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Forma To Play To Its Strengths WIth Genentech Deal

Forma Therapeutics Inc.'s licensing agreement with Genentech Inc., announced June 27, is a creative twist on option-style dealmaking that could bring returns to the start-up's venture investors while skirting the traditional exit routes of acquisition and public offering. The deal illustrates one path highly innovative platform-focused biotechs could take when they are trying to satisfy the demands of venture backers while remaining focused on their strengths in early stage drug discovery.

Forma Therapeutics Holdings LLC's licensing agreement with Roche's Genentech Inc., announced June 27, is a creative twist on option-style dealmaking that could bring returns to the start-up's venture investors while skirting the traditional exit routes of acquisition and public offering. [See Deal] The deal illustrates one path highly innovative platform-focused biotechs could take when they are trying to satisfy the demands of venture backers while remaining focused on their strengths in early stage drug discovery.

In the arc of a platform biotech company's development, there often comes a point when the start-up must choose to...

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