Senior Scientist

Tessera Therapeutics appoints Joseph Romanelli as President and Chief Executive Officer. By Tessera Therapeutics Veteran pharmaceutical executive to lead Tessera's next phase of growth as the company advances Gene Writing from platform innovation toward a broad clinical pipeline of genetic medicines SOMERVILLE, Mass., July 23, 2026 - Tessera Therapeutics ("Tessera"), the biotechnology company pioneering a new approach to genetic medicine known as Gene Writing(TM), today announced the appointment of Joseph Romanelli as President and Chief Executive Officer. Romanelli succeeds Michael Severino who has led the company since June 2022. Romanelli will join Tessera's board of directors and also join Tessera's founder, Flagship Pioneering, as a CEO-Partner. The leadership transition comes as Tessera has advanced its first in vivo gene editing program, TSRA-196, into the clinic and is poised to progress a growing pipeline of Gene Writing medicines, including a development candidate for sickle cell disease and efforts towards in vivo chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T for oncology and autoimmune diseases. TSRA-196 is being jointly developed and commercialized with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) for the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). In addition, Tessera has received an investment of up to $50 million from the Gates Foundation to develop a globally accessible in vivo gene editing therapy for sickle cell disease. "Over the past several years, Tessera has established the scientific and technological foundation for Gene Writing. The company's next chapter is translating that foundation into a broad portfolio of medicines and Joe is the right leader to guide that transition," said Geoff von Maltzahn, Ph.D., co-founder, founding CEO, and Chairman of Tessera and General Partner at Flagship Pioneering. "Joe has spent more than three decades building teams, forging partnerships, and commercializing innovative medicines across global markets. His experience scaling organizations, leading international businesses, and bringing breakthrough therapies to patients makes him exceptionally well suited to lead Tessera as it evolves from a company focused primarily on platform innovation and preclinical development into one capable of realizing the full potential of Gene Writing." Von Maltzahn continued: "We are deeply grateful to Mike Severino for his leadership over the past four years and wish him every success in the future as he embarks on a new role leading a commercial stage biotech company." Romanelli joins Tessera from Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) where he most recently served as President, Human Health International, and a member of the company's Executive Team. In that role, he was responsible for Merck's more than $25 billion international human health business, leading teams across 75 markets outside the United States. From 2016 through 2021, he led Merck's business in China, where the company became one of the fastest growing multinational pharmaceutical businesses in the country and China became Merck's second-largest market. During his nearly 30-year career at Merck, Romanelli held a series of strategic and operational positions of increasing responsibility, including multiple roles that culminated in leadership of the company's investor relations function. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and MBA from Fordham University's Gabelli School of Management. "With its Gene Writing technologies and pipeline, Tessera has an exceptional opportunity to help shape the next era of medicine where it may be possible to not only alleviate symptoms, but to address the underlying genetic cause of disease," said Romanelli. "Tessera has built a remarkable scientific platform and assembled an outstanding team. I'm excited to work alongside them to advance a broad pipeline of Gene Writing medicines through clinical development with the goal of ultimately delivering these therapies to patients around the world." About Tessera Therapeutics Tessera Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering an innovative approach to genome engineering through the development of its Gene Writing(TM) and delivery platforms, with the goal of advancing in vivo genetic medicines. Its Gene Writing platform utilizes all-RNA constructs and is designed to write therapeutic messages into the genome by leveraging a process known as target-primed reverse transcription (TPRT) to efficiently change single or multiple DNA base pairs or add exon-length sequences or whole genes. Its proprietary lipid nanoparticle delivery platform is designed to enable the in vivo delivery of RNA to targeted cell types. Tessera Therapeutics, Inc. believe its Gene Writing and delivery platforms position Tessera Therapeutics, Inc. to advance differentiated in vivo genetic medicines designed to not only cure monogenic diseases but also create engineered cells to fight cancer and autoimmune disease and modify inherited risk factors to treat common diseases. Tessera Therapeutics was founded in 2018 by Flagship Pioneering, a life sciences innovation enterprise that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability, and beyond. Media Contact: [email protected]

