ReviewNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology2026
Rapid growth and thematic shifts in mRNA therapeutics research catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Review in Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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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.
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Authors and funding
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Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics emerged as a clinically validated therapeutic approach during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike conventional small-molecule drugs or biologics, mRNA therapeutics exert their pharmacological effects indirectly by modulating intracellular protein expression and the immune system. However, the clinical demands that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated mRNA therapeutics research and its clinical translation. Therefore, the present study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped global mRNA therapeutics research by comparing the pre-pandemic (2015-2019) and pandemic/post-pandemic (2020-2025) periods. A systematic analysis of peer-reviewed literature indexed in the Scopus database was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The research activity increased markedly, with a nearly 13-fold rise in publications on mRNA therapeutics after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the analysis revealed a shift from oncology-oriented studies to vaccine-focused therapeutic research. The foundational studies on nucleoside-modified mRNA and lipid-based delivery systems aligned with large-scale clinical trial evidence. These trials validated the technology by demonstrating reproducible efficacy and acceptable safety profiles. Further, the collaboration patterns evolved from a predominantly US-centered structure to a globally interconnected research network led by the USA, China, and Germany. Overall, these findings provide quantitative evidence of significant shifts in global mRNA research activity and direction during the COVID-19 period.
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Registered trials
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.