Boston's Decibel Moves Into Fenway Neighborhood With New HQ

State-of-the-art lab marks milestone for The Fenway’s burgeoning health innovation hub

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Decibel Therapeutics, a company focused on discovering and developing new medicines to protect, repair and restore hearing, today moved into its new headquarters and lab space in Samuels & Associates’ Van Ness mixed-use development at 1325 Boylston St., bringing 50 biotechnology jobs to Boston. The first biotech company to move into the area, Decibel joins a burgeoning health and technology hub, heralding a broader shift in The Fenway’s transformation.

“We’re very excited to be one of the first big idea biotech companies to move to The Fenway and bring innovative, meaningful businesses to the city of Boston”

“Decibel has established the world’s first integrated platform to industrialize the research needed to discover, develop and deliver therapeutics for hearing,” said Steve Holtzman, president and chief executive officer of Decibel Therapeutics. “Our new headquarters in The Fenway will enable us to bring our capabilities under one roof and sustain the cross-disciplinary exchange needed to conduct breakthrough science, while supporting our growth. We are also pleased to be a pioneer in The Fenway; hearing loss is more than a medical condition—the ability to hear the crack of a bat at a ball game or enjoy a great concert are emblematic of the contribution that hearing brings to the human experience.”

Decibel’s 32,000-square-foot facility in Van Ness features state-of-the-art laboratory space and work environments designed to foster collaboration across disciplines. The highly integrated environment will enable Decibel to scale its operations, build internal scientific capabilities and move programs into clinical development.

Decibel was launched in October 2015 by Third Rock Ventures, a leading healthcare venture firm focused on disruptive areas of science and medicine to discover, launch and build companies that make a dramatic difference in people’s lives.

“We’re very excited to be one of the first big idea biotech companies to move to The Fenway and bring innovative, meaningful businesses to the city of Boston,” said Kevin Starr, chairman of Decibel Therapeutics and partner at Third Rock Ventures. “Third Rock’s home has always been in Boston, and we see The Fenway as the next frontier to create an ecosystem of people and companies focused on groundbreaking science and making a difference for patients.”

“Decibel’s headquarters and lab really mark a tipping point for health innovation companies falling in love with The Fenway,” said Peter Sougarides, principal, Samuels & Associates. “From PULSE@MassChallenge to Optum and now Decibel, companies of all sizes are drawn to our flexible spaces, proximity to the Longwood Medical Area and downtown, and amenities from parks to hot restaurants right outside the office.”

Van Ness, which opened in summer 2015, consists of a residential tower and an office tower – built on spec and fully leased as of summer 2016 – both atop a 165,000-square-foot retail base with a variety of shops and restaurants.

About Decibel Therapeutics
Decibel Therapeutics seeks to create a world in which the benefits and joys of hearing are available to all by discovering and developing new therapies to protect, repair, and restore hearing. Founded by the world’s preeminent experts in hearing research, Decibel Therapeutics was launched in 2015 by Third Rock Ventures and is headquartered in Boston, MA. For more information, please visit www.decibeltx.com.

About Samuels & Associates
Samuels & Associates, headquartered in Boston, has been building communities for more than two decades. Pioneers in development, leasing and merchandising, and property management, the Samuels & Associates team specializes in creating mixed-use development projects with active pedestrian spaces, flexible and inspiring commercial spaces, and dynamic combinations of retailers and restaurateurs. Samuels & Associates is guided by the belief that people should live, work, shop and play in dynamic communities that inspire and enrich all aspects of their lives.