Rockville biotech firms partner to advance biologic product development, manufacturing

Rockville-based Hibiscus BioVentures has partnered with Chinese firm Innoforce to enhance both companies' development of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), biologics derived from cells, tissue or genes. Innoforce, which is headquartered in Hangzhou but also has offices in Rockville, uses partnerships as a business model. It opened a new Advanced Cell and Gene Therapy Development Facility in Hangzhou last year, and will cut the ribbon on a new manufacturing facility there this summer.

Hibiscus focuses its efforts on identifying unmet needs of patients to develop novel therapies that are commercially viable. "We are excited to partner with Hibiscus, which brings a highly experienced team and unique model to develop new technolgoies that address important unmet medical needs," Innoforce CEO and co-founder Yuling Li Ph.D. said in a statement this morning. "The partnership will leverage our drug development experience with Hibiscus' pipeline initiatives in alignment with Innoforce's mission to enable global development of novel, advanced biotherapeutics." Hibiscus is located at 2277 Research Boulevard in Rockville.

Gas prices trending downward in Montgomery County + lowest gas prices at this hour

After leveling off over the weekend, gas prices have actually begun to fall slightly in Montgomery County, especially at gas stations that have sought to offer the lowest prices. For example, regular was going for $4.09 last Friday at Liberty at 19205 Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg. On Sunday, it was holding steady there at $4.09. But as of 10:00 AM this morning, regular had dropped to $4.05 a gallon at the station.

The weekend had also seen the second pricing tier stations begin to reduce their price. Some sellers who were charging $4.15 cut back to $4.14. Today, the second tier price is down to $4.11. Many stations are still selling at relatively-absurd prices, especially where choices are few. But it's intriguing that the market is adjusting itself downward at other stations, before Maryland lawmakers have even passed any gas tax holiday.

Another trend as we reach midweek is that the bargain hotspots are shifting more definitively upcounty, to Gaithersburg, Germantown and Damascus. Here are the lowest gas prices at this hour across Montgomery County, according to GasBuddy.com:

$4.05 Liberty - 19205 Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg

$4.05 Liberty - 623 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg

$4.11 Carroll Motor Fuels - 23418 Ridge Road, Germantown

$4.15 Freestate - 510 Hungerford Drive, Rockville

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana sets opening date at Montgomery Mall + sneak preview (Photos)

Update - 12:35 PM, March 17, 2022:  A spokesperson for Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana just informed me that "due to unforeseen events (minor technical issue), our new opening date will now be Monday, March 28th."

The big day is finally approaching at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. It will open for business on March 21, 2022, according to a sign posted at the pizzeria. By the accounts of most of those who have tried their coal-fired pizza in New Haven, Connecticut, expect something special, and expect pizza lovers to travel from across the region to be one of the first to try these legendary "tomato pies." Look for Frank Pepe across from The Cheesecake Factory in the Old Navy wing on Level 1 - and in these sneak preview photos:

Menu!

Amazon Fresh Rockville construction update (Photos)

We're getting our first look inside the future Amazon Fresh grocery store at 15790 Shady Grove Road in the 270 Center, on the border of Rockville and Gaithersburg. Some of the window coverings and barricades have been removed, allowing a closer view. This will be the second Amazon Fresh store to open in Montgomery County; the first is in Friendship Heights.

Assault at Rockville Metro station

Rockville police responded to a report of an aggravated assault at the Rockville Metro station yesterday afternoon, March 14, 2022. The assault was reported at the station at 3:16 PM yesterday, according to crime data.

Knife-wielding robber assaults victim on Rockville Pike

Montgomery County police responded to a report of an armed robbery on Rockville Pike Saturday afternoon. The victim reported having been assaulted by the suspect, who was wielding a knife. Police were called to the scene in the 1600 block of Rockville Pike, in the vicinity of Congressional Plaza, at 2:30 PM on Saturday.

Hulu Skewer House to open in Rockville

Hulu Skewer House has leased the space at 1488-B on Rockville Pike, next to Yekta Market. That was formerly home to Mi Rancho, and decades ago to Toys R Us, as longtime residents may recall. The Chinese restaurant, owned by a Montgomery County resident, will operate on two floors for a total of 7400 square feet. Operating hours will be 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM Monday - Thursday, 4:00 PM - 1:00 AM Fridays, and 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM Saturday - Sunday.