Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/business/)
SQZ Biotechnologies announced a reduction of more than half the company’s staff, and appointed a new CEO after the resignation of its previous one. The company’s research focuses on cell therapies. The company based in Watertown, announced on Nov. 30, 2022, that Armon Sharei has step down from his role as chief executive officer and the Board of Directors. The Board appointed Howard Bernstein, former Chief Scientific Officer and current director, as interim CEO.
The following announcement came from Novo Nordisk:
Novo Nordisk and Forma Therapeutics, Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: FMTX) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Novo Nordisk will acquire Forma Therapeutics for USD 20 per share in cash, which represents a total equity value of USD 1.1bn. Forma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and rare blood disorders. The acquisition of Forma Therapeutics, including its lead development candidate, etavopivat, is aligned with Novo Nordisk’s strategy to complement and accelerate its scientific presence and pipeline in haemoglobinopathies, a group of disorders in which there is abnormal production or structure of the haemoglobin protein in the red blood cells. “Novo Nordisk has worked for more than 40 years to develop and deliver transformative medicines to patients around the world with rare and devastating diseases. By adding Forma’s differentiated approach to address unmet needs for patients, we are taking a step forward in enhancing our sickle cell disease pipeline,” said Ludovic Helfgott, executive vice president and head of Rare Disease at Novo Nordisk.
Peabody CompaniesWatertown’s Megan Stejskal has been hired by the Peabody Companies. The following announcement was provided by the Peabody Companies:
The Peabody Companies, a group of award-winning property management and real estate firms, is pleased to announce Megan Stejskal of Watertown as portfolio compliance director for new business. In this post, Stejskal has an essential role in the effective and efficient operation of the firm by employing the technical expertise to interpret federal regulations and compliance requirements of various agencies and housing programs.
Stejskal brings more than 11 years of experience in the affordable housing and property management industries to her post with the Peabody Companies, most recently as regional compliance specialist with WinnResidential in Boston. Stejskal, who attended Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, holds numerous professional certifications, including NCHM-Certified Occupancy Specialist, NAHRO Public Housing Manager-Certified Specialist, NCHM-Certified Occupancy Specialist-Advanced, NCHM- Management and Occupancy Review Specialist, and NAHB-HCCP Certified Compliance Professional. “We’re delighted to announce Megan as portfolio compliance director,” said Katrina Pavetto, vice president of compliance with the Peabody Companies.
The following information was provided by the Charles River Chamber of Commerce:
The Charles River Chamber will host a Young Professionals Happy Hour at Mighty Squirrel Biergarden at Arsenal Yards in Watertown. Date and Time: Thursday Jul 14, 2022, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM EDT
Location: Mighty Squirrel Biergarden, 130 Arsenal Yards Blvd, Watertown
Fees/Admission: free, open to members & nonmembers
Soak up the summer weather with craft beer and networking in Watertown! Our Young Professionals Happy Hour heads to the newly-opened Mighty Squirrel Biergarden right in the center of Arsenal Yards. Join us to unwind after work and make lots of new connections with young professionals in the area. The space is dog-friendly too!
Taffer’s Tavern is opening at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards in 2022. Bar Rescue’s Jon Taffer will be opening a restaurant in Watertown, and the restaurant is now hiring. Taffer’s Tavern aims to open in the fall of 2022, according to RestaurantNews.com. Taffer, the star of the Paramount Network show, stopped by the space in Arsenal Yards in May. The description on the Arsenal Yards website says: “Taffer’s is the quintessential pub, a place to meet old friends while making new ones.
Lyndra TherapeuticsJess Ballinger President and Chief Operations Officer, Lyndra Therapeutics was named to the National Small Business Association Leadership Council. Lyndra Therapeutics, a Watertown-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company working to make daily pills a thing of the past, recently announced that President and Chief Operations Officer Jess Ballinger has been named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, joining other advocates from across the country as they work to promote the interests of small business to policymakers in Washington, D.C.
Lyndra Therapeutics is pioneering long-acting oral therapies based on its proprietary LYNX™ drug delivery platform, which has the potential to transform virtually any oral therapy into weekly or monthly pills. Lyndra is focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders, especially conditions impacting mental health. The company is also committed to advancing its platform to tackle major public health and global health challenges, including opioid use disorder and malaria.
“I’m so excited about the progress our team at Lyndra has made to fundamentally change how people take their medicine, but I’m just as proud of the way we’re doing this: as a women-led company that truly embraces and understands the importance of diversity and inclusiveness,” stated Ballinger. “I’m honored to join the NSBA Leadership Council and to be able to bring my passion for science and DE&I to this team of expert small-business leaders.
Charlie BreitroseUltimate Stone Surfaces opened on Mt. Auburn Street in late May. Ultimate Stone Surfaces recently opened a showroom in Watertown where customers can take a look at samples and get help envisioning their dream kitchen or bathroom. Paul Pereira and Douglas Goncalves have been installing countertops for years, but recently decided to start their own business, said Juliana Freitas-Silva, who runs the showroom located at 694 Mt. Auburn Street.
Icon ArchitectureA view of the proposed project at 104-126 Main St. from Main Street. The developers of the project proposed on Main Street in Watertown want to create a place where residents can live steps away from restaurants, stores, and public transportation available in Watertown Square. John O’Connor, senior vice president for acquisitions and development for O’Connor Capital Partners recently spoke with Watertown News about the proposal for the 104-126 Main St. The development would have 146 residential units in four stories above 5,450 sq.
Residents can join City staff on walks and bike rides around Watertown to take a look at the City’s major business areas, and get input about what they should look like in the future. The information gathered will be used in the process to update Watertown’s Comprehensive Plan. The series covers a number of areas where development has and will continue to occur, including Watertown Square, Pleasant Street, Coolidge Square, and the bike path near Arsenal Street that runs through East Watertown to Fresh Pond. Assistant Director of Planning Gideon Schreiber said the tours provide another way for people to give input on the Comprehensive Plan. “I’ve been on the Live Well Watertown committee for 10 years, and we’ve done these walks and often times when I’m doing the walk with residents they have questions, they have ideas, they have thoughts, and we thought that it would be a good opportunity to mix it up and do something different,” Schreiber said.
