Forma Therapeutics Snags Former Founding Member of MRL's Boston Hub

I don't know him personally, but I have known of him, by reputation -- for several years. And his reputation is well beyond excellent.

Forma has scored a coup here -- and Merck's Boston hub strategy now has a noticeable snag in the tapestry.

From the Forma Therapeutics presser, then, of earlier tonight:

. . . .FORMA Therapeutics announced today that Christopher Dinsmore, Ph.D., has been appointed to the position of Vice President, Medicinal and Computational Chemistry. Dr. Dinsmore joins FORMA after a distinguished 19 year career at Merck & Co. Inc., where he helped build the Merck Research Laboratory in Boston.

“Chris is an experienced chemist and team leader with a broad background in the identification and development of therapeutics for oncology and cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis,” said Kenneth W. Bair, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development at FORMA Therapeutics. “As a founding member of Merck’s Boston site, he helped build highly integrated and collaborative new approaches to discovery research, which is precisely what FORMA strives to accomplish.”

“It is with enthusiasm that I join FORMA’s dynamic team, who are focused on innovative science and pioneering chemistry across extensive panels of protein target families,” said Chris Dinsmore. “I look forward to applying my expertise in medicinal chemistry to FORMA’s programs across several exciting areas of disease biology, as compounds advance toward optimization and clinical trials. . . .”

I am sure Merck eventually be just fine in Boston, but it should be looking now, to restock its talented bench. Guys like Dr. Dinsmore don't come along every darn day.