The Next Frontier for mRNA May Be Cancer

mRNA technology, which played a central role in the development of COVID-19 vaccines, is increasingly being used in cancer treatment. The most notable results have come from Moderna and Merck, whose personalised melanoma vaccine, used alongside immunotherapy, has helped patients keep the disease under control for five years.

Experts describe the findings as a significant milestone in the development of cancer vaccines designed to train the immune system to identify and destroy tumour cells.

Encouraging results are also emerging in pancreatic and brain cancers, long considered among the most resistant to immunotherapy. Researchers believe mRNA technology could pave the way for personalised treatments tailored to the genetic profile of an individual tumour.

Despite political controversy surrounding mRNA technology in the United States, investment in the field continues to grow. Analysts estimate that the market for personalised cancer vaccines could reach $8.5 billion annually by 2034.

(reuters, mja)