mRNA Vaccine Pioneers Karikó and Weissman Awarded Nobel Prize for COVID-19 Shot Development
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Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman met by chance in 1998 at Univ. of Pennsylvania and began collaborating on mRNA research. Their work led to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
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The mRNA vaccines teach cells to create spike proteins to help the body build defenses against COVID-19. The vaccines became available in Dec. 2020.
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Weissman & Karikó continued working during pandemic lockdowns. Weissman said the vaccines have greatly reduced ICU admissions of COVID patients.
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Their mRNA technology is now being used to develop vaccines against HIV, malaria, hepatitis C, TB, food allergies and more.
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In Dec. 2023, Karikó and Weissman were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for enabling the development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.