Claudia Zylberberg
The Power List 2021 – Advanced Medicine
Chief Executive Officer at Akron Biotech
“We've passed the eras of small molecules, chemistries, proteins (such as biologics and monoclonal antibodies) – now, it's nucleic acids' time to shine. By utilizing cellular machinery to redirect and recreate the destiny of our own cells, these powerful moieties can create more opportunities than ever in the therapeutic arena and beyond. A fascinating future is opening ahead of us. The global pandemic and worldwide pressure for a vaccine gave RNA the chance to show what it can do, if positioned properly. After years of trials around how to use this molecule in several applications, the opening came by way of COVID-19 vaccines. We have now expanded our toolbox and created a new therapeutic solution for complex problems in short timelines. With this comes growth in areas to support this new therapeutic modality (i.e., delivery systems and manufacturing schemes). Moreover, regulators globally were challenged to understand the value and opportunity to create solutions in a fast and efficient way without compromising safety. We gained lots of general knowledge about RNA and adenoviruses, and the global educational factor on these novel therapeutic vaccines will create a more open environment of acceptance for new remedies using RNA and DNA.”
