Moderna, Karolinska Partner On Messenger RNA Therapeutics
By Cyndi Root
Moderna Therapeutics, Karolinska Institutet (KI), and Karolinska University Hospital (KUH) have partnered to develop drugs using Moderna's messenger RNA (mRNA) Therapeutics technology. Moderna announced the partnership in a press release, stating that its platform allows in vivo production of intracellular proteins and secreted proteins, which have potential in untreatable diseases.
Stephane Bancel, President and founding CEO of Moderna, said, "This partnership puts our mRNA Therapeutics platform in the hands of Karolinska's world-class scientists and clinical researchers to develop new drugs and therapeutic approaches that cannot be done with small molecules or biologics — bringing new hope to patients with serious diseases."
Moderna and Karolinska Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement between Moderna and Karolinska, Moderna will provide research grants to KI and KUH. The Swedish scientists will use Moderna’s mRNA Therapeutics platform to conduct preclinical research. If the studies are successful, Moderna will utilize the resulting drug candidates in clinical trials at KUH.
Mats Eriksson from Karolinska University Hospital, commented, "Our clinical researchers are excited to work with Moderna's groundbreaking mRNA Therapeutics platform and speed the advancement of new treatments to patients." Moderna has decided to locate a laboratory at KUH’s Huddinge campus to optimize collaboration and increase output.
mRNA Therapeutics
Moderna’s mRNA Therapeutics empower the body to produce its own healing proteins that hide from the innate immune response. After delivery, the mRNA uses the cell machinery to convert to active, native proteins that stay in the cells or are deployed into the bloodstream for activity elsewhere in the body. The manufacturing process is cell-free, ensuring rapid manufacturing.
About Moderna
The partnership with KI and KUH is Moderna’s first academic partnership. Moderna states that the collaboration enhances its partnerships with industry including Alexion, AstraZeneca, and Moderno’s venture company, Onkaido. Alexion agreed in January 2014 to license 10 of Moderno’s mRNA products for rare diseases. In March 2013, AstraZeneca agreed to use Moderno products to develop treatments for serious cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal diseases, as well as cancer.