Robert Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health known as a vaccine skeptic, has halted support for messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine development, and its effects are continuing. Foreign media report, citing experts, that this disruption could hinder vaccine development and cause harm to patients.
Britain's Economist stated on the 20th (local time), "mRNA vaccines have saved 7.7 million lives over the past few years, but Secretary Kennedy is putting the world at risk."
Secretary Kennedy claimed that mRNA vaccines are not particularly effective against respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 or influenza. Earlier this month, he canceled a $500 million (700 billion won) government subsidy contract for mRNA vaccine development.
◇Academics: "Innovative technology that changed the vaccine paradigm"
He distrusts the vaccine itself. In the past, he has claimed that vaccines cause autism. Secretary Kennedy directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March to study the correlation between vaccines and autism.
Experts entirely refute his claims. They state that mRNA is a key medical technology for dealing with infectious disease pandemics and may even conquer cancer in the future. mRNA acts as a "messenger" by transmitting part of the DNA information to ribosomes, the cellular organelles, to synthesize proteins.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA changed the paradigm of vaccine development. Previously, vaccines induced an immune response by injecting inactivated viruses or specific proteins, whereas mRNA vaccines deliver genetic information that enables the human body to directly synthesize viral proteins and produce antibodies against them. mRNA vaccines can be synthesized immediately if genetic information is available, allowing for a rapid response to mutations.
Vaccine developers are rebelling against Secretary Kennedy's claims. They argue that countless people around the world have already received mRNA vaccine shots and concluded they are safe. An SK bioscience representative said, "Developing mRNA vaccines will enable us to respond quickly to new infectious diseases," adding, "Some side effects may occur, but the effect of preventing diseases and reducing the risk of death is greater."
◇Industry: "Cancer vaccine development also delayed, patients suffer"
As mRNA vaccines evolve into a key technology for responding to infectious diseases, a global development competition is underway. According to life science data company Airfinity, the U.S. accounts for nearly 40% of global mRNA vaccine clinical trials (see graph). As of mid this month, the U.S. is conducting clinical trials on 176 mRNA vaccine candidates, followed by China (58), Germany (46), Australia (41), Canada (30), Britain (36), Japan (27), France (15), Korea (12), and India (3).
In Korea, SK bioscience is developing an mRNA-based Japanese encephalitis vaccine. GC Biopharma is establishing an mRNA vaccine process and plans to submit a clinical trial plan for a COVID-19 vaccine this year. ST PHARM, CHA Vaccine, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical are also developing technologies related to mRNA. An SK bioscience representative stated, "mRNA is a platform that can be utilized not only for vaccines but also in cancer treatment and other fields, which is why everyone wants to secure it."
In fact, mRNA is being developed as a vaccine for not only COVID-19 and influenza but also cancer. By identifying the mutated antigen proteins present in a patient's cancer cells and creating mRNA that synthesizes them for injection, customized treatment for patients becomes possible. mRNA therapeutics induce immune responses by synthesizing unique antigen proteins found in cancer cells into the human body.
The cancellation of Secretary Kennedy's support for mRNA vaccine development could endanger countless patients who could benefit from cancer vaccines. OncoDaily, a U.S. cancer-focused online media outlet, forecasts that the discontinuation of government support will increase production costs for mRNA cancer vaccines by 20% to 40%. The production period will be delayed by 2 to 6 weeks, which in turn postpones the timing of administration to patients. Administering the vaccine after cancer cells have spread will not yield effective results. Clinical trials could also be delayed if government support is discontinued.
◇Potential outflow of scientific talent following embryonic stem cells and mRNA
U.S. academia is concerned that Secretary Kennedy's skepticism toward mRNA could lead to an outflow of scientific talent abroad. This concern arises because a similar situation occurred when former President George W. Bush decided in 2001 not to fund government research on embryonic stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells are primitive cells that grow into all tissues and cells of the human body from a fertilized egg (embryo). There was hope that replacing diseased cells with healthy ones derived from embryonic stem cells could lead to fundamental treatments for diseases. However, the devout Christian former President Bush opposed embryonic stem cell research, claiming it destroys embryos that could grow into life.
U.S. embryonic stem cell research collapsed as funding sources dried up. The Economist noted, "At that time, the U.K. became a stronghold for embryonic stem cell research by accepting scientists who had come from the U.S., and a similar situation could be repeated if Secretary Kennedy cuts the budget for mRNA vaccine development."