While mRNA saved the COVID-19 day, GSK and Sanofi vaccines likely safe beyond pandemic: analysts – FiercePharma

Few knew about mRNA technology before the pandemic ushered the novel approach to the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. But while mRNA shots sailed through testing and have reached hundreds of millions of people so far, the techwont be the panacea for all other diseases, analysts say.

To be sure, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have shown astonishing efficacy, Jefferies analysts wrote in a note Wednesdayfollowing a conversation with an undisclosed world pre-eminent expert on vaccines and infectious diseases. Still, uncertainties remain in areas such as flu and cancer.

Following the mRNA success, experts have started speculatingabout which other diseases might be suitable forthe novel approach. For their part, the Jefferies analysts saidit's not clear how mRNA vaccines wouldstack up against more traditional methods of vaccine-making from industry heavyweights Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline.

For those companies and Merck, established shotsinclude pediatric combinations, plus vaccines against meningitis, shingles and HPV. There may be more room for mRNA developers to tackle cytomegalovirus virus or dengue, the Jefferies analysts wrote.

When it comes to the flu, rival mRNA developers have argued the technology, which uses messenger RNA instead of a weakened germ to instruct cells to trigger an immune response, could disrupt the multibillion-dollar market.

Existing flu vaccines typically hold a low efficacy barroughly 30% to 60%and cant be quickly adjusted to target emerging strains like mRNA can. Except there may be some challenges in that arena as well, Jefferies analysts pointed out.

RELATED:Pfizer, after success in COVID-19, will go solo to develop other mRNA vaccines, CEO Bourla says

For one, its unclear whether one shot of an mRNA vaccine will work just as well as existing flu shots; a two-dose regimen could be a drawback. Its also unknown how much governments would be willing to shell out for more effective flu vaccines.

Meanwhile, developing a cancer vaccine has proven to be a hard nut to crack and the probability an mRNA-based cancer shot would work is likely lower than viral vectors, Jefferies analysts said in the note.

Pfizer and Moderna have both pledged to plow ahead with the gene-based technology. Both companies are working on booster shots to tackle emerging coronavirus variants, and Moderna is testing a dual COVID-flu combo option.

Jefferies noted that the combo shot, while conceivable, could be complicated by the different mutation rates of the two viruses, plus potential for deleterious interactions and added manufacturing complexity.

Beyond COVID-19, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in March that the drugmaker will try to use the technology against a host of other diseases. The drugmakers chief scientist, Mikael Dolsten, told investors on an earnings call that the technology could potentially be applied to flu, CMV and RSV.

RELATED:Moderna advancing early-stage mRNA prospects to show depth beyond COVID-19 shot

But the drugmaker will have to go head-to-head with Moderna, which has been developing drugs in the field over the last decade. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech has more than a dozen different mRNA candidates launched into clinical trials already with plans to further invest in the mRNA platform.

Thats not to mention the mRNA partnerships Sanofi and GSK drummed up recently. Sanofi is working with Translate Bio while GSK is teamed up with Germanys CureVac to develop and a handful of mRNA infectious disease contenders.

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While mRNA saved the COVID-19 day, GSK and Sanofi vaccines likely safe beyond pandemic: analysts - FiercePharma