CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Moderna Therapeutics, a pioneer in the development of messenger RNA (mRNA) Therapeutics™, today announced it has been named the top Disruptor on the third-annual CNBC Disruptor 50 list. For the second year in a row, CNBC recognizes Moderna as one of the country's most ambitious and innovative companies changing the economy and overall business landscape.

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With its novel technology to enable mRNA as a drug, Moderna is building a fully scaled drug discovery and development platform centered on the rapid and low-cost design, delivery and production of mRNA drug candidates. Moderna is also advancing an innovative business model built on the decentralization of drug development activities. With an ecosystem of in-house concept development, ventures focused on therapeutic areas and a cluster of major pharma and biotech partners, Moderna is enabling more than 50 preclinical programs today across cardiovascular, infectious diseases, oncology, and rare diseases.

In 2015 alone, the company announced $500 million in private financing, the largest private round ever for a biotech; a license and collaboration agreement with Merck to develop mRNA-based antiviral vaccines and passive immunity therapies; and the formation of two venture companies – Valera in infectious diseases and Elpidera, its newly established venture company focused on developing treatments for rare diseases.

"Our mRNA technology is fundamentally disruptive, enabling us to do things not possible – or not done well enough – with current approaches," said Stephane Bancel, chief executive officer. "Through our business model, which includes collaborations with industry leaders AstraZeneca, Alexion and Merck, as well as our three venture companies, we are driving more than 50 preclinical programs. We are thrilled to be recognized by CNBC for our far-reaching technology platform, disruptive business model and the potential to bring highly differentiated, completely novel drugs to patients in need."

Moderna was selected from more than 350 nominated companies which were ranked based on CNBC's proprietary blend of quantitative and qualitative inputs.

CNBC.com's special report, disruptor50.cnbc.com, features an in-depth profile of Moderna, an explanation of how CNBC chose and ranked the companies on the list and stories exploring the technologies today's business decision makers need to know, and how investors can profit from disruptive trends.

For more information on Moderna Therapeutics, please visit modernatx.com.

About Messenger RNA Therapeutics™
Moderna is creating first-in-class in vivo medicines called mRNA Therapeutics™. mRNA Therapeutics™ are designed to directly utilize the body's natural processes to enable the in vivo production of both intracellular proteins, which remain within the cells, and secreted proteins, which are released into the bloodstream and act to restore function elsewhere in the body. This is a quantum change in the way protein therapeutics are traditionally produced and used, and has the potential to transform the treatment of a broad range of diseases.

About Moderna Therapeutics
Moderna is pioneering messenger RNA Therapeutics™, 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 disease conditions. The company currently plans to develop and commercialize its innovative mRNA drugs through a combination of strategic relationships as well as newly formed ventures, including Onkaido LLC, focused on oncology drug development, Valera LLC, focused on infectious diseases, and Elpidera LLC, focused on rare diseases. Founded by Flagship VentureLabs®, Cambridge-based Moderna is privately held and currently has strategic agreements with AstraZeneca, Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Merck. www.modernatx.com.

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SOURCE Moderna Therapeutics