Promising biotechs in Maryland right now By Roohi Mariam Peter 11 minutesmins March 18, 2026 11 minutesmins Share WhatsApp Twitter Linkedin Email Photo credits: Liz Guertin (Unsplash) Newsletter Signup - Under Article / In Page"*" indicates required fieldsPhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest biotech news!By clicking this I agree to receive Labiotech's newsletter and understand that my personal data will be processed according to the Privacy Policy.*Company name*Job title*Business email* Known for the Appalachian Mountains and sandy beaches, the state of Maryland in the U.S. is regarded as a premier location for the life sciences. One of the U.S.’ largest healthcare clusters, the region hosts more than 2,700 life science institutions. Maryland’s life sciences industry is a major economic driver, with the scientific research and development (R&D) sector alone projected to reach $16.7 billion in market size by 2026, according to a report by Ibis World. In this article, we look at six biotech companies in Maryland that have received funding over the past five years that are ready to take their technologies further into the clinic and potentially beyond. Table of contentsSciNeuro Technology: Small molecule Lead candidate: SNP318 for neurodegeneration Recent news: $1.7 billion collaboration with Novartis With a particular focus on developing treatments for neurological conditions, Maryland-based biotech company SciNeuro aims to target the drivers of neurodegeneration, and the pathways linked to it, such as proteinopathy – characterized by the misfolding and accumulation of specific proteins within cells, leading to degeneration – neurovascular inflammation and immune response. One such driver is the enzyme lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2). Its role is to break down fats called low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which then yields a potent proinflammatory factor known as lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC). This factor spurs inflammation and causes blood vessel damage in the brain. Targeting this enzyme is Scineuro’s investigational drug SNP318, which is designed to cross the blood-brain-barrier to restore the health of blood vessels in the brain to treat conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Apart from Alzheimer’s disease, the candidate is also in early-stage clinical trials for dementia and macular diseases – eye conditions that affect the retina. It is currently in phase 2 studies. Another one of SciNeuro’s candidates is SNP614, an antisense oligonucleotide directed to LRRK2, a protein linked to the death of neurons that produce dopamine. The loss of dopamine-producing neurons is what leads to Parkinson’s disease. Preclinical studies found that the candidate decreased LRRK2 mRNA level in the central nervous system (CNS). The company’s biggest headline of late comes from a collaboration with pharma giant Novartis. The two signed a deal worth up to $1.7 billion to develop antibodies born from the startup’s blood brain barrier shuttle technology for Alzheimer’s disease in January. This was following a $53 million fundraising round, as well as a $5 million non-dilutive research grant awarded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research late last year. Gain Therapeutics Technology: Enzyme stabilizer Lead candidate: GT-0228 for Parkinson’s disease Recent news: $1.7 billion collaboration with Novartis With its roots in neurodegenerative care, Gain Therapeutics is employing artificial intelligence to help design small molecules. Its machine learning platform, Magellan, evaluates proteins. Gain’s most advanced candidate GT-0228 is being developed for variants of Parkinson’s disease associated with mutations in the GBA1 gene. These mutations are among the most common genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s and are linked to reduced activity of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase). The oral brain-penetrant small molecule is an allosteric enzyme modulator that restores the function of GCase, which becomes misfolded and impaired due to mutations in the GBA1 gene. Preclinically, GT-02287 restored GCase enzymatic function, reduced aggregated α-synucleinin the brain, neuroinflammation, and neuronal death, as well as plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels, which is a biomarker of neurodegeneration. In mouse models of both GBA1-Parkinson’s disease and idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, GT-02287 was shown to rescue deficits in motor function and gait. Mice that received the drug, built nests similar to those built by healthy animals, whereas those mice that didn’t get doses of GT-02287, built poorly constructed nests. Phase 2 trials are planned for later this year. The candidate is also in preclinical studies for Gaucher’s Disease – a rare, inherited disorder where fat cells accumulate in organs – dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The young Maryland biotech company snapped up $7 million in a public offering last year. Gain has garnered funding support early in its development from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) and The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson’s with GBA, as well as from funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research in the past. Theriva Biologics Technology: Oncolytic adenoviruses Lead candidate: VCN-01 for solid tumors Recent news: $38 million licensing deal with Rasayana Therapeutics Oncolytic adenoviruses are viruses that are engineered to replicate in and destroy cancer tissue. Maryland-based biotech company Theriva Biologics wants to enhance the effects of current standard-of-care therapies with oncolytic adenoviruses. These viruses are designed to break down the tumor’s protective barrier, thereby exposing the tumor to attack by the patient’s own immune system. The biotech’s lead candidate VCN-01 is currently in a phase 2b study in combination with a chemotherapy to treat pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which accounts for more than 90% of pancreatic cancers. The study enrolled 92 patients across 14 sites in Spain and the U.S. Suggested Articles Desert to discovery: five hot biotechs in Arizona MASH candidates make a splash after first drug approval Beyond GLP-1s: is there a new wave of metabolic disease treatments? Oncolytic virus therapy for cancer: what’s been going on in 2025? Parkinson’s disease: biotech’s pursuit for more therapies Phase 1 trials of the candidate are also ongoing to address cancers such as