DXVX announced on May 19 that it has received a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) from a major domestic pharmaceutical company for the out-licensing of its room temperature ultra-long-term storage mRNA vaccine platform and is currently in negotiations. The company also stated that, in addition to domestic partners, it is undergoing due diligence with global leading pharmaceutical companies for potential out-licensing, raising expectations for additional achievements.
The room temperature ultra-long-term storage mRNA vaccine platform currently undergoing out-licensing negotiations is a technology that was selected for the ARPA-H national project last year. It has been recognized as a platform technology that overcomes the limitations of mRNA vaccine technology, and earlier this year, DXVX secured exclusive commercialization rights from Pohang University of Science and Technology.
The Material Transfer Agreement represents the stage in which the counterparty directly verifies and evaluates the technology, making it the most critical step in the out-licensing process. DXVX plans to conduct tests and evaluations with its partner company after finalizing the MTA negotiations.
mRNA, by its nature, is highly unstable and easily degrades, making it difficult to use as a vaccine or therapeutic. Additionally, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines require ultra-low temperature storage facilities, ranging from at least minus 75 degrees Celsius to below minus 25 degrees Celsius. As a result, the need to establish cold chain infrastructure for storage and distribution has led to significant costs, which have been cited as a major factor driving up vaccine prices.
The mRNA vaccine platform for which DXVX holds exclusive commercialization rights enables the storage of mRNA at room temperature for up to 10 years. Lipid Nano-Particles (LNPs) containing mRNA can be stored at room temperature in buffer solution for over one month. This mRNA vaccine platform technology can be applied not only to mRNA but also to RNA-based therapeutics, DNA vaccines, aptamers, gene therapies, and gene editing technologies.
A DXVX representative stated, "Through the Material Transfer Agreement, we are providing potential partners with the opportunity to evaluate our technology and materials, while clearly distinguishing intellectual property protection, confidentiality, and liability, thereby establishing a foundation of trust and negotiation. Signing the MTA is a crucial step that increases the likelihood of a successful final licensing agreement, and we will actively collaborate with our partners to achieve results as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, at global events such as the recent J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the mRNA vaccine platform technology was recognized as a breakthrough that could fundamentally change the landscape of the mRNA vaccine industry, attracting significant interest from global pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Currently, DXVX is actively negotiating out-licensing agreements with both domestic and international pharmaceutical and biotech firms.
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