Senator questions Merck over patent strategy for blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda. by Politixia about 5 hours ago 130 Views Announcement A U.S. senator is pressing pharmaceutical giant Merck over its patenting and pricing practices for the blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda, escalating congressional scrutiny of industry strategies that can delay lower-cost rivals from reaching the market. Announcement Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, said that Merck and other drug companies often file excessive patents to extend their monopolies and keep more affordable versions of their pricey drugs out of reach. In a letter to Merck CEO Robert Davis, the lawmaker asked the company to detail patent actions connected to both the Keytruda intravenous version, which has been on the market for over a decade, and its new injectable version of the drug, which launched last year. "I continue to have serious concerns about how Merck's anti-competitive practices have boosted profits at the expense of patients," Hassan wrote in her letter, sent this week. She added she has noted in previous years how "these kinds of patent gimmicks have allowed Merck to delay other companies from selling lower cost versions of this medication, all while raising the price of Keytruda in the U.S. year after year." Hassan cited a finding from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists' recent Cancer Calculus investigation, which showed that Merck's new injectable version of Keytruda "could help Merck generate billions of dollars and delay competition into the 2030s." ICIJ's Cancer Calculus revealed how Merck uses pricing, patent and dosing strategies to turn the life-saving medicine into one of the world's best selling drugs - while leaving many patients around the world struggling to access it. The company and other cancer research businesses filed 1,212 patent applications in 53 jurisdictions, which can extend Keytruda's control of the market. Keytruda carried high list prices that have strained the budgets of even wealthy nations, ranging from more than $80,000 for a year of treatment in Germany, $93,000 in Lebanon, and $130,000 in Colombia, to as much as $208,000 in the U.S. The exorbitant prices and desperate patients have fueled a counterfeit market, with incidents of fake Keytruda surfacing in public hospitals in Mexico. High costs and restrictive insurance protocols have also forced many patients into long, grueling legal battles just to access the drug. A Merck spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment sent by ICIJ on Thursday. Earlier this year, the company told ICIJ and its global media partners that it is a "common myth" that companies use many patents to block competition, and said more patents do not determine when generics or biosimilars enter the market. ICIJ found that Merck's secondary patents could potentially extend Keytruda's exclusivity in the U.S. until at least 2042, which may delay cheaper alternatives for hundreds of thousands of patients over the next 15 years. Keytruda's primary patents are set to expire in 2028. Announcement Hassan's letter included 10 questions the senator seeks answers to and asked Davis to respond by no later than July 20. She asked why Merck is using a large number of secondary patents for Keytruda and how it justifies that strategy; whether this approach delays biosimilar competition and keeps prices high for patients, and what Merck is doing to make sure lower-cost alternatives can reach patients once the main patents expire. The letter also asks whether the shift from intravenous Keytruda to an injectable version could be used to extend market exclusivity and delay lower-cost competition. In her letter, Hassan describes an exchange with Davis during a 2024 Senate hearing, in which she pressed him about the tactics that have allowed Merck to "delay other companies from selling lower cost versions" of Keytruda while raising the price of the drug annually. At the time, Davis said the system needs both patent protection and a strong biosimilar and generic market, and that he would not block an intravenous biosimilar of Keytruda after key patents expire. "Despite these statements, existing patents for [intravenous] Keytruda and a new form of the medication may help block or minimize competition from biosimilars for years," Hassan wrote. Announcement The inquiry is part of a broader congressional push to address prescription drug pricing, patent disputes, and alleged "product hopping" strategies that some lawmakers say can delay cheaper alternatives from reaching patients. One of the bills being considered is the Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act, sponsored by Hassan and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). The proposed law, which aims to reform patent review and facilitate the entry of generics and biosimilars to the market, was advanced by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in June. Announcement

