15th Nov 2021 14:09
(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC and Moderna Inc on Monday said a messenger-RNA-based investigation therapy was well-tolerated in patients with heart failure.
The duo said AZD8601 met its primary endpoint of "safety and tolerability".
The phase 2 probe featured 11 patients, seven being dosed with AZD8601 and the other four receiving placebos.
The duo's probe also featured "exploratory endpoints", measuring the level of NT-proBNP and ejection fraction.
NT-proBNP is a natriuretic peptide, a high level of which could signal heart failure. Ejection fraction measures how much blood the left ventricle of the heart pumps out during each contraction.
Although there were "no statistically significant changes in exploratory endpoints", Moderna noted there were "encouraging trends".
"mRNA is a compelling therapeutic modality because of its ability to act locally and transiently, while driving dose-dependent protein expression. The results presented today are a result of pushing new boundaries in the treatment of cardiovascular and other ischaemic vascular diseases and address serious unmet needs with the goal of improving patients' lives," Moderna Chief Executive Officer Stephane Bancel said.
Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine used mRNA technology, which it is currently embroiled in a patent dispute with the US government over.
The jab works by sending an mRNA sequence that contains the genetic instructions for the vaccinated person's own cells to produce antigens and generate an immune response.
Essentially, mRNA vaccines do not need any genetic code from the virus, so a weakened version of the virus is not being injected into the recipient, but rather instructions telling the recipient's body how to produce antibodies to combat the targeted virus.
On Thursday, Moderna said it disagrees with claims that National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases scientists "co-invented" the mRNA sequence of the vaccine.
AstraZeneca shares were 1.7% higher at 8,949.00 pence each in London on Monday afternoon. Moderna shares were 1.6% higher in pre-market trade in New York.
By Eric Cunha; [email protected]
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