When GlycoMimetics Inc. announced a license agreement with Pfizer three years ago, the decision seemed like a no-brainer. This deal, which surrounded the sickle cell drug candidate GMI-1070, was worth up to $340 million, after all. The Gaithersburg company seemed to be in an enviable spot, while some of its Maryland counterparts struggled.
Behind the scenes, the decision to partner with big pharma didn't come easy. CEO Rachel King, speaking this morning at a Tech Council of Maryland panel in Bethesda, recounted the calculus behind the move.