Merck cements Life Science leadership with $11.3B Bio-Techne acquisition. Friday, June 26, 2026 The life science tools market is heating up with Merck's blockbuster $11.3 billion acquisition of Bio-Techne. This strategic move is designed to cement the company's leadership in a rapidly growing sector and signals a major consolidation trend that is actively reshaping the industry for competitors and investors alike. Audio Brief (2:45 listen) The life science tools market, the critical "picks and shovels" infrastructure for the biopharmaceutical revolution, is witnessing a significant consolidation wave. In a landscape where scale and portfolio breadth are paramount, major players are aggressively pursuing M&A to secure long-term growth and competitive advantage. The latest blockbuster move comes from Merck, which has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Bio-Techne for an enterprise value of approximately $11.3 billion. This transaction is more than a simple expansion; it's a calculated maneuver to fortify Merck's leadership in high-growth areas like cell and gene therapy, proteomics, and diagnostics, signaling an intensified competitive environment for peers like Thermo Fisher Scientific and Danaher. A strategic bolt-on to cement leadership. Merck's acquisition of Bio-Techne is a clear reflection of its strategy to build an end-to-end offering for the biopharma industry through its Life Science business sector. While Merck already possesses a formidable portfolio, particularly in bioprocessing (the manufacturing of biologic drugs), the addition of Bio-Techne provides critical assets in the upstream research and discovery and quality control phases. * Strategic Rationale: The primary driver for this deal is the complementary nature of the two portfolios. Bio-Techne is a market leader in high-quality proteins, antibodies, and immunoassays - essential, high-margin consumables used extensively in academic research, drug discovery, and clinical diagnostics. These products fit seamlessly into Merck's existing research solutions business, creating significant cross-selling opportunities. By integrating Bio-Techne's reagent and small instrument capabilities, Merck can offer its customers a more comprehensive workflow solution, from initial discovery to final manufacturing. * Valuation Context: The US$73 per share cash offer, representing an $11.3 billion enterprise value, reflects the high strategic value placed on premium life science assets. Companies like Bio-Techne are highly attractive due to their strong brand recognition, intellectual property, and "razor-and-blade" business model, which generates predictable, recurring revenue from consumables. While the implied valuation multiple is substantial, it is in line with recent transactions in the sector, where acquirers are willing to pay a premium for assets that offer both market leadership and exposure to the fastest-growing segments of healthcare innovation. * Market Positioning: This deal significantly strengthens Merck's position as one of the top-tier suppliers to the global life science industry. It narrows the gap with larger, more diversified competitors and enhances Merck's "one-stop-shop" appeal. For large pharmaceutical and emerging biotech clients, the ability to source a wider range of critical reagents and instruments from a single, trusted partner simplifies procurement and can de-risk their supply chains - a crucial consideration in the post-pandemic era. Reshaping the competitive landscape. Merck's move is set to send ripples across the life science tools sector, forcing competitors to reassess their own strategic positions. The industry has long been characterized by a race for scale, and this acquisition raises the stakes considerably. For decades, the market has been dominated by a handful of large consolidators. This transaction reaffirms that aggressive M&A remains the primary tool for growth and market share capture. Competitors will now face a more formidable Merck, armed with a deeper portfolio in proteomics and diagnostics. This will likely spur further consolidation as other players look to fill gaps in their own offerings or acquire new technologies to stay competitive. The acquisition particularly amplifies Merck's capabilities in the burgeoning cell and gene therapy (CGT) space. Bio-Techne provides critical analytical and quality control tools used to characterize and release these complex therapies. By combining these with its own viral vector manufacturing solutions, Merck can offer a more integrated and compelling value proposition to CGT developers, a market segment poised for exponential growth. This strategic depth will be difficult for smaller, more specialized players to replicate. The path forward. The successful integration of Bio-Techne will be the immediate focus for Merck's leadership. Capturing the promised revenue and cost synergies will require a deft hand in merging distinct corporate cultures and aligning complex product roadmaps and sales channels. However, the strategic logic underpinning the deal appears sound and compelling. This acquisition is a bold statement of intent from Merck. It underscores a commitment to leading the life science tools market not just in established areas like bioprocessing but across the entire research and development continuum. For the industry at large, it signals that the era of transformative M&A is far from over. As the pace of biomedical innovation continues to accelerate, the race to supply the scientists and manufacturers on the front lines will only grow more intense. Analyze your own CIM. Upload a CIM and get financials, risks, and valuation in seconds.