Decibel to Open its State-of-the-art Facilities in Van Ness in Early 2017

Cambridge and Boston, Mass., August 4, 2016 – Decibel Therapeutics, a company focused on discovering and developing new medicines to protect, repair and restore hearing, and Samuels & Associates, a commercial real estate developer and owner, today announced that the companies have entered into a lease agreement for Decibel’s new headquarters in Van Ness, located at 1325 Boylston Street in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. The 32,000 square-feet (SF) of office and laboratory space, which is expected to open in early 2017, will support the company’s continued rapid growth.

“We’re very excited to be the first biotech company to move to The Fenway and join other meaningful businesses in the city of Boston,” said Steven Holtzman, president and chief executive officer, Decibel Therapeutics. “By establishing Decibel in The Fenway, we have the opportunity to enhance an ecosystem focused on innovation and making a difference. We believe this facility provides the foundation Decibel needs to cultivate our culture, expand our team and build a scientific platform to pioneer the development of new therapies for the millions of people with hearing disorders.”

Decibel’s facility in Van Ness will feature state-of-the-art laboratory space and offices designed to foster collaboration among its employees. The unique environment will enable Decibel to scale its operations, build internal scientific capabilities and move programs into clinical development. Decibel was launched in October 2015 with a $52 million Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures with participation from SR One.

“Decibel Therapeutics is a great fit for our city’s biotechnology and health innovation community, and we are proud to welcome them to Boston,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Decibel’s work in developing new medicines to protect and restore hearing will have a huge impact on the lives of affected people, and we are excited for their continued success as they expand in Boston.”

“The Fenway’s explosive growth over the last year has truly made it a hub for health innovation in Boston, and the integration of biotechnology companies creates a great synergy with existing and new healthcare companies that have relocated to the area,” said Peter Sougarides, principal, Samuels & Associates. “We are seeing a real shift as dynamic companies like Decibel realize that the advantages of setting up shop in The Fenway extend far beyond the office space itself.” Van Ness, which opened in summer 2015, includes one tower with 232,000 SF of commercial office space and one residential tower, both atop a 165,000 SF retail base with a variety of shops and restaurants.

About Decibel Therapeutics

Decibel Therapeutics is a hearing company focused on discovering and developing new therapies to protect, repair and restore hearing. By combining recent innovations in hearing science with leading diagnostic tools, biological insights, modeling and therapeutic delivery techniques, Decibel is pioneering a comprehensive approach to define the underlying biological causes of hearing loss and develop a pipeline of breakthrough therapies targeted to specific indications and populations. Founded by the world’s preeminent experts in hearing loss, Decibel Therapeutics was launched in 2015 by Third Rock Ventures and is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, please visit www.decibeltx.com.

About Samuels & Associates

Samuels & Associates, headquartered in Boston, has been building communities for more than two decades. Pioneers in development, leasing and merchandising, and property management, the Samuels & Associates team specializes in creating mixed-use development projects with active pedestrian spaces, flexible and inspiring commercial spaces, and dynamic combinations of retailers and restaurateurs. Samuels & Associates is guided by the belief that people should live, work, shop and play in dynamic communities that inspire and enrich all aspects of their lives.

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Decibel Media Contact:

Katie Engleman, Pure Communications, Inc.
910-509-3977
katie@purecommunicationsinc.com

Samuels & Associates Media Contact:

Kate Haranis, Denterlein
617-482-0042
kharanis@denterlein.com