6.2 mRNA-based Vaccines
The mRNA vaccine is a hopeful alternative to traditional vaccine methods
in virtue of its high efficiency, rapid development capabilities, and
the potential for low-cost manufacturing (Pardi et al., 2018). Recently,
Moderna, Inc. has launched phase I clinical trials for mRNA-1273, which
encodes S protein of SARS-CoV-2. This mRNA-vaccine was fabricated with
the cooperation of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (MOERNA, 2020). mRNA-1273, which encodes a prefusion-stabilized
form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike, is under test for a broad dosing range
(25- 250 micrograms) during its phase 1 submission (Hodgson, 2020). The
firm further announced that although commercial vaccines are unlikely to
be marketed in at least 12 to 18 months, in an emergency, possibly in
the fall of 2020, some people, including medical professionals, may
obtain the vaccine (MOERNA, 2020).