In a sign of the mRNA field’s recent dynamism, the Alliance for mRNA Medicines doubled its size to 77 members in just two years of existence. Now these members are perplexed, confused, and say they just don’t understand the logic behind the government’s attack on mRNA vaccine research.
On Tuesday night, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the winding down of mRNA vaccine developments under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This included a termination of 22 contracts worth nearly $500 million and an effort to no longer fund any new mRNA-based projects.
On Wednesday, the Alliance for mRNA Medicines held a call for its member companies and institutions to discuss the announcement. An alliance spokesperson said members were jumping on from all over the world because they were concerned with what’s going on. “They were, frankly, in disbelief,” he said.
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