Vaccines to treat cancer possible by 2030, say BioNTech founders

mRNA Covid vaccine technology could be repurposed so that it primed the immune system to attack cancer cells.

BioNTech was working on mRNA cancer vaccines before the pandemic struck but the firm pivoted to produce Covid vaccines in the face of the global emergency. The firm now has several cancer vaccines in clinical trials. Türeci said the development and success of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which is similar to the Moderna Covid shot, “gives back to our cancer work”.

But Türeci(who co-founded BioNTech, the German firm that partnered with Pfizer to manufacture a revolutionary mRNA Covid vaccine) remained cautious about the work. “As scientists we are always hesitant to say we will have a cure for cancer,” she said. “We have a number of breakthroughs and we will continue to work on them.”

https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/16/vaccines-to-treat-cancer-possible-by-2030-say-biontech-founders?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D&fbclid=IwAR18d3jSHWXuKBI8FXgJLJWBjUvXvgnxI7zzvx6zkC-xCmPaa8Fk1LOE_QA#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16659558517121&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fsociety%2F2022%2Foct%2F16%2Fvaccines-to-treat-cancer-possible-by-2030-say-biontech-founders