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What’s in a name? Moderna’s “vaccine” vs. “therapy” dilemma

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MIT Technology Review

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Moderna is facing a dilemma over whether to call its cancer treatment a "vaccine" or a "therapy" to distance itself from vaccine skepticism. The company's mRNA technology is being used in partnership with Merck to develop individualized neoantigen therapy for cancer treatment. Despite the promising results, some are concerned that patients may be misled by the terminology change. Moderna's strategy to rebrand its cancer treatment may be a response to government scrutiny over its mRNA vaccines. The debate over terminology reflects the broader challenges in navigating public perception and regulatory hurdles in the biotech industry.

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