Customised mRNA is the next frontier in personalised medicine
- While using mRNA as medicine is a recent development, mRNA has always been present in the body.
- mRNA serves as instructions for the creation of specific proteins.
- The understanding of how mRNA functions at the cellular level laid the groundwork for the development of mRNA medicines, such as COVID-19 vaccines.
Function of mRNA in Cells
- DNA contains the genes for making proteins and cells create mRNA copies of these genes, acting as messengers with instructions for protein synthesis.
- The mRNA language consists of four building blocks (nucleotides), and mutations in DNA can lead to disease-causing errors in critical proteins.
Benefits of mRNA as Medicine
- The mRNA can be manipulated to create medicines for various cellular issues.
- Scientists can easily generate genes for different proteins; edit them to meet patient needs, and produce scalable amounts of mRNA in the lab.
- The temporary nature of mRNA allows for easy dosage adjustments.
mRNA Vaccines for COVID-19
- The COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are the first mRNA-based medicines to gain FDA approval.
- These mRNA vaccines demonstrate the flexibility of mRNA-based therapies.
- They work by instructing cells to produce the spike protein of the virus, training the immune system to recognize and combat it.
- Booster shots can be adapted to address new viral variants.
Beyond Vaccines: mRNA Treatments
- Clinical trials are underway for mRNA-based vaccines targeting diseases like seasonal flu, herpes, and respiratory syncytial virus.
- mRNA is also explored as a treatment for cancer, functioning like a vaccine to train the immune system to target cancer cells.
- Personalized cancer vaccines tailored to a patient's specific mutations are also being studied.
Future Applications
- Researchers are investigating mRNA's potential to treat various diseases, including heart disease, neurodegenerative conditions, and bone loss.
- The adaptability of mRNA allows for customized therapies with fewer side effects, offering hope for diverse applications in protein replacement therapies.