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PharmTech.com The Real Message Behind Commercial mRNA Products April eBook 2023 Pharmaceutical Technology ® 21 Development Moreover, when mRNA vaccines were finally ap- proved, pharma manufacturers faced challenges of storage and transportation of RNA-based vaccine that require -80 ºC temperature (16). Despite all the challenges, RNA-based therapeu- tics were proven to hold enormous potential to cure many diseases. Food for thought It is quite remarkable that the discovery of mRNA in the 1960s led to a whole new world of RNA molecules. RNA research holds untapped potential for drug development especially for unmet needs, such as rare diseases. However, R&D in the RNA space also highlights chal- lenges and limitations of almost every drug development process: stability issues, drug delivery aspects, cost, lo- gistics etc. Approval of new RNA therapeutics in the past couple of years proved true value of this platform. The pandemic definitely highlighted the impor- tance of novel science especially in the times of emer- gency needs. It also brought to attention the quality of research and showed that new therapies can have positive and negative sides. More importantly, it forced the public to learn and appreciate what science and research can do for us as society and that f uture investment in research and biotech are necessary to forward and improve our lives and health. References 1. Damase, T. R. The Limitless Future of RNA Therapeutics. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 2021 9, Article 628137. 2. Bradley, C.A. First Antisense Drug Is Approved with Fleet- ing Success. Nature Milestones/Antisense RNA S9 2019. 3. Kim, Y-K. RNA Therapy: Rich History, Various Applications and Unlimited Future Prospects. Experimental & Molecular Medicine 2022 54, 455–465 . 4. PharmTech Editors. FDA Approves First-of-its-Kind RNA Therapy. PharmTech.com, August 12, 2018. 5. InsightAce Analytic. Global RNA-based Therapeutics Market, 2022. 6. Moderna. Moderna Reports Third Quarter 2022 Finan- cial Results and Provides Business Updates. Press Re- lease. Nov. 3, 2022. 7. Moderna. Moderna Announces Advances Across mRNA Pipeline and Provides Business Update. Press Release. Jan. 9, 2023. 8. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Alnylam Announces 2023 Prod- uct and Pipeline Goals and Provides Program Updates at R&D Day. Press Release. Dec. 15, 2022. 9. Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Our Medicines, www.ionispharma. com (accessed Jan. 12, 2023). 10. AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca and Ionis Sign Deal to Develop and Commercialise Eplontersen. Press Release. Dec. 7, 2021. 11. Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly and ProQR to Expand RNA Ed- iting Collaboration. Press Release. Dec. 22, 2022. 12. Zhou, W-Y. Circular RNA: Metabolism, Functions, and Interactions with Proteins. Molecular Cancer 2020 19, Article number: 172. 13. Aliahmad, P. Next Generation Self-replicating RNA Vec- tors for Vaccines and Immunotherapies. Cancer Gene Therapy, 2022. 14. Nutcracker Therapeutics. Platform, www.nutcrackerx.com (accessed Jan. 12, 2023). 15. Paunovska, K. Drug Delivery Systems for RNA Therapeutics. Nature Reviews Genetics 2022 23, 265–280. 16. Owens, J. The Challenges of Vaccine Transport and Storage. technologynetworks.com, Dec. 19, 2022. ■ The Future of Vaccine Development In a Drug Solutions Podcast episode published on Feb. 7, 2023, Editor Jill Murphy talked to Normand Blais, senior director of Development and Innovation in Biologics at BIOVECTRA, and Jessica Madigan, director of Business Development in Biologics at BIOVECTRA, about multiple topics under the vaccine umbrella. Blais and Madigan discussed the importance of advancements in the pipeline after COVID-19, challenges in the industry, and con- tract development and manufacturing organizations differentiating themselves as vaccine leaders. Pharmaceutical Technology's ® Drug Solutions Podcast features interviews with industry experts from across the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical supply chain. Join us as experts share insights into your biggest questions—from the technologies, to strategies, to regulations related to the development and manufacture of drug products. For more podcast episodes, visit our website! Normand Blais, BIOVECTRA's Senior Director, Development & Innovation, Biologics, provides strategic scientific guidance to BIOVECTRA's mRNA and pDNA programs. Jessica Madigan, B.Sc. (Chemistry, 2008), has 14+ years of experience focused on nucleic acid manufacturing and development.