CAMBRIDGE, MA—Today, MassBio honored four life sciences companies and leaders with awards at the 2026 State of Possible Conference in Boston, Massachusetts:
- Biogen — Spirit of Massachusetts Award
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals — Scientific Impact of the Year Award
- Meta-Flux — Drive Startup of the Year
- Rep. Aaron Michlewitz — Industry Champion Award
“Massachusetts remains the global epicenter of the life sciences because of the people, companies, and leaders who show up every day and push the boundaries of what is possible,” said MassBio CEO and President Kendalle Burlin O’Connell. “This year’s award recipients embody the ‘Behind the Breakthrough’ spirit of our 2026 conference—whether it’s Biogen’s nearly five decades of commitment to our community, Alnylam’s revolutionary RNAi medicines reaching patients, Meta-Flux’s innovative approach to precision drug development, or Chairman Michlewitz’s tireless advocacy for our industry. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees.”
MassBio also presented the Henri A. Termeer Innovative Leadership Award to Noubar Afeyan, founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering. Now in its 18th year, the Termeer Award honors individuals who have contributed significantly to the growth and success of the life sciences industry in Massachusetts.
Spirit of Massachusetts Award — Biogen
The Spirit of Massachusetts Award is given to an organization that embodies Massachusetts’s history of innovation, collaboration, and leadership, and that demonstrates a commitment to advancing the local life sciences industry, growing its workforce, and giving back to the community.
This year’s recipient is Biogen. Biogen hasn’t just grown alongside Massachusetts biotech—it helped define what it means to be part of this community. Through nearly five decades of industry cycles, Biogen has remained steadfast in its commitment to Cambridge, staying home in Kendall Square with its new global headquarters and investing in local talent through deep partnerships. Biogen’s collaborative approach embodies the spirit of Massachusetts, building bridges with academic institutions like MIT and Harvard and supporting emerging biotechs. Biogen represents homegrown innovation that has scaled globally while staying rooted here, proving that loyalty to place and pioneering science can coexist and thrive together.
“Biogen’s story is inseparable from the story of Massachusetts innovation. For nearly fifty years, this community has fueled our science, our people, and our purpose. We are honored to receive the Spirit of Massachusetts Award and remain deeply committed to investing in the talent and partnerships that help us continue to make breakthroughs happen and ensure our state maintains its position as a global leader in life sciences,” said Christopher A. Viehbacher, President and Chief Executive Officer at Biogen.
Scientific Impact of the Year Award — Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
The Scientific Impact of the Year Award recognizes a company or individuals who have had a profound impact on a field of study, therapeutic area, or patient population through a scientific or commercial breakthrough.
This year’s recipient is Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, in recognition of its pioneering work in establishing RNA interference (RNAi) as a clinically validated therapeutic modality and translating this foundational science into multiple approved medicines. In 2025, two Alnylam-discovered medicines received FDA approvals: AMVUTTRA became the first RNAi therapeutic shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospitalizations, and urgent heart failure visits in patients with transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy, and Qfitlia—discovered by Alnylam and developed by Sanofi—became the first siRNA therapy for hemophilia A and B, demonstrating a 90% reduction in annualized bleeding rates.
“We’re honored to be recognized for our Nobel-prize winning RNAi science. The continuing success of the AMVUTTRA launch cements our position as the leader in not only discovering but delivering new RNAi treatments globally for patients who need them,” said Timothy Maines, Chief Technical Operations and Quality Officer, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.
Drive Startup of the Year — Meta-Flux
The Drive Startup of the Year award recognizes a company working to solve a significant challenge for patients through next-generation science while embodying the spirit of entrepreneurship in the life sciences community. Designed to support early-stage startups and academic founders, Drive leverages MassBio’s expansive network to accelerate the world’s most exciting up-and-coming science through industry-specific business expertise, dedicated mentors, and industry connections over an eight-week hybrid program.
