The German company behind the first approved COVID-19 vaccine is developing a jab to help fight cancer – which may be available in two years.
BioNTech was already working on a cancer-focused regimen when COVID-19 infection began to spread worldwide.
The company-developed coronavirus vaccine and Pfizer was approved in the UK within the first 11 months of the pandemic – boosting the funding needed for BioNotech to continue the cancer vaccine.
Its COVID vaccine uses mRNA, a messenger RNA, to direct proteins in the human body that make it predominant to attack the virus – the same technique used to get the immune system to fight tumors. Will depend
“We have many different cancer vaccines based on mRNA,” said Ojel Tursi, who founded BioNTech with her husband Ugur Sahin.
Asked when such treatment might be available, Turici said that “it is very difficult to predict innovative development.” But we hope that within just a few years, we too will have our vaccine (against) cancer in a place where we can present them to the people. “
On Friday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarded the husband-wife team one of the country’s highest decorations – the Order of Merit.
“You started with a drug to treat cancer in one person,” Steinmeier told the couple. “And today we have a vaccine for humanity.”
Tureci said the award was “truly an honor”, but said she could not do it without others.
“It’s about the effort of many: Our team at BioNTech, who were also partners, were also governments, regulatory authorities, who worked closely with readiness,” Turici said. “The way we see it, it is an acceptance of this effort and also a celebration of science.”
With post wires
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