Spotlight on mRNA Vaccines: Made But Not Defined by the Pandemic
There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world in a multitude of ways. But in the years after the pandemic’s start, it has become evident that this event not only made its mark on history but also vaccine technologies. mRNA vaccines had been under development for some years before the pandemic, but it was the global crisis that accelerated the technology to make its first approvals.
The two vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna were the first approved uses of the technology, and the culmination of many years of development. Since the widespread rollout of those vaccines, scientists have focused on a few key areas for the following uses of the technique.
RELATED:
- From LNPs to AAVs: Overcoming RNA Delivery Challenges
- The Past 20 Years of RNA Therapeutics: COVID Vaccines and Beyond
- A New Frontier: RNA-Based Vaccines & Cancer Treatments
For example, drug companies are seeking higher rates of protein translation, better modulation of the immune system, and more efficient delivery. Furthermore, research is also going into the scaling-up of production in-line with good manufacturing processes (GMP).
More regulatory guidance is also desired among mRNA researchers. As the field is still in its infancy, but continues to grow, it is likely that regulation around the technology will evolve and develop too. The safety and efficacy of certain drugs’ regulation will be based somewhat on precedent, and so this evolution will happen alongside the establishment of implementation.
Although the pandemic may have cemented mRNA vaccines, it should be noted that it need not define it. Formulation scientists are already gearing up their expertise in preperation for the next pandemic, and for applying the technology to indications that are yet to have a working vaccine. New preclinical research and clinical trials are being conducted with each passing month, so we are excited to witness what the next breakthrough for the pioneering science could be.
Get your weekly dose of industry news and announcements here, or head over to our Formulation portal to catch up with the latest advances in manufacture and therapeutic delivery.
