Moderna

Industry leaders meet in Barcelona to discuss vaccine R&D advancements, featuring 12 tracks, 280 speakers, and 150 exhibitors. Highlights include a keynote panel on global preparedness and SPI Pharma's exploration of sustainable vaccine development.

Moderna announces first participant dosed in pivotal Phase 3 trial of mRNA-1403, an investigational mRNA norovirus vaccine, aiming to evaluate efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in preventing moderate to severe norovirus acute gastroenteritis in adults. The trial plans to enroll approximately 25,000 participants globally, focusing on adults 60 years and older, and will be conducted across the Northern Hemisphere, equatorial region, and Southern Hemisphere. Norovirus causes millions of infections and approximately 200,000 deaths annually, with mRNA-1403 designed as a trivalent formulation to protect against multiple norovirus genotypes.

Moderna announced the first participant dosed in the Nova 301 Trial, a Phase 3 study evaluating mRNA-1403, an investigational norovirus vaccine. The trial aims to enroll 25,000 participants globally to assess efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity, focusing on older adults at risk of severe outcomes.

The global gene synthesis market, valued at USD 1.66 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 22.74% to USD 10.5 billion by 2032, driven by advancements in synthetic biology, personalized medicine, and biopharmaceutical production. Key players like Thermo Fisher Scientific and GenScript are expanding services, with CRISPR and synthetic biology driving demand. Challenges include high costs, regulatory issues, and technical difficulties in long-sequence synthesis. Opportunities exist in agriculture, regenerative medicine, and emerging markets. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gene synthesis's role in vaccine development.

A politician discusses the importance of STEM education, using the story of Professor Eddie Holmes' rapid identification of the COVID-19 genome to illustrate how STEM skills lead to critical job opportunities and societal benefits, emphasizing the intrinsic curiosity driving scientific inquiry.

Dr. Robert Langer, co-founder of Moderna, joins Klotho Neurosciences' Scientific Advisory Board, signaling his belief in the company's mission to develop therapies for neurodegenerative diseases using the Klotho protein.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are gaining attention as blockbuster drugs face patent cliffs. These drugs, initially for diabetes, now show significant weight loss, positioning them as next-gen treatments. Competition is fierce, with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly leading, but other companies like Amgen, Roche, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca are entering the market. Expanding the conditions these drugs treat could influence insurance coverage. The snack industry may need to innovate as GLP-1 drugs reduce processed food consumption. The patent cliff threatens big pharma, but Medicare negotiations and biologic drugs offer strategies. Innovations like pill-form obesity drugs and mRNA cancer treatments are on the horizon. Oncology and immunology remain dominant, but obesity is emerging as a significant driver. Stock picks include Roche, mRNA companies, and Pfizer.

Moderna was criticized by PMCPA for a paediatrician offering £1,500 to children via WhatsApp to participate in a clinical trial, breaching standards and discrediting the pharmaceutical industry. The offer violated clinical trial regulations prohibiting financial incentives for children.