Baidu Inc (NASDAQ:BIDU) has licensed its algorithm for messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence to Sanofi SA (NASDAQ:SNY) for use in designing vaccine and therapeutic products. The deal marks Baidu’s first such commercial deal with a major global drugmaker.
- Also Read: Sanofi Stops Work On Its mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine: What You Need To Know.
- Baidu will receive milestone payments when any mRNA-based therapy or vaccine candidate discovered by Sanofi using its algorithm enters clinical trials, said Huang Liang, a Baidu scientist leading the project.
- “The fact that this agreement includes milestone payments shows that [Sanofi] has great confidence in bringing candidates developed with Baidu algorithm into clinical trials and to the market,” Huang told Reuters. He declined to disclose the size of the deal.
- LinearDesign is a novel algorithm developed by Baidu researchers in 2020 specifically for mRNA sequence design.
- Experiments both in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated the effectiveness of LinearDesign in improving the stability and immunogenicity of Spike protein-encoding mRNA.
- Price Action: BIDU shares are down 0.86% at $150.47, SNY shares are down 0.87% at $50.19 during the market session on the last check Monday.
