Moderna shoots for the stars again with ambitious drug development blueprint

USA — Fresh off its remarkable success in the field of biomedicine with its COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna is charting an audacious path forward.

The company has unveiled a bold roadmap for investors, outlining plans to introduce a slew of new medicines expected to yield billions of dollars in revenue.

While Moderna’s ambitions are as high as ever, the road ahead is laden with challenges that few companies of its stature have successfully navigated.

Moderna’s vision encompasses the launch of up to 15 new products within the next five years, with four slated for release by 2025.

By 2027, the company anticipates generating between US$8 billion and US$15 billion in sales from respiratory products.

Furthermore, Moderna is eyeing an additional US$10 billion to US$15 billion in annual revenue from novel treatments for cancer, rare diseases, and latent conditions, all set to debut by 2028.

While Moderna is renowned for its ambitious endeavors to “change the world,” it’s worth noting that the company’s track record mainly consists of its COVID-19 vaccine.

As of now, it holds approval for just that single vaccine. This week, it gained clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an updated version, with U.S. health officials advocating for the use of either the new Moderna booster or Pfizer’s counterpart.

Moderna’s future objectives include the development of a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, with an FDA decision expected by April next year.

Additionally, the company reported a successful Phase 3 trial of its experimental flu shot, although previous results have been mixed.

Looking ahead, Moderna envisions a landscape of respiratory vaccine combinations, with plans to bring one to market as early as 2025.

Expanding vaccine portfolio

Beyond respiratory vaccines, Moderna is actively working on vaccines for various viruses, including HIV and Epstein Barr, estimating a market value of US$10 billion to US$25 billion.

Most of these vaccines are in early testing stages or are still preclinical. Notably, the company has advanced an experimental shot for cytomegalovirus into Phase 3 trials.

In collaboration with Merck, Moderna is forging a therapeutic vaccine by combining its experimental mRNA-4157 with Merck’s blockbuster Keytruda cancer medication.

This partnership initiated a Phase 3 trial in July. Additionally, Moderna reported positive early data in May for one of its rare disease therapies.

Moderna foresees a significant investment in research and development, earmarking US$25 billion from 2024 through 2028.

This marks a substantial increase compared to the annual R&D expenditure of $1.3 billion to $3.2 billion in recent years.

Modern promises for the future unfold against the backdrop of dwindling COVID-19 vaccine sales, reflecting society’s gradual transition away from pandemic concerns.

This sales decline has also impacted Pfizer, which recently hinted at potential cost-cutting measures to offset the impact.

In response to these evolving dynamics, Moderna is strategically “resizing its manufacturing footprint and supply base” to enhance margins, aiming for a long-term target of 75% to 80%.