The messenger's great message for vaccination

Abstract

Poly ribonucleic acid (RNA) is the only polymer capable to recapitulate all processes of life: containment of genetic information, enzymatic activities and capacity to create defined 3D structures. Since it has a remarkable chemical stability (at neutral or acidic pH) and can be modified to enhance/reduce particular features (e.g., stability in biological RNase containing milieus or recognition by immune sensors), it is a particularly versatile and ideal active pharmaceutical ingredient. However, the utilization of RNA as a gene vehicle (messenger RNA, mRNA) for therapy has only recently been exploited. Within this scope, mRNA-based vaccines designed to trigger anti-cancer, anti-virus or anti-allergy immune responses have been developed. Modifications of mRNA vectors and implementation of adequate formulations have allowed to turn this natural superlative biological molecule into a safe active pharmaceutical ingredient that can virtually address any medical need including vaccination or immunotherapy. This is the newest great message delivered by this messenger.

Keywords:

• allergies
• cancer
• infections
• messenger RNA
• vaccine

Financial & competing interests disclosure

S Pascolo is the founder and CEO of Miescher Pharma GmbH, a Company involved in RNA-based therapies. He was CSO of at CureVac from 1999 to 2006 and has also received an EU grant called “MERIT”.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.