the state-of-the-art knowledge and technologies. |
| Lambda Z Technologies | Private | Baltimore | Develop devices for medical diagnosis and therapy electromagnetic engineering in RF Coils and MRI Interfaces. |
| Lentigen Technology Inc | Private | Gaithersburg | Provides a method for delivering genetic material into cells. |
| Lifeline Cell Technology | Private | Frederick | Cell technology development primary human cells. |
| Lofstrand Labs Limited | Private | Gaithersburg | Specializes in recombinant DNA and immunology research support. |
| Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics | Private | Bethesda | Developed unique, groundbreaking products for the molecular testing market, and active and passive vaccination that meet critical unmet needs in both the Developed and Developing World. |
| Lonza Walkersville | LONN: SIX Swiss Ex | Walkersville | Worldwide leader supplying the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries with biopharmaceuticals, Lonza furnishes seven different markets with state-of-the-art products, services, and research. |
| MacroGenics | NASDAQ: MGNX | Rockville | Biotech develops novel biologics for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, infectious diseases. |
| MaxCyte | LON: MXCT | Gaithersburg | Biotech and biomanufacturing of cell-based medicines. |
| Medifocus | OTCMKTS: MDFZF (MFS.V) | Columbia | Develops and commercializes minimally invasive treatment systems used in the treatment of cancerous and benign tumors, and enlarged prostate, medically known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (“BPH”). |
| Medipost America | 078160: KS | Rockville | The company has stayed on the right course in the midst of countless adversities in the stem cell industry and through years of cutting-edge research. |
| Medispec LTD | Private | Gaithersburg | Biotech specializes in shockwave-based systems for urology. |
| Mirari Biosciences | Private | Rockville | invents, develops, and markets. |
| Montgomery College Biotechnology Program | Private | Germantown | Trains students for jobs in the biotech industry. |
| Mtech Biotech Research and Education Program | Private | College Park | Biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, and biofuel research center, designed to bolster Maryland's burgeoning biotechnology industry. |
| MTI-GlobalStem | Private | Gaithersburg | Develops, manufactures, and distributes human and mouse stem cell research products and services. |
| MultiplexDX | Private | Gaithersburg | Development of the technologies and the products for molecular diagnostic markets superior to currently available products. |
| NanoRods | Private | Potomac | Develop new infrared (IR) radiation sensor technology |
| National Institutes of Health | Private | Bethesda | U.S. department of health and human services. |
| National Institutes on Drug Abuse | Private | North Bethesda | Research on drugs of abuse, prevention of drug abuse and treatment of substance abuse disorders. |
| NeolmmuneTech | Private | Rockville | Biotech specialized in (I)immune-based long-acting protein drugs. |
| Neuralstem Inc. | NASDAQ: CUR | Rockville | Biopharma aids in treating a variety of nervous system diseases. |
| Neuro Probe | Private | Gaithersburg | Designs, manufactures, and sells cell activity assay instruments. |
| NeuroParticle Corporation | Private | Rockville | Specializing in medical imaging and image guided therapy. |
| Newlife BioChemEx | Private | Bethesda | Provide biomedical technologies and products to life science. |
| Nexlmmune | Private | Gaithersburg | Developing a novel technology platform with broad application across multiple disease areas. |
| NextCure | NASDAQ:NXTC | Beltsville | Developing first-in-class immunotherapy-based biologics for cancer and other diseases. |
| Noble Life Sciences | Private | Woodbine | Provides services for drug, vaccine, and medical device development. |
| Nonlnvasive Technologies | Private | Elkridge | SCSR Fecal Cell Isolation System. |
| Nuo Therapeutics | OTCMKTS: AURX | Gaithersburg | Develops and commercializes individualized wound care therapies that harness a patient’s innate regenerative ability to stimulate wound healing. |
| Omnia Biologics | Private | Rockville | |
| Oncolmmunin | Private | Gaithersburg | Designs, synthesizes, validates and patents protease substrates. |
| OpGen | NASDAQ:OPGN | Gaithersburg | Positioned to address the rising antibiotic resistance crisis and is harnessing the power of informatics and genomic analysis to provide complete solutions to protect patients in hospitals and healthcare networks. |
| Opticul Diagnostics | Private | Rockville | Targeting clinical laboratory and point of care microorganism identification without the use of reagents. |
| Opus Bio | Private | Gaithersburg | Biotech develops and commercialization of breakthrough treatments for human disease. |
| Orgenesis North America | NASDAQ: ORGS | Germantown | Develops a therapeutic technology to convert a patient's cells as a treatment for diabetes. |
| OriGene | Private | Rockville | Biotech academic research applications. |
| Osiris Therapeutics | OSIR: US | Columbia | Biotech focus on innovation in regenerative medicine – including bioengineering, stem cell research, and viable tissue-based products. |
