H1N1 Puts Focus On Maryland's Growing Bio-Tech Biz

ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) -- Governor Martin O'Malley visited one of the newest bio-tech firms to open its doors in Maryland, as a chance to hail one of the few growth businesses making headway through the recession.

"This is a place that's making vaccines in big important ways," O'Malley said as he prepared to lead a state delegation to an Atlanta bio tech business conference to promote the state.

With $300 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Aeras has been tasked with developing a new vaccine to combat global tuberculosis.

Along the way, the firm is also developing a new low-cost inhaler system to administer powdered vaccine directly to the lungs which might be useful in future battles against new flu strains such as H1N1.

"The same technologies that we're using to develop the vaccine against TB could be used against the flu, and we think we can do that," said Aeras CEO Dr. Jerald Sadoff.