Moderna announced this week that it had acquired synthetic biology company OriCiro Genomics.
Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, Moderna will pay OriCiro $85 million for all its outstanding shares. Founded in 2018, the Japanese biotech focuses on the development of proprietary cell-free DNA synthesis and amplification technologies for gene and cell-based therapies.
According to OriCiro, its technologies provide a faster method to produce DNA that doesn’t require purification and can widen the scope of the genetic engineering techniques to which its applied.
As for Moderna, the acquisition will help expand its technology platforms and therapeutic portfolio. In October of 2022, the mRNA therapy juggernaut announced that it was entering a personalized cancer vaccine development and commercialization deal with Merck worth $250 million.
