News from the life sciences and technology sectors north of Boston

May 2025

GSK announced yesterday it will acquire efimosfermin, a liver-disease treatment from Boston Pharmaceuticals, for up to $2 billion. Under the agreement, GSK will pay $1.2 billion upfront, with potential for additional success-based milestone payments totaling $800 million. According to The Wall Street Journal, the drug is currently in late-stage trials, with a potential market launch in 2029. 

Congratulations to Nanoramic on the official opening of its new 40,000 SF headquarters in Woburn. Located at 10 Commerce Way, the facility includes next-generation labs and manufacturing capabilities. The Nanoramic team is revolutionizing the way Li-ion batteries are produced in an effort to bring sustainable lower-cost, higher-performance batteries to its customers.

We are pleased to welcome startup MantaBio to 48 Dunham Ridge, Beverly. The company was co-founded by (left to right) Timothy Carr, Jack Regan, and Carter Boisfontaine in partnership with Thomas Forest Farb-Horch, and provides a system for on-site, real-time PCR chemistry for fast and easy detection of problematic microbes.

Thank you to Shiv Bhakta (above, right), CEO of Active Surfaces, for sharing insights on his company's journey from an incubator to an independent space. Shiv recently joined Cummings chief design officer Jim Trudeau for a fireside chat at Greentown Labs. Active Surfaces is producing ultra-thin, lightweight, flexible solar cells from its facility at Cummings Emerging Tech Center, located at 34 Commerce Way, in Woburn.

Greenlight Biosciences (200 Boston Avenue, Medford), an agricultural biotechnology company, has announced a breakthrough in RNA herbicide development. Greenlight has demonstrated consistent, effective, and safe control of one of the world's most destructive weed species (Conyza canadensis, commonly known as horseweed) using a proprietary dsRNA product in greenhouse and field trials.

Andrey Zarur, CEO of GreenLight Biosciences said, "Farmers around the world are grappling with herbicide-resistant weeds and a shrinking toolbox for effective weed control. Our RNA-based platform introduces a revolutionary, non-GMO approach to weed management. This breakthrough not only targets weeds with precision but also paves the way for potential solutions that can help farmers reduce their reliance on traditional chemical herbicides like glyphosate." Read more.

Joen Johansen, CEO of MDC Associates (48 Dunham Ridge, Beverly) spoke at the McDermott HealthEx conference in Nashville last week. Joen (above, left) joined a panel on Innovation in Research and Discovery: Trends in Technology and CROs to discuss how advancements like artificial intelligence are shaping the future of research, diagnostics, and development.

Spear Bio (100 TradeCenter, Woburn) is hiring!

Spear is building a revolutionary immunoassay platform to empower neuroscience researchers in their search for early-intervention biomarkers for Alzheimer's and other neurological disorders.

If you are interested in joining the company on its mission, visit the Spear Careers page to explore opportunities.

Woburn-based indiGO Technologies was an exhibitor and speaker at ClimaTech Boston this week. IndiGO’s next-gen EV lineup is making ride-hail and last-mile delivery more accessible, efficient, and scalable for small, medium, and large businesses. IndiGO CEO Will Graylin (below, left) participated in a panel exploring how collaboration is driving zero-emission mobility forward.

The 10th annual Battle of the Biotech Bands takes place TONIGHT at Royale Nightclub in Boston. Three bands will face off in a musical battle to raise funds for a chosen nonprofit. Purchase tickets or watch the live stream online.

Join Middlesex 3 Coalition next week via Zoom for a State Resource Meeting.

This virtual meeting will highlight key programs and initiatives from across Massachusetts that offer valuable support in workforce development, real estate, innovation, and more. Hear from regional experts and learn how these programs can help your businesses and municipalities grow and succeed.

Wednesday, May 21, 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Register.

Save the date for the 10th annual Life Sciences Workforce Conference from MassBioEd. The event brings together representatives from the life sciences industry, academic institutions, training providers, government, and community to explore key issues and strategies in building a strong life science workforce in Massachusetts. This year's theme is "Preparing the Workforce for a Technology-Enabled Future: Uniting life sciences partners to extend our lead." Tuesday, June 3 at Boston University. Register.

North Shore Technology Council will host a panel discussion on the benefits and considerations of leveraging a third-party vendor to streamline research, development, or manufacturing in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

Thursday, June 5, 4:30 to 7:30 PM at Cummings Center Community Conference Room, Beverly. Register.

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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