Harnessing the Potential of mRNA to Overcome Major Healthcare Challenges

Published on: August 10, 2023

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted messenger RNA (mRNA) into the spotlight, this essential molecule was already capturing the imagination of scientists looking to solve complex problems in healthcare. After discovering mRNA in 1961, researchers rapidly realized that mRNA could be produced in the lab to express proteins (1980) and envisioned its use in vaccines and other medical applications (1990s).1 By the early 2000s, they began to overcome the roadblocks to introducing this synthetic RNA into the body to prompt the production of proteins involved in various biological activities, from fighting disease to regulating cell functions. Combined with the modifiable nature of mRNA, this capability has opened the door to revolutionizing the way we diagnose, treat, and prevent a wide range of conditions.2

As mRNA research continued to mature over the following two decades2, we at Sanofi recognized a natural application for this technology. As a leading developer of vaccines, we saw that mRNA offered a promising solution to many challenges in vaccinology that we’ve grappled with for more than a century. mRNA technology offers a new tool in the vaccine toolbox, where instructions are delivered to certain cells in the body to produce an antigen that acts as a surrogate for any viral or bacterial infection. The antigen then prompts the body to mount an immune response similar to that triggered by natural infection. Since mRNA can code for different proteins, it has the potential to address a wide variety of diseases and pave the way for groundbreaking innovations in biotechnology.2,3

However, we need to address several challenges with existing mRNA technology to fulfill our vision of creating a platform that will become key in routine prevention for multiple diseases. While mRNA has great potential for applications across the field of immunology, it is a very fragile molecule on its own. First, it degrades easily as it is a single strand of nucleic acid. Second, if injected alone into the body, it’s perceived as a foreign entity and attacked by the very immune system it was tasked to reinforce. Furthermore, it needs to go through the impermeable outer layer of our cells: that’s where LNPs come in.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) play a key role as chauffeur and protector of mRNA, helping transport mRNA into target cells while protecting it from destructive enzymes in the body.1,3 LNPs can be best described as small protective bubbles comprised of different types of lipids (fats), which encapsulate mRNA. LNPs have demonstrated their capacity to deliver mRNA to target cells and induce the intended immune response.3In 2021, we acquired Translate Bio to accelerate the application of multiple LNP technologies and further develop mRNA vaccines for a range of diseases with high unmet needs.

The fragile nature of mRNA also presents challenges in thermostability.4 Developing mRNA-based vaccines and treatments that remain stable over a range of temperatures would allow for transport over long distances with an increased shelf life and utility for equitable global use. Additionally, we are continuously working on the tolerability of mRNA vaccines, to ensure that any reactions to a vaccine are local, mild, and short-lived, reflecting the current standard of care for today’s non-mRNA vaccines.

The urgent need to protect people against the COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the rapid advancement of the science in this space, bringing us closer to using mRNA technology for routine immunization and as treatments for certain diseases.

At Sanofi, we are working to unlock the full potential of mRNA. In 2021, we launched our mRNA Center of Excellence (CoE) to accelerate the development and delivery of the next generation of mRNA vaccines. Translate Bio brought to the CoE deep knowledge of mRNA science and one of the largest private libraries of LNPs in the world. This, combined with Sanofi’s long-standing experience in vaccine antigen design, immunology and manufacturing and the innovative targeted delivery solution gathered through the acquisition of Tidal Therapeutics, bolstered our efforts to develop a fully owned mRNA platform.

The Road Ahead for mRNA

“Combining mRNA & LNP technologies opens the opportunity for development in the vaccine area and beyond, like gene therapy and oncology. I believe that it takes creative and passionate scientists working together with strong and visionary leadership to bring mRNA to the next level. This is exactly what you find in the mRNA Center of Excellence”, says Régis Gervier, Head of mRNA Center of Excellence at Sanofi.

While the field of mRNA therapeutics is still in its infancy, with continued investment and collaboration, it is undoubtedly becoming another valuable platform for pharmaceutical medicines and vaccines development.

References

  1. Dolgin E. (2021). The tangled history of mRNA vaccines. Nature, 597(7876), 318–324. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02483-w
  2. Kim Y. K. (2020). RNA Therapy: Current Status and Future Potential. Chonnam medical journal, 56(2), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.4068/cmj.2020.56.2.87
  3. Pardi N., Hogan M. J., Porter F. W., & Weissman D. (2018). mRNA vaccines - a new era in vaccinology. Nature reviews. Drug discovery, 17(4), 261–279. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd.2017.243
  4. Uddin M. N., & Roni M. A. (2021). Challenges of Storage and Stability of mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccines. Vaccines, 9(9), 1033. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9091033
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