Known as messenger RNA, Moderna’s vaccine essentially aims to induce an immune response by sending instruction signals for a spike protein located on the surface of the virus. These immune cells are then expected to develop antibodies against the virus whenever a person contracts the coronavirus. Although promising, this pathway has not been successful or used to develop vaccines before.

For example, on May 18, Moderna shared data showing that eight persons who were administered its vaccine coded mRNA-1273 elicited neutralising antibodies against the novel coronavirus. Moderna’s is an exceptional case in the history of vaccine development. In a rather unusual twist, the vaccine skipped animal studies, a pre-requisite, before it was tested on humans.