Founded in 2016, Combined Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company that is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also operates internationally out of London and Paris. Their vision is centered on the company’s own modified messenger RNA (mRNA) platform that can inhibit protein expression in specific tissues, allowing for targeted cancer treatment and vaccine development. Read on to learn more about the Multi-Organ Protective mRNA-based vaccine platform (MOPCTx platform) from Combined Therapeutics and how their work is driving the next generation of mRNA therapeutics against infectious diseases and cancer.

About Combined Therapeutics

Combined Therapeutics is a relatively new company that develops and commercializes mRNA-based Vaccines. The company’s central mission is to develop safe and effective vaccines that can protect against the most significant human diseases [2]. Although Combined Therapeutics is new, they have already made significant strides in the development of mRNA-based vaccines. Their MOPCTx platform has been validated in preclinical studies against infectious diseases, as well as achieved proof of concept for COVID-19 and virus-cell infection. The company’s research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, which is a testament to the quality of its work and the efficacy of its platform. As they focus on developing vaccines and vaccine adjuvants for these indications, Combined Therapeutics plans to commence with clinical development and, eventually, clinical trial testing in 2024.

One of the key factors contributing to this success is their partnerships and collaborations, such as the one with Boston Children’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School for their renowned expertise in developing and evaluating vaccine efficacy at the preclinical and clinical stages.

For more information about the strides Combined Therapeutics is making, listen to Episode #36 of Vial CRO’s First in Human Podcast featuring their CEO and Co-Founder, Romain Micol.

What is mRNA?

mRNA is a type of single-stranded genetic material that is essential for the production of proteins in cells. mRNA strands contain copies of relevant genetic code, originally transcribed from the cell’s DNA, to be delivered to the ribosome, a structure of cellular machinery that is responsible for protein synthesis. mRNA vaccines work by introducing a small piece of mRNA into the body, which encodes instructions to produce a specific viral protein for the cell to manufacture. This protein then triggers an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies that can protect against the targeted disease in the human host.

The development of mRNA-based vaccines has been a significant breakthrough in the field of vaccine development. Whereas traditional vaccines typically use weakened or inactivated viruses to stimulate this type of immune response to create protective antibodies, mRNA-based vaccines do not, making them safer and more effective. By using mRNA-based vaccines to build antibodies against these proteins, the body is able to better protect itself against specific diseases and with few off-target side effects.

The mRNA-Based Vaccine Platform

In collaboration with leading scientists and researchers in the field, Combined Therapeutics has designed a modified mRNA-based vaccine platform. The MOPCTx platform allows for the inhibition of protein expression in specific vulnerable tissues, enabling targeted vaccine treatment and preventing off-target side effects. It is designed to be highly adaptable and efficient, which makes possible the rapid production of vaccines for a wide range of diseases and disease variants using the company’s proprietary process. This is particularly important in the case of COVID-19, where new variants have emerged that may be resistant to existing vaccines. The mRNA-based vaccine platform can be easily modified to produce therapeutics that are effective against these novel variants.

The MOPCTx Platform: Applications and Benefits

According to its CEO and Co-Founder, Romain Micol, Combined Therapeutics was originally started to treat and cure cancer. Therefore, the company’s mRNA platform has several applications which can support innovations within oncology treatments, including using it to tailor cancer vaccines against specific mutations in a patient’s tumor, increase the immune response by modulating tumor microenvironments, and combining mRNA technology with existing immunotherapy methods.

With these possibilities in mind, Combined Therapeutics’ MOPCTx platform provides scientists and researchers with numerous benefits. In addition to the fact that it can enable rapid and efficient production of vaccines, particularly important for slowing the spread of infectious diseases, this mRNA-based vaccine platform is flexible enough to accommodate vaccine development against different disease variants. MOPCTx is also designed to reduce the risk of off-target side effects in important organs, such as the heart or liver, which makes mRNA-based vaccines a safer option than traditional vaccines.

The Future of Combined Therapeutics

Combined Therapeutics is currently working on a multivalent MOP vaccine program that uses its adjuvant portfolio based on natural mRNA code for natural protein locally to improve vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy, particularly in vulnerable populations. This is a key health challenge that the company aims to address by improving the mRNA vaccine efficacy in vulnerable populations. They are also aiming to combine mRNA technology with current immunotherapy approaches, such as CAR T-cell therapy, to treat cancer and other devastating diseases. The company has a broad portfolio of possibilities, particularly focusing on certain strategic positions for Combined Therapeutics’ understanding of the valuable role mRNA-based vaccines will play in the future of treating indications like cancer and infectious diseases, the company is devoted to its mission and is working hard to stay ahead of the curve.

Conclusion

Combined Therapeutics’ mRNA-based vaccine platform represents a significant advancement in the field of vaccine development. The platform enables the rapid and efficient production of vaccines that can protect against a wide range of diseases. The company is well-positioned to play a leading role in the development and commercialization of mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases, cancer, and other therapeutic areas, and it is making significant strides toward achieving its goals.

Vial CRO is a full-service tech-first contract research organization that recognizes the central role technology plays in the development of novel therapies like the Combined Therapeutics MOPCTx mRNA-based vaccine platform. We are paving the way for modernized clinical research through the latest digital innovation in clinical trials. Visit our website to discover how our specialized teams can optimize your next study, or contact a team member today to learn more!