Moderna spins out cancer mRNA programs

Moderna Therapeutics Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.) spun out 15 preclinical mRNA cancer therapeutics into Onkaido Therapeutics LLC (Cambridge, Mass.). The newco has $20 million in committed capital from Moderna. The 15 candidates are initially focused on apoptosis, central regulatory nodes and immunotherapy. Moderna retained an undisclosed number of mRNA cancer candidates outside of the 15 spun out into Onkaido. Moderna's Stephen Hoge will serve as CEO of the newco. He is SVP of corporate development and new drug concepts at Moderna. Peter Smith will serve as CSO. He was head of non-clinical discovery and development at Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4502). ...