Global Briefs: Moderna, Sarepta, Sanofi & More
A roundup of news from Moderna, Sarepta Therapeutics, Sanofi, UK Government, GenesisM and Johnson & Johnson/Pacira Biosciences. Highlights below.
Mfg News
* Moderna Nixes Plan for mRNA Mfg Plant in Japan
* Sarepta Therapeutics Pauses Shipments of Gene Therapy in US
* UK Investing in Biosecurity Center To Boost Pandemic Protection
* Bain’s GenesisM Breaks Ground on New Biomanufacturing Facility
M&A News
* Sanofi to Acquire Vice Bio in $1.6-Bn Deal
Partnering News
* J&J, Pacira Biosciences in Expanded Pain Drug Pact
Mfg News
Moderna Nixes Plan for mRNA Mfg Plant in Japan
Moderna has provided an update on its two planned research and manufacturing facilities at Shonan Health Innovation Park (iPark) in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Construction of the building for the mRNA drug research and manufacturing facility led by Moderna Enzymatics has been completed. Moderna has decided not to move forward with its plan to develop an mRNA drug substance manufacturing facility led by Moderna Japan.
The plan for the API manufacturing site led by Moderna Japan was adopted in 2023 as part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry’s “Project to Develop Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Bases to Strengthen Vaccine Production Systems,” with the aim of establishing a domestic manufacturing system.
Source: Moderna
Sarepta Therapeutics Pauses Shipments of Gene Therapy in US
Sarepta Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based genetics medicines company, has notified the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its decision to voluntarily and temporarily pause all shipments of Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec), a gene therapy treating for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration affecting the skeletal, respiratory, and cardiac muscle, in the US, effective close of business Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
The therapy is approved for treating DMD in patients who are ambulatory or non-ambulatory with specified confirmed DMD gene mutations. Sarepta says the pause will provide the company with the necessary time to respond to any requests for information and allow Sarepta and FDA to complete a safety labeling supplement process..
Sarepta is partnered with Roche on the gene therapy,. Roche formed a licensing pact in 2019 with Sarepta to develop Elevidys, worth up to $2.85 billion (an upfront payment and equity investment of $1.15 billion, up to $1.7 billion in regulatory and sales milestones, plus royalties on net sales). The gene therapy was nearing blockbuster status with 2024 sales of $821 million
Additionally, last month (June 2025), Sarepta provided a safety update following a second reported case of acute liver failure resulting in death in non-ambulatory individuals. As a result, the company is developing an enhanced immunosuppressive regimen in consultation with a panel of multi-disciplinary clinical experts and engaging with regulators.
Source: Sarepta Therapeutics
UK Investing in Biosecurity Center To Boost Pandemic Protection
The UK government has announced that it will invest multiple billion pounds into a new biosecurity center in Essex, UK. The National Biosecurity enter (NBC) will increase the speed and scale of research into dangerous pathogens and vaccines, boosting healthcare and economic growth, and protecting UK national security.
The government is investing billions of pounds in the project, including £250 million ($338 million) over this Parliament, for research and testing that is currently split across UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) sites in Porton Down and Colindale under one roof.
Once complete, the NBC will be the largest in Europe, creating around 1,600 new jobs to support construction of the site and enabling the development of new treatments and vaccines.
Source: UK government
Bain’s GenesisM Breaks Ground on New Biomanufacturing Facility
GenesisM, a joint venture between Bain Capital Real Estate and Botanic Properties, has announced the official groundbreaking of its 154,000-square-foot class A biomanufacturing facility in Bedford, Massachusetts.
The Bedford facility is designed to support multiple tenants operating independently within highly regulated manufacturing suites. Each tenant will have access to dedicated infrastructure and building systems designed to meet stringent operational requirements.
The facility will feature 27-foot ceiling heights, up to 18 loading berths, 12,000 amps of power, and 40′ x 40′ column spacing. GenesisM’s Enhanced Core platform is designed to provide long-term operational flexibility, accelerate buildout timelines, and reduce upfront capital requirements for tenants.
Construction is currently underway, with tenant fit-out commencing as early as the second quarter of 2026 and final core and shell delivery expected in the third quarter of 2026.
Source: GenesisM
M&A News
Sanofi to Acquire Vice Bio in $1.6-Bn Deal
Sanofi has agreed to acquire Vicebio, a privately held biotechnology company headquartered in London, UK, in a deal worth up to $1.6 billion ($1.15 billion upfront and $450 million in milestone payments).
The acquisition brings an early-stage combination vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV), both respiratory viruses, and expands the capabilities in vaccine design and development with Vicebio’s “Molecular Clamp” technology.
The Molecular Clamp is a technology that stabilizes viral proteins in their native shape, enabling the immune system to recognize and respond to them more effectively. This approach enables quicker development of fully liquid combination vaccines that can be stored at standard refrigeration temperatures (2–8°C), eliminating the need for freezing or freeze-drying, thereby simplifying manufacturing and distribution. Furthermore, fully liquid vaccines can be made available in prefilled syringes, enhancing ease of use, safety, and operational efficiency across healthcare settings.
Vicebio’s pipeline includes VXB-241, a bivalent vaccine candidate targeting RSV and hMPV, currently in an exploratory Phase I study in older adults, and VXB-251, a preclinical trivalent vaccine candidate targeting RSV, hMPV, and parainfluenza virus Type 3 (PIV3).
Under the agreement, Sanofi would acquire all Vicebio’s share capital for a total upfront payment of $1.15 billion, with potential milestone payments of up to $450 million based on development and regulatory achievements. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.
Source: Sanofi
Partnering News
J&J, Pacira Biosciences in Expanded Pain Drug Pact
Johnson & Johnson MedTech has entered a strategic co-promotion agreement with Pacira BioSciences, a Brisbane, California-based bio/pharmaceutical company.
The agreement expands the company’s early intervention portfolio with Zilretta (triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension), an extended-release injectable for the treatment of pain related to osteoarthritis of the knee.
Source: Johnson & Johnson
