mRNA technology is currently so hot that even Elon Musk—arguably the world's most visionary investor—has backed it. As a COVID-19 survivor, Musk stated: "mRNA represents the future of medicine. Basically, you can use mRNA to treat everything. It's like a computer program—you can program it to do whatever you want."

mRNA is a single-stranded RNA transcribed from one DNA strand, carrying genetic information to guide protein synthesis. Protein expression involves two steps: transcription (DNA to mRNA in the nucleus) and translation (mRNA to protein at ribosomes in the cytoplasm). Any protein synthesis requires mRNA—and conversely, we can use mRNA to synthesize any desired protein.

mRNA therapy leverages this principle: modified mRNA molecules enter the cytoplasm, utilize free nucleotides and ribosomes for translation, and produce target proteins that execute therapeutic functions. Theoretically, mRNA can express any protein—whether vaccines, antibodies, enzymes for rare diseases, or growth factors for tissue repair. It can explore treatment for virtually all protein-based diseases.

Like a flexible operating system, mRNA technology can rapidly change targets by inserting new genetic codes into synthetic mRNA—making it a "universal key" capable of decoding complex diseases. Beyond potentially ending the COVID-19 pandemic, its greatest promise lies in providing new approaches for treating infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and cancer.