One molecule could usher revolutionary medicines for cancer, diabetes and genetic disease — but the US is turning its back on it

An illustration of a scientist walking through a door wrapped in a strand of disintegrating mRNA.

On Dec. 31, 2019, the first reports emerged about a mysterious pneumonia of unknown cause circulating in China. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

On March 16, the first COVID-19 vaccine entered clinical trials.