Connected DMV launched a new Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center at the US Pharmacopeia offices on Twinbrook Parkway, according to a Rockville Economic Development, Inc. press release.
The center was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to help prevent future outbreaks through the development of a stockpile of human monoclonal antibodies which would be used for cases of emerging infectious diseases. In the case of an outbreak, antibody distribution and delivery across the global health and pandemic prevention ecosystem would occur.
Montgomery County was chosen to host the center because of the critical health research, biotech, defense and government assets there are here which are required to deliver a full-scale response. The US Pharmacopeia office in Rockville was also chosen because it is an independent, scientific nonprofit organization focused on building trust in the global medicine supply chain.
“This Center is not only critical to the health, safety, and security of our nation and world but also this is an important economic development and job-creating concept that we want to see come to fruition,” said County Executive Marc Elrich.
Connected DMV creates efforts toward new, “transformational approaches and initiatives that span jurisdictional boundaries,” according to the press release. It also hosts initiatives on pandemic prevention and preparedness, infrastructure resilience, quantum innovation, clean energy, economic mobility, economic renewal and social equity with several Montgomery County representatives, including the County Executive and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), serving on the steering committee for these initiatives.
“We appreciate the leadership and sponsorship from Montgomery County, MCEDC, and US Pharmacopeia in support of the strategy and now the physical location for the Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center,” said Stu Solomon, President & CEO of Connected DMV in the press release. “Working together, the Center will deliver an ambitious, medical countermeasures program (AHEAD100) that aims to develop and stockpile monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the world’s top 100 pathogens across the 25 pathogen families most likely to cause future pandemics while also driving equitable economic growth in the DMV.”
