JAKARTA – Like any other company developing a vaccine , Moderna has quickly become a well-known name in the pharmaceutical world. For the general public, vaksin mRNA seems to have achieved the word “overnight” success. Also read: Good news, Moderna Vaccine is considered to be able to reduce the Corona Virus variant
But in truth, it is the product of decades of rigorous research, combined with bold entrepreneurship. The origins of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines can be found in the early days of biotechnology. In the 1970s, at the MIT Cancer Research Center, Prof. Phil Sharp discovered RNA sequencing and revealed the potential of mRNA.
“I’ve been involved in biotech almost since the word was invented. We have new science, and we know it will have an impact on the world,” he was quoted as saying technologyreview.com.
In the 1980s, Moderna cofounder, Bob Langer, pioneered new ways of delivering drugs, including RNA – work that ultimately contributed to the development of new vaccines. But the early years of fighting for his discovery were simply impossible.
As Bob remembered, everyone told them that was impossible, and his first nine grants were turned down. “I found more than 200 ways to make it not work. But finally I found a way to make it work,” said Bob.
Noubar Afeyan, also a co-founder of Moderna, got into biotechnology after earning a doctorate in biochemical engineering. Since then, he’s helped find dozens of startups, operating with the belief that scientists should start not by looking at the problem they want to solve, but by finding solutions that “don’t make sense” —and looking for ways to make them happen.
They refuse to give up, despite their daunting setbacks. Envisioning an impossible solution is the idea. Also read: IBF’s new mini flyingweight king shakes the boxing universe
(iqb)
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