Alkermes licenses Cambridge start-up's technology

By Robert Weisman, Globe Staff

Cambridge biotechnology company Alkermes Inc.today said it will invest $10 million to license the rights to a drug technology developed by Acceleron Pharma Inc., and also take an equity stake in the small Cambridge biotech.

In a filing with regulators, Alkermes, which makes drugs to treat alcoholism and other afflictions, said it was making a $2 million up-front payment and an additional $8 million investment in Acceleron, a venture-backed start-up developing treatments for musculoskeletel and metabolic diseases, as well as cancer.