This announcement contains inside information
10 August 2016 14:35
ASTRAZENECA ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN MODERNA
AstraZeneca today announced that it has increased its equity interest in Moderna
Therapeutics (Moderna) with a $140 million investment as part of Moderna’s
preferred-stock financing.
AstraZeneca previously acquired an equity stake in Moderna following a
collaboration agreement, announced in March
2013 (https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2013/astrazeneca
-moderna-therapeutics-cardiometabolic-diseases-cancer-treatment
-21032013.html), to develop messenger RNA medicines for the potential treatment
of selected areas of cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases as well as
oncology. AstraZeneca and Moderna also entered into a further collaboration
agreement in January 2016 (https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press
-releases/2016/AstraZeneca-and-Moderna-Therapeutics-announce-new-collaboration
-to-co-develop-and-co-commercialise-immuno-oncology-mRNA-therapeutics
-11012016.html), to discover, co-develop and co-commercialise medicine
candidates for the treatment of a range of cancers.
As a result of today’s investment, AstraZeneca’s ownership of Moderna will be
approximately 9% on a fully diluted basis. The additional contribution will be
recorded as an equity securities investment.
About Moderna Therapeutics
Moderna is a clinical stage pioneer of messenger RNA
Therapeutics™ (http://www.modernatx.com/mrna-expression-platform), an entirely
new in vivo drug technology that produces human proteins, antibodies and
entirely novel protein constructs inside patient cells, which are in turn
secreted or active intracellularly. This breakthrough platform addresses
currently undruggable targets and offers a superior alternative to existing drug
modalities for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Moderna is developing
and plans to commercialize its innovative mRNA drugs through its own ventures
and its strategic relationships with established pharmaceutical and biotech
companies. Its current ventures are: Onkaido (http://www.modernatx.com/our
-business-model/ventures/onkaido), focused on oncology,
Valera (http://www.modernatx.com/our-business-model/ventures/valera), focused on
infectious diseases, Elpidera (http://www.modernatx.com/our-business
-model/ventures/elpidera), focused on rare diseases, and
Caperna (http://www.modernatx.com/our-business-model/ventures/caperna-llc),
focused on personalized cancer vaccines. Cambridge-based Moderna is privately
held and currently has strategic agreements with
AstraZeneca (http://www.modernatx.com/news-events/press-releases/astrazeneca-and
-moderna-therapeutics-announce-exclusive-agreement-develop), Alexion
Pharmaceuticals (http://www.modernatx.com/news-events/press-releases/alexion
-pharmaceuticals-and-moderna-therapeutics-announce-exclusive),
Merck (http://www.modernatx.com/news-events/press-releases/moderna-announces
-license-and-collaboration-agreement-with-merck) and Vertex
Pharmaceuticals (http://www.vrtx.com/). To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on
the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines,
primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Respiratory &
Autoimmunity, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, and Oncology. The Company is
also active in inflammation, infection and neuroscience through numerous
collaborations. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative
medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information
please visit: www.astrazeneca.com
CONTACTS
Media Enquiries
Neil Burrows UK/Global +44 203 749 5637
Vanessa Rhodes UK/Global +44 203 749 5736
Karen Birmingham UK/Global +44 203 749 5634
Rob Skelding UK/Global +44 203 749 5821
Jacob Lund Sweden +46 8 553 260 20
Michele Meixell US +1 302 885 2677
Investor Relations
UK
Thomas Kudsk Larsen +44 203 749 5712
Craig Marks Finance, Fixed Income, M&A +44 7881 615 764
Nick Stone Respiratory & Autoimmunity +44 203 749 5716
Henry Wheeler Oncology +44 203 749 5797
Christer Gruvris Infection & Neuroscience +44 203 749 5711
US
Lindsey Trickett Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases +1 240 543 7970
Mitchell Chan Oncology +1 240 477 3771
Toll free +1 866 381 7277
Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC
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