The fast-growing Cambridge, MA-based Constellation Pharmaceuticals has a new CEO and a fresh injection of cash to fund its work in the field of epigenetics. The company has named Mark A. Goldsmith, M.D., Ph.D., to the top post and closed on $17 million in fresh venture funds, the third tranche of its Series A.
FierceBiotech selected Constellation as a Fierce 15 company last year when Mark Levin, a Third Rock partner and an experienced player in the game of biotech start-ups, was acting as the start-up CEO. Constellation, which is still doing discovery work with an eye to identifying preclinical programs and then moving into the clinic, is working with new technology that can selectively regulate gene expression.
The developer now has 32 full time workers and some 15 overseas contract employees, Goldsmith tells FierceBiotech. And he plans to beef up the roster of full-time and contract employees to about 60 by the end of this year. Goldsmith is also adhering closely to Levin's vision: Building a company with a long-term business plan and inking a line-up of partnership deals around a drug platform that boasts of broad applicability.
"We are actively engaged in discussions with a number of potential sponsors, funders and partners," says Goldsmith, the co-founder and former CEO of Cogentus Pharmaceuticals, adding that new pacts will be forged in the coming year.
- check out the Constellation's release
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