Cambridge, MA-based Constellation Pharmaceuticals said today it has raised $15 million in a Series B extension from its existing investors, including Third Rock Ventures, The Column Group, Venrock Associates, SR One, and Altitude Life Science Ventures. Constellation, whose Series B now totals $37 million (after a $32 million A round in 2008-09) is working to develop drugs for treating cancer, inflammatory and immunologic disorders, and other diseases. The company’s technology is based on epigenetics, the study of molecular changes in cells that can turn certain genes on and off without changing the underlying DNA code. Constellation is led by CEO Mark Goldsmith, who spoke with Xconomy back in 2009 after taking over from founding CEO Mark Levin, the former Millennium Pharmaceuticals boss and co-founder of Third Rock.
Author: Gregory T. Huang
Greg is a veteran journalist who has covered a wide range of science, technology, and business. As former editor in chief, he overaw daily news, features, and events across Xconomy's national network. Before joining Xconomy, he was a features editor at New Scientist magazine, where he edited and wrote articles on physics, technology, and neuroscience. Previously he was senior writer at Technology Review, where he reported on emerging technologies, R&D, and advances in computing, robotics, and applied physics. His writing has also appeared in Wired, Nature, and The Atlantic Monthly’s website. He was named a New York Times professional fellow in 2003.
Greg is the co-author of Guanxi (Simon & Schuster, 2006), about Microsoft in China and the global competition for talent and technology. Before becoming a journalist, he did research at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab. He has published 20 papers in scientific journals and conferences and spoken on innovation at Adobe, Amazon, eBay, Google, HP, Microsoft, Yahoo, and other organizations. He has a Master’s and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
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