Analyzing the Commercial Success of mRNA Vaccine Platforms: Lessons from COVID-19

Abstract

Selecting the right platform for vaccine development is one of the most difficult tasks when pandemics arise. The innovative modalities of mRNA and viral vector-based systems have demonstrated significant benefits, despite the lengthy history of effectiveness and safety of the traditional platforms of live attenuated/inactivated and subunit protein. It appears that investing in many platforms in tandem might be a better option because there is no assurance that the platforms chosen would be successful. The failures of Sanofi-GSK and CureVac in developing mRNA and subunit vaccines shown that platform selection alone is insufficient for success. The manufacture of vaccines requires both safety and effectiveness. The pace of vaccine development, however, has the potential to alter the situation. Novel platforms like mRNA and viral vector-based vaccines are appropriate for future outbreaks due to their ability to respond quickly to pandemics. The development of vaccinations tailored to individual variants is also greatly facilitated by this prompt reaction. During a pandemic, the best platform for vaccine development is chosen based on factors such as shipping and storage conditions, administration route, and safety, effectiveness, and development speed. The mRNA vaccine's distribution issues demonstrated that enhancing storage conditions and developing new delivery methods (such nasal delivery) might hasten the strong reaction to pandemic control. Regardless of the infectious illnesses, a good platform for vaccine development might lead to new discoveries for a variety of diseases and make it easier to translate innovative preventive and treatment strategies from the bench to the bedside.