The Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to pioneers of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Two groundbreaking scientists, Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, have been honoured with the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their pivotal research that laid the foundation for the highly successful messenger-RNA (mRNA) vaccines against COVID-19.

Their pioneering work played a crucial role in the development of the swift mRNA vaccine technology used by Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech partnership. 

These vaccines have been administered to millions worldwide, significantly contributing to the global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kariko and Weissman will jointly share the 11 million-krona (AU$1.5 million) award announced by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

Their groundbreaking research, published in 2005, addressed a major challenge associated with mRNA, namely its tendency to cause inflammation when introduced into cells. 

Their innovative modification of uridine, a component of mRNA, effectively eliminated this issue, enabling the safe use of mRNA in vaccines.

The Nobel Assembly stated; “Through their groundbreaking findings, which have fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system, the laureates contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times.”

Kariko, originally from Hungary, and Weissman, an American, persevered with their research in relative obscurity for years, despite scepticism from many scientists who deemed their approach too complex.

The two scientists initially crossed paths while waiting to use a photocopier and bonded over their shared interest in medical journals. 

Their collaboration led to the development of nucleoside base modifications in 2005, a crucial advancement that prevented the immune system from triggering inflammation in response to lab-made mRNA.

This recognition from the Nobel Prize comes as a testament to the value of basic scientific research and the unanticipated impact it can have on addressing global health challenges.

Kariko, a former senior vice president at German biotech firm BioNTech, and Weissman, a professor in vaccine research at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), expressed their gratitude for the award, emphasising their dedication to creating products that are beneficial to humanity.

Their groundbreaking work has not only revolutionised vaccine development but also opened the door to potential applications of mRNA technology in treating cancer and developing vaccines against diseases like malaria, influenza, and rabies.

The Nobel Prize in Medicine marks the beginning of this year's Nobel awards, with the remaining five laureates to be announced in the coming days. 

These prestigious awards, established in 1901 by Alfred Nobel, recognize outstanding contributions to physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace.