mRNA Breakthroughs and New Cancer Treatments: Pancreatic & Lung Cancer Advances

Scientists are making remarkable progress using mRNA technology—the same science behind Covid-19 vaccines—to target some of the deadliest cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

At Inserm’s ART lab in Orleans, France, researchers are exploring how messenger RNA (mRNA) can train the immune system to attack cancer cells. Dimitri Szymczak, project manager at the lab, explains, “For cancer, mRNA can instruct the body to recognize and destroy tumours.”

Although mRNA has been studied since the 1960s, it gained global attention during the Covid-19 pandemic, accelerating vaccine development and earning the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Today, scientists see mRNA as a powerful tool beyond vaccines—it can enhance immune responses, correct faulty genes, treat rare conditions, and even address allergies.

Currently, over 200 mRNA clinical trials are underway worldwide, with leading research hubs in the US, China, Japan, and France. At ART lab, scientists are exploring cost-effective RNA production in yeast, which could reduce expenses by 10–50 times while maintaining pharmaceutical standards.

Pancreatic cancer remains a major challenge, with survival rates only slightly improving from 5% in 2000 to 10% today. Conventional therapies like chemotherapy and immunotherapy often fall short. To overcome this, researchers are combining mRNA vaccines with ultrasound technology. Ultrasound generates microscopic bubbles in pancreatic tissue that burst to break down tumours’ protective barriers, allowing the mRNA to penetrate and trigger an immune attack more effectively. Early studies show this method is safe and may significantly improve treatment outcomes.

In a related development, the US FDA approved Bayer’s Hyrnuo, a new oral drug for advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with HER2 mutations. Priced at $24,000 per month, Hyrnuo targets proteins driving cancer growth, offering hope for patients who did not respond to previous therapies. Clinical trials reported tumour reduction in up to 71% of patients, highlighting its potential as a strong addition to lung cancer treatments.

NSCLC accounts for 80–85% of all lung cancer cases, with other options including Merck’s Keytruda, AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso, and targeted antibody-drug conjugates like AbbVie’s Emrelis. Bayer’s new FDA-approved companion diagnostic test ensures the right patients benefit from Hyrnuo.

As World Pancreatic Cancer Day raises awareness, these breakthroughs signal a promising future for cancer treatment, powered by innovative mRNA technology and precision medicine.

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