 The COVID-19 pandemic has brought mRNA vaccines into the spotlight and likely sped up the widespread adoption and use of this technology. Now, the company behind a popular COVID-19 vaccine has set its sights on treating cancer with the same tech. The initial results are promising. Find out more on this episode of Lifespan News. BioNTech is a German biotechnology company that partnered with Pfizer to release a COVID-19 vaccine using messenger ribonucleic acid or mRNA. In late 2020, it became the first mRNA vaccine ever authorized, and on August 23rd, 2021, it became the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full FDA approval. According to the New York Times, this BioNTech vaccine is being used in 125 around the world. As of September 2021, over 200 million doses of this mRNA vaccine have been administered in the United States. Vaccines and treatments using mRNA look like they are here to stay, and while they are best known because of COVID-19, their development began years before this. Now, their application for other diseases is being explored. BioNTech has published data in the journal Science Translational Medicine for one of its mRNA cancer therapies for the treatment of colon cancer and melanoma. The researchers created an mRNA cocktail that, once delivered to the target cells, prompts them to produce four anti-cancer molecules. In mouse models of colon cancer and melanoma, the treatment was able to suppress tumors. The mRNAs included in the cocktail code for four cytokines chosen due to how they support the immune system to combat cancer. Previous studies have shown that carrying cytokines to tumors through gene therapy can work, but carries the risk of side effects. Using mRNA gets around this problem, as it allows for the transient production of cytokines at the target cells. In this study, the researchers administered the mRNA cocktail into colon and melanoma tumors in 20 mice. They reported that treatment was able to halt tumor growth, leading to total regression in 17 of the mice. Even better, combining the mRNA mix with a checkpoint inhibitor increased the anti-tumor effects as well as regression speed. Based on this data, BioNTech and co-authors Sanofi have joined forces to further develop this approach. A phase one basket trial in humans is to begin enrolling patients with solid tumors. A basket trial tests how well a new drug works in patients who have different types of cancer but that share the same mutation or biomarker. The trial will test the mRNA both solo and in combination with a pd1 inhibitor launched by Sanofi and Regeneron last year. The move from using mRNA in vaccines against COVID-19 to the treatment of cancer is a major step, and there may be many other uses for mRNA in the treatment of other diseases. As more is announced, we'll be sure to let you know. So please subscribe so you don't miss out. I'm Ryan O'Shea and we'll see you next time on Lifespan News.