Stéphane Bancel
Making mRNA vaccines more accessible
B Y A L I C E PA R KB Y A L I C E PA R K
In 2020, MIn 2020, Moderna moderna made history by set-ade history by set-
ting a new timting a new timeline record for developing eline record for developing
a vaccine against COVID-19. Since then, a vaccine against COVID-19. Since then,
CEO Stéphane Bancel has forged a con-CEO Stéphane Bancel has forged a con-
troversial and somtroversial and sometimetimes contradictory es contradictory
path for the Campath for the Cambridge, Mbridge, Mass.–based ass.–based
comcompany. Bancel, a skilled fundraiser, pany. Bancel, a skilled fundraiser,
has turned Mhas turned Moderna fromoderna from a sm a small biotech all biotech
into a minto a major player in efforts to vaccinate ajor player in efforts to vaccinate
against infectious diseases. Under his against infectious diseases. Under his
guidance, Mguidance, Moderna is setting new stan-oderna is setting new stan-
dards with its mdards with its mRNA Access programRNA Access program, in , in
which the comwhich the company’s scientists will share pany’s scientists will share
their knowledge, expertise, and licenses their knowledge, expertise, and licenses
with teamwith teams in lower- s in lower- resource countries. resource countries.
The aimThe aim is to develop m is to develop mRNA vaccines RNA vaccines
targeting 15 diseases that pose the big-targeting 15 diseases that pose the big-
gest public-health risks, including HIV gest public-health risks, including HIV
and mand malaria. Malaria. Moderna is also the first oderna is also the first
vaccine vaccine mmaker to waive its patent on the aker to waive its patent on the
COVID-19 shot in countries receiving COVID-19 shot in countries receiving
shots through a Wshots through a World Health Organiza-orld Health Organiza-
tion programtion program. At the sam. At the same time time, Bancel is e, Bancel is
fighting for certain patent rights fromfighting for certain patent rights from the the
comcompany’s collaborators at the National pany’s collaborators at the National
Institutes of Health over the COVID-19 Institutes of Health over the COVID-19
vaccine, in an effort to retain as mvaccine, in an effort to retain as much of uch of
the anticipated $21 the anticipated $21 billion in sales frombillion in sales from
that shot this year.that shot this year.
Park is a TIMPark is a TIME senior correspondentE senior correspondent
BANCEL: ADAM GLANZMAN—BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES; ZHAI SOURCE PHOTO: YANN COATSALIOU—AFP/GETTY IMAGES; MASSON-DELMOTTE SOURCE PHOTO: NICOLAS MAETERLINCK—BELGA MAG/AFP/GETTY IMAGES44 Time June 6/June 13, 2022 PHOTOGRAPH BY CAROLYN FONG FOR TIME