Business Wars Vaccine Wars | Big Pharma's Big Gamble Pays Off | 7
May 10, 2021
Annalisa Merelli, a healthcare reporter for Quartz, dives into the tumultuous world of COVID-19 vaccines, discussing the monumental risks taken by companies like BioNTech and Moderna. She unpacks the international collaborations that sped up vaccine development and the complex safety concerns around the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Merelli also addresses the stark disparities in global vaccine distribution, particularly in India, and highlights the transformative potential of mRNA technology in shaping future healthcare.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Unprecedented Vaccine Development
- COVID-19 vaccine development was initially predicted to take 1.5 years.
- It was completed in less than a year due to mRNA technology, international collaboration, and a stable virus.
mRNA's Revival
- mRNA technology was almost abandoned due to lack of investment.
- The COVID-19 pandemic's funding made it viable, potentially revolutionizing medicine.
Pfizer's Partnership
- Pfizer partnered with BioNTech, combining experience and mRNA technology.
- This partnership enabled them to successfully produce vaccines at a large scale.