Chinese startup Harbour BioMed had entered into a license and collaboration agreement with US-based Moderna, a global biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines. The strategic collaboration will focus on discovering and developing nucleic acid-based immunotherapies for select oncology targets using the company's proprietary heavy chain only antibody discovery platform (HCAb).

Upon the execution of the agreement and subject to terms and conditions thereof, Moderna will be granted an exclusive sub-licensable license to exploit a panel of sequences against multiple targets, derived from the company's HCAb platform, to develop products using nucleic acids.

Moderna will assume full responsibility for all upcoming development, manufacturing, regulatory, and commercialization activities. Moderna would also be granted an option to obtain an exclusive sub-licensable license to exploit sequences against additional targets. Pursuant to the agreement, Nona Biosciences (a subsidiary wholly owned by Harbour BioMed) shall receive an upfront payment, and potential milestone payments based on pending achievement of certain regulatory, development, and sales milestones, and tiered royalties.