But the most pivotal thing that we did was we had an agreement with BioNTech, a collaboration agreement, that was signed in 2018 to develop a flu vaccine by using this technology. I knew that there was not a single product mRNA out there. I challenged my team and I [asked] them, are you sure that you want to go with mRNA? [I told] them that if that’s going to be successful, that will be not just the first COVID-19 vaccine, that will be the first vaccine ever with mRNA. And that this work that they were doing with BioNTech, the last almost two years, 2018 and 2019, was giving them a high level of comfort that the technology is mature and that, more importantly, the partner is the right one.
I challenged my team and I [asked] them, are you sure that you want to go with mRNA? [I told] them that if that’s going to be successful, that will be not just the first COVID-19 vaccine, that will be the first vaccine ever with mRNA.
ALBERT BOURLA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PFIZER
So in this meeting they convinced me to take that risk and go with mRNA. But then I said I need to talk to their CEO, and I called Uğur and that was the first time that we spoke on the phone. It was, I think, love at first sight and it was the beginning of a tremendous relationship, collaboration, between the two companies and me and him, particularly, in person. Later, I met also Özlem, his wonderful wife, who is a pivotal member of the research team over there. And I never ever regretted that we made this highly risky decision and I’m happy that we did.
FREDERICK KEMPE: Can you explain to us how the mRNA works differently and why was it ready at this point if it hadn’t been ready for clinical use before?
ALBERT BOURLA: Yeah. Most of the vaccines, the principle is that you’re introducing a part of the virus, let’s say, into your body so that your body will create antibodies. It will recognize the virus as an enemy and will create antibodies.
Now, you put a piece of the virus so that you will not get the disease, or you put the dead virus, or you put the modified virus, or there are new technologies, but this is the fundamental [part of most vaccines], that you’re putting a piece of the virus so that your body will develop an immune response. When the real virus comes your body is ready with antibodies so you can win easily the battle, or easier the battle.
