Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41673122›Full record

ReviewEMBO molecular medicine2026

Status and outlook of mRNA therapeutics for viral diseases.

Qiuwei Pan, Wenshi Wang, Harry L A Janssen, Zifu Zhong

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in EMBO molecular medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Qiuwei Pan *Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. q.pan@erasmusmc.nl.ORCID 0000-0001-9982-6184
Wenshi Wang *Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, 221004, Xuzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7330-262X
Harry L A JanssenDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Zifu ZhongDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Gent, 9000, Belgium. Zifu.Zhong@UGent.be.ORCID 0000-0002-5915-1618

Funding

Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) 12K0323NZonMw (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development) 91719300
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Endemic and emerging viral diseases continue to impose significant health, economic, and societal burdens worldwide. Vaccines and therapeutics represent two key pillars in the fight against these threats. Since the clinical success of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA therapeutics have rapidly evolved from a niche innovation into a validated and versatile medical platform. While early efforts focused primarily on vaccine development, recent advances have expanded the scope to antiviral applications of in vitro-transcribed mRNA. Emerging strategies include in vivo expression of neutralizing antibodies for passive immunization, delivery of innate immune effectors such as interferons and antiviral peptides, and programmable CRISPR-based antiviral systems. In parallel, progress in mRNA delivery technologies has enabled clinical translation, although challenges related to stability, specificity, and immunogenicity remain. In this Perspective article, we review recent preclinical and clinical advances in mRNA therapeutics for viral infections. We also highlight key scientific, technical, and regulatory challenges, and propose strategic solutions to address the pressing need for controlling endemic viral diseases and enhancing global pandemic preparedness.

Indexed as

RNA, MessengerVirus DiseasesAnimalsAntiviral AgentsCOVID-19HumansSARS-CoV-2Antiviral AgentsRNA, MessengerDrug DeliverymRNA TherapeuticsViral Diseases

Identifiers

PMID41673122
PMCPMC12988152

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.