Baltimore Business Journal - by Robert J. Terry Staff

Dr. Blake M. Paterson, chief executive of fast-growing Alba Therapeutics, was among the winners honored Tuesday by the Greater Baltimore Committee with one of its bioscience awards.

The venerable business group launched the awards competition three years ago to help nurture the development of the region's bioscience industry. More than 20 nominees in four categories were submitted, and the winners were picked by a panel of bioscience business executives.

Paterson won the Leadership in Bioscience award. Alba Therapeutics has grown in four years from a two-person startup to a cornerstone company in Baltimore's biotechnology industry, employing 45 staffers. The company is developing drugs to treat autoimmune conditions such as Celiac disease.

Timothy E. Askew, CEO of CSA Medical Inc., won for Best New Product or Progress. Askew's young Baltimore-based company has developed a product incorporating a new medical device and use of liquid nitrogen cryo-therapy treatment to freeze cancer tissue. The technology has shown promise in treating esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus, a condition that often progresses to esophageal cancer.

Julie D. Suman won the Entrepreneurship award. Her company, Next Breath LLC, does contract work for 45 pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies developing new inhalation and nasal products. Next Breath is based at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's technology incubator.

University of Maryland, Baltimore President Dr. David J. Ramsey won the GBC's President's Award for his work pushing biomedical research and technology transfer on the downtown campus.