mRNA Licensing Agreements Surge with Million-Dollar Contracts

The landscape for messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based pharmaceutical innovations has experienced remarkable growth, with total licensing agreement deal values skyrocketing by 800% from 2019 to the present year, 2024, as reported by GlobalData’s Pharma Intelligence Center Deals Database. mRNA vaccines operate by instructing cells to generate specific proteins that can effectively prevent or combat a range of diseases, making them a promising avenue for precision medicine targeting infectious diseases, genetic conditions, and cancer.

The Covid-19 pandemic underscored the considerable advantages of mRNA technology in vaccine development, such as rapid prototyping, targeted immune responses, and efficient manufacturing processes—key elements that propelled the success of mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines. Following the FDA's approval of Pfizer’s Comirnaty in August 2021, which marked the first mRNA vaccine available on the global stage, there has been an unprecedented increase in mRNA vaccine designations, reaching a remarkable ten designations in 2023 alone.

The momentum for mRNA technology has carried into 2024, with the increasing value of licensing agreements showcasing a heightened confidence in its potential that extends beyond vaccines. In 2023, global sales of mRNA-based pharmaceuticals reached $22 billion and are anticipated to rise to $26.2 billion by 2030, as per GlobalData’s Drugs Database.

Since 2023, the value of licensing agreements for mRNA pharmaceuticals has doubled to an impressive $3.8 billion. Major pharmaceutical companies like GSK and Bristol Myers Squibb are actively investing in the development of mRNA therapeutics, recognizing their potential to meet critical medical needs across various diseases. Notably, in July 2024, GSK and CureVac restructured their partnership from 2020 into a new licensing agreement valued at up to $1.57 billion, aimed at the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of mRNA vaccine candidates for influenza and Covid-19, covering everything from preclinical stages to Phase II trials.

In April 2024, Bristol Myers Squibb announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Repertoire Immune Medicines, a biotech firm known for its work in programmable T cell-targeted immune therapies. This collaboration, which could be worth as much as $1.87 billion, aims to create mRNA-based tolerizing vaccines for up to three autoimmune disorders, including type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, alongside other vaccine candidates.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has underscored the significance of mRNA technology by committing $176 million to Moderna. This funding is designated for the development of mRNA-based vaccines that target multiple strains of pandemic influenza, highlighting the government’s ongoing support for innovative biomedical research and therapy advancements.

This initiative highlights an ongoing commitment to strengthening pandemic preparedness and response, reinforcing the versatility and promise of mRNA platforms. The increasing value of licensing agreements for mRNA pharmaceuticals indicates that this sector will continue to be a key focus for innovation and investment. As advancements in mRNA technology and delivery methods progress, pharmaceutical companies have considerable opportunities to broaden their mRNA portfolios, paving the way for significant breakthroughs in the treatment of diverse diseases.