Later this month, the city’s startup and innovation community will gather to celebrate the 2022 BostInno Fire Awards honorees.
The selected companies were chosen based on nominations sent in by readers. They have demonstrated their success in raising funds, launching new products, bringing in new customers, growing their Boston footprint and supporting the local community and innovation ecosystem. Honorees were chosen across nine categories. Today, let’s get to know the honorees in the life sciences category. As we all know, Boston’s life sciences scene is always lit. Meet some unique companies that stood out this year.
Join BostInno for a cocktail reception on Wednesday, Nov. 30, to recognize this year's honorees and to see who our judges name as the winner, or Inno Blazer, in each category.
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Embark Veterinary
Last summer, this veterinary startup raised a $75 million Series B round. Then in October, Embark launched what it says is the first-ever DNA test for purebred dog owners. Embark also created a product for veterinarians to use genetics to help inform proactive clinical care plans for dogs. And, the company worked with breeders to identify the genetic mutation associated with early-onset adult deafness in Rhodesian Ridgebacks to help eliminate the condition in this breed.
PepGen
Some of this Cambridge biotech’s achievements over the past year include a $112.5 million Series B round in August 2021, the launch of human trials for its lead drug candidate, multiple additions to its leadership team and, at the start of 2022, going public — one of the few biotech IPOs this year.
Scipher Medicine
This precision immunology company is developing tests to match patients with their most effective therapy option. Waltham-based Scipher raised a $110 million Series D financing in the last year to develop tests for autoimmune diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. The company has future plans to launch five new tests. Scipher has more than 130 employees, the majority of whom were hired in the last year.
Seismic Therapeutic
Seismic’s launch at the start of 2022 represented the second startup founded by Jo Viney, a former Biogen Inc. and Amgen Inc. executive who headed up Pandion Therapeutics Inc. until its acquisition by Merck & Co. The company announced its presence with $101 million in Series A funding and a plan to shift how immunology biologics therapies are discovered and developed through machine learning
Sophia Genetics
This cloud-native software company celebrated an IPO in the summer of 2021 and reported a 40% year-over-year jump in revenues for its fourth quarter in 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, revenue was $10.9 million, representing year-over-year revenue growth of 21%. Over the last year, Sophia Genetics has also expanded its office in Boston, opened a new facility in Rolle, Switzerland, and broke ground on its new facility in Bidart, France.
