Current mRNA Vaccine Studies and the Importance of a Phase One Lab
Vaccines are important tools in the healthcare industry to combat infectious diseases and illnesses. The COVID19 pandemic prompted the FDA to authorize the public use of the first messenger RNA (mRNA). But even before the pandemic, scientists have been studying the technology behind mRNA for 30 years.
Due to their high potency, precision, flexible manufacturing, and safe administration, mRNA vaccines may be an alternative to conventional vaccines.
Aside from the hopes of ending the COVID19 global health scare, mRNA vaccines can potentially eradicate other diseases. In particular HIV, influenza, and even some cancers.
The phase one lab is one of the first in the 3 or 4 phases of a clinical study. Phase 1 involves a small number of participants. These studies help decipher if the vaccine is safe, determine the best dose, and how to best administer the drug. Participants in the phase 1 trial are closely monitored where blood and urine samples may be collected regularly.
Phase one labs are important to evaluate the safety of the vaccine, treatment, or drug. There is no better way to track if the vaccine is beneficial than going through these important clinical phases.
mRNA Vaccine Studies: Why Are They Important?
The creation of vaccines has successfully treated various diseases and illnesses. Vaccines have significantly reduced the spread of disease, disability, and morbidity from infectious illnesses. To put it simply, vaccines save lives.
mRNA vaccine studies are important to come up with an antigen that will stop the disease. Through vaccine studies, research, and trials, scientists can determine its efficacy, the appropriate dosage, and know its adverse effects. With the help of different agencies, we can monitor, collect and analyze data to ensure that vaccines are safe.
mRNA In Action
mRNA vaccines use a genetic code that tells your cells to produce the SARS-COV2 virus. This will trigger your immune system to respond to the mRNA vaccine by creating protection against the virus. mRNA vaccines help the immune system recognize and target mutations found in cancer cells.
With the success of the mRNA vaccine, organizations are exploring ways mRNA can be beneficial to the medical world.
The Phase One Lab
Companies are exploring mRNA technology to be used for other diseases like influenza, Zika virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), HIV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and cancer.
Some of these have the green light to move to phase 1 and NICR is ready to participate with pharmaceutical companies such as for the HIV trial as Moderna is yet to recruit participants.
The phase one lab is important as it is the very first step to finding out the doses and the safety of the vaccine. If everything goes well after doing the dose escalation process, then the trial can move to phase 2 and so on.
mRNA vaccines require more research to be done, but after doing the series of clinical trials and if they are known to be effective and safe, then we may benefit from the positive effects of these vaccines.
The National Institute of Clinical Research is an SMO/CRO with offices and labs in the following cities and states: New Jersey, North Carolina, Austin, San Diego, San Francisco, Bakersfield 93309, Fountain Valley 92708, Garden Grove 92840, Hacienda Heights 91745, Huntington Beach 92648, Las Vegas 89106, Long Beach 90806, Los Angeles 90048, Ontario 91762, Rosemead 91770, San Antonio 78207, Santa Ana 92704, Upland 91786, and Westminster 92683.
