mRNA-based biotech Moderna will commence vaccine development targeting 15 troubling pathogens by 2025 while making a gesture to health equity in declaring that the Cambridge, Massachusetts firm would wave patents associated with Spikevax, its COVID-19 vaccine for select low-and-moderate-income countries (LMICs). A review of Moderna’s recent financials in their annual report and forecasts reveal that out of $18+ billion in revenue, the company generates $13+ in profits—perhaps the highest net profit margin of any substantial biotech in history. The COVID-19 pandemic catapulted Moderna to the big time.
Also now opening its intellectual property for partners, Moderna introduces the mRNA Access program.
TrialSite provides a brief breakdown of Moderna’s moves associated with the publicly traded firm’s public health strategy.
What vaccines are in the current Moderna portfolio?
COVID-19, HIV, Nipah, and Zika.
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What are some targets for the future?
The company Moderna focuses development efforts against pathogens identified as persistent global health threats, including HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and the priority pathogens of WHO and CEPI.
What is ‘Disease X’ and why focus on this?
A placeholder name adopted by WHO in February 2018 on the global health agency’s shortlist of blueprint priority diseases, it represents a hypothetical pathogen that could trigger a future pandemic.
Important for Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, was that the concept would encourage a focus on classes of viruses (such as coronaviruses) rather than mere individual strains (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), thus improving WHO’s ability to better mitigate risks of future pandemics.
How many mRNA-based vaccines does Moderna commit to drive through clinical trials by 2025?
15—with an emphasis on targeting pathogens affecting LMICs.
What is Moderna pledging with its patents?
Moderna declared to demonstrate its commitment to the goals of supporting LMICs and global health equity. The company will update its pledge to never enforce its patents for COVID-19 vaccines against manufacturers in or for the 92 LMIC countries in the GAVI COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) provided that such produced vaccines are solely for use in the AMC 92 countries.
What is the mRNA Access program?
The company commits to open its preclinical manufacturing capabilities as well as research and development expertise to global partners. The company will invite research centers, such as universities, to capitalize on their mRNA platform and to develop mRNA-based vaccines and medicines targeting existing neglected diseases. This open access is based on the company’s Early Development Engine used to accelerate vaccine development to clinics.
This program affords scientists around the globe the opportunity to investigate novel vaccine designs against prototype viral families in preparation for the anticipated Disease X.
How can research partners learn more? Check out here.
Melissa J. Moor, Chief Scientific Officer, Scientific Affairs provides a lecture on their mRNA platform.
How are Moderna’s finances?
A lot better since the pandemic. With a $52+ billion market capitalization and a current stock price of 129.28 as of this writing, their 52-week high/low equals 117.34-497.49. The stock is toward its annual low now. Thanks to the pandemic and heavy taxpayer-backed government funding, the company went from a money loser (like most biotech) to north of $18 billion in sales with profits over $13 billion. With $10.7 billion in the bank the company’s future looks bright, barring some unforeseen events or manifestation of material risk factors identified in their annual report (10-K).