Medical research is experiencing a small revolution. It is about to take a historic leap in the next 10 years. In any case, this is the opinion of Moderna, the American biotechnological company, at the origin of one of the vaccines against covid 19.
In an interview this week with CNBC and the British newspaper The Guardian, the laboratory assures that its Messenger RNA technology will overcome many diseases.
Against autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer
It is possible to develop effective vaccines against infectious diseases but also against cancerous tumors, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, rare diseases. RNA has real power, since it has the particularity of teaching cells to make a protein that triggers the body’s immune response. This is potentially millions of lives saved.
The lab is exploring this path and has already started several studies that it says show promise.
First concrete step, Moderna obtained from the health authorities of the United States the status of “revolutionary” for its vaccine against skin cancer. That is, this vaccine is going to have an accelerated regulatory review. So far it has been tested on 150 people and phase 3 is planned to be launched soon to test the efficacy of the treatment on a larger scale.
Secure funding
This enthusiasm is shared by other pharmaceutical groups. Pfizer, for example, also the holder of the Messenger RNA technology with its partner BioNtech, has embarked on a shingles vaccine. But it’s against the flu first where big pharma is concentrating all its efforts. With one objective, to gain a foothold in this market, which grows 20% each year, and challenge Sanofi, the world leader in flu vaccines, with two thousand five hundred million dollars in sales per year.
The key to success, financing. This is the condition raised by Moderna. Because if the covid 19 vaccine was able to be developed in record time, it is thanks to the billions quickly injected into research. Maintaining a high level of investment is necessary according to Paul Burton to continue the work of scientists.
Moderna and Pfizer are sitting on a war chest over covid-19 vaccine sales, but that won’t be enough. Beyond technological prowess, the ability to raise a lot of money becomes critical to medical success.
Source: BFM TV
