News
October 20, 2025
STAT+: Moderna co-founder Noubar Afeyan issues warning: Assault on science ‘isn’t going to stop at mRNA’
Noubar Afeyan tells the STAT Summit that political moves to replace facts with opinions won't stop with mRNA vaccines. "It’s going to go to every medicine."
**Moderna Co-founder Warns of Expanding Anti-Science Sentiment Beyond mRNA Vaccines**
Boston, MA – Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of Moderna, delivered a stark warning at the recent STAT Summit, cautioning that the growing tide of anti-science sentiment will not be contained to mRNA vaccines. Speaking to a gathering of healthcare leaders and experts, Afeyan expressed deep concern over the increasing tendency to prioritize opinions over established scientific facts, a trend he believes poses a significant threat to the future of medicine.
Afeyan’s remarks highlighted the political climate in which scientific consensus is increasingly being challenged and dismissed, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The success of mRNA vaccines, developed by companies like Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, was met not only with widespread acclaim but also with a surge of misinformation and distrust, fueled by political agendas and conspiracy theories.
“It’s going to go to every medicine,” Afeyan stated, emphasizing that the current assault on scientific credibility is not an isolated incident focused solely on mRNA technology. He argued that the erosion of trust in scientific expertise creates a dangerous precedent, potentially impacting the development and acceptance of a wide range of medical treatments and interventions.
The Moderna co-founder's warning underscores the potential ramifications of a society where scientific evidence is routinely questioned or disregarded based on political expediency. This trend, he suggests, could lead to delays in the adoption of life-saving therapies, hinder medical innovation, and ultimately jeopardize public health.
Afeyan's comments have sparked a renewed debate about the role of science in public discourse and the importance of combating misinformation. He urged attendees at the STAT Summit, and the broader scientific community, to actively engage in promoting scientific literacy and defending the integrity of scientific research. The challenge, he stressed, lies in effectively communicating complex scientific concepts in a clear and accessible manner, while also addressing the underlying factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy and distrust in scientific institutions. The future of medicine, Afeyan implied, depends on it.
Boston, MA – Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of Moderna, delivered a stark warning at the recent STAT Summit, cautioning that the growing tide of anti-science sentiment will not be contained to mRNA vaccines. Speaking to a gathering of healthcare leaders and experts, Afeyan expressed deep concern over the increasing tendency to prioritize opinions over established scientific facts, a trend he believes poses a significant threat to the future of medicine.
Afeyan’s remarks highlighted the political climate in which scientific consensus is increasingly being challenged and dismissed, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The success of mRNA vaccines, developed by companies like Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, was met not only with widespread acclaim but also with a surge of misinformation and distrust, fueled by political agendas and conspiracy theories.
“It’s going to go to every medicine,” Afeyan stated, emphasizing that the current assault on scientific credibility is not an isolated incident focused solely on mRNA technology. He argued that the erosion of trust in scientific expertise creates a dangerous precedent, potentially impacting the development and acceptance of a wide range of medical treatments and interventions.
The Moderna co-founder's warning underscores the potential ramifications of a society where scientific evidence is routinely questioned or disregarded based on political expediency. This trend, he suggests, could lead to delays in the adoption of life-saving therapies, hinder medical innovation, and ultimately jeopardize public health.
Afeyan's comments have sparked a renewed debate about the role of science in public discourse and the importance of combating misinformation. He urged attendees at the STAT Summit, and the broader scientific community, to actively engage in promoting scientific literacy and defending the integrity of scientific research. The challenge, he stressed, lies in effectively communicating complex scientific concepts in a clear and accessible manner, while also addressing the underlying factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy and distrust in scientific institutions. The future of medicine, Afeyan implied, depends on it.
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Technology