Two Worcester County firms part of $40M Life Sciences awards. By Tom Marino | September 29, 2026 Last Updated: September 29, 2026 WORCESTER - Two Worcester County companies were among 38 life sciences firms statewide sharing nearly $40 million in tax incentives Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday, Sept. 22, a round expected to create 1,644 jobs across Massachusetts. * Eyepoint Inc., which is expanding in Northbridge, received $1,000,000 tied to a commitment of 40 new jobs. * Rentschler Biopharma Inc., expanding in Milford, received $517,500 for 23 jobs. Healey announced the full round of awards at SMC Ltd.'s facility in Devens, alongside Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Interim CEO Liz Graham. The awards were made through the center's Tax Incentive Program, which supports companies expanding research, development and manufacturing operations in the state. Of the 38 companies receiving awards, 31 are expanding outside Boston and Cambridge and account for 71% of the new jobs expected from this round, according to the state. "Massachusetts leads the world in life sciences because we invest in the people and companies that are creating the jobs, treatments and technologies of the future," Healey said in a statement. Since the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center was established, companies participating in the tax incentive program have committed to creating more than 22,300 jobs, according to the state. In November 2024, Healey signed the Mass Leads Act, which raised the statutory cap on the program from $30 million to $40 million and made other changes intended to strengthen it. Recipients are required to maintain their job commitments over a three-year period and must file regular reports documenting jobs created. The program is jointly administered by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, which handles its technical administration. The remaining 36 companies receiving awards in this round, all outside Worcester County, are listed below. | Company | Location | Incentive | Jobs | | Alloy Therapeutics Inc. Waltham | $180,000 | 10 | | Ardelyx Inc. Waltham | $277,500 | 15 | | AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP | Cambridge | $900,000 | 50 | | Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Devens | $2,875,000 | 125 | | CBSET Inc. Lexington | $660,000 | 33 | | Cogent Biosciences Inc. Waltham | $360,000 | 20 | | Dash Bio Inc. Waltham | $285,000 | 12 | | Dyne Therapeutics Inc. Waltham | $937,500 | 50 | | Gentuity LLC | Sudbury | $276,000 | 15 | | Insulet Corporation | Acton | $10,000,000 | 250 | | IPG Medical Corporation | Marlborough | $195,000 | 10 | | Kailera Therapeutics Inc. Waltham | $900,000 | 50 | | KalVista Pharmaceuticals Inc. Framingham | $324,000 | 18 | | Kymera Therapeutics Inc. Watertown | $630,000 | 35 | | Lexington Medical Inc. Bedford | $180,000 | 10 | | Lila Sciences Inc. Cambridge | $3,600,000 | 200 | | Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc. Waltham | $900,000 | 50 | | Mercy BioAnalytics Inc. Waltham | $120,000 | 5 | | Monte Rosa Therapeutics Inc. Boston | $720,000 | 40 | | Nanopath Inc. Cambridge | $288,000 | 12 | | Olaris Inc. Framingham | $125,000 | 5 | | Pramand LLC | Burlington | $257,500 | 10 | | Rapport Therapeutics Inc. Boston | $483,000 | 21 | | Repligen Corporation | Marlborough | $415,000 | 20 | | Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Inc. Boston | $462,500 | 25 | | Sanegene Bio USA Inc. Woburn | $235,000 | 10 | | SMC Ltd. Devens | $1,350,000 | 54 | | Spear Bio Inc. Woburn | $235,000 | 10 | | Terrestrial Bio Inc. Woburn | $1,080,000 | 36 | | TransMedics Group Inc. Andover | $1,860,000 | 62 | | Triveni Bio Inc. Watertown | $288,000 | 12 | | Verastem Inc. Needham | $437,000 | 19 | | Vericel Corporation | Burlington | $1,100,000 | 50 | | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. Boston | $3,025,000 | 121 | | Werfen | Bedford | $1,303,500 | 66 | | Zoll Medical Corporation | Chelmsford | $1,100,000 | 50 |

EyePoint's drug for age-related eye disease fails late-stage trial, shares tank 70%. Reuters Last Updated: Aug 17, 2026, 09:05:00 PM IST EyePoint's experimental drug Duravyu failed a late-stage trial for a serious eye disease. The company's shares dropped significantly after the disappointing trial results were announced. This failure impacts EyePoint's goal to compete with Regeneron's successful Eylea treatment. Analysts suggest investors will await further study confirmation for the drug's viability. EyePoint plans a new trial and FDA submission for approval in 2027. EyePoint said its experimental drug to treat a serious eye disease that affects older people failed in a late-stage trial, sending its shares plunging over 65% in premarket trading on Monday. The company was testing the drug, Duravyu, against approved treatment Eylea in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss. As on 17 Aug 2026, 08:51 PM IST

EyePoint appoints retina specialist Tarek S. Hassan as Chief Strategic Science Officer. July 13, 2026 Tarek S. Hassan, MD, FASRS EyePoint Inc. (Nasdaq: EYPT) has appointed retina specialist Tarek S. Hassan, M.D., as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategic Science Officer, adding a veteran ophthalmology leader to its executive team as the company prepares for key late-stage clinical milestones for its lead retinal disease therapy. Based in Watertown, Massachusetts, EyePoint said Dr. Hassan will report directly to President and CEO Jay S. Duker, M.D., and serve on the company's executive leadership team. In the newly created role, he will help shape strategy across clinical development, potential commercialization and pipeline expansion, with a particular focus on DURAVYU(TM)(vorolanib intravitreal insert), the company's lead product candidate. The appointment comes as EyePoint expects topline results from its Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating DURAVYU for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). The investigational sustained-delivery therapy is also being studied in Phase 3 trials for diabetic macular edema (DME), positioning it at the center of the company's commercial growth strategy. "Dr. Hassan's extensive clinical development expertise, proven track record in ophthalmology, and deep understanding of the therapeutic innovation required to meaningfully improve the treatment paradigm for serious retinal diseases will strengthen our strategic decision-making," Duker said in a statement. He added that the executive appointment supports the company's efforts to advance DURAVYU, assess future growth opportunities and build long-term value. Dr. Hassan brings more than 35 years of experience in retinal medicine and ophthalmic research. He currently serves as professor of ophthalmology at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and is a senior partner at Associated Retinal Consultants in Royal Oak, Michigan. Throughout his career, Hassan has held leadership positions with several major retinal organizations, including serving as past president of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Retina World Congress, which he co-founded, and the Retina Hall of Fame. He has participated in more than 180 multicenter clinical trials, authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 860 scientific presentations. He has also been recognized in Best Doctors in America annually since 2000 and was an inaugural inductee into the Retina Hall of Fame. Commenting on his appointment, Hassan said sustained drug delivery technologies could help address the treatment burden associated with frequent intravitreal injections for patients with retinal diseases. He said he believes DURAVYU has the potential to become an important treatment option for wet AMD and diabetic macular edema and looks forward to helping guide the company's development and commercialization strategy. As part of his employment agreement, EyePoint's Compensation Committee granted Hassan stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of the company's common stock under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The options will carry an exercise price equal to EyePoint's closing stock price on July 13, 2026. Twenty-five percent of the award will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with the remaining shares vesting monthly through the fourth anniversary, subject to the terms of the grant. EyePoint is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on therapies for serious retinal diseases. Its lead investigational product, DURAVYU, combines the selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor vorolanib with the company's bioerodible Durasert E sustained-delivery technology. EyePoint has commercialized four ophthalmic drugs over the past three decades and operates its headquarters in Watertown, Massachusetts, along with a commercial manufacturing facility in Northbridge, Massachusetts.