Few people had heard about the synthetic messenger RNA genetic technology prior to the COVID-19 pandemic when this medical technology was used to create mRNA vaccines, which have been highly effective at reducing hospitalizations and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. 

The companies that produced the COVID vaccines are now working on using the mRNA technology to create other vaccines and therapeutics. Pfizer has announced clinical trials for an mRNA-based influenza vaccine and, with its COVID-vaccine partner BioNTech, is working on developing an mRNA-based vaccine to prevent shingles. 

Moderna has 35 development candidates in clinical trials with more to come, said Stéphane Bancel, CEO, in a shareholder letter. These new candidates include respiratory vaccines, such as for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, and latent vaccines. Moderna also is working on cancer vaccines and treatments for rare diseases.