Anchor Line Partners Supports Stoke Therapeutics' Growth by Securing a 98,500 Square-Foot Lease in Waltham, MA

Rhea-AI Summary

Stoke Therapeutics (NASDAQ: STOK) signed a long-term lease for a 98,500 square-foot headquarters at 245 Fifth Avenue in Waltham, MA, with occupancy planned after its Bedford lease ends in late 2026. The site is lab-ready and certified LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum, and Anchor Line Partners and Northwood Investors secured the transaction. Stoke discovered its lead investigational medicine, zorevunersen (developed with Biogen), in Bedford and has advanced it into late-stage development for Dravet syndrome. Management says the move aims to support commercialization preparation and expanded research using Stoke’s RNA platform. Cushman & Wakefield represented Stoke in the lease.

The lease was noted as one of the largest Greater Boston life sciences transactions in the past year and emphasizes Waltham’s connectivity to Route 128/I-95, I-90 and Route 2.

Positive

• Leased 98,500 sq ft headquarters supporting scale-up and consolidation
• Move timed for post-late 2026 occupancy to align with Bedford lease end
• Facility is lab-ready with LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum certifications
• Lease described as one of the largest Greater Boston life sciences deals in the past year

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Headquarters size: 98,500 square feet Bedford HQ start: 2015

2 metrics

Headquarters size 98,500 square feet New Waltham, MA headquarters lease

Bedford HQ start 2015 Year Stoke established first Bedford headquarters

Market Reality Check

Price: $29.51 Vol: Volume 454,118 is 0.61x t...

low vol

$29.51 Last Close

Volume Volume 454,118 is 0.61x the 20-day average of 749,009, suggesting muted trading interest before this news. low

Technical Shares at $29.25 are trading above the 200-day MA of $20.34 and 24.4% below the 52-week high of $38.693.

Peers on Argus

STOK was down 0.71% while notable peers showed mixed moves: AMLX (-3.78%), NTLA ...

1 Up

STOK was down 0.71% while notable peers showed mixed moves: AMLX (-3.78%), NTLA (-2.99%), WVE (-0.6%), PGEN (+1.06%), RCUS (+2.18%). Momentum scanner only flagged NVAX up ~4%, so pre‑news trading pointed to stock‑specific rather than sector‑wide drivers.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 16 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 16	Inducement grants	Neutral	+0.1%	Stock options for nine new employees totaling 74,020 shares at $29.28.
Jan 06	Conference appearance	Positive	+8.2%	CEO presentation at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
Dec 16	Inducement grants	Neutral	+1.9%	New-hire options totaling 131,280 shares with four-year vesting.
Dec 01	Clinical data update	Positive	-2.6%	New Phase 1/2a and OLE zorevunersen data at epilepsy meeting.
Nov 18	Inducement grants	Neutral	-1.5%	Inducement options for SVP and employees under 2023 Inducement Plan.

Pattern Detected

Recent news has mostly produced modest, aligned price reactions, with one divergence on a clinically focused conference update.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Stoke’s news flow has included multiple inducement option grants, conference participation, and clinical data presentations. Inducement grant announcements on Nov 18, 2025, Dec 16, 2025, and Jan 16, 2026 led to small moves within a few percent. A J.P. Morgan conference appearance on Jan 6, 2026 coincided with a stronger +8.2% reaction. By contrast, detailed zorevunersen data presentations announced on Dec 1, 2025 saw a -2.65% move, showing that even clinically important updates have not always been rewarded immediately.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-07-09

The company has an effective S-3 shelf registration filed on 2025-07-09, which provides flexibility to raise capital in the future, subject to market conditions and company decisions.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details a long-term move to a 98,500 square‑foot Waltham headquarters, aligned wit...

Analysis

This announcement details a long-term move to a 98,500 square‑foot Waltham headquarters, aligned with Stoke’s plans to commercialize zorevunersen for Dravet syndrome and expand research. The related 8-K filing highlights a lease term running to 2038, underscoring a commitment to scale operations. In context of prior clinical and corporate updates, investors may watch future disclosures on operating costs, commercialization progress, and any use of the existing S-3 shelf when assessing Stoke’s growth path.

Key Terms

dravet syndrome, rna medicine, leed gold, wiredscore platinum

4 terms

dravet syndrome medical

"Dravet syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disease that is characterized..."

A rare, severe form of epilepsy that begins in infancy and causes frequent, prolonged seizures, developmental delays, and heightened risk of sudden unexplained death. It is caused by genetic changes that disrupt normal brain electrical activity—like a faulty circuit that repeatedly trips—so standard treatments often work poorly. Investors pay attention because the high unmet need, clear genetic target, and regulatory incentives can make therapies for this condition commercially and clinically significant, but trials are often long and costly.

rna medicine medical

"Stoke is dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body's potential with RNA medicine..."

RNA medicine uses copies of the cell’s instruction molecules to treat or prevent disease by telling cells what proteins to make or by blocking harmful messages. Think of it as sending a short recipe or a sticky note into a cell so it starts producing a missing ingredient or stops making a damaging one; for investors, this class of drugs matters because it can speed discovery, create platform businesses, and carry unique manufacturing and regulatory risks.

leed gold technical

"The property is LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum certified, reinforcing the campus's commitment..."

LEED Gold is a high-level building certification that shows a property meets rigorous standards for energy efficiency, water use, materials, and indoor environmental quality. For investors it signals lower operating costs, potential for higher rents or resale value, and lower regulatory or reputational risk—think of it as buying a house with high-efficiency appliances and strong insulation that saves money and attracts better tenants over time.

wiredscore platinum technical

"The property is LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum certified, reinforcing the campus's commitment..."

