This announcement contains inside information 10 August 2016 14:35 ASTRAZENECA ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN MODERNA AstraZeneca today announced that it has increased its equity interest in Moderna Therapeutics (Moderna) with a $140 million investment as part of Moderna's preferred-stock financing. AstraZeneca previously acquired an equity stake in Moderna following a collaboration agreement, announced in March 2013 (https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2013/astrazeneca -moderna-therapeutics-cardiometabolic-diseases-cancer-treatment -21032013.html), to develop messenger RNA medicines for the potential treatment of selected areas of cardiovascular, metabolic and renal diseases as well as oncology. AstraZeneca and Moderna also entered into a further collaboration agreement in January 2016 (https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press -releases/2016/AstraZeneca-and-Moderna-Therapeutics-announce-new-collaboration -to-co-develop-and-co-commercialise-immuno-oncology-mRNA-therapeutics -11012016.html), to discover, co-develop and co-commercialise medicine candidates for the treatment of a range of cancers. As a result of today's investment, AstraZeneca's ownership of Moderna will be approximately 9% on a fully diluted basis. The additional contribution will be recorded as an equity securities investment. About Moderna Therapeutics Moderna is a clinical stage pioneer of messenger RNA Therapeutics™ (http://www.modernatx.com/mrna-expression-platform), an entirely new in vivo drug technology that produces human proteins, antibodies and entirely novel protein constructs inside patient cells, which are in turn secreted or active intracellularly. This breakthrough platform addresses currently undruggable targets and offers a superior alternative to existing drug modalities for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Moderna is developing and plans to commercialize its innovative mRNA drugs through its own ventures and its strategic relationships with established pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Its current ventures are: Onkaido (http://www.modernatx.com/our -business-model/ventures/onkaido), focused on oncology, Valera (http://www.modernatx.com/our-business-model/ventures/valera), focused on infectious diseases, Elpidera (http://www.modernatx.com/our-business -model/ventures/elpidera), focused on rare diseases, and Caperna (http://www.modernatx.com/our-business-model/ventures/caperna-llc), focused on personalized cancer vaccines. Cambridge-based Moderna is privately held and currently has strategic agreements with AstraZeneca (http://www.modernatx.com/news-events/press-releases/astrazeneca-and -moderna-therapeutics-announce-exclusive-agreement-develop), Alexion Pharmaceuticals (http://www.modernatx.com/news-events/press-releases/alexion -pharmaceuticals-and-moderna-therapeutics-announce-exclusive), Merck (http://www.modernatx.com/news-events/press-releases/moderna-announces -license-and-collaboration-agreement-with-merck) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (http://www.vrtx.com/). To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com. About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Respiratory & Autoimmunity, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, and Oncology. The Company is also active in inflammation, infection and neuroscience through numerous collaborations. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com CONTACTS Media Enquiries Neil Burrows UK/Global +44 203 749 5637 Vanessa Rhodes UK/Global +44 203 749 5736 Karen Birmingham UK/Global +44 203 749 5634 Rob Skelding UK/Global +44 203 749 5821 Jacob Lund Sweden +46 8 553 260 20 Michele Meixell US +1 302 885 2677 Investor Relations UK Thomas Kudsk Larsen +44 203 749 5712 Craig Marks Finance, Fixed Income, M&A +44 7881 615 764 Nick Stone Respiratory & Autoimmunity +44 203 749 5716 Henry Wheeler Oncology +44 203 749 5797 Christer Gruvris Infection & Neuroscience +44 203 749 5711 US Lindsey Trickett Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases +1 240 543 7970 Mitchell Chan Oncology +1 240 477 3771 Toll free +1 866 381 7277 Adrian Kemp Company Secretary AstraZeneca PLC -ENDS-
ASTRAZENECA ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN MODERNA
| Source: AstraZeneca PLC
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