Moderna Plans New mRNA Vaccines Targeting Different Diseases, Including Cancer

Moderna, the company behind one of the most widely-available COVID-19 vaccines, has announced it will expand its mRNA technology to work on inoculation against other diseases.

The three programs comprise mRNA-1608 to tackle the Herpes simplex virus (HSV); mRNA-1468 to target the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that causes herpes zoster (shingles); and mRNA-4359 as a new cancer vaccine. 

At the moment, the company has five candidates in development, including vaccines against cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), HIV, HSV, and VZV.

According to Interesting Engineering, there are currently no approved vaccines for HSV. 

While the mRNA-1608 will target the HSV-2 disease, it could also provide cross-protection against HSV-1  strains by inducing an antibody respond with neutralizing and effector functionality and cell-mediated immunity.

As for VZV, the mRNA-1468 vaccine aims to fight the reduce the rate of shingles and serious complications of the virus, which include postherpetic neuralgia, bacterial confections, and carnival and peripheral palsies. 

This vaccine could be particularly important in stopping the increasing spread of herpes zoster cases worldwide, with the ratio of patients in 1,000 people going from 0.76 in 1949 to 7.2 in 2016, as per the US National Library of Medicine.

The cancer vaccine, mRNA-3459, is designed to stimulate effector T-cells that go on to kill suppressive immune and tumor cells. 

Moderna could first explore the method of inoculation against advanced cutaneous melanoma, the fifth most common cancer in the US, and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

“We are pleased to announce these new development programs, which reflect the continued productivity of our platform and the potential of our mRNA technology to impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people,” said CEO Stéphane Bancel. 

“We are committed to addressing latent viruses with the goal of preventing the lifelong medical conditions that they cause with our mRNA vaccine programs,” he added.

[via Interesting Engineering and Moderna, cover image via Anupong Thiprot | Dreamstime.com]