brain tumor, ovarian cancer, and eye cancer. A month ago, it licensed its candidate SYN-020 to Massachusetts-based Rasayana Therapeutics. SYN-020 is a recombinant bovine intestinal alkaline phosphatase delivered to the small intestine. It is designed to cut fat absorption and intestinal inflammation, tighten the gut barrier to mitigate leaky gut, and promote a healthy microbiome to treat metabolic and inflammatory disorders. It is about to enter phase 2 trials. Theriva nabbed $300,000 upfront and is eligible to gain up to $38 million in development, regulatory, and sales milestones. Last year was also a big one for Theriva as far as funding was concerned. It raked in $7.5 million from a public offering in May and an additional $4 million in October last year. Supernus Pharmaceuticals Technology: Small molecule Lead candidate: SPN-820/821 for depression Recent news: $795 million acquisition of Sage Therapeutics Another Maryland-based biotech company to watch out for is Supernus Pharmaceuticals, which has been around for more than two decades and is well established in U.S. markets. One of its FDA-approved medicines is Qelbree, which is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children older than six years and adults. It also has its small molecule drug Onapgo in the market. It acts as a dopamine agonist to treat ‘off’ episodes in Parkinson’s disease and manage motor control issues, and it is delivered via a subcutaneous infusion pump. Meanwhile, its pipeline consists of two candidates, both in the clinic. Its phase 2 candidate SPN-820/821 is a small molecule that activates mTORC1. This is a critical pathway, and its reduced activity is linked to the loss of synapses, which are the connections between brain cells, associated with depression. The drug demonstrated rapid and substantial decrease in depressive symptoms, according to phase 2a study data released in late 2024. Its other candidate also in phase 2 is called SPN-817, and it is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for treating drug-resistant epilepsy. The study is testing 3mg and 4mg twice daily doses in in 258 adult patients. Building on its portfolio, it acquired Cambridge-based Sage Therapeutics, focused on brain health, known for developing Zurzuvae, the first oral treatment for postpartum depression. It bought it for up to $795 million last year. The last time the company secured funding was when it scored $150 million in a post-initial public offering (IPO) funding round in 2023. Elixirgen Therapeutics Technology: telomere extension technology Lead candidate: EXG-34217 for telomere biology disorders Recent news: Rare pediatric disease and RMAT designations from FDA DNA strands have caps that protect them called telomeres. These caps shorten as you age, but sometimes this happens rapidly owing to genetic mutations that lead to telomere biology disorders. Elixirgen Therapeutics’ ZSCAN4 technology has been created to extend the telomeres present in stem cells. ZSCAN4 is a gene that codes for the maintenance of telomeres. The goal is to one up existing treatment, such as stem cell transplants, which has been linked a heightened cancer risk as well as immune reactions. A phase 1/2 trial is currently ongoing Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to study how well ZSCAN4 can be integrated in cell therapies to tackle telomere biology disorders. Elixirgen’s main candidate is EXG-34217, a gene therapy that tasks the ZSCAN4 gene with elongating shortened telomeres. The startup has picked up the rare pediatric disease and Regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designations from the U.S. FDA. Recent trial data found that the candidate indeed managed to stretch out the telomeres in cells and no treatment-related safety concerns were observed over a 24-month and five-month period after EXG-34217 was given to patients. The last time the young company pocketed funds was when it received $7 million in late 2023. At the time, it was also developing a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine called EXG-5003, which had done its part in evoking cell immunity in a phase 1/2 trial, however, there has not been any news of progress made since then. Altimmune Technology: GLP-1 agonist Lead candidate: Pemvidutide for MASH Recent news: $75 million registered direct offering Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or MASH, a severe form of liver disease where fat buildup causes inflammation and liver damage, affects around 5% of adults in the U.S. Altimmune’s pemvidutide, is a GLP-1 agonist, the class of drugs that obesity drugs Wegovy and Ozempic belong to. Pemvidutide works by turning on glucagon receptors to lower liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis, while GLP-1 receptors mediate metabolic effects such as appetite suppression and weight loss too. It is also in the clinic to treat alcohol use disorder. This occurs when one can’t stop drinking even when it puts their health and safety at risk. The FDA granted Fast Track designations to pemvidutide for the treatment of both the conditions, as well as Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MASH. In a phase 2 trial in MASH, 55% of the trial participants had their liver fat content reduced to the normal range in just 12 weeks at the 1.8 mg dose, and there was a decline in levels of enzymes like alanine aminotransferase, a measure of liver inflammation. The mode of action is similar against alcohol use disorder as well. The biotech took off this year by closing a $75 million registered direct offering. Maryland: place for versatile R&D Maryland’s biopharma scene is rather diverse, with projects ranging from genomics to cancer care to neurodegeneration research. Biotech companies like Regenxbio have their headquarters in Maryland, though that company has faced regulatory hurdles recently. U.S. regulators have stalled the development of its gene therapies, even if its Duchenne muscular dystrophy medicine is expected to reap results soon. Meanwhile, Maryland-based cancer drug developer Faeth Therapeutics was bought by Sensei Biosciences for the latter to now take control of Faeth’s combination therapy of small molecules a month ago. With areas like Baltimore and Frederick concentrated with life science companies, as well as the state hosting FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland looks like a popular spot for R&D to thrive. This article is reserved for subscribers Subscribe for free to continue reading.Enter your details to log in or subscribe. 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