RNA-based vaccines were the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic. They set records for the highest-grossing drug launches in history, and their development was recognized in this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. But it was long known that this technology had a key shortcoming: RNA, in its usual linear form, is short-lived. Within hours, enzymes in cells descend on the molecule, chewing it to pieces.
Interesting article about the issue of RNA-based vaccines stability. Indeed rings of RNA could be a solution, but there are other strategies also promising and maybe more mature, such as VLPs delivering stable mRNAs or proteins.
By the way, GEG Tech will present in two weeks at the World Vaccine Congress very promising results about a new generation of nanoparticles delivering mRNA for vaccination, comprising and among other data about a very high protection against parasite in a Malaria animal model.