Archemix Merger with NitroMed Falls Through

Archemix Corp., a Cambridge, Mass.-based developer of aptamer-based therapeutics, has lost its bid to go public via a reverse merger with NitroMed Inc. (Nasdaq: NTMD), after NitroMed accepted a richer offer from Deerfield Management. Archemix received a $1.5 milion termination fee.

Archemix has raised around $135 million in VC funding from firms like Atlas Venture (13.9% stake), Prospect Venture Partners (13.9%), Highland Capital Parnters (13.2%), SV Life Sciences (11.6%), KGaA (11.3%), Rho Ventures (9.6%) and Care Capital (5.3%).