Moderna and BioNTech deploy AI-driven mRNA to target CMV, EBV, HSV, and personalized neoantigen cancer vaccines. These trials could redefine immunotherapy.
Glad you liked it! I know "AI" is popular these days and it can feel like it's an overused term, but Moderna is using it for neoantigen selection. We also discuss it in the podcast, feel free to listen to it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-o5D_IoDQk
My point is that neoantigen based vaccines are created using several great technologies. For example, it wouldn't be possible without NGS, but we don't say "NGS-driven mRNA vaccine" (which would have been much more accurate, if we were to point out the most critical technology /innovation that enabled personalized vaccines). At the same time, neoantigen selection requires computational method (at Moderna and elsewhere) , so it's not really the groundbreaking part, it's the necessity. So do we need to hype up AI by adding it where it's implied? Maybe when we are selling a tech to investors it's a necessity, but this article didn't seem to me like targeted at investors... Maybe thats my mistake in interpreting intended audience.
Either way, it's merely an opinion, and in this article it's inconsequential to the quality of the content.
Very fair points…and honestly, I really appreciate you sharing them. You’re absolutely right that in an hour-long podcast there will always be a few things said that could have been phrased more precisely, and it’s incredibly helpful when thoughtful listeners like you call that out.
Two quick clarifications: Moderna actually hosted a Digital Investor Day in late 2023, which offered a good look into how the company was integrating digital tools — with AI beginning to play a growing role at that time. More broadly, the main takeaway we hoped to convey was that Moderna has long been an early adopter of digital technologies — from machine learning to robotics — which proved essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks again for listening so carefully and for taking the time to share your thoughts. It really helps keep the dialogue sharp and balanced.
Likewise, thanks for engaging. I enjoyed our conversation
I really liked the article, but can we stop inserting "AI" in places where it's absolutely unnecessary and adds no information?
Glad you liked it! I know "AI" is popular these days and it can feel like it's an overused term, but Moderna is using it for neoantigen selection. We also discuss it in the podcast, feel free to listen to it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-o5D_IoDQk
My point is that neoantigen based vaccines are created using several great technologies. For example, it wouldn't be possible without NGS, but we don't say "NGS-driven mRNA vaccine" (which would have been much more accurate, if we were to point out the most critical technology /innovation that enabled personalized vaccines). At the same time, neoantigen selection requires computational method (at Moderna and elsewhere) , so it's not really the groundbreaking part, it's the necessity. So do we need to hype up AI by adding it where it's implied? Maybe when we are selling a tech to investors it's a necessity, but this article didn't seem to me like targeted at investors... Maybe thats my mistake in interpreting intended audience.
Either way, it's merely an opinion, and in this article it's inconsequential to the quality of the content.
Hi Tanya,
Very fair points…and honestly, I really appreciate you sharing them. You’re absolutely right that in an hour-long podcast there will always be a few things said that could have been phrased more precisely, and it’s incredibly helpful when thoughtful listeners like you call that out.
Two quick clarifications: Moderna actually hosted a Digital Investor Day in late 2023, which offered a good look into how the company was integrating digital tools — with AI beginning to play a growing role at that time. More broadly, the main takeaway we hoped to convey was that Moderna has long been an early adopter of digital technologies — from machine learning to robotics — which proved essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks again for listening so carefully and for taking the time to share your thoughts. It really helps keep the dialogue sharp and balanced.
Warmly,
Hartaj