Gloucester Pharmaceuticals

Gloucester Pharmaceuticals was a Cambridge-based biotechnology company specializing in the development of therapies for rare and debilitating blood cancers. The company's primary asset was Istodax (romidepsin), a novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that was approved by the FDA in 2009 for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Gloucester operated on a business model of acquiring clinical-stage oncology candidates and advancing them through the regulatory process. In early 2010, the company was acquired by Celgene Corporation for an upfront payment of $340 million and potential milestones totaling $640 million. Following Celgene's acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2019, Gloucester's products and legacy are now part of the BMS oncology portfolio.