This week, we look at Herantis Pharma's work on Parkinson's disease, with the company's CEO, Antti Vuolanto, and we have an in-depth look at the recent cuts to mRNA vaccine projects, with Jean Peccoud, GenoFAB founder and professor at Colorado State University.

Interview times:

03:22 Herantis

16:28 mRNA cuts

Cuts to mRNA vaccine projects

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced a major shift in its vaccine development priorities, initiating a “co‑ordinated wind‑down” of mRNA vaccine projects under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The move cancels or scales back 22 contracts worth nearly $500m, affecting research partnerships with universities, biotech firms, and major pharmaceutical companies.

The cuts have spa ...