Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman receive the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking work in the development of highly effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19
In a recent announcement, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their exceptional contributions to the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Their discoveries in nucleoside base modifications have fundamentally altered our understanding of how mRNA interacts with the immune system.
The significance of their work was most evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020 and spread rapidly across the world. In a race against time, Karikó and Weissman's research enabled the rapid development of mRNA vaccines that were vital in combating one of the most significant threats to global health in recent times, arguably even more so than the previous H1N1 influenza pandemic.
Traditionally, vaccines relied on various methods, including whole virus, protein-based, and vector-based approaches. However, these methods often required large-scale cell culture and faced challenges in rapid production during outbreaks. Their innovative breakthrough involved using messenger RNA (mRNA), responsible for protein synthesis, and overcoming obstacles related to its stability and delivery.
Their pivotal 2005 discovery revealed that in vitro transcribed mRNA, used in vaccines, triggered an unwanted inflammatory response. In their study, Karikó and Weissman found that modifying the bases of RNA eliminated this reaction, allowing for the use of mRNA as a therapeutic tool. Subsequent studies in 2008 and 2010 showed that base modifications not only reduced inflammatory responses but also significantly increased protein production, laying the foundation for the development of mRNA vaccines.
The use of their work in mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, developed and issued by companies such as Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, have shown remarkable efficacy, with protective effects of around 95%. Over 13 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally, saving millions of lives and allowing societies to open up again.
Beyond the current pandemic, the Nobel laureates' work has also opened new possibilities for mRNA technology. The flexibility and speed with which mRNA vaccines can be developed suggest potential applications for other infectious diseases, and the technology can also be used for therapeutic proteins and cancer treatment.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognizes the transformative impact of Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman's research, which has both changed the course of vaccine development and given hope for addressing more diseases through their innovative mRNA-based approaches.
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