NEW YORK, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Formation Bio, an AI-driven pharmaceutical company revolutionizing drug development, today announced that Mikael Dolsten, MD, PhD, former Chief Scientific Officer and President, Pfizer Research & Development, has joined the company as a strategic advisor. In his role, Dolsten will serve as Chair of the Drug Picking Committee, Co-Chair of the Investment Advisory Committee, and Chair of the Science, Technology, and Product Planning Committee.

Dolsten brings decades of experience in drug development and investment, having played a key role in Pfizer’s industry-leading R&D efforts, including the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine, the oral anti-viral drug Paxlovid, and many blockbuster therapies across a range of therapeutic areas. He concluded his tenure at Pfizer on March 1, 2025, after more than 15 years of leading the company’s R&D strategy, during which he oversaw the development and approval of more than 35 medicines and vaccines and moved over 100 drug candidates through clinical development, shaping global drug innovation at an unprecedented scale.

At Formation Bio, he will focus on leading asset selection and drug development strategy, leveraging his extensive global network to identify high-potential assets. More broadly, he will also provide strategic guidance on the company’s AI initiatives, advising on the development of its AI platform for asset search, evaluation, and deep research on drug targets to enhance decision-making and accelerate pipeline growth.

“The pharmaceutical industry is at an inflection point, where AI is shifting from an experimental tool to a core driver of efficiency and innovation in drug development,” said Mikael Dolsten. “I have seen firsthand how AI has transformed drug discovery, yet development remains a critical bottleneck. Formation Bio is leading the charge in applying AI to streamline and accelerate this process, creating a new paradigm for pharma. Their ability to integrate AI at every stage—from asset selection to clinical execution—positions them to fundamentally reshape the industry. I am excited to work alongside this exceptional team to help bring more innovative therapies to patients faster and more efficiently than ever before.”

Formation Bio seamlessly integrates AI across many facets of the drug development lifecycle—from asset sourcing and evaluation to clinical trial execution—aiming to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve success rates. Currently, Formation Bio’s pipeline includes four majority-owned assets, with a goal to expand to 10-15 assets over the next 3-5 years.

“Mikael is one of the most respected minds in pharmaceutical R&D, with a track record of shaping some of the most important drug advancements of our time,” said Ben Liu, Co-Founder & CEO of Formation Bio. “His scientific leadership, strategic vision, and ability to bridge cutting-edge research with real-world applications have made a lasting impact on the industry. His involvement with Formation Bio reflects his belief in the transformative power of AI in drug development, and we are incredibly fortunate to have his expertise on board.”

About Formation Bio: Formation Bio is an AI-native pharma company differentiated by radically more efficient drug development. Formation Bio has built technology and AI platforms, processes, and capabilities to accelerate all aspects of drug development and clinical trials. Formation Bio partners, acquires, or in-licenses drugs from pharma companies and biotechs to develop programs past clinical proof of concept and beyond, leveraging their proprietary tech and AI capabilities, ultimately helping to bring new medicines to patients. For more information, please visit www.formation.bio.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Formation Bio’s business prospects, pipeline development, and asset expansion plans. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs but are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Formation Bio undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

Media Contact:

Lily Mintz
lily@formation.bio

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SOURCE Formation Bio

Ravenquest Becomes the Most Streamed Web3 Game on Twitch and Surpasses Final Fantasy XIV as Number Four Ranked MMORPG Just One Hour After Launch

SYDNEY, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tavernlight Games is thrilled to announce the global launch of RavenQuest on Immutable, the next-generation MMORPG that is setting new benchmarks for Web3 gaming adoption. After three successful land sales all selling out in minutes, in the lead-up to its launch, RavenQuest has already achieved remarkable milestones, including over 8,200 concurrent viewers on Twitch within one hour of launch and securing a spot as one of the top four MMORPGs on the day of launch alongside World of Warcraft and RuneScape.

The game’s pre-launch success saw over one million unique viewers on Twitch. Mobile and PC cross-platform support has contributed to this massive influx of players, reinforcing RavenQuest’s status as the most-streamed Web3 game on the platform. These metrics have solidified RavenQuest’s place as the most-played Web3 MMORPG in the world, with player retention rates exceeding expectations and player-owned assets in high demand.

“The RavenQuest global launch has proved that there’s real demand for web3 games,” said Robbie Ferguson, Co-Founder and President of Immutable. “Streaming is a fundamental pillar of the mainstream gaming market, with 730 million hours of video games watched on Twitch in 2024. In just 1 hour after launch, RavenQuest became the 4th most streamed MMORPG on the site – that’s more viewers than Final Fantasy XIV. RavenQuest now holds the record as the most streamed web3 game in history, with over one million unique viewers and nearly double the hours streamed held by the previous record holder, ‘Off the Grid. ‘ When we see numbers like this, it’s really difficult not to get overexcited. We’re remaining calmly confident, but the takeaway from the launch is clear: RavenQuest is going to be big, and not just in web3.”

NFT trading volume surpassed $262,000 in the first 48 hours, making it one of the highest-grossing Web3 gaming launches. RavenQuest continues to attract major gaming influencers and creators, driving organic adoption across the Web3 space. Notable partnerships include Tempest Guild, which has committed as a major alliance partner, alongside five additional guild partnerships announced on March 15.

RavenQuest’s launch success is also a direct success story of Immutable’s market-leading distribution and user acquisition capabilities.

Highlights from the first week of the Global Release:

77,445 total players and unique logins1,648,910 total viewsDappRadar ranking: 41.82K Unique Active WalletsAverage session length (active users): 3 hours and 47 minutes—more than double the industry averageHigh player retention: Players who started with 10 hours of gameplay are now averaging 7.83 hours per day493,000 hours watched on Twitch, with a peak of 9,292 concurrent viewers$349,895 in NFT collection volume, surpassing the combined volume of the top 50 collections on competing gaming chains1,749,917 in-game marketplace transactionsOver 21,000 real new Discord members in one week

As user acquisition remains the biggest challenge in Web3 gaming, studios are leveraging Immutable’s full-stack solution to optimize for growth. This is achieved through Immutable’s comprehensive suite of tools, including questing incentives and influencer activation, all designed specifically for gaming success.

RavenQuest’s success further cements Immutable as the number one gaming blockchain optimized for user acquisition. With over six years of dedicated focus on gaming, more than 500 games signed, and nearly five million Passport signups, Immutable has built the most sophisticated ecosystem for game developers, offering seamless infrastructure and unrivaled distribution channels. Unlike general-purpose chains, Immutable was built for gaming from day one, leading the industry with the highest monthly active users and a fully integrated ecosystem designed to maximize player growth and retention.

As the “fastest-growing Web3 gaming ecosystem” per (Game7), Immutable is providing the infrastructure that powers games like RavenQuest. With over 2 million monthly active users, $2.5 billion in trading volume, and a robust tech stack, including its zkEVM, Immutable is at the forefront of the next generation of gaming.

About Immutable

Immutable is a global leader in gaming on a mission to bring digital ownership to every player by making it safe and easy to build great Web3 games. Immutable’s gaming platform has onboarded over 500 well-funded games and is poised to become the fastest-growing ecosystem of 2025. Immutable has raised over $300 million from leading global investors, including Temasek, Tencent, Bitkraft, King River Capital, and Galaxy.

The Immutable gaming platform makes it easy for game studios and independent developers to safely and confidently build and launch successful games on Ethereum without sacrificing player experience. Immutable delivers the first zero-knowledge (zk) scaling solution to the Ethereum community, Immutable zkEVM.

Join the Immutable community on Discord, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram and Youtube

About RavenQuest

RavenQuest is an immersive, next-generation MMORPG developed by Tavernlight Games, designed to redefine the Web3 gaming experience. Set in a vast, open-world fantasy realm, RavenQuest combines the thrill of exploration, combat, and player-driven economies with the innovative technology of blockchain and digital ownership.

The game builds on the success of its Web2 predecessor, RavenDawn, by incorporating cutting-edge Web3 features that allow players to truly own in-game assets, including land, items, and currencies. Through its play-to-own model, RavenQuest offers players unprecedented freedom, empowering them to trade, sell, and interact with their digital assets in ways never before possible.

