Third Rock biotech startups find work-share partner in Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics' Robert Blum.

There's a line of thought in the cash-sucking biotech world that once a small company gets a drug into the clinic -- especially if investors want to accelerate their return -- that it winds down research operations. Robert Blum doesn't buy it. Instead, the president and CEO ofCytokinetics Inc. (NASDAQ: CYTK) has discovered a way to help pay for his research staff while awaiting the results of a handful of clinical trials: Rent out their expertise.

Startup heart drug developer MyoKardia lands $38M Third Rock investment

James Spudich.

Third Rock Ventures is backing an all-star lineup of cardiovascular researchers with a $38 million Series A round to discover and develop drugs aimed at key genetic heart mutations. MyoKardia Inc., which will operate from South San Francisco lab space next to fellow Third Rock startup Global Blood Therapeutics Inc., is aimed at a putting together pipeline of small-molecule drugs that initially will treat hypertrophic anddilated cardiomyopathy.