Latest news with #JeffColler
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
mRNA tech could help fight cancer, but cuts threaten progress, experts say
If you think last week's decision by the federal government to halt $500 million in funding for vaccine development projects that use mRNA technology will only affect COVID vaccines, think again. These types of vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA, to prompt the body to make proteins that induce an antibody response to protect against a pathogen. The science behind it is also being studied for a wide range of other uses, from fighting cancer to treating autoimmune conditions and more. Health experts have criticized the move to defund this research, pointing to the impact it will have on America's ability to develop breakthroughs against deadly or debilitating diseases. Jeff Coller, professor of RNA biology and therapeutics at Johns Hopkins University, called the cuts a "completely reckless decision from Robert F. Kennedy Jr." that was "clearly being made for political motivations and not those that are rested in our science." Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who served in the first Trump administration, said the technology "helps us develop vaccines and new treatments," and warned that cuts could halt progress in one of the "most promising areas of modern medicine." "People are going to die because we're cutting short funding for this technology," Adams said in a recent appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." mRNA studied for pancreatic cancer, rare diseases and more Collier said one of the most exciting avenues for mRNA technology is in the treatment of deadly cancers, including pancreatic cancer, which is fatal for many patients within six months to a year. In recent years, researchers have been testing the effectiveness of using an mRNA vaccine to target the cancer. A small NIH-funded clinical trial by Sloan Kettering in 2023 used infusions of an mRNA vaccine to help boost T cells in the immune system of pancreatic cancer patients. The results, published in the journal Nature, showed improvements among about 50% of participants. "It was, in essence, the start of a cure for pancreatic cancer, where half of the patients in that study were surviving," Coller said. The early results encouraged scientists, but the small sample size called for further studies, which led to a Phase 2 trial published in Nature earlier this year. Experimental mRNA-focused treatments have also showed promise in fighting lung, colorectal and gastric cancers. For example, a study published online in the journal Gastric Cancer found a mRNA-based vaccine led to robust gastric tumor regression in mice. And earlier this year, the world was was awed by news that an infant named KJ Muldoon became the first patient to undergo personalized gene-editing treatment using a technique known as CRISPR to fix a rare and potentially fatal genetic disorder. As Coller pointed out, the CRISPR technology had to be delivered via mRNA. "This opens a floodgate for rare diseases," he said. "We're now talking about, could we use the same technology to go after all rare diseases?" Autoimmune diseases are another area of research, for treating things like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. While all of these are still at the early research stage, Coller urged the importance of investing in this technology now for future progress. "We need to do experiments and see where we can get with the next generation of mRNA-based drugs," he said. Like with COVID-19, there has also been continued research on mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases like the flu, RSV, Zika virus and cytomegalovirus, known as CMV, an infection that can be harmful to babies exposed during the mother's pregnancy. "We're at a point where, if we continue to develop this technology, we'll get more personalized, bespoke medicine that we can use on patients and improve health care outcomes," Coller said. How is mRNA medicine so versatile? RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, an essential molecule in the body's cells. It is similar to DNA but has different functions. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, carries the information required for making proteins. As Coller put it: "If your DNA is a cookbook, your mRNA is an individual recipe that's telling your body what to do." To harness that power for treating disease, "All we're doing with this technology is giving it new recipes. We're taking advantage of this powerful natural system that exists in your body," he said. The versatility and potential to help such a range of illnesses is what has experts like Coller — who was not immediately impacted by the funding cuts — hoping the administration will reinstate funding for mRNA research. "We have to keep moving forward," he said. "People wanting to improve their family's lives and their children's lives is a bipartisan issue, it's truly an American issue. So we've got to keep moving." President Trump says meeting with Russia's Putin is not to broker peace deal in Ukraine Trump says he's placing D.C. police under federal control, deploying National Guard Could Tropical Storm Erin become the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025? Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
mRNA technology could hold hope for fighting cancer, but future is in doubt under RFK Jr.
