What is mRNA technology?
mRNA technology, which was used in the COVID-19 vaccines, is designed to
protect us against infectious diseases. The majority of vaccines inject a
weakened version of a virus into our bodies to trigger a response from our
immune systems. However, mRNA vaccines take a different approach. They
teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response
inside our bodies. That response then produces the antibodies that we need
to protect us from being infected if the actual virus enters our bodies.
mRNA technology before COVID-19
For decades, scientists had marvelled over the seemingly endless potential
of messenger RNA. Researchers understood its possible role in combatting
infectious diseases throughout the world, but their efforts to progress the
technology were often hampered.
The concept of attempting to harness the power of mRNA to fight disease was
often deemed too far-fetched for government grants or corporate funding and
support.
In addition, pharmaceutical companies were not eager to invest in mRNA
vaccines for infectious diseases as there were many existing effective
vaccine platforms in use and there was no urgent need for a drastic change
in direction. Therefore, up until last year, an mRNA vaccine had never been
approved for human use.
How COVID-19 accelerated the development of mRNA vaccines
When scientists began looking for a vaccine for the coronavirus in early
2020, mRNA technology was touted as a potentially effective solution. Given
the urgency of the pandemic,
millions banded together to fight COVID-19, resulting in a remarkable run of events.
One of the organisations spearheading the vaccine movement was Moderna.
Within days of receiving the genetic sequence, they identified mRNA vaccines as a solution to the pandemic. Working with
the US National Institutes of Health, Moderna then ran experiments that
allowed them to commence their first-in-human testing in a span of just two
months. The allocation of additional resources, paired with rapid testing,
took mRNA from a promising concept to a ground-breaking change in vaccine
technology.
The rapid pace of the COVID-19 vaccine development over the course of 2020
is widely considered a tremendous feat of science, with companies from all
around the world
helping in the race for a speedy solution. The global medical community now has a plethora of resources to rapidly
respond to future pandemics and potentially cure existing diseases.
The future of mRNA technology
The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to lead to some
radical changes in vaccine development. Developments in the technology are now helping researchers close in on
some historic milestones in vaccine development — such as a universal flu
jab that would be effective against any strain of the virus without the
need for annual boosters.
While booster vaccines for COVID-19 are likely to be the next application
of mRNA technology, scientists are working on treatments for cancer,
genetic diseases, HIV and many more diseases that are prominent in
lower-income countries.
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