_x000D_Screenshot: href=”https://vimeo.com/721138167″>Breakthrough (Part 1) – Thorne Media on Vimeo

Why did Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023?

Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pivotal discoveries concerning modifying nucleosides in mRNA. These discoveries significantly impacted the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. This dynamic duo, who began their journey together in 1998, unlocked the secret to preventing the immune system from attacking synthetic mRNA. This revelation, published in 2005, fundamentally altered our understanding of how mRNA interacts with the immune system. Their discovery was a monumental milestone that enabled the rapid development and global distribution of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic, notably by Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer, saving countless lives across the globe. Once met with skepticism and funding challenges, this mRNA technology has potential future applications for vaccines against other diseases, such as influenza, malaria, HIV, and cancer.