Moderna announces progress on multiple mRNA-based vaccines, including for Epstein-Barr, shingles, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, during its Vaccines Day Event; however, scientists warn that the company’s COVID-19 shots may be suppressing immune function, reactivating latent viruses, and potentially causing the very conditions their new products aim to prevent.
Moderna is broadening its research and development efforts, focusing on mRNA vaccines targeting diseases such as Epstein-Barr, shingles, cancer, and autoimmune disorders. This expansion occurs amidst growing scrutiny over the potential adverse effects of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, with some experts suggesting these vaccines may suppress immune function and activate latent viruses, possibly leading to the conditions the new vaccines aim to prevent.
During a recent event for investors, Moderna announced progress in developing vaccines against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Varicella-zoster virus (VZV, responsible for chickenpox and shingles), and Norovirus, with these vaccines advancing to pivotal late-stage development. Additionally, the FDA is expected to approve its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine mRNA-1345 for older adults, tapping into a projected $52 billion market for Moderna’s infectious disease vaccines.
Critics, including Brian Hooker, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Children’s Health Defense, and Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., express concerns about the suppression of innate immunity by synthetic-modified RNA (modRNA) found in COVID-19 vaccines. They argue that this suppression may allow dormant viruses such as VZV to reactivate, leading to shingles. Reports of herpes zoster (shingles) cases emerging post-COVID-19 vaccination lend credence to these concerns, despite researchers’ hesitance to definitively link the vaccines to these outbreaks.
Hélène Banoun, Ph.D., highlights the disorganization of the innate immune system and its contribution to the reactivation of latent viruses, including herpes and shingles. Banoun’s analysis points to a broader issue of mRNA vaccines’ side effects potentially reactivating diseases previously considered under control.
The development of mRNA vaccines for EBV (mRNA-1189 and mRNA-1195) by Moderna raises questions about the company’s role in addressing diseases its products might exacerbate. A pause in the EBV vaccine trial due to a case of myocarditis further complicates the narrative around the safety of mRNA vaccines.
As Moderna ventures into treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases, the potential for mRNA vaccines to trigger turbo cancers and autoimmune conditions through mechanisms like IgG4 overexpression and T cell exhaustion becomes a critical concern. The company’s exploration of vaccines and therapeutics for a wide range of diseases, including HIV, pandemic flu, and Lyme disease, marks a significant expansion of its mRNA platform.
This development strategy, however, is not without its critics. Experts like Dr. Michelle Perro argue for a reevaluation of mRNA technology in vaccine development, citing unresolved safety concerns. The rise in Moderna’s stock following these announcements reflects investor optimism, yet the broader health implications of expanding the mRNA vaccine platform remain a contentious topic.
Moderna’s pipeline continues to grow, with investments flowing in to support new vaccine trials. However, the debate over the long-term safety of mRNA vaccines and their role in potentially causing or exacerbating diseases they aim to
