Flagship’s Sail Biomedicines announces second round of layoffs in 2025
Sail Biomedicines, backed by Flagship Pioneering, executed its second round of layoffs in 2025, announcing the departure of about 36 employees to refocus on its immunology pipeline and program priorities12.
The company's sharpened focus is on its in vivo CAR-T cell therapy, which employs targeted nanoparticles and a circular RNA technology known as endless RNA (eRNA), alongside partnered programs and its broader programmable eRNA platform12.
A spokesperson said the organizational change is to align resources with the company’s next phase of growth and bring its lead immunology program closer to the clinic12.
This follows a previous round of layoffs in April 2025, when 12 employees were let go, reducing staffing from around 137 to approximately 125; the new July reduction brings the estimated headcount to just under 90 employees12.
None of Sail Biomedicines' programs have advanced into human trials as of July 20251.
The July 2025 headcount reduction was disclosed one day after the announced departure of Chief Strategy Officer Ryan Richardson2.
Sources:
1. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/flagship-pioneerings-sail-biomedicines-sends-staff-packing-second-time-year