Washington, DC Houses mRNA Leadership

If the Alliance for mRNA Medicines (AMM) tested the waters in June 2023 at the BIO Conference in Boston, then they engaged in a full-fledged triathlon in September, in the heat and humidity of Washington, DC. It is refreshing to relate that government has continued its early support of this technology (a relationship between the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Novartis, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority). A documentary feature explaining this background debuts this month.

The potential for mRNA medicines extends beyond vaccines into myriad other indications, but also represents efficiencies in pharmaceutical manufacturing, workforce education strengthening, and for high paying jobs. With the possibility of viewing its somewhat straightforward manufacturing as a single “platform” for regulatory approvals, this then could have the salutary effect of freeing up FDA staff, through this a potential new form of consolidated consanguinity management and approval. Time will tell.

AMM’s diverse membership was represented in Washington, DC by organizations such as Acuitas Therapeutics, Adjuvant Partners, Akron Bio, Arcturus Therapeutics, BioNTech, CSL Behring, Danaher Corp, The Johns Hopkins University, Leavitt Partners, Maravai Life Sciences, MJH Life Sciences, Precision Medicine Group, Replicate Bioscience, Precision Medicine Group, and Texas A&M Engineering. Their representatives enjoyed a free-flowing back and forth dialogue on optimizing the opportunity RNA presents the world, with Peter Marks, director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; leadership from Cancer Moonshot and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation; the Office of Senator Gary Peters (MI) Chair, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; the office of Bill Cassidy Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee; the office of Brett Guthrie, Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Health Subcommittee; the office of Senator Casey, Chairman of the Senate HELP Subcommittee on Children and Families; among other governmental groups.

It’s surprising that AMM, a group scheduled to officially launch in Berlin in October, was granted access to such a range of influential decision makers. Further, AMM was requested to not only assist in convening expert panelists but also offer advice for ongoing health systems and organizations re-shaping. A testament to the talent and knowledge of the AMM members, who transferred a strong sense of competence, knowledge, and trust.

About the Author

Chris Spivey is the editorial director of Pharmaceutical Technology.

Article Details

Pharmaceutical Technology

Volume 47, No.10

October 2023

Page 10

Citation

When referring to this article, please cite it as Spivey, C. Washington, DC Houses mRNA Leadership. Pharmaceutical Technology 47 (10) 2023 10.