WiredScore Platinum is the highest-level rating for a building’s digital infrastructure and internet connectivity, showing it meets strict standards for speed, redundancy, and ease of connection. For investors, it signals lower technology-related risk, stronger appeal to tenants who depend on reliable broadband, and potential for higher occupancy or rents—similar to a building having a verified high-quality plumbing system that attracts tenants and reduces costly fixes down the road.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

New Headquarters Will Support Company's Work to Deliver zorevunersen, a Potential Disease-Modifying Medicine, to Patients with Dravet Syndrome and Expansion of Research Efforts

Lease is One of the Largest in Greater Boston Life Sciences Over the Past Year

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Anchor Line Partners, LLC and Northwood Investors, LLC announced today that they have secured a significant long-term lease with biotechnology company Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK) at 245 Fifth Avenue in Waltham, Massachusetts. Stoke plans to relocate to its new 98,500 square-foot headquarters when the Company's current lease in Bedford, Massachusetts ends in late 2026.

Stoke is dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body's potential with RNA medicine and has a lead investigational medicine, zorevunersen, in development with Biogen as a first-in-class potential disease-modifying treatment for Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disease that is characterized by recurrent seizures as well as significant cognitive and behavioral impairments.

Stoke established its first headquarters in Bedford in 2015. Zorevunersen was discovered in Bedford, and since then, the Company has advanced zorevunersen through early clinical testing into late-stage development. The Company is actively preparing to commercialize its first potential new medicine in the United States and is expanding its research into additional medicines using its proprietary technology platform.

"Stoke is on an important growth trajectory as we prepare to commercialize a first-in-class potential new medicine to treat Dravet syndrome, while also broadening our research efforts to identify more new medicines for severe diseases," said Ian F. Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Stoke Therapeutics. "This new Waltham site will help foster our culture of teamwork and collaboration that is essential to innovation and our work to deliver life-changing medicines for patients."

"While the national life sciences market has moderated, Waltham and the greater Route 128 corridor continue to prove their resilience as they support the biotech industry," said Andrew Maher, Co-Founder and Manager Partner, Anchor Line Partners. "This lease reflects the continued strength of the Greater Boston life sciences market and our commitment to delivering best-in-class environments that meet the evolving needs of innovative companies and their employees."

Waltham has emerged as one of the most compelling suburban life sciences hubs in the country, offering scale, talent and connectivity outside the urban core. The city and property offer immediate access to Route 128/I-95, I-90 and Route 2, making it a prime location for companies seeking operational efficiency and access to top talent. The property is LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum certified, reinforcing the campus's commitment to sustainability and connectivity. The building's modern infrastructure and flexible lab-ready design made it a strategic fit for Stoke's next phase of expansion.

The Cushman & Wakefield team of Mitch Perez, Connor Barnes and Michael Weiss represented Stoke in the transaction. Michael O'Leary and Duncan Gratton, also of Cushman & Wakefield, handle leasing efforts at 245 Fifth Avenue.

This new lease exemplifies Anchor Line Partners' expertise in the life sciences sector and its focus on tenant satisfaction, long-term value creation and market-driven development strategy. For more information, visit 2455th.com.

About Anchor Line Partners

Anchor Line Partners is a Boston-based investment firm with $1.2 billion of commercial real estate assets under management. We specialize in value-add opportunities and developments in Greater Boston, creating strong, long-term economic assets for communities and producing desirable returns for our investors.  Learn more at anchorlinepartners.com.          

About Northwood Investors

Northwood Investors is a privately-owned, employee-held investment advisor with approximately $8 billion of assets under management across the US and Europe. Northwood employs a fundamental, value-driven investment strategy with a longer-term outlook. The Northwood team has deep experience in sourcing, executing and managing real estate transactions worldwide, ranging from office buildings and shopping centers to hotels and residential investments.

About Stoke Therapeutics

Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK), is a biotechnology company dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body's potential with RNA medicine. Using Stoke's proprietary TANGO (Targeted Augmentation of Nuclear Gene Output) approach, Stoke is developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to selectively restore naturally-occurring protein levels. Stoke's first medicine in development, zorevunersen, has demonstrated the potential for disease modification in patients with Dravet syndrome and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 study. Stoke's initial focus are diseases of the central nervous system and the eye that are caused by a loss of ~50% of normal protein levels (haploinsufficiency). Proof of concept has been demonstrated in other organs, tissues, and systems, supporting broad potential for Stoke's proprietary approach. Stoke is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/.

About Cushman & Wakefield 

Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in nearly 400 offices and 60 countries. In 2024, the firm reported revenue of $9.4 billion across its core service lines of Services, Leasing, Capital markets, and Valuation and other. Built around the belief that Better never settles, the firm receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com. 

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SOURCE Anchor Line Partners

FAQ

What size headquarters did Stoke Therapeutics (STOK) lease in Waltham?

Stoke leased a 98,500 square-foot headquarters at 245 Fifth Avenue in Waltham, MA.

When will Stoke Therapeutics (STOK) relocate to the new Waltham headquarters?

Stoke plans to relocate when its current Bedford lease ends in late 2026.

How does the Waltham site support Stoke Therapeutics’ (STOK) work on zorevunersen?

The lab-ready Waltham facility aims to support Stoke’s commercialization preparation and expanded research on zorevunersen and other RNA medicines.

What certifications does the 245 Fifth Avenue building have for Stoke Therapeutics (STOK)?

The property is certified LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum.

Who represented Stoke Therapeutics (STOK) in the Waltham lease transaction?

The Cushman & Wakefield team of Mitch Perez, Connor Barnes and Michael Weiss represented Stoke.

What is zorevunersen and who is Stoke developing it with?

Zorevunersen is Stoke’s lead investigational medicine, developed with Biogen, in late-stage development for Dravet syndrome.