The separation of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals into two independent, publicly traded companies, first announced in May 2018, is on track to be completed during the first half of 2019. In early January, Ironwood announced the appointment of the CEOs of the two companies, to become effective at the time of the separation. Industry veteran Mark Mallon […]

Kyn Therapeutics, a Boston-based, clinical-stage biotech launched in December 2017 has announced a global strategic collaboration with Celgene to develop novel immuno-oncology therapies. The collaboration unites Kyn’s immuno-oncology expertise and pipeline with Celgene’s capabilities for developing and commercializing medicines in areas of high unmet medical need. It gives Celgene exclusive options to license Kyn’s aryl […]

Cambridge-based biotech Obsidian Therapeutics has announced a strategic collaboration with Celgene for the discovery and development of novel, regulated cell therapies that utilize Obsidian’s Destabilizing Domain (DD) technology. Specifically, the collaboration is based on Obsidian’s DD technology for the controlled expression of IL12 and CD40L, two immunomodulatory factors that have the potential to augment the […]

Eli Lilly and Loxo Oncology have announced a definitive agreement for Lilly to acquire Loxo for $235 per share in cash, or approximately $8.0 billion. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Loxo Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of highly selective medicines for patients with genomically defined cancers. The acquisition would be […]

In in the space of two days in December, Gilead Sciences of Foster City, California announced agreements with two Massachusetts-based biotechs, the first with Scholar Rock of Cambridge and the second with Agenus of Lexington. Gilead will work with Scholar Rock to discover and develop highly specific inhibitors of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) activation […]

Biogen has announced separate strategic collaborations with C4 Therapeutics (C4T) of Watertown and Skyhawk Therapeutics of Waltham to discover and develop potential new treatments for neurological conditions. C4T is pioneering a new class of small-molecule drugs that selectively target disease-relevant proteins for degradation using the innate machinery of the cell. This targeted protein degradation approach […]

Atlas Venture, a leading venture capital firm investing in breakthrough biotech innovation, has announced the closing of its first Opportunity Fund, raising $250 million in an oversubscribed fundraise. With Atlas Venture Opportunity Fund I (AVOF I), the firm will invest in existing Atlas portfolio companies as they progress. “We are delighted and humbled by the […]

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Celgene have announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire Celgene in a cash and stock transaction with an equity value of approximately $74 billion. The Boards of Directors of both companies have approved the combination. The transaction is subject to approval by Bristol-Myers […]

Entrada Therapeutics has raised $59 million in a Series A financing co-led by 5AM Ventures and MPM Capital, along with Roche Venture Fund, MRL Ventures Fund and Agent Capital. Entrada was funded and incubated within 5AM’s 4:59 Initiative via a seed investment by 5AM Ventures, Roche Venture Fund and MRLV. Entrada’s proprietary intracellular biologics platform has […]

PARP, or poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, is a family of proteins that helps repair damaged DNA in cells. A PARP inhibitor may prevent cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, which can cause cancer cells to die. This may slow the return or progress of cancer. BRCA is a gene that is linked to increased risk for […]