Or is it just hype?

For many years, mRNA technology was deemed unsuitable as a therapeutic approach. But today, over 150 different mRNA-based therapies and vaccines are currently being developed around the world.  In the future, mRNA is expected to be used to treat a wide range of diseases - including cancer, HIV, malaria, cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. But how does it work exactly? 

This documentary shows how mRNA vaccines transport the blueprint of a viral protein into cells, which then begin to produce the foreign biomolecule. The immune system ramps up its defenses against the virus, even though it only encounters a small, harmless part of the pathogen. 

Scientists started investigating mRNA some three decades ago with the aim of developing individual therapies to treat cancer. Today, clinical studies are looking at how heart muscle regenerates immediately after a heart attack with an mRNA-based therapy.
 

People with autoimmune diseases or HIV could also benefit from mRNA treatments and vaccines. Influenza viruses are constantly producing new strains. An mRNA vaccine could be adapted more quickly than conventional vaccines - and would therefore be more effective.

But what is the real potential of mRNA technology? What are the risks? What have scientists learned from COVID-19? Is mRNA technology medicine's new magic bullet - or just hype?


Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

WED 08.06.2022 – 01:15 UTC
WED 08.06.2022 – 04:15 UTC
WED 08.06.2022 – 18.15 UTC 
THU 09.06.2022 – 09:15 UTC
SAT 11.06.2022 – 02:15 UTC
SUN 12.06.2022 – 08:15 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 I Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 I Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4

DW Deutsch+

THU 09.06.2022 – 09:15 UTC
SUN 12.06.2022 – 08:15 UTC 

Vancouver UTC -7 | New York UTC -4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3