Plus a new pitch competition and Labshare's Grand Opening
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64 Pleasant Street: Watertown Square Lab & Flex Lease Options
Before reading on, consider sharing this newsletter with a friend and subscribing to support our work. Also consider joining the Watertown Business Coalition at their Anniversary & Community Awards Dinner on 11/16. Also consider joining Labshares for their Grand Opening this week (details below).
Acrivon Therapeutics expands into immunology and inflammation
Acrivon Therapeutics, headquartered on Arsenal Way, announced that they are moving into the immunology and inflammation space by acquiring the compounds ACR-525 (formerly known as AQ280) and a protein kinase C (PKCθ) from Aquilion AB. ACR-525 is a JAK1 kinase inhibitor that could be used for a number of indications. Aquilion has completed Phase 1 safety trials of ACR-525 with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) as an indication. Acrivon has indicated they will continue developing ACR-525 for EoE, a potential competitor to Arsenal Street neighbor Kymera and their STAT6 Degrader KT-621.In the long term, they aim to evaluate ACR-525 for inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory diseases. The company has not disclosed the specific diseases targeted by the the PKCθ inhibitor program. The value of the deal between Acrivon and Aquilion was not disclosed.
Acrivon has previously worked in the oncology space, and is currently advancing ACRS-368 (prexasertib), a CHK1/CHK2 checkpoint inhibitor through a phase 2 trial for endometrial cancer. They have also developed a parallel diagnostic assay to identify endometrial cancer patients who may benefit from prexasertib treatment. They have indicated that the immunology acquisitions are an expansion into a new space, rather than a pivot.
23 Elm Street offers 66,634 SF of cutting -edge, fully furnished spec lab space, engineered to support scientific innovations and empower research with best-in-class facilities.
Enanta CEO Jay Luly retiring after 23 years leading the company
Last week, Enanta Pharmaceuticals, headquartered at the Arsenal on the Charles, announced that CEO Jay Luly, PhD will retire by February 1, 2027 after 23 years leading the company, staying on as a Strategic Advisor through the rest of 2027 to help with the transition. Chief Product Strategy Officer Tara Kieffer has been named Chief Operating Officer to maintain opperations during the search. In conjunction with the retirement announcement, the board of directors also announced they have launched a search for his successor
Enanta is the oldest operating biotech in Watertown, having moved here in February, 2001. The company, whose clinical focus is RSV and immunology, credited Luly with helping bring forward glecaprevir, a component of MAVYRET, a treatment for accute and chronic hepatitis C infection, in collaboration with Abbvie.
Quick Hits
ChemPartner announces Fall Pitch Day
ChemPartner, a global CRO with an office on Arsenal Way, announced that they are hosting a Pitch Day in partnership with Arsenal Innovation Center. The deadline to apply is November 13th. According to their website, the Arsenal Innovation Center is a new organization working to foster links between the scientific communities in Boston, and Suzhou and Hong Kong in China.
Labshares announces Grand Opening
Labshares announced the grand opening of their labspace at 66 Galen Street, with a celebration scheduled for November 12th (registration link). The event will feature remarks by Mass Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley and former MassBio President Robert Coughlin.
Leasing
Abiologics moved into their new space at 99 Coolidge Ave.
Science/Clinical News
Camp4 Therapeutics received clinical trial application approval from the EU for a Phase ½ trial of CMP-002 in patients with SYNGAP1-Related Disorder.
Business News
Avencell, headquartered at Arsenal Yards, announced that Blood Cancer United has joined their Series C syndicate. No valuation for the Series C round has been released.
Addgene announced a partnership with Anthropic to integrate their plasmid library into Claude.
Camp4 Therapeutics, Disc Medicine, C4 Therapeutics, Kymera Therapeutics and Foghorn Therapeutics all released quarterly earnings reports.
EnPlueOne Biosciences announced that Nitto Denko Avecia is evaluating their RNA therapeutics manufacturing platform.
People
Diagonal Therapeutics appointed Jeremy Bender, PhD, MBA as chair of their Board of Directors.
Media
Camp4 Therapeutics CFO was featured on the NASDAQ Amplify Spotlight.
That’s all for this week!
