Nobel Prize awarded to mRNA COVID vaccine pioneers
CROCOTHERY
This yearâs Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Hungarian biochemist Katalin Kariko and U.S. immunologist Drew Weissman on Monday for their early research that led to the development of mRNA vaccines targeted at COVID-19.
âThe discoveries by the two Nobel Laureates were critical for developing effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 during the pandemic that began in early 2020,â the award-giving body, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet, said in a statement.
The duo will share 11M Swedish crowns (about $1M) that comes as a financial reward with the prize.
BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX), the German vaccine maker where Dr. KarikÃ³ served as a senior vice president overseeing its mRNA work, took notice.
âWe value both for their passion, persistence and commitment. This Nobel Prize is a reminder for scientists around the world to continue to develop and unlock the full potential of new drug classes,â the company said in a statement.
BioNTech (BNTX) with Pfizer (PFE) used messenger-RNA technology to develop the first FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. in record time in 2020.
Moderna (MRNA) followed suit with its COVID-19 vaccine, developed in partnership with the U.S. government.
More than a billion people across the globe have received the trio's mRNA-based shots for COVID-19. Other mRNA-based vaccine developers include CureVac (CVAC) and Arcturus Therapeutics (ARCT).

More on BioNTech

BioNTech: Renewed COVID Focus Might Spark Potential Share Price Boost
BioNTech: Not Just Another Jab In The Arm
BioNTech SE (BNTX) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript
Updated COVID boosters to divide America
Pfizer sees 24% of eligible Americans getting COVID-19 boosters