mRNA Vaccine Technology Beyond COVID-19

Background/Objectives: Since their approval in early 2020, mRNA vaccine has gained significant attention since COVID-19 pandemic as a potential therapeutic approach to tackle several infectious diseases. The aim of this article is to review the current state of mRNA vaccine technology and its use against other diseases. Methods: To get accurate and reliable data, we carefully search the clinicaltrial.gov, and individual company’s website for current ongoing clinical trials reports. Also, we accessed different NCBI databases for recent articles or reports of clinical trials, innovative design of mRNA vaccine and reviews. Results: Significant progress have been made in the design and improvement of mRNA vaccine technology. Currently, there are hundreds of ongoing clinical trials on mRNA vaccine against different cancer types, infectious diseases, and genetic and rare diseases which showcase the advancement in this technology and their potential therapeutic advantages over traditional vaccine platforms. Finally, we project what could be potential future direction in designing more effective mRNA vaccine, particularly against cancer. Conclusions: Results of many of the ongoing clinical trials have shown significant positive outcomes with many of the trials already at phase III. Despite this outlook however, some have been terminated or withdrawn for several reasons, some of which are not made available. This means that despite the advancement, there is need for more research and critical evaluation of each innovation to better understand their immunological benefits and long-term effects.