MRK Merck and Co Inc

By Dave Sebastian

Moderna Inc. said it has regained rights to the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine from Merck & Co. Inc., allowing the company to develop the vaccine in adults.

The vaccine, named mRNA-1172 and known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada, uses a Merck lipid nanoparticle and entered early-stage development last year. Merck will complete the phase-one study, Moderna said.

RSV is a pathogen that leads to cold-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It could cause more severe infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the CDC said.

Moderna also said it is starting dosing in the phase one study of mRNA-1345, its solely owned RSV vaccine candidate. The dosing will start in adults, it said.

Merck's RSV efforts will go toward its antibody program that is in phase-two development, Moderna said.

Write to Dave Sebastian at dave.sebastian@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 08, 2020 07:41 ET (11:41 GMT)

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