Around Town

Watertown Company Creating Way to Dramatically Cut the Number of Pills Patients Take

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Lyndra TherapeuticsA prototype of Lyndra’s stellate medical platform is placed in a machine to undergo stress testing. A company with headquarters in the East End of Watertown will soon start the final trials for a way of delivering drugs that would allow patients to take just one pill a week instead of seven pills or more. And the company is working on technology that could cut it to just two or even one a pill a month. Lyndra Therapeutics moved to its space on Grove Street in 2017, and employs nearly 130 people there, in Lexington, or who work remotely. The company also helps train the next generation of life scientists by working with students from colleges in the area, and has also started reaching out to classes at Watertown High School.

Business

Discuss the Future of Business in Watertown at Upcoming Event

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Local residents, business owners, employees and others are invited to add their voice to the City of Watertown’s effort to shape the future of business in Watertown at an event hosted by the Watertown Business Coalition. On Oct. 19 the WBC will host a networking event where City officials and consultants working on updating the Comprehensive Plan, Watertown’s primary planning document. The plan covers many areas, but the event focuses on business. The event will be at the Mount Auburn Cemetery’s Bigelow Chapel.

Business

Watertown Company Acquired by Major Pharmaceutical Firm

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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.

Business

Watertown Resident Appointed Compliance Director at Property & Real Estate Firm

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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.

Business

Charles River Chamber Hosting Young Professionals Happy Hour

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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!

Business

“Bar Rescue” Star’s Restaurant Hiring at Watertown Location

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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.

Around Town

President of Watertown Company Named to Small Business Leadership Council

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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.

Around Town

New Stone & Tile Store Open in Watertown; Does Kitchens, Bathrooms and More

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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.