First mRNA flu shot approved by FDA bodes well for improving drugs of the future – though a few hurdles remain before mRNA can move beyond vaccines

From COVID-19 vaccines to Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine, using mRNA as medicine has shown promise. But before mRNA drugs can go beyond vaccines, researchers need to identify the right diseases to treat.

By: Li Li, UMass Chan Medical School, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 6, 2026

Words: 1,280

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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By Li Li, UMass Chan Medical School

Vaccines have been reliably and affordably protecting people from diseases worldwide for centuries. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, however, vaccine development was still a long and idiosyncratic process. Traditionally, researchers had to tailor manufacturing processes and facilities for each vaccine candidate, and the scientific knowledge gained from one vaccine was often not directly transferable to another.

But the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines brought a new approach to vaccine development. And …

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