Biotech Strategy Blog

Commentary on Science, Innovation & New Products with a focus on Oncology, Hematology & Immunotherapy

Posts tagged ‘Moderna Therapeutics’

Green Lights and Warning Signs: Dissecting a Next Generation RNA Platform

The promise of RNA therapeutics has captivated the biotech world for a while, yet few have seen major success in oncology so far.

Time for a review with a look at latest red, orange and green lights

Meanwhile, the graveyard of cytokine therapies is littered with the remains of promising immunomodulators too toxic for human use.

Among these casualties, one particular immune messenger showed such devastating systemic effects in the 1980s it effectively ended an entire line of clinical investigation.

Despite these setbacks, recent advances in RNA engineering are prompting some to wonder: what if the problem wasn’t the cytokine itself, but simply our inability to control where and when it acts?

The emerging field of programmable genetic circuits seen with next generation CAR-T cell therapies suggests we might finally have the tools to resurrect these fallen therapeutic angels – but only if we can solve the fundamental challenge of precision delivery confounding immunotherapy for decades. What if this concept can be applied to RNA therapeutics as well?

In our latest review of emerging technology, we offer a deep dive into the kind of red and green flags to watch out for with the latest RNA technology. Trust me, despite the hype several significant issues could still stymie clinical development…

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Process is power

If you had to name one company who have executed well in the IO space, it’s hard to argue against Merck with their consistent and relentless efforts from the pembrolizumab clinical development program building a blockbuster niche by niche.

Dawn of a new IO era at ESMO23?

Beyond checkpoint blockade, what’s next?

Are they a sparkly one-horse wonder or are there real possibilities to build a kingdom based on rational combinations?

Not every phase 1 pipeline agent is going to make it to the next stage, never mind over the finish line to market – some folks might think of this as the funnel of shame. The indiscriminate mud flinging which follows an ‘as many shots on goal as possible’ winner takes-all-approach is limiting, however, when you realise it creates an achilles heel in strategic thinking.

Instead suppose you can build a linchpin to enable you to build on while offering a helping hand up to some of your other early products in combination? To do this you need optimised agents which play well when combined. Now you have a very different proposition while raising the bar to other competitors – who may not have similar agents with optimal properties.

In our latest company interview, we explore the progress with several of Merck’s early stage products, look from the lens of how they see them, and where they’re headed…

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mRNA – the language of life

It’s time for an extended update on the neoantigen space now that we have new clinical data to look at and discuss. There are a variety of approaches being evaluated in the clinic now, from adenoviral vectors to cell therapies to vaccines.

Indeed, we haven’t covered Moderna Therapeutics before as they were rather quiet in preclinical mode, but now they have some initial clinical data in cancer patients, we thought it would be nice to explore the company’s progress, as well as look at where they’re headed with their mRNA platform.

In the hotseat today, we take a look at the latest developments in the neoantigen vaccine field in terms of oncology settings and have an engaging company interview in the spotlight as well.

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