Launching a drug development company with novel technology from academia
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Kurt Machemer
Principal
he/him
Kurt focuses his practice on meeting the business and legal needs of emerging growth companies in the life sciences and technology sectors, as well as venture capitalists and other investors in early stage companies.
He represents organizations at various stages of development, including companies with marketed pharmaceutical products, medical devices/diagnostics, and various innovative drug development programs.
Kurt helps clients through a variety of complex transactions, including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, acquisitions and dispositions of private companies, and joint ventures and other strategic partnerships. In addition, he regularly counsels entrepreneurs, senior management and boards of directors on pre-formation, formation, governance and transactional matters. Kurt also advises companies and senior executives on employment matters and leading academicians in their interactions with industry.
Kurt helps clients through a variety of complex transactions, including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, acquisitions and dispositions of private companies, and joint ventures and other strategic partnerships. In addition, he regularly counsels entrepreneurs, senior management and boards of directors on pre-formation, formation, governance and transactional matters. Kurt also advises companies and senior executives on employment matters and leading academicians in their interactions with industry.
More about Kurt
Prior to joining the firm, Kurt was an attorney with Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, where his practice focused on representing corporate clients and venture capital firms. He began his legal career at Nutter McClennen & Fish.
- Formation and equity financing of Viridian Therapeutics by Fairmount Funds, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Tellus BioVentures, BVF Partners and others
- Acquisition of Proteros biostructures GmbH’s ownership stake in Rodin Therapeutics by Alkermes
- Equity financing of NextPoint Therapeutics by Leaps by Bayer, Sanofi Ventures, MPM Capital Management, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Invus, Catalio Capital Management, Sixty Degree Capital and PagodaTree Partners
- ONK Therapeutics’ license and collaboration with Intellia to advance allogeneic CRISPR-Edited NK cell therapies
- Praeventix in connection with a private investment by Tellus BioVentures
- Formation and equity financing of Sojournix by RA Capital, Boxer Capital of the Tavistock Group, Frazier Healthcare Partners, Venrock, Janus Henderson Investors and others
- In-license of foundational intellectual property from academia and equity financing of NextPoint Therapeutics by MPM, Binney Street Capital, and Simcere Pharmaceutical
- Co-counsel to Dianthus Therapeutics in its proposed PIPE and concurrent reverse merger with Magenta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGTA)
- Acquisition by DermBiont of SeylanMed’s lead drug candidate, a topical AKT inhibitor gel
- Co-counsel to Viridian Therapeutics in its reverse merger with miRagen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MGEN)
- Formation and equity financing of Dianthus Therapeutics by 5AM Ventures, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Fairmount Funds, Avidity Partners, Wedbush Healthcare Partners, Tellus BioVentures and others
- Counseling scientific founders with regard to their advisory board and equity arrangements with ROME Therapeutics
- Equity investment by RA Capital in Vor Biopharma
- Co-counsel to Quellis Biosciences in its reverse merger with Astria Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATXS) (f/k/a Catabasis Pharmaceuticals)
- Acquisition of Siamab Therapeutics’ tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA) discovery platform by a large commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company
- Financing of GelMedix by HTL Biotechnology and Safar Partners
- Equity investment by Merck Research Laboratories in Alector
- Quellis Biosciences’ strategic partnership with Xencor
- Equity investments by Third Rock Ventures in multiple portfolio companies including Blueprint Medicines, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, DC Devices, Edimer Pharmaceuticals, Eleven Biotherapeutics, NinePoint Medical, Nurix, Igenica Biotherapeutics, and Sage Therapeutics
- Acquisition by DermBiont of Chromaderm’s clinical-stage topical inhibitor program
- ProThera Biologics’ strategic partnership with ProMetic Life Sciences
- Equity financing of Claris Biotherapeutics by Novo Ventures and others
- Counseling scientific founder regarding advisory board and equity arrangements with Nuvalent
- Formation and equity financing of Quellis Biosciences by Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund and others
