Moderna Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines and Metagenomi, Inc., a genetic medicines company with a versatile portfolio of next-generation gene editing tools, announced that the two companies have entered into a strategic research and development collaboration focused on advancing new gene editing systems for in vivo human therapeutic applications. The collaboration will utilize Metagenomi’s novel gene editing tools and leverage Moderna’s mRNA platform, as well as lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery technologies, with the goal of developing curative therapies for patients with serious genetic diseases.
“Metagenomi has demonstrated the power of its proprietary metagenomics approach that mines the Earth’s natural environment to discover next-generation gene editing tools and has developed discovery capabilities with the potential to address multiple diseases,” said Eric Huang, PhD, General Manager & Chief Scientific Officer, Moderna Genomics (mGx). “Their discovery platform and expertise will expand Moderna Genomics’ ongoing efforts to develop innovative in vivo gene editing therapies to address a significant unmet medical need. This collaboration represents another milestone on our journey to create transformational genome-engineering based medicines.”
“Gene editing has the potential to provide a cure for millions of patients living with genetic disease. Our partnership with Moderna is designed to accelerate the creation of genetic medicines using Metagenomi’s naturally derived, compact, modular and precise gene editing systems,” said Brian C. Thomas, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of Metagenomi. “This partnership will enhance our shared vision to forge transformative therapeutics for patients.”
“Unlocking the therapeutic potential of gene editing requires a long-term commitment to develop the best technologies for both in vivo delivery and gene repair,” said Jak Knowles, MD, CBO at Metagenomi. “We share Moderna’s goal to develop mRNA-based medicines, and we are thrilled to partner with them.”
About the Collaboration
Under the terms of the collaboration, Metagenomi and Moderna will advance a series of in vivo gene editing therapeutics against undisclosed targets. Metagenomi will utilize its vast toolbox of gene editing systems in combination with Moderna’s mRNA and LNP technologies, to deliver next-generation therapies for genetic diseases. Metagenomi will receive an upfront cash payment and is eligible to receive certain target option exercise fees as well as development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on net sales of any products that are commercialized by Moderna. Moderna has also agreed to make an equity investment in Metagenomi in the form of a convertible note.
About Moderna
In 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a science research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across six modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for both clinical and commercial production at scale and at unprecedented speed. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna’s capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use of one of the earliest and most-effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.
