Kaleido Biosciences: The Opportunity That Pulled Michael Bonney Out Of Retirement

By Rob Wright, Chief Editor, Life Science Leader
Follow Me On Twitter @RfwrightLSL

$9.5 BILLION!
That was the total purchase price for Cubist Pharmaceuticals — the last company headed up by Michael Bonney. His leadership may have garnered praise, accolades, and recognition, but the culmination of his efforts (i.e., the 2015 acquisition of Cubist by Merck) also netted him early retirement. This is why we interviewed Bonney last spring for the 2017 July feature involving six “retired” biopharmaceutical CEOs. And while he was technically retired at the time (though still serving on a number of corporate boards), I could tell that if the right opportunity came along, the former chief executive wouldn’t likely stay retired.

Enter Kaleido Biosciences, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on unlocking the power of the microbiome. Founded in 2015, the company was born out of Flagship VentureLabs. At only a few years young, Kaleido has already conducted more than 10 clinical studies, filed more than 100 patents, and raised $65 million through Series A and B rounds, while having spent only about $35 million. Ever wonder what it’s like for a highly successful executive, accustomed to working at companies valued in the billions, to start back near the bottom? We did, and that’s where this story begins.