The Covid-19 vaccine business was left behind. This has been confirmed by the results of pharmaceutical companies that had a serum against the coronavirus in their portfolios. Between them, Modern. The company led by Stéphane Bancel lost 4,343 million euros in 2023 due to the decrease in sales of its anti-Covid antigen. Hence, the laboratory has reinvented itself, although its focus continues to be vaccines.
One of the most advanced is that of respiratory syncytial virus (VRS). In fact, Moderna expects to obtain authorization for use in the first half of 2024, after having requested regulatory approvals for this product in different countries.
Also in the area of respiratory viruses, the American pharmaceutical company is working on different serums. Specifically, she has several flu vaccine candidates in development. One of them is already in phase 3 of the clinical trial and has proven to be effective. Moderna has already started talks with regulators and hopes to file applications later this year.
[Europa revoca una de las patentes de la vacuna contra la Covid-19 de Moderna]
And, although the Covid-19 vaccine business has come to an end, the truth is that countries continue to immunize their at-risk population against this virus. Hence, Moderna is developing a combined serum: flu and Covid-19.
In addition to the combined company, Moderna is also working on a next-generation Covid-19 vaccine candidate. This is its fourth serum against respiratory diseases that has successfully met the criteria of phase 3 of the clinical trial.
Infectious diseases
Another area in which Moderna is working is the development of vaccines against infectious diseases. It already has five candidates in clinical trials, as detailed by the company itself.
They are intended for virus latent. They are those that are present in the body but in a resting state, generally without causing any symptoms. However, these can be reactivated as a person ages, during times of stress, or when immunity is compromised.
Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna.
Specifically, the sera that Moderna is developing are against cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is It also adds norovirus (causing gastroenteritis).
The first is the most advanced, as it is in phase 3 of the clinical trial, which has also been expanded to a new age cohort. The rest are still in early phases of study.
Investment strategy
As part of its strategy, the financing options that Moderna considers for these projects are self-financing, project financing and partnerships.
Thus, the company recently closed a financing agreement with Blackstone Life Sciences to advance the flu program. Thus, Blackstone will finance up to 750 million dollars with performance based on cumulative business milestones and single-digit royalties.
This agreement does not imply any change to Moderna’s research and development framework for 2024, of approximately 4.5 billion dollars.
2024-04-05 00:34:23
#Moderna #reinvents #antiCovid #vaccine #development #antigens
