Dispute over science — and biotech — turns ugly

(MIT)

Ram Sasisekharan, a professor of bioengineering at MIT, has developed algorithms to develop new therapies. He has also founded biotech companies, including Visterra, which was acquired by the Japanese drug maker Otsuka for $430 million last year. 

But now Sasisekharan's work is coming under scrutiny, following an analysis published earlier this week that asserted treatments based on his methods are almost identical to compounds previously described by other labs. Contacted by STAT, three of his peers said those allegations were convincing, while others expressed skepticism.

At stake in the fight: A scientist's prestige, not to mention some therapies in the pipeline.

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