While many companies use viruses and viral vectors to deliver gene therapy and to modify cells for CAR T treatments, others have shunned adeno-associated viruses (AAV) and lentiviral vectors for other methods to deliver DNA and RNA into the cells.

Companies developing RNA-based therapies are now attracting significant investments, and the technologies and emerging products in the field have become desirable assets for big biopharmaceutical companies. In fact, during the past two years 20 deals have been executed, according to BioWorld data. Notably, last month Merck & Co. Inc. inked a partnership with Skyhawk Therapeutics Inc. to lever its expertise in the discovery and development of small molecules that modulate RNA splicing, agreeing to pay Skyhawk up to $600 million per program target plus royalties on sales of any commercialized products of the collaboration. 

It appeared that investors were far more interested in their vacations than in tracking the progress of blue-chip biopharma companies last month. Not helping their cause was the ongoing drug pricing debate taking place in Washington. The quest to reduce the cost of drugs moved a step closer with the Senate Finance Committee completing its markup of the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act and voting 19-9 to send the legislation to the full U.S. Senate. 

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