Infinity comes to an end with Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing

After a merger with MEI Pharma was unsuccessful, Infinity Pharma has filed for bankruptcy, just as executives had warned when the deal fell through.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Friday “after considering all strategic alternatives,” according to a regulatory filing dated Sept 28. The company will continue to operate at a reduced level while a restructuring transaction or asset sale is conducted.

At the same time, board member Adelene Perkins resigned from her role as chair.

Infinity cut three-quarters of its staff and three board members in July after a planned combination with MEI Pharma fell through. Infinity had warned in March that the merger may be the last chance to avoid bankruptcy for the cancer-focused company.

Infinity was developing eganelisib in several midstage studies, including in urothelial cancer and in solid tumors. As the financial troubles mounted, the company tried to look for a strategic transaction to keep the med going. Ultimately, those efforts did not secure a company-saving deal.

Meanwhile, MEI has been trading barbs via press release with two shareholders Anson Funds and Cable Car Capital LLC, as the two firms try to remove board members. On Monday, MEI adopted a stockholder rights plan, also known as a poison pill defense, to try and deter the firms from taking control.