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THE EDISON OF MEDICINE

Real-World Results

SINCE 1987 BOB LANGER and his researchers have helped found 40 compa-
nies, often in collaboration with scientists in other labs at MIT and at other
institutions. To date all but one have made it. A sampling is below.

Company: Enzytech (acquired by Alkermes)
Year launched: 1987
Products/technology: Microspheres for delivering drugs
Existing or potential applications: Schizophrenia, narcotic addiction, type 2 diabetes
Market capitalization: $7.2 billion (Alkermes)

Company: Moderna
Year launched: 2011
Products/technology: Messenger-RNA-based drugs
Existing or potential applications: Cancer, heart disease, vaccines, infectious
diseases, pulmonary disease
Market capitalization: $5 billion

Company: Momenta
Year launched: 2001
Products/technology: Sequencing complex sugar-based therapeutics
Existing or potential applications: Multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune
diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer
Market capitalization: $840 million
Company: Advanced Inhalation Research (acquired by Acorda)
Year launched: 1997
Products/technology: Drug-delivering aerosols that rely on large particles, which
resist clumping
Existing or potential applications: Diabetes, asthma, Parkinson’s disease
Market capitalization: $525 million
Company: Selecta
Year launched: 2007
Products/technology: Targeted nanoparticle-based immunotherapies and vaccines
Existing or potential applications: Gout, genetic disorders, allergies, autoimmune
diseases, HPV-associated cancers, nicotine addiction, malaria
Market capitalization: $228 million

Sources: Robert Langer, Polaris Partners, public information.
Note: Market capitalizations are as of mid-September 2016 or acquisition date. The value of
private companies is based on VC financing.

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