If you think last week's decision by the federal government to halt $500 million in funding for vaccine development projects that use mRNA technology will only affect COVID vaccines, think again. These types of vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA, to prompt the body to make proteins that induce an antibody response to protect against a pathogen. The science behind it is also being studied for a wide range of other uses, from fighting cancer to treating autoimmune conditions and more. Health experts have criticized the move to defund this research, pointing to the impact it will have on America's ability to develop breakthroughs against deadly or debilitating diseases. Jeff Coller, professor of RNA biology and therapeutics at Johns Hopkins University, called the cuts a "completely reckless decision from Robert F. Kennedy Jr." that was "clearly being made for political motivations and not those that are rested in our science." Former Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who served in the first Trump administration, said the technology "helps us develop vaccines and new treatments," and warned that cuts could halt progress in one of the "most promising areas of modern medicine." "People are going to die because we're cutting short funding for this technology," Adams said in a recent appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." Collier said one of the most exciting avenues for mRNA technology is in the treatment of deadly cancers, including pancreatic cancer, which is fatal for many patients within six months to a year. In recent years, researchers have been testing the effectiveness of using an mRNA vaccine to target the cancer. A small NIH-funded clinical trial by Sloan Kettering in 2023 used infusions of an mRNA vaccine to help boost T cells in the immune system of pancreatic cancer patients. The results, published in the journal Nature, showed improvements among about 50% of participants. "It was, in essence, the start of a cure for pancreatic cancer, where half of the patients in that study were surviving," Coller said. The early results encouraged scientists, but the small sample size called for further studies, which led to a Phase 2 trial published in Nature earlier this year. Experimental mRNA-focused treatments have also showed promise in fighting lung, colorectal and gastric cancers. For example, a study published online in the journal Gastric Cancer found a mRNA-based vaccine led to robust gastric tumor regression in mice. And earlier this year, the world was was awed by news that an infant named KJ Muldoon became the first patient to undergo personalized gene-editing treatment using a technique known as CRISPR to fix a rare and potentially fatal genetic disorder. As Coller pointed out, the CRISPR technology had to be delivered via mRNA. "This opens a floodgate for rare diseases," he said. "We're now talking about, could we use the same technology to go after all rare diseases?" Autoimmune diseases are another area of research, for treating things like multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. While all of these are still at the early research stage, Coller urged the importance of investing in this technology now for future progress. "We need to do experiments and see where we can get with the next generation of mRNA-based drugs," he said. Like with COVID-19, there has also been continued research on mRNA-based vaccines for infectious diseases like the flu, RSV, Zika virus and cytomegalovirus, known as CMV, an infection that can be harmful to babies exposed during the mother's pregnancy. "We're at a point where, if we continue to develop this technology, we'll get more personalized, bespoke medicine that we can use on patients and improve health care outcomes," Coller said. RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, an essential molecule in the body's cells. It is similar to DNA but has different functions. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, carries the information required for making proteins. As Coller put it: "If your DNA is a cookbook, your mRNA is an individual recipe that's telling your body what to do." To harness that power for treating disease, "All we're doing with this technology is giving it new recipes. We're taking advantage of this powerful natural system that exists in your body," he said. The versatility and potential to help such a range of illnesses is what has experts like Coller — who was not immediately impacted by the funding cuts — hoping the administration will reinstate funding for mRNA research. "We have to keep moving forward," he said. "People wanting to improve their family's lives and their children's lives is a bipartisan issue, it's truly an American issue. So we've got to keep moving."
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. is canceling mRNA vaccine development. Can I still get a COVID vaccine?
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed his agency will be cutting funding to mRNA development, calling the vaccine technology "ineffective" and claiming it poses more risks than benefits. In a video posted on X Aug. 5, Kennedy said the decision will impact 22 projects worth nearly $500 million at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which helps companies develop medical supplies to address public health threats. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is used in the two most common COVID-19 vaccines licensed in the U.S. Kennedy's announcement has raised questions about these vaccines, how mRNA works and what this decision means for future research. "This technology played a vital role in our pandemic response and continues to show promise for treating serious diseases," said Jeff Coller, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of RNA biology and therapeutics at Johns Hopkins University. "As other countries advance these proven, safe and effective therapies, American patients may increasingly depend on foreign innovation for breakthrough treatments." How do mRNA vaccines work? The COVID-19 vaccine works by instructing the body's immune system to recognize the virus and creating fighting antibodies to attack it. Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is a code that tells the body's cells to produce just a piece of the virus, the protein on the surface. The code is protected by a lipid coating, like a fat bubble. mRNA vaccines: RFK Jr. to wind down $500M vaccine development Once injected into the body, the vaccine releases the mRNA to program the cell to produce the spike proteins like those on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus. Our immune system recognizes those vaccine-created spike proteins as invaders and creates antibodies to block future attacks from the virus. Messenger RNA vaccines contain only a fraction of the virus, so unlike some vaccines, they can't give people the disease they're trying to prevent or trigger allergies to eggs or other traditional vaccine ingredients. Should I expect a COVID vaccine this fall? It's unclear whether patients should be expecting COVID-19 vaccines this fall, said Dr. Beth Oller, a family physician in Stockton, Kansas, and clinical instructor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. In June, Kennedy fired all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a key vaccine panel that makes recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines, and appointed eight new members. During its first meeting, the committee did not make any recommendations for the fall and isn't expected to reconvene until "September/October," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Kennedy said on May 27 that the COVID-19 vaccine would no longer be included in the CDC's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, a move that broke with previous expert guidance and bypassed the normal scientific review process. Under the changes, the only people who will be recommended for COVID-19 vaccines are those over 65 and people with existing health problems. This could make it harder for others who want the COVID-19 vaccine to get it, including health care workers and healthy people under 65 with a vulnerable family member or those who want to reduce their short-term risk of infection. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), among other organizations, issued statements condemning the change, with the ACOG saying it was "...concerned about and extremely disappointed by the announcement that HHS will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy." Will insurance cover my COVID shot? Many consumers are worried about possible cuts to health insurers' coverage of vaccines, a recent poll said. A KFF poll published Aug. 1 found 40% of adults said they will "definitely" or "probably" get a COVID-19 vaccine shot. Of those who intend to get vaccinated, 62% said they are worried insurance won't cover the cost of the vaccine. Groups representing commercial health insurance companies said they still plan to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC and ACIP, the vaccine advisory panel. "Health plans continue to follow federal requirements related to coverage of ACIP-recommended vaccines and will continue to support broad access to critical preventive services, including immunizations," said Tina Stow, spokesperson for AHIP, which represents health insurance companies. COVID: As new variant spreads, what's the latest vaccine guidance? The CDC currently recommends shared decision-making between parents and doctors for immunizing children with the COVID-19 vaccine. It also recommends vaccines for people who are moderately or severely immune compromised. Large employers that provide health insurance benefits for workers and their families will likely continue to cover Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines, said James Gelfand, president and CEO of the ERISA Industry Committee. In some cases, employer vaccine coverage might follow FDA approvals rather than narrower ACIP Mary Walrath-Holdridge Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. defunds COVID shot technology. What is mRNA vaccine? Solve the daily Crossword
