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CureVac COVID vaccine let-down spotlights mRNA design challenges

Scientists are searching for explanations to disappointing final-stage trial results. These insights could help guide the future development of mRNA vaccines.
  1. Elie Dolgin
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Two vaccines made using messenger RNA (mRNA) have proved spectacularly successful at warding off COVID-19, but a third mRNA-based candidate has flopped in a final-stage trial, according to an initial report released this week. Researchers are now asking why — and some think that choices about the type of mRNA chemistry used might be to blame. Any insight could help to guide the future design of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 or other diseases.

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Nature 594, 483 (2021)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01661-0

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