mRNA Vaccines Under Threat: Cancer Research at Risk

A surge in regulatory restrictions on Covid-19 mRNA vaccines is sparking concerns that therapeutic cancer research could be the next to suffer. Scientists fear that restrictions on mRNA shots will "sweep up" cancer research, despite mRNA vaccines showing promise in treating and preventing cancers that are difficult to address. Research on mRNA cancer vaccines has been underway for over a decade, with more than 120 clinical trials on treating and preventing cancers.

Key Takeaways:

• At least 16 grants involving mRNA have been terminated or frozen, and researchers have been told to remove mentions of mRNA vaccines from their research applications.
• The uncertainty around mRNA specifically, and research broadly, could discourage researchers and institutions from beginning new projects.
• Research on mRNA cancer vaccines has shown promise in treating and preventing cancers, including pancreatic cancer, brain tumors, and others.
• mRNA cancer vaccines train the body to recognize and destroy harmful cells, unlike foreign pathogens.
• Some cancer vaccines are highly personalized, using a patient's own cancer cells to treat their tumors or train their immune system to kill off those dangerous cells if they recur.
• The next couple of years are critical for mRNA breakthroughs, and researchers fear that restrictions could stop or stymie progress.
• Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US, and two in five people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime.
• There are currently only two FDA-approved vaccines that prevent cancer, and both have been targeted by anti-vaccine activists.
• The Trump administration has implemented unprecedented cuts to cancer research, among other research cuts and widespread layoffs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Statistics:

• 16 grants involving mRNA have been terminated or frozen.
• 120 clinical trials are underway on treating and preventing cancers using mRNA.
• 178 deaths from Covid-19 occurred in the US in the week ending June 7, 12.
• 11.6% of all cancer deaths in the US are due to breast cancer.
• 10% of patients with pancreatic cancer survive.
• The FDA approved the original Covid mRNA vaccine from Moderna for children between the ages of six months and 11 years.
• $766m in contracts for research on mRNA vaccines against H5N1 bird flu was canceled.
• Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US.

Sources:

• Grant Watch (cited in KFF Health News)
• KFF Health News, March 2023
• FDA meeting notes, June 2023
• CDC website, data on Covid-19 deaths
• National Vaccine Information Center (cited in ACIP meeting notes)
• ACIP meeting notes, June 2023
• FDA memos, cited in KFF Health News
• HHS communications director Andrew Nixon, cited in KFF Health News
• CNN, May 2023
• Bloomberg, January 2023
• Getty Images, photograph of lab worker.