| Otomagnetics | Private | Rockville | Developing a non-invasive method to deliver drugs and other therapeutic payloads to inner and middle ear compartments, to the eye, and into the skin. |
| Catalent Biologics (Paragon Bioservices) | Private | Baltimore | Biopharma production and purification of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, viral vectors, and vaccines. |
| PathSensors | Private | Baltimore | Delivers rapid pathogen detection solution to sensitive environments. |
| Pepvax | Private | Bethesda | Developing a DNA-based drug delivery and development platform. |
| Plant Sensory System | Private | Halethorpe | Biotech company approaches to generate proprietary solutions for the food, fees,and bio-based markets. |
| Precigen | Private | Germantown | Biopharma using precision technology to target diseases. |
| Processa Pharmaceuticals | OTCMKTS:PCSA | Hanover | Develop products that can improve the survival and/or quality of life for patients who have a high unmet medical need. |
| Profectus BioSciences | Private | Baltimore | Pioneering a major evolutionary step in the design and development of preventive and therapeutic vaccines for infectious diseases and oncolytic vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. |
| Propagenix | Private | Rockville | R&D-stage cell therapy company. |
| ProSpect Pharma | Private | Columbia | Develop, markets, and uses advanced technologies and products for the Life Science industries. |
| Protein One | Private | Rockville | Delivers purified, biologically active proteins to research labs, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies. |
| Protein Potential | Private | Rockville | Research and Development Group focuses on producing intellectual property and recombinant. |
| Psquare Scientific | Private | Frederick | Developing novel cell-based assays to measure the immune response to nutritional supplements. |
| PsychNostics | Private | Ellicott City | Developing and offering a new type of blood test for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. |
| Qiagen | NASDAQ: QGEN | Germantown | Deliver Sample to Insight solutions for molecular testing, propelling QIAGEN customers from start to finish to unlock new insights. |
| Quality Biologicals | Private | Gaithersburg | Manufacturer of media, buffers, supplements, and reagents for cell culture and molecular biology applications. |
| Ravgen | Private | Columbia | Focused on developing noninvasive prenatal diagnostic tests based on fetal DNA present in maternal blood. |
| Regenxbio | NASDAQ: RGNX | Rockville | Biotech creating gene therapy cures; with proprietary gene delivery platform. |
| Remedy Plan Therapeutics | Private | Rockville | Developing the first drugs that halt tumor growth and disrupt the cancer stem cells that cause metastasis. |
| ReproCELL USA | Private | Beltsville | Uses functional human tissue to predict drug activity prior to clinical trials. |
| Restorative Therapies | Private | Baltimore | Designs and markets Functional Electrical Stimulation therapy systems. |
| Rexahn Pharmaceuticals | NYSEAMERICAN: RNN | Rockville | Clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, developing novel, targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. |
| Rise Therapeutics | Private | Rockville | Developing targeted immunological-based biologics using a unique and proprietary oral delivery platform. |
| RoosterBio | Private | Frederick | Focused on manufacturing adult stem cell products and offering them in formats that enable 3D bioprinting. |
| RX Biosciences | Private | Gaithersburg | Deliver high caliber services & products for research and development; creating custom solutions for high demand projects in the biotech corridor. |
| SafeOp Surgical | Private | Hunt Valley | Medical device company that produces the FDA-approved neuromonitoring device EPAD system. |
| Saint-Gobain Life Sciences | SGO.PA | Gaithersburg | Develops and manufactures high-performance components and integrated solutions that touch a broad range of patient care. |
| Saje Pharma | Private | Baltimore | Focused on developing new therapeutic agents that provide significant benefits over available therapies for rare and common diseases with unmet medical needs. |
| Seraxis | Private | Germantown | Biotech developing cell therapy to treat insulin diabetes. |
| Shreis-Scalene Sciences | Private | Gaithersburg | Focused on the development and commercialization of non-interventional therapeutic devices for the treatment of Cancer and Osteoarthritis. |
| Shuttle Pharmaceuticals | Private | Rockville | Biopharma develops and commercializes radiation modifying agents for cancer. |
| Speed Biosystems | Private | North Bethesda | Offers high quality biomedicals research reagents. |
| Stem Cell Medicine | Private | Germantown | |
| StemCiTerra | Private | Baltimore | Develops stem-cell based technology for the medical treatment of cancer. |
| SynerGene Therapeutics | Private | Potomac | Develops targeted diagnostics and therapeutics in the areas of cancer, vaccine delivery, and neurological disorders. |
