Opinion: Opposition to mRNA Technology Threatens Our Greatest Hope for a Cancer Cure
By Jonathan Kagan, PhD
Published August 11, 2025 | BioSpace
The promise of mRNA technology—a breakthrough that underpinned the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines—now stands at risk due to growing antagonism and reduced public funding. This emerging resistance threatens to stall what could be a revolutionary leap forward in curing cancer, one of the most persistent and devastating diseases confronting humanity.
Federal Funding Cuts and Growing Doubt
Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the termination of approximately $500 million in contracts tied to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), specifically aimed at mRNA vaccine development. This decision follows a pattern of funding reductions motivated by unscientific concerns about mRNA’s safety and efficacy—a trend fueled by political and ideological debates rather than evidence.
While the debate surrounding COVID-19 mRNA vaccines continues to evoke strong opinions, it is crucial to distinguish these controversies from the broader applications of the technology—especially its vast potential in cancer immunotherapy. Allowing fear and misinformation to dictate policy threatens to derail significant scientific progress that could save millions of lives.
The Science Behind mRNA’s Potential
Proteins enact the majority of cellular functions, including immune responses. Traditionally, delivering therapeutic proteins into cells has been hindered by cellular membranes akin to locked doors that keep materials out. mRNA technology circumvents this by delivering molecular instructions that prompt cells to produce these therapeutic proteins internally.
This approach, though not new—it has been developed since the 1970s—is finally reaching its potential. Previously, cancer immunotherapy efforts focused on identifying antigens unique to cancer cells but fell short because they lacked a crucial “danger signal” to alert the immune system effectively. Recent Nobel-winning research has underscored the necessity of delivering both signals: an antigen and an innate immune stimulus.
Dendritic cells, the immune system’s conductors, require this dual instruction to orchestrate an effective defense. mRNA technologies can uniquely deliver both antigenic and immune-stimulating instructions inside dendritic cells, activating T cells that mount a durable and targeted immune attack against cancers and pathogens.
Breakthroughs From Lab to Clinic
At Corner Therapeutics, where I serve as Distinguished Scientist, we recently published data on an innovative mRNA approach that programs dendritic cells to activate the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway—a critical mechanism involved in immune responses across numerous diseases. Our “inside-out” immunotherapy harnesses mRNA to instruct cells from within, overcoming previous challenges of cellular delivery.
This technology has demonstrated robust, durable immune responses in human tumor samples and preclinical models, outperforming existing therapies.
Other pioneering efforts include small clinical trials from renowned institutions such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Merck, Moderna, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Genentech, and BioNTech. These trials pairing mRNA vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors are already showing success against kidney and pancreatic cancers, with some reporting zero recurrence and strong immune responses in 50% of patients respectively.
Together, these advancements position mRNA at the forefront of a new era in cancer immunotherapy, one with the potential to save millions of lives.
The Economic Imperative for Supporting mRNA
Embracing mRNA technology is not just a scientific necessity—it is an economic opportunity akin to the rise of computer science education. Decades ago, computer science was rare in academia; today, it is fundamental, producing skilled professionals who drive innovation and economic growth.
Similarly, companies and investors reluctant to support mRNA risk being left behind as the technology reshapes medicine. Although federal funding may be constrained, private sector investment can and must fill the gap, turning scientific breakthroughs into marketable therapies that address widespread diseases and yield substantial returns.
The Urgency of Action
We now have the tools to program our own cells to fight cancer and infectious diseases effectively, supplying the immune system with the necessary signals for targeted defense. The pharmaceutical industry stands at a pivotal crossroads where translating basic science into life-saving immunotherapies is within reach—but only if resistance and skepticism do not stifle progress.
If the U.S. falters, other countries will claim leadership in mRNA innovations, putting American companies and patients at a disadvantage.
The choice is urgent and clear: embrace the future of medicine with open eyes and resolute support or risk ceding the battle against cancer to others.
Time is of the essence.
About the Author:
Jonathan Kagan, PhD, is Distinguished Scientist at Corner Therapeutics, Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and Staff Scientist at Boston Children’s Hospital. He specializes in molecular immunity mechanisms and the development of mRNA-based immunotherapies.
Related Stories:
- Government ARPA-H Official Resigns Over BARDA mRNA Funding Cuts
- Small Clinical Trials Achieve Significant Progress in Cancer Immunotherapy
- The Growing Investment in mRNA Technologies and Its Market Implications
For further updates, follow Jonathan Kagan on Twitter and LinkedIn.
