Takeda has expanded its cell therapy manufacturing capabilities with the opening of a new 24,000 square-foot R&D cell therapy manufacturing facility at its R&D headquarters in Boston. The facility provides end-to-end research and development capabilities and will accelerate Takeda’s efforts to develop next-generation cell therapies, initially focused on oncology with potential to expand into other […]

Moderna and Vertex have announced a new strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement aimed at the discovery and development of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and mRNAs for the delivery of gene-editing therapies for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF). The three-year research collaboration initially will focus on the discovery and optimization of novel LNPs and mRNAs that […]

Following confirmation that the Phase III trial of GERD drug IW-3718 failed to achieve the primary endpoint of achieving a statistically significant improvement in heartburn severity, Ironwood has announced plans to implement an organizational restructuring, reducing headcount by approximately 100 full-time employees, or nearly 35% of the current workforce. Following the changes, Ironwood expects to […]

Eli Lilly has announced proof of concept data from an interim analysis of the BLAZE-1 clinical trial, showing a reduced rate of hospitalization for patients treated with SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody LY-CoV555. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study evaluated LY-CoV555 for the treatment of symptomatic COVID-19 in the outpatient setting. LY-CoV555 is a potent, neutralizing […]

Eli Lilly and Amgen have entered into a global antibody manufacturing collaboration to significantly increase the supply capacity available for Lilly’s potential COVID-19 therapies. Lilly is currently studying several potential neutralizing antibodies for the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19 as either monotherapy or in combination. Through this collaboration, the two companies will have the ability to quickly scale up […]

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council today announced that 164 CEOs representing the breadth of the life sciences have signed its Open Letter 2.0 – The CEO Pledge for a More Equitable and Inclusive Life Sciences Industry. This pledge serves as a call to action for CEOs across the life sciences to create change within their respective […]

Cambridge-based startups Korro Bio and Casma Therapeutics have secured financing of $91.5 million and $50 million, respectively, in recent funding rounds. Both companies were launched in 2018. The funding will enable Korro to advance its novel platform for precise, single-base, RNA editing to modulate protein function for therapeutic applications, including advancing its lead program to […]

As America’s researchers race to develop the scientific solutions needed to eradicate COVID-19, leaders within the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released an open letter to their biopharmaceutical colleagues that articulates key principles to ensure the “integrity, transparency, and objective assessment” of COVID-19 clinical data and secure public trust in new medical products developed in response to the […]