Cancer Is Next Target for mRNA Vaccine Technology
2021-03-25
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1Ozlem Tureci started the German drug company BioNTech with her husband Ugur Sahin in 2008.
2The two are now known for doing important work on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the coronavirus.
3But they started their company to work on a cure for cancer.
4In fact, the doctors started a different company about 20 years ago to work on cancer drugs.
5They sold that company for about $1 billion in 2016.
6BioNTech was looking for a way to cause the body's immune system to fight tumors with a technology called messenger RNA, or mRNA.
7In early 2020, Tureci and Sahin heard about a new virus that was infecting people in China.
8They thought they could find a way to use their technology to fight it.
9They had already been working with Pfizer on a new influenza vaccine.
10They created a new project, to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, and called it "Project Lightspeed."
11Within 11 months, Britain approved use of the coronavirus vaccine they developed working with Pfizer.
12One week later, the U.S. approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use.
13Now, tens of millions of people around the world have received their vaccine.
14Tureci said she was not worried about finding a way to make a coronavirus vaccine.
15Instead, she was worried about how her small company would create enough of the vaccine for all who would need it.
16Pfizer and BioNTech worked with a Chinese company called Fosun Pharma to increase their ability to produce the vaccine.
17"It pays off to make bold decisions and to trust that if you have an extraordinary team, you will be able to solve any problem and obstacle which comes your way in real time," Tureci told the Associated Press.
18She said working together with international companies was important to their success.
19The vaccines from Moderna and AstraZeneca also use mRNA technology.
20Treatments of this kind use mRNA to carry instructions that tell the body to make proteins that attack viruses.
21Tureci and Sahin said they think they can do the same thing for cancer tumors.
22"We have several different cancer vaccines based on mRNA," Tureci said.
23She said she thinks BioNTech will develop its cancer drugs so they can be offered to people within a few years.
24Right now, however, the company is continuing to work to be sure it can fulfill coronavirus vaccine orders and deal with variants of the virus.
25Tureci said people should trust that all of the vaccines are safe for people to use.
26She said the vaccines were developed quickly, but still observed "a very rigid process."
27She said officials around the world are paying careful attention to how people react to the vaccines from BioNTech and other drug companies.
28Germany recognized what its two citizens did for the world in developing a successful vaccine.
29Tureci and Sahin received the Order of Merit on March 19.
30It is one of Germany's highest honors.
31Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented the award while Chancellor Angela Merkel attended.
32Tureci said she was pleased to be recognized.
33But she said many people deserve credit for helping with the vaccine.
34"It's about the effort of many," she said.
35"The way we see it, this is an acknowledgment of this effort and also a celebration of science."
36I'm Dan Friedell.
1Ozlem Tureci started the German drug company BioNTech with her husband Ugur Sahin in 2008. 2The two are now known for doing important work on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the coronavirus. But they started their company to work on a cure for cancer. In fact, the doctors started a different company about 20 years ago to work on cancer drugs. They sold that company for about $1 billion in 2016. 3BioNTech was looking for a way to cause the body's immune system to fight tumors with a technology called messenger RNA, or mRNA. 4In early 2020, Tureci and Sahin heard about a new virus that was infecting people in China. They thought they could find a way to use their technology to fight it. They had already been working with Pfizer on a new influenza vaccine. They created a new project, to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, and called it "Project Lightspeed." 5Within 11 months, Britain approved use of the coronavirus vaccine they developed working with Pfizer. One week later, the U.S. approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use. Now, tens of millions of people around the world have received their vaccine. 6Tureci said she was not worried about finding a way to make a coronavirus vaccine. Instead, she was worried about how her small company would create enough of the vaccine for all who would need it. 7Pfizer and BioNTech worked with a Chinese company called Fosun Pharma to increase their ability to produce the vaccine. 8"It pays off to make bold decisions and to trust that if you have an extraordinary team, you will be able to solve any problem and obstacle which comes your way in real time," Tureci told the Associated Press. She said working together with international companies was important to their success. 9Future of mRNA 10The vaccines from Moderna and AstraZeneca also use mRNA technology. Treatments of this kind use mRNA to carry instructions that tell the body to make proteins that attack viruses. Tureci and Sahin said they think they can do the same thing for cancer tumors. 11"We have several different cancer vaccines based on mRNA," Tureci said. 12She said she thinks BioNTech will develop its cancer drugs so they can be offered to people within a few years. Right now, however, the company is continuing to work to be sure it can fulfill coronavirus vaccine orders and deal with variants of the virus. 13Tureci said people should trust that all of the vaccines are safe for people to use. She said the vaccines were developed quickly, but still observed "a very rigid process." 14She said officials around the world are paying careful attention to how people react to the vaccines from BioNTech and other drug companies. 15National Honor 16Germany recognized what its two citizens did for the world in developing a successful vaccine. Tureci and Sahin received the Order of Merit on March 19. It is one of Germany's highest honors. Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented the award while Chancellor Angela Merkel attended. 17Tureci said she was pleased to be recognized. But she said many people deserve credit for helping with the vaccine. 18"It's about the effort of many," she said. "The way we see it, this is an acknowledgment of this effort and also a celebration of science." 19I'm Dan Friedell. 20Frank Jordans wrote this story for the Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 21Did you know about the wife and husband team between the BioNTech vaccine? We want to hear from you. Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 22________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24immune system -n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections 25tumor -n. a mass of tissue found in or on the body that is made up of abnormal cells 26bold -adj. not afraid of danger or difficult situations 27extraordinary -adj. extremely good or impressive 28obstacle -n. a problem that makes it difficult to reach a goal; a barrier 29variant -n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind 30rigid -adj. unwilling to lower requirements or compromise quality 31credit -n. praise or special attention that is given to someone for doing something or for making something happen 32acknowledge -n. the act of showing that you know, admit, or accept that something exists or is true