Cansino Biologics Inc. reported positive data in a phase IIb trial evaluating the heterologous mRNA vaccine CS-2034 booster compared to an inactivated vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Four years after its founding, Myeloid Therapeutics Inc. raised $73 million to advance mRNA immunotherapy technology that targets and activates myeloid cells. Proceeds from the financing will go toward MT-101, the company’s first autologous CAR monocyte, which is in a phase I/II trial for T-cell lymphoma. It also will accelerate development of MT-302, a potentially first-in-class TROP2-FcA mRNA lipid nanoparticle candidate, which is ready for a phase I/II study for TROP2-expressing solid tumors.
Orbital Therapeutics Inc. raised $270 million in a series A round to fund a big push into the next generation of mRNA-based therapies. The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm is building out a comprehensive RNA platform from which it will launch programs in oncology, autoimmune disease and indications involving protein replacement approaches.
In a striking demonstration of how the success of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 has opened up the potential of the technology in cancer, mice that cleared a tumor after a single administration of an mRNA vaccine, also cleared a second tumor without receiving further immunization. This display of potent immunogenicity formed part of a head-to-head study of three different mRNA technology platforms in human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 associated tumors.
A new study found that nebulized mRNA therapy could be an effective approach to treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a rapidly progressing lung disease that can lead to respiratory failure and death. This work focused on two genes, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) inhibitor α super-repressor (IκBα-SR) and superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3), previously shown to reduce the severity of pneumonia when delivered prophylactically by viral vectors.
Evaxion Biotech A/S and Pantherna Therapeutics GmbH have announced preclinical proof of concept for the combination of the two companies' key technologies.
Now there are three. Moderna Inc. has posted strong phase III study data on its mRNA respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, keeping pace with Pfizer Inc. and GSK plc’s candidates, which have May PDUFA dates. Moderna’s top-line results of the ConquerRSV pivotal efficacy study of mRNA-1345 show the vaccine hit its primary efficacy endpoints of 83.7% against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in older adults.
Since the advent of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, the space has steadily grown hotter, a situation on which Anima Biotech Inc. has capitalized by way of a potential $580 million-plus deal with Abbvie Inc. to deploy mRNA biology modulators for three targets across oncology and Immunology.
Biontech SE is piggybacking on the U.K.’s lead in implementing cancer genomics in routine health care to set up a national clinical trial of personalized mRNA cancer vaccines that are based on the mutational landscape of individual tumors.
Shares in Dutch RNA editing specialist Proqr Therapeutics NV (NASDAQ:PRQR) surged by as much as 88% Dec. 22 news that Eli Lilly and Co. is substantially expanding an existing preclinical alliance. It is paying Proqr an initial $75 million, which consists of an up-front payment and equity investment, a potential $50 million option fee should it decide to widen the scope of the partnership even further, and up to $2.5 billion in new research, development, and commercialization milestones. Proqr would also receive royalties on any resulting product sales.
