Bayer-owned BlueRock cuts staff and shift strategy

BlueRock Therapeutics, owned by Bayer, is laying off 50 employees and shutting down its Cambridge, MA research labs to concentrate on its most promising neurology and ophthalmology programs.

Backstory: Founded in 2016 and acquired by Bayer in 2019, BlueRock specializes in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapies. In early 2025, its Parkinson’s candidate, bemdaneprocel, entered Phase 3 trials—the first such trial for an allogeneic cell therapy in this disease. It also recently launched clinical testing of OpCT-001 for photoreceptor diseases.

Why it matters: The move signals a sharp strategic pivot as BlueRock focuses resources on late-stage therapies like bemdaneprocel for Parkinson’s and OpCT-001 for vision loss—potential breakthrough treatments in the cell therapy space.

Big picture: This is BlueRock's second round of layoffs in recent years; the first occurred in 2023 when it also reduced staff and narrowed its focus. The changes reflect broader pressures in the biotech sector, where companies must balance cutting costs with progressing high-impact therapies. Bayer, BlueRock’s parent, is also undergoing major restructuring, contributing to this shift in priorities.

The cut in details: Programs in cardiology and immunology are being wound down, but BlueRock will continue to invest in its preclinical platforms, including neuron progenitors and immune-evasive cell therapies.