Merck invests in Moderna

Moderna is to receive a $125m investment from Merck to expand their partnership to develop messenger RNA cancer vaccines. They will now jointly advance mRNA-5671 in human studies.

On completion of human proof-of-concept studies, Merck may opt-in on further development and commercialisation of the vaccine on payment of an undisclosed fee to Moderna. Combination studies with additional immuno-oncology therapies are also in the pipeline.
“Augmentation of immune responses offers great promise in cancer therapy, as our work with the PD-1-specific antibody Keytruda has shown,” said Dr Roger M. Perlmutter, president, Merck Research Laboratories. “We now look forward to expanding our exploration of mRNA cancer vaccines, working in concert with our colleagues at Moderna.”

The deal now includes shared antigen mRNA cancer vaccines including mRNA-5671, Moderna’s mRNA KRAS cancer vaccine. Merck will be responsible for clinical development of mRNA-5671 and associated costs while Moderna will be responsible for clinical supply and linked costs.