Biotech Survival Index 2: Boston Life Sciences Companies Squirrel Away More Cash for Long Winter

Antigenics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AGEN]]). This Lexington, MA-based developer of an immune-boosting treatment for cancer, spent about $32 million on operations in 2008, and closed the year with $34 million left. The company cut one-fifth of its workforce in February, and eliminated cash bonuses and its 401k match program to conserve cash.

Ariad Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARIA]]). This Cambridge, MA-based developer of cancer drugs burned through $48.5 million in cash in 2008, and closed the year with $39.1 million. It says it is tightening its belt this year, expecting to spend $20 million to $24 million of its cash in 2009. The company raised an additional $24.3 million from investors last month.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:AMAG]]). This Lexington, MA-based company is still awaiting word from the FDA on whether it can get approval to sell its treatment for anemia in patients with kidney disease. But it doesn’t appear in immediate jeopardy of running out of money. It reported a net loss of $71.6 million last year, and had $215 million in cash heading into 2009.

ArQule (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARQL]]). This Woburn, MA-based cancer drug developer reported a net loss of $50.8 million last year, but not to worry, it had socked away $206 million in cash and marketable securities at the end of December. That ought to be enough to run the company for three years, the company says.

Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: [[ticker:BIIB]]). The world’s largest maker of multiple sclerosis drugs, Cambridge, MA-based Biogen is seriously loading up for a rainy day, building its cash reserves up from $979 million at the end of 2007 to $1.34 billion at the end of 2008.

Boston Scientific (NYSE: [[ticker:BSX]]). The Natick, MA-based medical device maker has had it troubles, but cash isn’t one of them. It had a $1.64 billion stockpile heading into this year, compared with $1.45 billion a year ago.

Author: Luke Timmerman

Luke is an award-winning journalist specializing in life sciences. He has served as national biotechnology editor for Xconomy and national biotechnology reporter for Bloomberg News. Luke got started covering life sciences at The Seattle Times, where he was the lead reporter on an investigation of doctors who leaked confidential information about clinical trials to investors. The story won the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award and several other national prizes. Luke holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and during the 2005-2006 academic year, he was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT.