Trends in mRNA Vaccine Development and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Since the roll-out of mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based COVID-19 vaccines in 2020, billions of people have been immunized with this type of vaccine, representing a novel technology platform to fight infectious diseases. Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty and Moderna’s Spikevax, the lead mRNA-LNP formulations, trigger immune responses that effectively reduce the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2, saving millions from severe illness or death. The mechanism of this benefit, details of these vaccines’ structure and function, as well as their side effects have been the subjects of unprecedented scientific and public attention, yet novelties in these fields emerge each day. Many believe that technology will surpass all other approaches of gene and pharmacotherapy, but there is also a lot of scientific and public discussion of presently ill-understood adverse effects, of which clarification is necessary to secure safe beside efficacy.

The goal of this Special Issue of Pharmaceutics is to provide a 2024 update on the most recent developments and prospects in this field, good or unfavorable, that may guide the development of next-generation mRNA-LNP vaccines and other pharmaceuticals. Original research data and comprehensive reviews are all welcome to be submitted to this Special Issue in order to make it a source of state-of-the-art information in the field.

Prof. Dr. Janos Szebeni
Guest Editor

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