News from the life sciences and technology sectors north of Boston

April 2025

Massachusetts economic development secretary Yvonne Hao announced today she is stepping down from her position, to spend more time with her family.

The Boston Globe reports undersecretary Ashley Stolba will take over as interim secretary next week. Hao will stay on until May 2 to help with the transition.

Hao came to the role from the private sector and is credited with the development of the $4 billion economic development package approved by the legislature in November. Read more.

Fusion startup Type One Energy (based in Tennessee, with a research facility at 299 Washington Street, Woburn) was recently featured in Boston Business Journal for its advances in fusion energy. Type One uses extreme temperatures and non-planar magnets to prepare atoms for fusion, helping advance progress toward a commercially viable fusion reactor. Read more from Inno reporter Eli Chavez (subscription required).

Vaxess Technologies (Cummings Park, Woburn) has received $9 million in funding to invest in manufacturing and advance its work in delivering GLP-1 medication without needles via a skin patch.

According to CEO Rachel Sha, the Vaxess patch does not require refrigeration and is more cost-efficient than syringe auto-injectors. Read more from Hannah Green of Boston Business Journal.

"What's different about the patch is that we want to achieve the same effectiveness and health outcomes, but with a much better patient experience and with much greater access to the product.”

Rachel Sha, CEO

Vaxess Technologies

Cummings recently partnered with FORGE to present the "Scale up your Startup" panel discussion and pitch competition at TraceCenter 128 in Woburn. Congratulations to the top-place startup, SuryaTech, on winning a $20,000 rent credit from Cummings. Re-Volt Charging and BioEchem also gave impressive pitch presentations.

Rob Anderson (left), vice president of business development for MassDevelopment, and Richard Swartwout, Ph.D. (right), co-founder of Active Surfaces (34 Commerce Way, Woburn) joined James Trudeau, chief design officer for Cummings Properties, for the panel discussion moderated by Mark Michalski of FORGE.

The 2025 Tufts New Ventures Competition Finals at the Derby Entrepreneurship Center featured 15 finalist teams that pitched their ventures to panels of judges and audiences across three tracks: general, healthcare, and social impact. One finisher in each category won a Cummings Properties rent credit. Zachary DiMuccio (left) and Jonathan Tomaso (center), co-founders of KYTOS Therapeutics, were presented the rent credit award from Cummings leasing director Steve Cusano (right).

New England Biolabs (43 Dunham Ridge, Beverly and Ipswich, MA) announced the 2025 Monarch Nucleic Acid Purification Scholarship, which will award three U.S.-based researchers using nucleic acid purification $2,025 each for work exemplifying performance, sustainability, and value. The initiative coincides with the release of NEB’s updated Monarch purification kits, featuring improved column design and reduced plastic use for enhanced performance and environmental impact. Applications are open to U.S. residents 18 and older through May 1, 2025. Learn more about the scholarship. 

Myrobalan Therapeutics (200 Boston Avenue, Medford), a biotechnology company focused on creating potent, selective, and brain-penetrant oral small-molecule therapies to restore brain function, has received a grant exceeding $850,000 from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The funding will support the preclinical and translational development of MRO-002, a G-protein-coupled receptor 17 (GPR17) antagonist being developed to treat progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The grant is part of the National MS Society’s Fast Forward program, which funds commercial efforts to advance innovative therapies and diagnostic tools for MS. Jing Wang, Ph.D. is co-founder and CEO of Myrobalan.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) recently announced $5.55 million in funding for 28 clean energy and climatetech companies and researchers, to accelerate innovation and business growth in 13 cities and towns across Massachusetts. The grants were awarded through four of MassCEC’s programs: AmplifyMass, Catalyst, Diversity in Cleantech - Early Stage (DICES), and InnovateMass. 

Among the AmplifyMass awardees was Lithios (196 Boston Avenue, Medford), which received $249,660 to develop the first field-deployable pilot system for Advanced Lithium Extraction (ALE) in Massachusetts. Learn more about the program and awardees.

Active Surfaces (34 Commerce Way, Woburn), won gold at the Edison Awards, a global competition honoring excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design, and innovation, in the renewable and efficient energy systems category. The company is developing flexible, high-efficiency solar technology designed for integration into a variety of surfaces.

FORGE celebrates 10 years of impact at the 2025 Spring Showcase. The event brings together emerging local hardtech companies, manufacturers, investors, and other ecosystem collaborators to celebrate a decade of FORGE’s Manufacturing Initiative. More than 200 attendees will join a celebration of the local hardtech innovation community. Tuesday, April 22, Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation, Waltham. Register.

Robotics Summit & Expo brings together 5,000+ developers focused on building robots for aerospace and defense, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and other markets. Attendees will gain insights into the latest enabling technologies, engineering best practices, and emerging trends. Wednesday, April 30 - Thursday May 1, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Register.

Bioversity, a workforce training nonprofit and MassBio initiative, will soon host its marquee annual fundraising event – Celebrate Bioversity! – in Boston. Attendees will hear from Bioversity graduates and students about their training and how life has changed for them as they start their new careers in the life sciences. Thursday, May 8, Southline Boston. Register.

Lab Suite Available - Just off I-95 in Woburn

400 TradeCenter, Woburn - 6,559 SF

This bright laboratory and office suite at TradeCenter 128 provides ample natural light and a sunny corner location. Enjoy the convenience of free on-site garage and surface parking just off I-95 at the Burlington/Woburn line. The building offers numerous on-site amenities, including Teresa's Ristorante, Apple Spice café, a fitness center, child care options, a hairdresser, and a barber shop.

Lab features include:

• 6' and 8' fume hoods
• Epoxy and VCT floor
• Lab sink with casework
• Two emergency eyewash stations
• Easy access to freight elevator

Office features include:

• Balcony
• Open floor area
• Conference room
• Two in-suite restrooms
• Shower

To learn more about this suite or others in the Cummings portfolio, call or text John Halsey at 781-983-2214 or email jrh@cummings.com.

We welcome your feedback on this newsletter and invite readers to share company news, personnel changes, product launches, funding updates, events, and more. Contact Sue Howland, client engagement manager, at svh@cummings.com to offer your news for upcoming newsletters. We look forward to hearing from you.

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