2024: A biotech space odyssey

My son is off to his third year of college — his first sans Caitlin Clark — and my wife is visiting family, so I've got the house to myself for this don't-say-it's-almost-the-end-of-summer edition of the newsletter.

Maybe it's the freedom of few distractions — despite the street sweeper and the Grateful Dead tourists in the neighborhood — or maybe it's my dog-days laziness, but there are a few of my own stories in this edition. Take note, though: American City Business Journals has papers from coast-to-coast, including life sciences hubs like SF, Boston, RTP, Seattle, Houston, Minneapolis, St. Louis and more.

Enough of a company-wide plug? OK, read on …

Space glut hits biotech's birthplace

There may be no more stunning place than South San Francisco to view biotech's boom and bust. Read more

Bonus read from our national desk: Life sciences vacancy rate ticks up as new supply outweighs demand

How a group of Girl Scout moms became a force in Lyme disease research

Now the group is trying to figure out ways to translate research into commercially viable drugs as companies fight for funding. Read more

Inside Lilly's newly opened Fort Point R&D center

The 12-story building was developed by Alexandria Real Estate Equities. Read more from the Boston Business Journal's Hannah Green

FDA delays decision on Humacyte’s bioengineered human vessels

The additional review period could take months. Read more from Triangle Business Journal's Zac Ezzone

Inside the deal: How Pavella Therapeutics plans to go public through reverse merger with Boston pharma company

Pieris was already exploring strategic options for the company and had begun discussions with a potential partner. Read more from the Philadelphia Business Journal's John George

Drug maker to cut 75% of jobs after FDA rejects ecstasy-like treatment for PTSD

The FDA’s rejection of the MDMA-assisted therapy could be a big blow to the movement of liberalizing medical use of potent psychedelics. Read more

Workers at Cambridge biotech are heading to Nestlé on sale of microbiome pill

Onetime partners worked out deal to sell the rights to the microbiome drug Vowst. Read more from the Boston Business Journal's Hannah Green

Genentech breaks up cancer immunology band, VP to leave after 17 years

The changes will lead to a “limited number” of job cuts, the company says. Read more