OriCiro Genomics

History

2023: Taking ownership of Moderna

In early January 2023, Moderna announced the purchase of Japanese DNA supplier OriCiro Genomics K.K. for $85 million.

In an interview with Fierce Biotech, Moderna CEO Stefan Bancel revealed that OriCiro technology is a critical update in Moderna's pipeline of clinical development. OriCiro is engaged in the development and commercialization of cell-free synthesis and plasmid DNA amplification technologies for use in gene/cell therapy and in the field of synthetic biology.

This acquisition is a tactical modernization of the company compared to a giant coup, the addition of cell-free assembly and DNA amplification instead of using E. coli. While E. coli cloning can take several days, the amplification process at OriCiro takes several hours, which Banchel said could reduce the time of large-scale production by 30%.

Moderna announced the purchase of OriCiro

The move follows Bancel's quarterly hints at the company's efforts to grow the business. In May 2022, the CEO said his team had "never been so busy" with mergers and acquisitions. During the year, Bancel said Moderna is focused on other goals that could expand the company's capabilities in the field of nucleic technology, and not, in his words, "make large acquisitions for the sake of large acquisitions."

The purchase of OriCiro does not eliminate the prospect of Moderna acquiring a therapeutic company, but its focus on nucleic acids remains unchanged. That includes companies focused on gene therapy and gene editing, but not, for example, biotechnologies specializing in small molecules, Banchel said.

Moderna is actively engaged in investments in the creation of mRNA drugs. At the end of 2022, the company completed the creation of a modern enterprise for the research, development and production of mRNA vaccines in the UK. The plant is designed to expand the production of vaccines against COVID-19. The facility also has the potential to develop vaccines against other respiratory diseases such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.^[1]

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