Type Of Media：バイオ工学系専門誌
Publication/Magazine/Media：日経バイオテク
Prof. Itaka of Osaka University, "The future of mRNA medicine depends on achieving drug efficacy and safety that can only be achieved with mRNA.
Summary:
On June 30, 2025, at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Nucleic Acid Medicine held in Kobe, Prof. Keiji Itaka from Osaka University delivered a lecture titled "Considering the Future of mRNA Drug Development." The characteristics of mRNA medicines lie in their ability to theoretically produce any protein and their high safety profile. However, mRNA is unstable and has transient expression, and it possesses immunogenicity, resulting in very few approvals beyond COVID-19 vaccines until now.
Recently, the RS virus vaccine from Moderna has been approved in Japan, indicating progress in mRNA medicine development. As of 2025, numerous COVID-19-related vaccines and cancer vaccines are in clinical development, marking a significant shift in the mRNA drug development landscape.
Professor Itaka pointed out that in mRNA drug development, the design and manufacturing, drug delivery technology, and selection of therapeutic proteins are crucial. He emphasized that mRNA itself is not the drug; rather, it is the proteins generated that have therapeutic effects. He also stated that the novelty of the treatment target is important for patent strategies, highlighting the need for applications of mRNA that address unmet medical needs.
https://bio.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/p1/25/07/03/13492/
