Georgia General Assembly Establishes Life Sciences Caucus to Advance Innovation and Industry Growth

Georgia Life Sciences leads effort to establish bipartisan caucus focused on advancing the state’s growing life sciences economy

March 17, 2026, Atlanta, GA – The Georgia General Assembly has announced the formation of the Life Sciences Caucus through HR 1474, a bipartisan, bicamural, initiative designed to strengthen understanding of Georgia’s rapidly growing life sciences sector and support policies that drive innovation, company growth, and economic opportunity across the state.



Developed and championed by Georgia Life Sciences (GLS), the caucus will serve as a platform for legislators to engage with industry leaders, researchers, and educators to better understand the opportunities and challenges shaping biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, and advanced biomanufacturing in Georgia.


“The life sciences industry plays a vital role in Georgia’s economy, advancing groundbreaking research, creating high-quality jobs, and improving health outcomes,” said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. “The Life Sciences Caucus will provide an important forum for collaboration and dialogue as policymakers work to support an environment where innovation and companies can thrive.”


Georgia’s life sciences sector continues to expand, with companies and institutions across the state driving new discoveries, scaling manufacturing capabilities, and attracting investment. The caucus will help ensure lawmakers have access to insights and perspectives from across the ecosystem as they consider policies that impact the industry’s continued growth.


Georgia Life Sciences extends its sincere thanks to the legislators who sponsored and supported the formation of the caucus, including Senators Drew Echols, Frank Ginn, Chuck Hufstetler, Michael ‘Doc” Rhett, Shawn Still, Carden Summers, Ben Watson, and Kenya Wicks, as well as House members Matt Dubnik, John LaHood, Karen Mathiak, Ron Stephens, Brad Thomas, and Bill Yearta.


Through the Life Sciences Caucus, legislators will have opportunities to learn more about the state’s innovation ecosystem, workforce needs, and policy priorities that can help Georgia remain competitive as a national hub for life sciences research, development, and manufacturing.


About Georgia Life Sciences


Georgia Life Sciences (GLS) is the state’s leading industry organization representing biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and digital health companies, along with research institutions and other ecosystem partners. GLS works to advance Georgia’s life sciences sector by supporting innovation, advocating for policies that enable growth, and developing the workforce needed to power the industry’s future.

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Nutrivert announces first close on $6 million Series A-2 funding round

April 17, 2026
April 17, 2026 - Nutrivert Inc., a developer of non-antibiotic replacements for antibiotic growth promoters in livestock, today announced it has completed the first close, raising $2.375 million, of its Series A-2 funding round of $6 million. The round was led by global animal health investor Arrow Ventures with participation from other investors. The funding will be used to further develop Nutrivert’s manufacturing, human food safety and target animal safety and efficacy packages for the company’s lead product Nutrivert LDPP. Nutrivert LDPP is a proprietary, novel, orally available, lipidated synthetic enantiomeric desmuramyl analog of muramyl dipeptide, the smallest conserved immunoactive component of bacterial peptidoglycan. LDPP has no antibacterial effect but has consistently promoted growth and improved feed efficiency in pig studies. LDPP binds to the mammalian NOD2 receptor and is the only NOD2 ligand reported to inhibit the inflammatory signal NF-κB. In pilot studies, LDPP rescued 70kg pigs from an otherwise lethal dose of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and abrogated influenza disease symptoms in piglets. The Company intends to develop LDPP for all major livestock species worldwide. Patents have been granted in most major markets. The global antibiotic growth promoter market is worth an estimated $5.8 billion. Approximately 73% of all antibiotics are fed to livestock. The market is believed to be the world’s largest drug market by volume, with ~100,000 tons of active pharmaceutical ingredient administered annually. FDA’s latest data, for 2024, show a 13% rise in U.S. livestock antibiotic use since 2017. The Food and Agriculture Organization reports that livestock antibiotics are mostly given to speed animal growth. Regulators and non-governmental organizations have called for reduction of antibiotic use in livestock, citing concerns that the global, intensive use of antibiotics, often at subtherapeutic doses, selects for antimicrobial resistance: bacteria that are “immune” to antibiotics and that therefore pose a threat to public health. Spillovers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from livestock to humans have been documented. “Nutrivert LDPP has consistently improved feed efficiency in pigs without antibiotics,” said Bernhard Kaltenboeck, CSO. “We are excited to have the support of Arrow Ventures and our other investors in bringing a new tool that will help producers reduce production costs and reduce selection pressure for antimicrobial resistance.” About Nutrivert LDPP: LDPP is an investigational compound currently undergoing clinical evaluation. It has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), or any other global regulatory authority for any indication. The safety and efficacy of LDPP have not been established. Any mention of potential use is based on preliminary data and does not guarantee future regulatory clearance or commercial availability.

