
In recognition of a major scientific achievement, the Nobel Assembly has honored two scientists, Katalin Karikó, Ph.D., and Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D., for their pivotal contributions to the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. The Nobel Prize was awarded for their groundbreaking work on nucleoside base modifications, which formed the foundation of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines that have revolutionized the global fight against the pandemic.
Dr. Karikó and Dr. Weissman initiated their pioneering research on mRNA vaccines in collaboration with Michael Buckstein, M.D., Ph.D., and Houping Ni, M.D., in 2005. Their journey began with a seminal paper on nucleoside modification, where they observed that dendritic cells recognized transcribed mRNA as a foreign entity, triggering cell activation and the release of signaling molecules. This intriguing discovery spurred their quest to understand why mRNA was perceived as an external threat by cells.
One of their most significant breakthroughs was the incorporation of base modifications into the mRNA, effectively diminishing the inflammatory response. This finding illuminated the intricate mechanisms by which cells identify and react to nucleic acids. Subsequent publications further demonstrated that modified mRNA significantly enhances protein production compared to unmodified mRNA.
The therapeutic potential of this technology did not go unnoticed by the scientific community and investors. BioNTech, established in 2008, and Moderna, founded two years later, were among the pioneers who recognized the promise of mRNA vaccines. By 2012, BioNTech had initiated clinical trials using non-nucleoside-modified RNA, attracting substantial investment and forging partnerships with leading pharmaceutical giants.
While research and development progressed steadily throughout the 2010s, it faced occasional setbacks, including the failure of CureVac’s prostate cancer vaccine candidate in a phase 2b trial. However, the turning point arrived in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as the ultimate testing ground for mRNA technology’s swiftness and effectiveness in vaccine development, surpassing traditional approaches.
Gunilla Karlsson Hedestam, Ph.D., a professor at the Karolinska Institutet and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences COVID-19 expert group, emphasized the profound impact of Karikó and Weissman’s findings during the Nobel Prize announcement. She underscored how the rapid development of vaccines was made possible by technological advancements stemming from their fundamental discoveries, ultimately saving countless lives during the critical early stages of the pandemic.
The Nobel Prize serves as a testament to the extraordinary journey of mRNA technology, transitioning from a promising yet unproven concept to a globally adopted vaccine modality. During the press conference, Thomas Perlmann, Ph.D, a professor at Karolinska, shared Dr. Karikó’s incredible transformation, from facing job loss a decade ago to becoming a Nobel laureate today.