mRNA drugs could protect against almost any kind of viral infection
mRNA drugs might be able to protect against a huge range of viruses by turning on key parts of our innate defences against infection
By Michael Le Page
13 August 2025
An illustration of a protein complex binding to DNA in the production of the key signalling molecule interferon
Martin McCarthy/Getty Images
Just one weekly puff from an asthma-like inhaler might one day protect you from the viral infections that make winters miserable – and could even save your life in the event of another pandemic.
That is the tantalising prospect raised by promising animal tests of an mRNA treatment that turns on our built-in viral defences. “You can think about this as a universal antiviral,” says Dusan Bogunovic at Columbia University in New York.
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Realising the full promise of this approach will require further development of the mRNA technology used in vaccines – but last week the US slashed funding for mRNA vaccine development. “I would be surprised if it didn’t have knock-on effects on efforts like this,” says Bogunovic.
In addition to our body learning to recognise and target viruses with antibodies, it has lots of built-in defences. For instance, when a viral infection is detected, cells release a key signalling molecule called interferon. This turns on around 1000 genes, triggering the production of a wide array of antiviral proteins that work in many different ways: some block viral entry to cells, others inhibit the release of new viral particles.
Not all of these proteins work against all viruses, but in combination they can make a big difference. “Our innate immune system is extremely powerful,” says Bogunovic.