- Equity investment by CoVenture in Benitago
- Structured acquisition by Techcomp (Holdings) Limited of IXRF Systems
- Acquisition by DermBiont of BrickBuilt Therapeutics
- Equity investments by 6 Dimensions Capital in multiple portfolio companies, including Hibercell
- Sale of Digital Cognition Technologies’ program that detects pre-symptomatic cognitive impairment to Linus Health
- Spin-out of Versatope Therapeutics from Cornell University
- Formation and equity financing of Keros Therapeutics by Pontifax, Partners Innovation Fund, Arkin Bio Ventures, Medison Pharma and Quark Venture
- Acquisition of Partners Health System’s ownership stake in CoStim by Novartis
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in collaboration with the Skolkovo Foundation to create the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology outside Moscow, Russia
- Equity investment by Biogen in Solid GT
- Admission of DermBiont into the Illumina Accelerator program
- Equity financing of Civitas Therapeutics and repayable grant from Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
- Option agreement and equity financing of Siamab Therapeutics by Momenta Pharmaceuticals
- Launch by scientific founders of Nocion Therapeutics, including investment from F-Prime, Cannan Partners, Partners Innovation Fund and others
- Strategic equity investment by Biogen in Proteostasis Therapeutics
- Equity investment by Lundbeckfond Ventures in Cydan Development
- Sale of AesRx (with a Phase II sickle cell program) to Baxter International
- Equity investment by Novo A/S in ZS Pharma
- Counseling scientific founders with regard to their advisory board and equity arrangements with Arsenal Therapeutics
- Spin-out and equity financing of Mellitus from Harvard Medical School
- Equity financing of Navitor Pharmaceuticals by Polaris Partners, Atlas Venture, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, S.R. One, Brace Pharma Capital, Remeditex Ventures, Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures and others
- Acquisition of Codiscope by Synopsys
- Equity investments and flips to U.S.-based topcos by Accel Partners in multiple portfolio companies
- Launch and funding of Vivid Biosciences
- Equity investment by Balderton Capital and Notion Capital in Groupay
- Purchase by Biogen of certain antibody assets from Amgen
- Equity investments by .406 Ventures in multiple portfolio companies, including CloudPercept and Rapid Focus
- Debt and equity investments by Braemar Energy Ventures
- Formation and corporate governance of TransPoC, a not-for-profit scientific research organization
- Equity financing of Foundation Medicine by Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
- Formation and financing of Unum Therapeutics
Kurt is an active participant in the Big Brothers of Massachusetts Bay mentorship program, a youth sports coach, a member of the Nominating Committee to the Board of Directors at the Winchester Swim & Tennis Club, and a member of the Board of Directors of Pathway to Possible, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing, support, and advocacy for individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities. Kurt has previously served as a domestic violence prevention advocate.
Prior to joining the firm, Kurt was an attorney with Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, where his practice focused on representing corporate clients and venture capital firms. He began his legal career at Nutter McClennen & Fish.
- Formation and equity financing of Viridian Therapeutics by Fairmount Funds, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Tellus BioVentures, BVF Partners and others
- Acquisition of Proteros biostructures GmbH’s ownership stake in Rodin Therapeutics by Alkermes
- Equity financing of NextPoint Therapeutics by Leaps by Bayer, Sanofi Ventures, MPM Capital Management, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Invus, Catalio Capital Management, Sixty Degree Capital and PagodaTree Partners
- ONK Therapeutics’ license and collaboration with Intellia to advance allogeneic CRISPR-Edited NK cell therapies
- Praeventix in connection with a private investment by Tellus BioVentures
- Formation and equity financing of Sojournix by RA Capital, Boxer Capital of the Tavistock Group, Frazier Healthcare Partners, Venrock, Janus Henderson Investors and others
- In-license of foundational intellectual property from academia and equity financing of NextPoint Therapeutics by MPM, Binney Street Capital, and Simcere Pharmaceutical
- Co-counsel to Dianthus Therapeutics in its proposed PIPE and concurrent reverse merger with Magenta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGTA)
- Acquisition by DermBiont of SeylanMed’s lead drug candidate, a topical AKT inhibitor gel
- Co-counsel to Viridian Therapeutics in its reverse merger with miRagen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MGEN)