Play RavenQuest https://ravenquest.io/en/

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SOURCE Immutable

CIRI, E2MC, and Stellar Ventures will invest in six startups for projects leveraging the ISS National Lab

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory is taking a giant leap in fostering new space innovators with the launch of the Orbital Edge Accelerator program. This bold initiative is designed to integrate cutting-edge startups and investment partners into the rapidly expanding space economy. Through the accelerator, six pioneering startups will be selected to receive an investment of up to $500,000 each—which is being provided by global investors Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC, and Stellar Ventures—along with mentorship and the opportunity to launch an ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation. By bridging the gap between early-stage companies and space-based innovation, the Orbital Edge Accelerator program aims to unlock discoveries that can benefit humanity and drive new commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. 

Engaging the startup community is a strategic priority for the ISS National Lab. Having access to the unique space environment allows entrepreneurs to push the boundaries of science and technology, develop novel products, and build new businesses. Over the years, dozens of startups have been awarded flight opportunities through the ISS National Lab to advance R&D in diverse areas, from communications and remote sensing to advanced materials and biotechnology. The impact of conducting research through the ISS National Lab is notable, as startups awarded flight projects have cumulatively raised nearly $2.4 billion in funding postflight, demonstrating the value of space-based R&D in accelerating commercialization. With the launch of the Orbital Edge Accelerator, the ISS National Lab aims to build on this momentum and fuel the next wave of innovators that will shape the future space economy. 

To deliver the accelerator program, the ISS National Lab is working with TechConnect, which has more than 25 years of expertise connecting innovators with high-value commercialization opportunities. In the coming months, representatives from the ISS National Lab, CIRI, E2MC, Stellar Ventures, and TechConnect will meet with interested startups at conferences and networking sessions to highlight the accelerator and discuss how space-based R&D can lead to innovation not possible on Earth. Additionally, AWS will serve as corporate partner for the Orbital Edge Accelerator program, providing their extensive expertise and reach toward scouting and mentoring the inaugural cohort of startups.

TechConnect will host an informational webinar on April 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EDT providing additional details on the scope of this opportunity and the advantages of utilizing the orbiting laboratory. To register, please visit the webinar registration page. TechConnect will also host two office hours for potential respondents to ask questions about the accelerator program. Learn more about these opportunities on the accelerator webpage.

Startups interested in the Orbital Edge Accelerator program will need to submit an application by 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2025. Once the application window closes, the ISS National Lab and investment partners will evaluate each submission and select up to 20 finalists to pitch in a virtual setting. From there, reviewers will invite six startups to join the Orbital Edge Accelerator cohort. Each startup will receive a $500,000 investment and the opportunity to submit an official proposal to utilize the ISS National Lab in a future spaceflight mission. 

The six selected startups will be joining attendees at the 14th annual ISS Research and Development Conference in Seattle July 28-31, 2025. To learn more about the accelerator program, networking events, and application process, visit the Orbital Edge Accelerator webpage.

Download an image for this release: Orbital Edge Accelerator

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS®) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.

About CIRI:
Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) is a dynamic and forward-focused Alaska Native regional corporation, recognized as one of 12 land-based corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Since its incorporation on June 8, 1972, CIRI has expanded beyond its Southcentral Alaska roots—where its regional boundaries align with the traditional Dena’ina homeland—to become a global enterprise. Today, CIRI operates in 45 states and seven countries, driving growth, innovation, and opportunity for its more than 9,500 Shareholders who reside in Alaska and around the world. 

About E2MC:
E2MC (Earth-to-Mars Capital) is a pioneering venture capital firm dedicated to advancing the space economy by financing early-stage space-related startups globally. Our leadership team not only has a combined over 100 years’ of space experience, but is also comprised of former entrepreneurs, and has extensive institutional investment experience. We leverage our specialized expertise and extensive global network to provide tangible support for our portfolio companies (over 20 so far). E2MC’s mission, “From Earth into Space, for Earth,” underscores our dedication to paving the way for humanity’s expansion into space, and to harnessing space technology for global advancement and development. We are based in Arlington, VA.

About Stellar Ventures:
Stellar Ventures is a woman-led venture capital firm founded by aerospace industry leader Celeste Ford to back the next generation of space entrepreneurs. The firm invests in early-stage, mission-driven space technology companies and brings unmatched technical depth and industry connections to help founders build the world-changing businesses of tomorrow.

About TechConnect:
With 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world, coupled with the nation’s largest funder of innovation through its parent company, Advanced Technology International. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and accelerators. Each year, TechConnect scouts, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients techconnect.org.

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SOURCE International Space Station National Lab