The messenger RNA technology used to make Moderna's and Pfizer/BioNTech's wildly successful coronavirus vaccines is being tested not only in other vaccines, but as a cancer treatment, gene therapy and more.
When the final Phase 3 data came out last November showing the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were more than 90% effective, Dr. Anthony Fauci had no words. He texted smiley face emojis to a journalist seeking his reaction.
This astonishing efficacy has held up in real-world studies in the US, Israel and elsewhere. The mRNA technology -- developed for its speed and flexibility as opposed to expectations it would provide strong protection against an infectious disease -- has pleased and astonished even those who already advocated for it.
She is one of the scientists who paved the way for the Covid-19 vaccine 03:57Researchers like to use a cookbook analogy. The body's DNA is the cookbook. Messenger RNA is a copy of the recipe -- one that disappears quickly. In the case of genetic disease, it can be used to instruct cells to make a healthy copy of a protein.
That technology is now owned by Translate Bio, a company dedicated to making mRNA therapies and vaccines. It's working to correct faulty CFTR in the lungs by delivering mRNA via a nebulizer. The treatment appears safe in early stage trials in people and has won orphan drug status from the US Food and Drug Administration.Tickborne diseasesThe mRNA approach might also work against some tickborne diseases, Weissman said.
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