Meta-Flux, a member of the Fall 2025 Drive cohort, has been recognized for its pioneering “biology-first” AI approach, which addresses one of drug development’s greatest challenges: ensuring that promising compounds reach the right patients. Since joining the Drive program, Meta-Flux has secured $2 million in seed funding backed by industry leaders and demonstrated real-world impact through pilot studies in oncology and neurology. Meta-Flux exemplifies the best of transatlantic innovation, bringing Irish ingenuity and scientific expertise to patients in Massachusetts and beyond.
“Behind every failed drug program are patients still waiting for better treatments. One of the hardest problems in drug development isn’t chemistry, it’s understanding biology well enough to make the right decisions early. Meta-Flux was founded on the idea that AI can help scientists model disease in ways that were impossible before, giving researchers better insight into which therapies are most likely to reach the patients who need them,” said Meta-Flux co-founder and CEO Lee Sherlock, an immunologist who launched the company with AI engineer Brendan Martin. “Being recognized by MassBio and the Drive program is a huge honor and reflects the growing momentum behind a new generation of biology-first, AI-driven drug discovery.”
Industry Champion Award — Rep. Aaron Michlewitz
The Industry Champion Award is given to an individual who has shown consistent support for the life sciences industry in Massachusetts over many years and delivered measurable results.
This year’s recipient is Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, Chairman of the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways & Means. Chairman Michlewitz served as the lead House negotiator for the Economic Development bill, which included the reauthorization of the Life Sciences Initiative with $500 million in capital funding to help sustain the Commonwealth’s life sciences economy. His steadfast advocacy, recognition of the industry’s importance to the state’s economy and public health, and tireless effort to get the Life Sciences Initiative across the finish line have been instrumental in securing these landmark investments and bringing therapies closer to patients in need.
“It is an honor and a privilege to accept the Industry Champion Award from such a respected organization. Supporting the Life Science industry is critically important to strengthening the Commonwealth economic outlook and making Massachusetts a leader not only in the industry but in the public health sector as well,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “I want to thank MassBio for honoring me with this award, as well as the entire industry for their steadfast commitment to the Commonwealth.”
Henri A. Termeer Innovative Leadership Award — Noubar Afeyan
Noubar Afeyan has built one of the most influential life sciences enterprises in history. Through Flagship Pioneering, he has conceived, created, and scaled more than 100 breakthrough companies that redefine what is possible in human health, sustainability, technology, and beyond. Among them is Moderna, the pioneering mRNA medicines company whose transformative platform addressed the global COVID-19 pandemic and continues to reshape the future of therapeutics. Flagship’s portfolio includes dozens of ventures that push the boundaries of science from their home base in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Holding more than 100 patents and drawing on more than three decades of experience at the intersection of science and entrepreneurship, Afeyan has created pathways for countless scientists and entrepreneurs to thrive. A passionate advocate for the contributions of immigrants to economic and scientific progress, he has championed the diverse perspectives that drive discovery forward—a commitment recognized by the Carnegie Corporation’s Great Immigrant honor, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Appeal of Conscience Award. Beyond industry, Afeyan has invested deeply in the next generation of innovators as a Lecturer at Harvard Business School and Senior Lecturer at MIT, where he taught technology-entrepreneurship and innovation for more than two decades.
“Noubar doesn’t just believe in breakthroughs — he builds the conditions that make them inevitable. That’s the spirit Henri Termeer embodied, and it’s exactly what this award recognizes,” added Burlin O’Connell.
“Massachusetts has built one of the most powerful innovation ecosystems in the world by bringing together bold science, entrepreneurial ambition, and a willingness to tackle problems others consider impossible. I’m honored to receive the Termeer Award and to be part of a community that continues to pioneer new ways to improve human health and create lasting impact for patients around the globe,” said Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., founder and CEO, Flagship Pioneering.
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About MassBio
MassBio is the driving force behind Massachusetts’ life sciences ecosystem, supporting innovation and industry growth by offering best-in-class resources to over 1,700 member organizations at all stages of the biopharma lifecycle. Founded in 1985, MassBio aspires to extend Massachusetts’ impact as the global center of excellence in biomedical breakthroughs. Through strategic cost-saving initiatives, robust business partnerships, educational and networking opportunities, and proactive advocacy, MassBio empowers its members to launch the next generation of medical advancements to deliver the cures and therapies that enhance patient lives.