MassBio, the state's life sciences industry trade group, is partnering with Bayer to launch a regulatory forum for startups and academia.
The Center for Regulatory Excellence will serve MassCONNECT graduates, MassBio’s mentorship program for the life sciences industry and graduates of the Bayer Fellowship exclusively, hosting regular seminars focusing on specific areas of interest related to the regulatory process. It will also host networking sessions and lectures to foster open dialogue.
“Many early-stage startups and academics have a limited understanding of regulatory science, which can become a major roadblock in the drug development process,” MassBio Chief Business Officer John Hallinan said in a statement. “The Center will help entrepreneurs define a pathway and formulate a plan that will save countless amounts of time and money and provide earlier access for patients.”
This is Bayer's second initiative with MassBio. In 2016, the pharmaceutical and life sciences giant helped launch the Bayer East Coast Innovation Center to serve as a regional hub to strengthen Bayer's ties to the state's life science community.
Separately, the company also partnered with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital to launch a joint lab to research new drug candidates to treat chronic lung diseases. Bayer is set to invest $30 million to fund the lab's research projects over the next five years.