| Synthetic Biologics | NYSEAMERICAN: SYN | Rockville | Developing therapeutics that preserve the microbiome to protect and restore the health of patients. |
| Talgen Biotechnology | Private | Frederick | Biotech developing novel and clinically core technologies. |
| Texcell-North America | Private | Frederick | Committed to improving lives by supporting global therapeutic innovations. |
| Thegreencell | Private | Silver Spring | Pioneered the use of Aloe Vera as a production and delivery platform to enhance substances of interest for our clients. |
| Trevigen | Private | Gaithersburg | Offers world class products and contract services for the biotech research community. |
| United Therapeutics Corporation | NASDAQ: UTHR | Silver Spring | Focuses on the strength of a balanced, value-creating biotechnology model. |
| VAYA Pharma | Private | Columbia | A manufacturer of lipid-based nutritional ingredients and medical foods for the cardiovascular and neurological markets. |
| Viela Bio | Private | Gaithersburg | Pioneering and advancing treatments for severe inflammation and autoimmune diseases by selectively targeting shared critical pathways that are the root cause of disease. |
| Vigene Biosciences | Private | Rockville | Develops NexGen life science research reagents to support drug discovery and functional genomics with a focus on viral vector-based gene delivery. |
| Vigilant BioServices | Private | Baltimore | Source for secure storage and distribution of tissue and biologic materials for the biotechnology and transplantation communities. |
| VLP Therapeutics | Private | Baltimore | Source for secure storage and distribution of tissue and biologic materials for the biotechnology and transplantation communities. |
| Wellstat Biologics Corporation | Private | Gaithersburg | Discovery, development, and commercialization of biological agents that meet the challenges of cancer. |
| Wellstat Ophthalmics Corporation | Private | Gaithersburg | Focused on the treatment of sight-threatening eye diseases. |
| Werbie | Private | Bethesda | Works together with female patients to build clinically validated FDA-approved mobile health systems and devices. |
| Windmil Therapeutics | Private | Baltimore | Harnessing the power of bone marrow-derived lymphocytes to develop ground-breaking immunotherapies to treat cancer patients. |
| Xcision Medical Systems | Private | Columbia | Developing advanced stereotactic radiotherapy solutions with the potential to significantly improve the quality of cancer care as well as the lives of patients and their loved ones. |
| XGene Diagnostics | Private | Frederick | Clinical diagnostics laboratory, which is CLIA certified and holds CAP accreditation. |
| Zalgen Labs | Private | Germantown | Therapeutics, vaccine and diagnostics development targeting viral hemorrhagic viruses. |
| Zylacta Corporation | Private | Gaithersburg | Discovery and development of peptidoglycan-based products for immunotherapy. |
| Zyngenia | Private | Gaithersburg | Focused on developing a new class of biotherapeutics that address the complexity of diseases by simultaneously targeting multiple biological pathways. |
Despite the high number of gene therapy companies in Maryland, the State must compete with the higher number of academic research institutions, pharmaceutical headquarters, and life sciences budgets of California, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas. Moreover, Carl June, MD, a pioneer in CAR T-cell therapy, has made efforts with the University of Pennsylvania to attract biomanufacturing and gene and cell therapy companies to their State (See 30 gene therapy firms in PA and the ‘Cellicon Valley’ ecosystem reported by Philadelphia Magazine).
However, unlike other states, Maryland contains the highest per capita of PhDs. It is more accessible and easier for companies to find a highly educated workforce to turn innovative technologies into viable products to advance medicine. In addition to its proximity to federal laboratories, Maryland’s variety of tax incentives set it apart from other states and position it as a leader in biotechnology. Below is a list of Maryland’s tax benefits that are applicable to gene and cell therapy companies in the State:
- Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit - Provides an investor with income tax credits equal to 50% of an eligible investment in a qualified Maryland biotechnology company, supporting investment in seed and early stage biotech companies.
- Research and Development Tax Credit - Businesses that have qualified R&D expenditures in Maryland may qualify for two state income tax credits, the Basic R&D Tax Credit and the Growth R&D Tax Credit.
- Job Creation Tax Credit - Businesses that create a minimum number of new full-time positions may be entitled to state income tax credits of up to $1,000 per job or $1,500 per job in a "revitalization area." (https://open.maryland.gov/business-resources/biohealth-funding-tech-transfer/)
Overall, Maryland’s home prices, balanced seasonal weather, proximity to the NIH and FDA, and its tax incentives show favor among other top bioclusters. These benefits provide a healthy foundation for gene and cell therapy companies to flourish in the State.
