Doylestown Spinoff Leverages mRNA Tech to Address Hep B, Cancer, and Lyme Disease

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man with purple tie
Image via Natalie Napoleon at the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Merlin Biotech CEO Randall Hyer.

Merlin Biotech of Doylestown will use its Blumberg Institute pedigree, its Pa. Biotechnology Center location, and the guidance of a former Moderna executive to get itself up and running as a spinoff entity. John George covered the firm’s next moves in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The company will leverage its experience with mRNA technology to develop therapeutics and vaccines that address unmet medical needs. The initial focus will be on hepatitis B infections, adult and pediatric cancers, and Lyme disease.

Its CEO is Dr. Randall Hyer, the previous SVP of global medical affairs Moderna. He worked on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and launch of its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Hyer is eager to dig in.

 “These approaches are distinct from prior approaches to treat chronic hepatitis B and cancer, and we are confident in our potential to create value from our strategy, management, and pipeline,” he said.

Merlin Biotech grew out of the Blumberg Institute’s pre-incubation program. The institute expects to invest $650,000 in Merlin Biotech from Blumberg’s academic entrepreneurs program. Venture capital discussions are also being held.

More on this new entity in the local biopharmaceutical industry is at the Philadelphia Business Journal.

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