Energesis Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of drugs to treat obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic diseases. The company’s novel approach seeks to increase energy expenditure, the first to specifically target the expenditure rather than the intake side of the weight maintenance equation. The Energesis platform will lead to the development of therapeutics with remarkable efficacy against obesity. More information about the company is available at www.energesispharma.com.
“Congratulations to Energesis Pharmaceuticals on their selection as a MassChallenge award winner,” said Susan Windham-Bannister, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Science Center. “Innovation is what makes our life sciences Supercluster in Massachusetts strong, and this terrific young company is poised to make important contributions to our economy and to patient care. We look forward to partnering with Energesis Pharmaceuticals as they put down roots and grow in Massachusetts.”
“MassChallenge is an efficient and effective form of stimulus and is an ideal means for Massachusetts and America to harness and showcase the expertise and collaborative strength of our universities, investors, lawyers, entrepreneurs and businesses – after all, we’ve been providing revolutionary ideas since 1776,” said John Harthorne, Founder & CEO of MassChallenge.
“We’re extremely pleased to have been selected as one of the winners of the MassChallenge competition,” said Brian Freeman, M.D., COO & co-founder of Energesis Pharmaceuticals. “The competition was full of very exciting companies, and we feel very fortunate to have what we’re doing validated in this way. We look forward to continuing to develop our company both in and in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
An initial group of 440 entrants from 26 countries and 24 states began the competition in April. An initial round of judging reduced the group to 300 semi-finalists, who then completed in-person pitches to a large group of professional judges. This pool of semi-finalists was reduced to 111 finalists, and the 16 winners were announced last week.
The selection of a life sciences company as a MassChallenge winner complements the impact of the State’s ten-year, $1 billion Life Sciences Initiative, signed into law in June of 2008 by Governor Deval Patrick. The Life Sciences Center was a $100,000 sponsor of the MassChallenge competition.
About the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is a quasi-public agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tasked with implementing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Act, a ten-year, $1 billion initiative that was signed into law in June of 2008. The Center’s mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. This work includes making financial investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life sciences research, development and commercialization as well as building ties between sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community. For more information, visit www.masslifesciences.com.
About MassChallenge
Launched in April 2010, MassChallenge is a global startup competition and accelerator to catalyze the launch and success of high-growth, high-impact new businesses that will create thousands of new jobs. Open to any startup and any idea in the world, MassChallenge provides the necessary tools for creation and innovation. The competition is an efficient and effective form of stimulus and is an ideal means for Massachusetts and America to harness and showcase the expertise and collaborative strength of our universities, investors, lawyers, entrepreneurs and businesses. For more information, visit www.masschallenge.org.
