Arcturus Therapeutics, which has proprietary mRNA technology, has announced a strategic collaboration with CSL Seqirus, a global leader in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of vaccines for several infectious diseases. CSL Seqirus’ vaccine portfolio includes the world’s second largest influenza vaccine franchise. Seqirus is part of CSL Limited.
Arcturus will receive $200 million upfront and is eligible to receive over $1.3 billion in development milestones and over $3 billion in commercial milestones. In addition, the Company is eligible to receive a 40% net profit share for COVID-19 vaccine products and up to double-digit royalties for vaccines against flu, pandemic preparedness, and three other respiratory pathogens.
The collaboration combines CSL Seqirus’ global vaccine commercial and manufacturing infrastructure with Arcturus’ manufacturing experience and innovative STARR self-amplifying mRNA vaccine and LUNAR delivery platform technologies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Arcturus will provide CSL Seqirus with a license to their self-amplifying mRNA technology to support the research, development, manufacture, and commercialization of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza, pandemic preparedness, and three other globally prevalent respiratory infectious diseases.
Actu LUNAR lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology and manufacturing know-how, which has enabled the company’s low dose, lyophilized and durable self-amplifying mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Previously reported clinical results from ongoing ARCT-154 studies have demonstrated a favorable efficacy and safety profile with sustained neutralizing antibodies against COVID-19, including recent variants of concern.
“We are excited to embark on this collaboration with CSL Seqirus, a respected world leader in the development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines,” said Joseph Payne, President and CEO of Arcturus Therapeutics. “We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership as we work together to develop next generation self-amplifying mRNA vaccines to protect against the most prevalent infectious diseases.”
Arcturus will provide CSL Seqirus with a license to its STARR self-amplifying mRNA technology, LUNAR lipid-mediated delivery, along with mRNA drug substance and drug product manufacturing expertise. CSL Seqirus will lead development and commercialization of vaccines under the collaboration. The collaboration plans to advance vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza, and three other globally prevalent respiratory infectious diseases.
Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings is a global, late-stage clinical mRNA medicines and vaccines company with three key technologies: LUNAR lipid-mediated delivery, STARR mRNA Technology (samRNA), and mRNA drug substance along with drug product manufacturing expertise. Arcturus’ diverse pipeline of RNA therapeutic and vaccine candidates includes mRNA vaccine programs for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and Influenza, and other programs to potentially treat ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, cystic fibrosis, and partnered programs including glycogen storage disease type III, and hepatitis B virus.
The company says its RNA therapeutics platforms can be applied toward multiple types of nucleic acid medicines including messenger RNA, small interfering RNA, replicon RNA, antisense RNA, microRNA, DNA, and gene editing therapeutics.
One of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world, CSL Seqirus has production facilities in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. The company uses egg, cell and adjuvant technologies to offer a broad portfolio of differentiated influenza vaccines in more than 20 countries around the world.
