The coronavirus crisis was a turning point in the development of messenger RNA technology. For a long time, it didn’t seem suited to therapeutic use, until it was successfully used as the basis for vaccines against Covid-19. mRNA technology has been undergoing rapid development ever since, bringing scientists working in the field closer to their goals, including the treatment of previously incurable heart and tumor diseases. More than 150 mRNA-based therapies and vaccines are in development worldwide. We explore the technology’s great potential and consider some of the risks.
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