By Ekambir Singh
Another breakthrough rocks the science world!!
The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has chosen to award Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
About Drew Weissman:
Weissman's contributions serve as the foundation for the advancements made in mRNA vaccines. Notably, the most renowned examples of these vaccines are the ones created by BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, effectively combating COVID-19.
About Dr. Katalin Kariko:
Dr. Katalin Karikó, a renowned biochemist originally from Hungary, has made remarkable contributions to the field of RNA therapeutics. She has earned recognition for her groundbreaking research on messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. Dr. Karikó's pioneering work focused on mRNA nucleosides, the fundamental building blocks of nucleic acids, and their potential to elicit targeted immune responses against specific disease-causing agents. Her invaluable findings paved the way for the development of the world's first mRNA vaccines, which emerged as a monumental breakthrough in 2021, during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Research in the field:
Weissman and Karikó successfully overcame numerous challenges by creating a delivery technique involving lipid nanoparticles, an innovative pharmaceutical system for mRNA transportation. This system ensures the protection of the delicate mRNA molecules until they can reach their intended destination within the body. The effectiveness of this delivery system was demonstrated through animal testing.
In 2006, Weissman and Karikó jointly established RNARx with the objective of developing groundbreaking RNA therapies. Their dedication paid off in 2020 when their modified RNA technology became the pivotal foundation for the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. These vaccines were widely deployed worldwide to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
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