Experts Predict New mRNA-based Vaccines for Cancer and Heart Disease by 2030
Medical experts are hopeful that new vaccines for serious health conditions such as cancer and heart disease will be available as early as 2030. The vaccines will use the same mRNA technology that is being used for Pfizer and Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccines. The therapy teaches the body how to produce a defensive protein that could lead to a breakthrough for patients with diseases that were previously difficult to treat with drugs.
Dr Paul Burton, the chief medical officer of Moderna, has said that the treatment has the potential to save “many hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives” as early as 2030. He believes that mRNA-based therapies for rare diseases that were previously undruggable could be available soon.
The therapy works by administering an mRNA-based cancer vaccine on someone who already has cancer. This vaccine can alert the immune system into fighting back without destroying healthy cells. Doctors can use biopsies of a patient’s tumour to identify which mutations are driving the cancer’s growth. This therapy involves producing a molecule of mRNA that creates antigens, which triggers an appropriate immune response. As a result, patients can receive personalized vaccines tailored to their specific disease.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led Moderna to scale up the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines, making the company highly adept at producing them in large quantities at a faster pace. Dr. Burton emphasized the need for continued investment to avoid wasting the momentum gained in response to the pandemic. He believes that in the next ten years, the world will approach a time when the genetic cause of a disease can be identified and repaired using mRNA-based technology.
Despite the increased momentum in response to the pandemic, scientists have cautioned that a high level of investment will need to be sustained to prevent progress from stalling.
In conclusion, mRNA-based vaccines have the potential to revolutionize the way doctors treat serious health conditions. The therapy could result in a breakthrough for patients with illnesses that were previously difficult to treat with drugs. As we approach 2030, medical experts are optimistic that new vaccines for cancer and heart disease will be available. It is essential to invest in this technology to maintain progress and provide hope for people who need it most.
