Boston-based Karuna Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharma with a focus on psychiatric and neurological conditions, has announced positive topline results from its Phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of its lead investigational therapy, KarXT (xanomeline-trospium) in adults with schizophrenia. The trial met its primary endpoint, with KarXT demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically […]

Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics have completed the rolling Biologics License Applications (BLAs) to the FDA for the investigational treatment exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT). The BLAs include requests for Priority Review, which, if granted, would shorten the FDA’s review of the application to eight months from the time of […]

Biogen welcomed the VA’s recent decision to provide coverage of the company’s new Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi for veterans living with early stages of the disease. Biogen partner Eisai serves as the lead of Leqembi development and regulatory submissions globally with both Eisai and Biogen co-commercializing and co-promoting the product and Eisai having final decision-making authority. […]

Wentworth Institute of Technology has selected Huntington Development Group to build a mixed-use life science project at 500 Huntington Ave., currently site of its main athletic field. Huntington Development Group. The approximately $ billion project calls for 640,000 square feet of life science space, retail and restaurant space. Additionally, the development will include publicly accessible […]

QurAlis has closed an oversubscribed $88 million Series B financing, bringing total funds raised to $143.5 million. QurAlis is a clinical-stage biotech developing precision medicines for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets. The financing was led by EQT Life Sciences, investing from the LSP Dementia Fund, Sanofi Ventures, and […]

Mediar Therapeutics has announced a $105M financing, including a recent $85 million Series A round co-led by Novartis Venture Fund and Sofinnova Partners and with participation from Pfizer Ventures, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly & Company, Mass General Brigham Ventures and others. Mediar is advancing a portfolio of first-in-class therapies that halt and even reverse […]

Epigenetic editing pioneer Chroma Medicine has completed a $135 million Series B financing from a syndicate of investors led by GV (Google Ventures). The financing will support advancement of Chroma’s therapeutic programs toward the clinic and continued investment in the company’s core epigenetic editing platform. “In the year since launch, we have made significant progress […]

Boston-based SmartLabs, developer of “Managed Research Centers,” is launching a new research, development, office and related production center at the CambridgeSide mall. Set to open in late 2024. the complex will be SmartLabs’ most advanced facility to date, according to its website. The new facility will join SmartLabs’ four existing Managed Research Centers in Cambridge […]

Boston’s Aera Therapeutics announced its launch last month with $193 million in combined Series A and B financings and a vision to harness its proprietary delivery platform to “unlock the potential of genetic medicines across a wide range of modalities and therapeutic areas.” Aera’s delivery platform is designed to address the limitations of today’s delivery […]

Moderna and Life Edit Therapeutics, an ElevateBio company based in Durham, NC, are forming a strategic research and development collaboration to discover and develop in vivo mRNA gene editing therapies. The partnership will combine Life Edit’s suite of proprietary gene editing technologies, including base editing, with Moderna’s mRNA platform to advance in vivo gene editing therapies against a select […]