- Formation and equity financing of Dianthus Therapeutics by 5AM Ventures, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Fairmount Funds, Avidity Partners, Wedbush Healthcare Partners, Tellus BioVentures and others
- Counseling scientific founders with regard to their advisory board and equity arrangements with ROME Therapeutics
- Equity investment by RA Capital in Vor Biopharma
- Co-counsel to Quellis Biosciences in its reverse merger with Astria Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATXS) (f/k/a Catabasis Pharmaceuticals)
- Acquisition of Siamab Therapeutics’ tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA) discovery platform by a large commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company
- Financing of GelMedix by HTL Biotechnology and Safar Partners
- Equity investment by Merck Research Laboratories in Alector
- Quellis Biosciences’ strategic partnership with Xencor
- Equity investments by Third Rock Ventures in multiple portfolio companies including Blueprint Medicines, Constellation Pharmaceuticals, DC Devices, Edimer Pharmaceuticals, Eleven Biotherapeutics, NinePoint Medical, Nurix, Igenica Biotherapeutics, and Sage Therapeutics
- Acquisition by DermBiont of Chromaderm’s clinical-stage topical inhibitor program
- ProThera Biologics’ strategic partnership with ProMetic Life Sciences
- Equity financing of Claris Biotherapeutics by Novo Ventures and others
- Counseling scientific founder regarding advisory board and equity arrangements with Nuvalent
- Formation and equity financing of Quellis Biosciences by Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund and others
- Equity investment by CoVenture in Benitago
- Structured acquisition by Techcomp (Holdings) Limited of IXRF Systems
- Acquisition by DermBiont of BrickBuilt Therapeutics
- Equity investments by 6 Dimensions Capital in multiple portfolio companies, including Hibercell
- Sale of Digital Cognition Technologies’ program that detects pre-symptomatic cognitive impairment to Linus Health
- Spin-out of Versatope Therapeutics from Cornell University
- Formation and equity financing of Keros Therapeutics by Pontifax, Partners Innovation Fund, Arkin Bio Ventures, Medison Pharma and Quark Venture
- Acquisition of Partners Health System’s ownership stake in CoStim by Novartis
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in collaboration with the Skolkovo Foundation to create the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology outside Moscow, Russia
- Equity investment by Biogen in Solid GT
- Admission of DermBiont into the Illumina Accelerator program
- Equity financing of Civitas Therapeutics and repayable grant from Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
- Option agreement and equity financing of Siamab Therapeutics by Momenta Pharmaceuticals
- Launch by scientific founders of Nocion Therapeutics, including investment from F-Prime, Cannan Partners, Partners Innovation Fund and others
- Strategic equity investment by Biogen in Proteostasis Therapeutics
- Equity investment by Lundbeckfond Ventures in Cydan Development
- Sale of AesRx (with a Phase II sickle cell program) to Baxter International
- Equity investment by Novo A/S in ZS Pharma
- Counseling scientific founders with regard to their advisory board and equity arrangements with Arsenal Therapeutics
- Spin-out and equity financing of Mellitus from Harvard Medical School
- Equity financing of Navitor Pharmaceuticals by Polaris Partners, Atlas Venture, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, S.R. One, Brace Pharma Capital, Remeditex Ventures, Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures and others
- Acquisition of Codiscope by Synopsys
- Equity investments and flips to U.S.-based topcos by Accel Partners in multiple portfolio companies
- Launch and funding of Vivid Biosciences
- Equity investment by Balderton Capital and Notion Capital in Groupay
- Purchase by Biogen of certain antibody assets from Amgen
- Equity investments by .406 Ventures in multiple portfolio companies, including CloudPercept and Rapid Focus
- Debt and equity investments by Braemar Energy Ventures
- Formation and corporate governance of TransPoC, a not-for-profit scientific research organization
- Equity financing of Foundation Medicine by Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
- Formation and financing of Unum Therapeutics
Kurt is an active participant in the Big Brothers of Massachusetts Bay mentorship program, a youth sports coach, a member of the Nominating Committee to the Board of Directors at the Winchester Swim & Tennis Club, and a member of the Board of Directors of Pathway to Possible, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing, support, and advocacy for individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities. Kurt has previously served as a domestic violence prevention advocate.
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