USDOL Approves National Biomanufacturing Technician Standards

April 16, 2026
[Seattle, WA] April 15, 2026 – Apprenti, the leading national intermediary for Registered Apprenticeship (RA), is proud to announce the formal approval and filing of the National Biomanufacturing Technician Standards with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Crafted under the strategic guidance of the Apprenti Life Science Advisory Board—which includes leaders from Pfizer, Merck, Thermo Fisher, and Biogen—these standards were developed in close partnership with the Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) and InnovATEBIO as part of a high-impact NIIMBL project. This approval represents a foundational shift for the industry, moving away from a fragmented, state-by-state approach to a scalable, consistent model for developing biomanufacturing professionals at sites across all 50 states. The national standards provide a “plug-and-play” framework that ensures a technician trained in Massachusetts or North Carolina meets the same rigorous, industry-vetted benchmarks as one in Ohio or Missouri. The foundational development of these national standards was informed by existing Life Science RA programs from organizations across the country, including: MassBioEd, Oregon Life Sciences, National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing (NCTM), BioSTL, Wistar Institute, North Carolina Life Sciences Apprenticeship Consortium (NCLSAC) and others. A National Engine for Talent: The filing of these standards is a cornerstone of NIIMBL’s efforts to strengthen domestic biomanufacturing capabilities and develop the workforce of the future. Beyond the standards themselves, the project is delivering a suite of resources and tools—including a comprehensive Employer Toolkit and specialized screening rubrics—that state-based organizations and employers can leverage to implement RA programming for their most in-demand roles. “These national standards set the stage for a sustainable, skills-first pipeline that mirrors the rigor of the industry’s most complex manufacturing processes,” said Daniel Weagle, Director of Life Science Business Development at Apprenti. “By providing a unified approach, we are empowering national employers to scale their workforce development efforts strategically and accessibly.” The Value Proposition of Registered Apprenticeship For Life Science employers, the Registered Apprenticeship model offers a compelling business case rooted in cost-effectiveness and long-term stability: High Retention: RA programs boast exceptional retention rates—historically as high as 89% to 90%—as apprentices are trained within a company’s specific culture and protocols from day one. Cost Efficiency: Research indicates that for every dollar spent on apprenticeship, employers see an average return of $1.47 in increased productivity and reduced recruitment costs. Inclusive Innovation: The model expands access to untapped talent pools, including non-degreed individuals and career-switchers, ensuring the biomanufacturing workforce reflects the demographics of the communities it serves. As the global biopharmaceutical market is projected to exceed $570 billion by 2032 , this partnership between Apprenti, NIIMBL, and industry leaders ensures that the U.S. workforce is not just prepared for the future of manufacturing, but is actively driving it. This project was developed with an award from the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) and financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (70NANB21H086). About Apprenti: Apprenti is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a U.S. Department of Labor recognized Intermediary. Apprenti designs and delivers scalable Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs in high-demand industries. By adapting the proven apprenticeship model, Apprenti helps employers meet workforce needs while training the next generation of skilled professionals. Apprenti’s programs are industry-recognized, federally approved, and supports employers across the country. Since launching in 2015, Apprenti has partnered with employers, government agencies, and education providers to create new apprenticeship pathways. About NIIMBL The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate biopharmaceutical innovation, support the development of industry standards, and educate a world-leading workforce. Media Contact: Dan Maiese, Communications Manager, dmaiese@niimbl.org , 302-831-3824 About the Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) The Life Sciences Workforce Collaborative (LSWC) is a national nonprofit coalition of state, regional and national life science associations and institutes who are working together to build a competitive, and future-ready life sciences workforce. Originally founded in 2012 as the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI), LSWC connects industry, academia, and government partners through data-driven insights, best practice sharing, and collaborative programs. Learn more at www.LifeSciencesWorkforce.org About InnovATEBIO InnovATEBIO is a National Center for Biotechnology Education, working to advance the education of highly skilled technicians for the nation’s biotechnology workforce. Toward this goal, InnovATEBIO provides leadership in biotechnology technician education, including support for development and sharing of best practices and emerging technologies in biotechnology workforce development. Read LSWC's full announcement here.
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