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Drew Weissman

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description Drew Weissman Overview

Drew Weissman is an American physician whose groundbreaking research revolutionized vaccine development. Working with Katalin Kariko, he pioneered the use of modified mRNA to create long-lasting and safer vaccines. His innovative approach addresses immune system challenges, primarily benefiting immunologists, biotech researchers, and ultimately, public health through improved vaccine efficacy. He was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this significant contribution.

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What did Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó discover about modified mRNA?

Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó discovered that replacing natural nucleosides in mRNA with synthetic modifications, such as pseudouridine, could prevent the immune system from attacking the mRNA while still allowing it to produce proteins. Their 2005 paper described this breakthrough, which solved a critical problem that had blocked mRNA-based therapies for years.

When did Drew Weissman win the Nobel Prize?

Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023 for their nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. The prize recognized decades of foundational research at the University of Pennsylvania that was largely overlooked before the pandemic made it globally urgent.

What institution is Drew Weissman affiliated with?

Drew Weissman is a professor at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he has conducted his mRNA research since the late 1990s. His collaboration with Katalin Karikó began at UPenn, where the two researchers reportedly first connected over a shared interest in RNA biology at a photocopier.

How did Weissman and Karikó's research enable the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines?

The nucleoside modification technology developed by Weissman and Karikó was licensed by both BioNTech, which partnered with Pfizer, and Moderna for their COVID-19 vaccine platforms. Without the modified mRNA technique, the injected mRNA would have triggered destructive inflammatory immune responses, making large-scale vaccination impossible.