Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc., a global late-stage clinical messenger RNA medicines company, reported that ARCALIS Co., Ltd., its manufacturing joint venture in Japan to support the production of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, was awarded $115 million in two separate grants from the Japanese government. The grants will be used to fund the construction of a factory and the purchase of capital equipment to support cGMP production of mRNA drug substance and mRNA drug product operations.

ARCALIS is a joint venture between Axcelead and Arcturus, wherein Arcturus holds a 49% equity position. The factory, located in Minamisoma City, Japan, is designed to provide cGMP integrated vaccine manufacturing, from mRNA drug substance to bulk nanoparticle-formulated drug product.

Arcturus also announced that the LUNAR-FLU program continues to progress with funding and operational support from CSL-Seqirus, including an additional $17.5 million milestone which will be used to fund flu program development activities. The LUNAR-FLU program utilizes Arcturus’ clinically validated next-generation STARR mRNA platform technology.

“It was an honor to welcome senior Japanese government officials and dignitaries to the opening ceremonies for ARCALIS’ state-of-the-art factory which will support the cGMP manufacturing of Arcturus’ next-generation STARR mRNA vaccines,” said Pad Chivukula, chief scientific officer of Arcturus Therapeutics.

“We are pleased with the progress of the LUNAR-FLU program with CSL Seqirus, our exclusive global licensee for the development of novel mRNA vaccines, and the significant role that Arcturus is playing in the development activities,” said Joseph Payne, President, and CEO of Arcturus Therapeutics. “The LUNAR-FLU program could represent a major advance in vaccination efforts against flu, potentially providing higher levels of efficacy and greater durability compared to current flu vaccine approaches. We look forward to advancing this promising program.”