June 2023

Earlier today, Boston-based Verve Therapeutics, Inc. announced an exclusive research collaboration with Eli Lilly to advance Verve's in vivo gene editing program targeting Lp(a) for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. As reported by Endpoints News, Lilly will provide $60 million ($30 million in cash and $30 million in equity investment) and contribute up to another $465 million in R&D and commercial milestones.

Massachusetts was on the world stage last week, showcasing the "State of Possible" as the global life sciences community came to Boston for the BIO International Convention. The Massachusetts Pavilion featured partner organizations, including MassBio, MassMEDIC, and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, along with state and city government leaders for a dynamic lineup of events and announcements.

Top photo: Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey addresses an audience at the State of Possible pavilion. Bottom photo (l to r): Brian Johnson, president, MassMEDIC; Kendalle Berlin-O'Connell, Esq., CEO and president, MassBio; Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy; Kenn Turner, president and CEO, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; Lauren E. Jones, Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development; Vyonne Hao, Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development. Photo credits MassBio and MLSC.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and MassBio CEO Kendalle Berlin O'Connell shared their vision for how Massachusetts can lengthen its lead in life sciences in a Boston Globe op-ed. They called for scalable initiatives like MassBio's Bioversity training center in Dorchester, the Commonwealth's Early College and Innovation Career Pathways programs, and the MassTalent initiative.

"To lengthen our well-earned lead in the face of fierce competition from other cities, states, and countries, we must be innovative and inclusive, strengthen our partnerships, and make bold investments in all areas that support our life sciences ecosystem."

Governor Maura Healey and MassBio CEO Kendalle Berlin-O'Connell

From the pavilion, Governor Healey affirmed her commitment to reauthorize the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, a multimillion-dollar spending bill to support the growth of the state's biopharmaceutical industry. She also announced that her administration is launching MassTalent, a new strategy for connecting employers to skilled, diverse workers.

Also at the Massachusetts pavilion, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu detailed a plan to connect more Boston workers into the biotech industry. She announced a workforce initiative to train and hire 1,000 city residents for work in research and production labs and other life sciences operations by the end of 2025. A total of $4 million will initially be committed to the program, funded through grants from Boston's Neighborhood Jobs Trust and the federal American Rescue Plan.

Photo credit: Suzanne Kreiter, The Boston Globe

Cummings Foundation supports a number of workforce training initiatives and institutions in the Commonwealth, including a $12.5 million commitment announced last year to enable the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology to advance its leading-edge work in creating technical career pathways for students typically underrepresented in post-secondary education. Recently, Bill Cummings has also pledged $50 million in matching funds to establish a workforce training facility on Long Island in Boston Harbor.

Congratulations to founder and CEO Roger Nassar, Ph.D. and the team at RAN Biotechnologies on the company's expansion to a newly constructed lab and office at the Dunham Ridge innovation campus in Beverly. RAN will occupy nearly 7,000 square feet in the new location.

Dr. Nassar founded RAN in 2012. As a fluorine chemist, he spent his early career in research and product development, then created RAN Biotechnologies to perfect products under a different set of experimental conditions: the scientific market. The RAN Biotech team includes specialists in chemistry, microbiolology, and microfluidics. Its materials have been referenced in hundreds of publications and are relied upon by scientists around the world.

Congratulations to InnoVenture Labs (100 Cummings Center, Beverly) on a new name, logo, and tagline. Formerly known as North Shore InnoVentures, the organization is still the same great biotech and cleantech incubator it has always been. The new name and look better explain what the group is and what it does. Stay tuned for updates from InnoVenture Labs on growth plans and events. Visit the website to learn more.

Jing Wang, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Myrobalan Therapeutics (200 Boston Ave, Medford), was selected to participate in the annual Women in Bio "Lobster Pot." In "Shark Tank" style, each executive pitched investors and the audience, with feedback and comments on the pitches and ideas presented.

Rilas Technologies (400 West Cummings Park, Woburn) recently installed the MOBIE High Resolution Ion Mobility (HRIM) platform and completed deep applications training. The Rilas team has a number of small molecule, oligo, and glycan projects lined up. Contact info@rilastech.com if you have a unique problem to solve.

Tonight is the Cummings $30 Million Grant Program Grant Winner Celebration, which can be viewed live on YouTube beginning at 7:00 PM. This annual event pays tribute to the 150 local nonprofits to receive grant funding this year. The application process begins for the 2024 grant cycle on July 1. Please share the Cummings Foundation website with local nonprofits you know that could benefit from this major funding opportunity.

TODAY: MassBio hosts its latest regional mixer in Waltham. Join other life sciences professionals for networking after work. Thursday, June 15, 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Craft Food Hall - Citypoint. Register.

Cummings invites you to meet with MassBio team members to learn about the organization's initiatives as well as membership benefits. Jessica Pacheco, director of member engagement, and Matt Koons, director of business development, will visit TradeCenter 128 on Thursday, July 22. Stop by from 9:00 to 11:00 AM to get updates from MassBio on priority initiatives, and learn about membership benefits.

Join North Shore Technology Council (NSTC) for a virtual presentation on the changing local landscape of safety regulations with Karen Yurek of Safety Partners. Thursday, June 22, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Register for this free event.

Save the date for two additional North Shore Technology Council events! The annual Summer Mixer will be a harbor cruise out of Gloucester on Wednesday, July 12. On Thursday, July 20, join NSTC at Cummings Center in Beverly for a panel discussion on "Biotechs on the Move: Managing Growth out of an Incubator and Beyond." Find details on these and other upcoming events at NSTC.org.

Tickets for the 16th annual MALSI Day are on sale now. Presented by Innovation Studio (a $625,500 Cummings Foundation grant winner) in partnership with MassVentures, the event is a high-energy, hands-on, global event that brings together scientific leaders and business experts to mingle with scientists, post-docs, professors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and venture capitalists.

The day features panel discussions, an emerging technology poster competition, an Innovators' Marketplace, and networking reception with leading life sciences CEOs. This year's focus is "AI in Medicine, from Discovery to Clinical Practice." Thursday, July 27, Halloran Consulting, Boston, 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Register.

This 6,200 SF lab and office suite - available now - is located in a vibrant life sciences cluster just off I-93 and close to Tufts University. The location offers on-site MBTA bus service and convenient access to Red and Green Line service, plus numerous amenities within walking distance, including Whole Foods and Starbucks. Contact a Cummings lab specialist at sales@cummings.com or 781-983-7039 for details.

Key features include:

• First-floor lab suite
• Two 6' fume hoods
• Tissue culture area
• Chemical storage room
• R&D area
• Gas process piping
• Multiple private offices