GEN-Thermo_Oct22_MakingThePromiseOf - 9

OVERCOMING mRNA PRODUCTION SCALE-UP CHALLENGES
nization refocused efforts on bringing a COVID-19
mRNA vaccine to patients as quickly as possible
without compromising public safety.
Moderna scientists identified the ideal protein candidate
on the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 virus (the spike
protein), determined the mRNA sequence necessary
to encode for this protein and, six months later, was
given FDA clearance to proceed.
The many advantages of mRNA versus traditional
vaccines prompted scientists to use mRNA vaccines
to fight SARS-CoV-2. These advantages include the
ability to quickly update the vaccine as new variants
emerge, the ability to develop combination vaccines
to fight several variants (and pathogens) simultaneously,
and the ability to rapidly scale to serve a global
population.
What's more, Moderna's mRNA platform generates
antigens with superior biological fidelity and a greater
success rate than traditional vaccines-all in record
time. mRNA vaccines don't require a giant manufacturing
plant to produce them. All mRNA vaccines and
therapeutics can be produced at the same location
via the same process.
GEN: What are some other diseases or disorders against
which mRNA vaccines can provide protection?
Langer: Moderna mRNA vaccines are already in the
works to reduce the health risks of latent viruses
like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus
(CMV) and to tackle additional areas of unmet
need, including an all-in-one mRNA vaccine to
treat COVID-19, seasonal flu, and respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV). Additionally, Moderna plans
to develop mRNA vaccines to help patients beat
Herpes simplex virus (HSV), MS, cancer, and HIV
once and for all.
HSV, CMV, and EBV are large viruses that gain entry
into cells via multiple proteins. Identifying which
proteins to target remains a challenge, as does the
development of adjuvants to fine-tune the body's
immune response. In the case of HIV, the situation is
particularly complex.
Simply put, the immune system must be rigorously
trained to produce a specific type of antibody
(broadly neutralizing antibody or bnAbs), that has
been found to be effective at fighting HIV. Further,
a truly protective HIV vaccine will likely require a
combination of antigens to stimulate the formation of
multiple bnAbs classes.
Indeed, mRNA vaccines can provide protection
against practically any viral or bacterial infection.
Unlike traditional vaccines, mRNA vaccines enable
the patient's own cells to " train " the immune system
to recognize a pathogen by producing the invader
proteins the immune system will need to attack.
Therefore, mRNA vaccines are limited only by the
immune system's own ability to fight the pathogen.
Once an ideal protein candidate is identified, it is
a relatively simple process to identify the mRNA
needed to encode for those proteins.
GEN: Can mRNA vaccines provide universal protection
against a family of viruses, such as coronaviruses?
Langer: Theoretically, yes. AI, machine learning, and
robotic process automation (RPA) are technologies
that can help us more rapidly catalog common
familial viral elements, predict potential variations and
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GEN-Thermo_Oct22_MakingThePromiseOf

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