Vertex Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Semma Therapeutics for $950 million in cash, with the acquisition expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019. With locations in Cambridge and Providence, Semma is a privately-held biotech pioneering the use of stem cell-derived human islets as a potentially curative […]

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has announced that Celgene Corporation, in connection with its merger agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb, has entered into an agreement with Amgen under which Amgen would acquire the global rights to Otezla® (apremilast) for $13.4 billion in cash. BMS previously announced the decision to divest Otezla in connection with the ongoing regulatory approval […]

Woburn biotech Frequency Therapeutics has announced the closing of a $62 million Series C financing. Frequency will use the proceeds to support the clinical development of FX-322, a regenerative therapeutic for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss that is moving into a Phase 2a study, and to advance discovery programs in other therapeutic areas using […]

Vida Ventures, a life sciences venture firm, has announced the closing of Vida Ventures II, raising $600 million in an oversubscribed fund. Vida II will be used to further the firm’s life sciences platform, which began building a successful track record of investing with its inaugural fund by focusing on companies that change the paradigm […]

DivcoWest announced today that it has signed a 59,865 square-foot lease with Cerevel Therapeutics at Cambridge Crossing (CX), located at the intersection of Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston. Dedicated to bringing cutting-edge solutions to individuals impacted by nervous system diseases, Cerevel will join Philips North America at 222 Jacobs Street in 2020, making it the third […]

Sarepta Therapeutics has announced it has received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA  regarding its New Drug Application (NDA) seeking accelerated approval of golodirsen injection for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The CRL generally cites two concerns: the risk of infections related to intravenous infusion ports and renal toxicity seen in […]

Mylan and Pfizer have announced a definitive agreement to combine Mylan with Upjohn, Pfizer’s off-patent branded and generic established medicines business, creating a new global pharmaceutical company. Under the terms of the agreement, each Mylan share would be converted into one share of the new company. Pfizer shareholders would own 57% of the combined new […]

Watertown-based Lyndra Therapeutics recently announced a partnership with Gilead Sciences to develop and commercialize ultra-long-acting oral HIV therapies. This partnership announcement comes just months after Gilead joined Lyndra’s $60.9 million Series B financing round. Gilead will have exclusive rights to Lyndra’s therapeutics platform for ultra-long-acting formulations related to HIV. Lyndra’s ultra-long-acting dosage form has the […]

“We are excited to have the continued support of high caliber investors who recognize the potential of Kronos’ technology and its team. This financing will help us advance two preclinical programs…, accelerate our research, and further expand the Kronos team in the Boston and San Francisco areas,” said Norbert Bischofberger, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive […]

Woburn-based Frequency Therapeutics has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Tokyo’s Astellas Pharma to develop and commercialize Frequency’s regenerative therapeutic candidate, FX-322, for the treatment of sensorineural hearing loss, the most common type of hearing loss. At present, there are no approved therapeutic options for sensorineural hearing loss. Frequency will receive an upfront payment […]