The final phase-3 data was released in November 2020 that showcased the efficiency of the mRNA vaccines of Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna to be 90% against the virus.
With The Efficiency Of MRNA Vaccine Proven Against Covid-19, Experts See Greater Potential For Treating Other Diseases
The astounding efficacy of the vaccines stirred up extensive research and analysis in a number of countries like the United States, Israel, and few others.
The m-RNA technology was developed for its speed and efficiency but was opposed to expectations that it can prove to be effective against infectious diseases. However, the findings have impressed even those who were already in favor of the technology.
The new ray of hope of the global medicine platform.
Although mRNA technology is a comparatively nascent identity globally, scientists have been optimistic about its prospects for a long time.
The present success of the mRNA vaccines against the pandemic just refurbishes the belief of the experts.
This also shows potential to be effective against other prevalent viruses like HIV or the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), particularly fatal among children, and metapneumovirus.
Tests have been undertaken to assess the prospects of m-RNA as a potential cancer treatment for melanoma and brain tumors.
Research is underway to study the prospects for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and a probable alternative pathway to gene therapy for conditions like sickle cell disease.
History of the vaccine.
The history of the mRNA vaccine starts back in the 1990s during the study of m-RNA as an alternative to gene therapy by Katalin Kariko at the University of Pennsylvania.
The research was based on the simple idea that mRNA molecules can be used both as a treatment and prevention by sending instructions to the cells of the body to prepare something specific.
Researchers draw up the analogy of a cookbook for explaining the m-RNA techniques, where the DNA symbolizes the cookbook and the recipes are the mRNA molecules.
These mRNA molecules can be used as a treatment for genetic diseases, where they will instruct the cells to manufacture a healthy copy of the defective protein that is causing the disease.
In the case of vaccines, the mRNA molecules are used to prompt the cells to manufacture something structurally similar to a virus, so the body can prepare the antibodies to fight the infection.
Dr.Drew Weissman, a specialist of infectious disease at Penn medicine states that the advantage of mRNA vaccine technology lies in the fact that contrary to DNA vaccines, which requires isolation, inactivation, and purification of the DNA, taking months, the RNA vaccines can be prepared by just obtaining the sequence.
Can mRNA fight cancer?
m-RNA technology holds a lot of promise when it comes to treating cancers. The human body is well equipped to fight off cancer threats every day but using mRNA molecules just adds to the innate efficiency of the body’s immune system.
Almost all the tumor cells in our body have the presence of specific structures on their surface that is recognizable to the immune system.
In mRNA technology, the mRNA molecules can be injected in the body of the individual that can encode an antibody capable of specifically targeting the receptor, as explained by a structural biologist at the University of Texas, Jason McLellan.
Presently, Moderna, a company solely dedicated to m-RNA technologies is working on specialized cancer treatment using the technology.
Prospects for autoimmune diseases.
The present treatment route for autoimmune diseases involves silencing the defective part of the immune response.
This leaves the individual susceptible to autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and a variety of other infections.
m-RNA has shown promise in genetically engineered mice by stopping the attack on the myelin sheath, the step that marks the beginning of the autoimmune disease.
BioNtech is currently working to utilize RNA technology to find a cure for the condition.
Gene therapy and m-RNA technology.
As implied by Weissman, m-RNA can act as the safe vector that can instruct the cells in the body to manufacture a healthy copy of the faulty genes and thus curing the condition.
Studies are currently underway to find a treatment for sickle cell disease using the technology.
