Europe Bets Big on mRNA Beyond COVID

A 557-trial analysis shows Europe at the centre of mRNA medicine's shift from COVID vaccines toward cancer and rare disease treatments

30 Apr 2026

Europe has emerged as a leading centre for mRNA medicine as the technology moves firmly beyond its pandemic origins into cancer treatment and rare disease therapies, according to a study of 557 registered clinical trials published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics in February 2026.

Infectious disease trials still account for nearly 74 per cent of all registered activity, a figure that reflects the scale of COVID-era investment, but the study's authors note that oncology and rare disease programmes are now growing faster than any other segment. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom host the densest concentrations of trial sites, research institutions, and manufacturing facilities in the field.

BioNTech has outlined a cancer pipeline targeting melanoma, lung cancer, and other solid tumours. Moderna is preparing pivotal oncology trial readouts in 2026 that could lead to the first regulatory submissions for an mRNA cancer vaccine. In January, Moderna also agreed a partnership with Italian drugmaker Recordati to develop an mRNA therapy for propionic acidemia, a rare metabolic condition, extending its reach beyond oncology.

Acquisition activity has reinforced the sector's commercial momentum. In February, Eli Lilly agreed to buy Orna Therapeutics for up to $2.4bn, acquiring a circular RNA platform designed to engineer immune cells inside the body, a technique with potential applications in autoimmune disease. The deal followed Bristol Myers Squibb's purchase of Orbital Therapeutics in late 2025, signalling that large pharmaceutical groups regard RNA platforms as a long-term strategic priority.

For patients, the implications are significant. Personalised mRNA cancer vaccines can be tailored to an individual's tumour profile, and advances in AI-assisted manufacturing have cut production times from nine weeks to under four. The cost per patient currently exceeds $100,000, and regulatory requirements from the European Medicines Agency remain substantial. With European legislation now encouraging local production and more than 120 oncology mRNA trials under way globally, the conditions for broader commercial deployment are forming, though the timeline for widespread clinical adoption remains uncertain.